AND COMPLETE HERBAL, * 208 
white, fhooting forth ftalks with leaves, fome ef whichcarry {mall berries, and others 
not; every ftalk {mooth, without joints, and of a blackifh green colour, rifing about 
half a foot high if it bears berries, but not fo high if otherwife ; on the top are four 
feaves fet directly one againft the other, refembling a crofs, or rather a ribbon tied 
in a truelove’s knot, from whence it took its name: ; thefe leaves are fomewhat like: 
the leaves of nightfhade, but a little broader, having fometimes three leaves, fome-. 
‘times five, and frequently fix, fome of which are larger than others. From the mid- 
dle of the four leaves rifeth up one fmall flender ftalk, about an inch high, bearing © 
on the top a flower fpread open like a ftar, confifting of four fmall and long narrow 
pointed leaves, of a yellowifh green colour, with four leffer ones lying between, and 
in the middle ftands a round, dark, purpleifh button or head, compaffed about with 
eight {mall yellow meally threads of three colours, which form.a beautiful flower.;. 
when the other Jeaves are withered, the button or head in the middle becomes a 
blackifh purple berry about the fize of a grape, full of juice, and contains many 
white feeds. ‘The whole plant is without tafte. 
Pract... It grows in woods and coppices, efpecially about Chiflehurft and.Maid+ 
ftone in Kent, and is likewife frequently found in the corners and. borders.of fields,. 
and other wafte grounds. 
Time. They fpring up about April or May, and flowerfoon after; the berries. 
are ripe in the end of May and June. | 
‘GovERNMENT AND Virtues. This plant is claimed by Venus. The leaves. or 
- Berries hereof are effectual to expel poifon of all forts, efpecially that of the aconites, | 
alfothe plague, and other peftilential difeafes. The roots beaten to powder and 
taken i in wine, giveth eafe to thofé who are troubled with.the cholick ; the leaves 
are exceeding good for green wounds, as alfa to cleanfe and heal.up old filthy fores. 
and ulcers; it is very powerful to difcufs all tumours and fwellings in the fcrotum, 
Privities, or groin, or in any other part of the body, and fpeedily allays all inflamma- 
tions. The leaves or juice applied to felons, or nails of the hands or feet that have: 
; impofthumes or fores gathered together at the roots or under them, will prove a cer- 
tain cure ina fhort time. 
4 HYSSOP, 
Ir. is fo univerfally known, that I confider it = reesllefs to write any de. 
: Sexiptiin ‘Of it. Its virtues are thefe, ; 
Temperatures and Virtugs. The herbis J upiter’s, under the fign Cancer, com- 
_. fequently ftrengthens fuch parts of the body as thefe govern. Diofcorides faith, that 
= boiled with rue and. honey, and drank, helpeth thofe who are ane eae ae 
