AND COMPLETE HERBAL; 
Prace. It is generally kept with us in our gardens, 
Time. It flowereth in June and July, and continueth flowering until the frott 
pull it down. : | 
GovirNMENT anp Virtvgs. © Thisis under the infuence of Mercury. Diofco- 
tides faith, that the garden valerian hath a warming faculty, and that, being dried 
and given to drink, it provoketh urine, and helpeth the ftranguary. The decoétion 
_ thereof, likewife taken, doth the like alfo, and taketh away pains of the fides, pro- 
voketh urine, and helpeth the ftranguary. [tis ufed as a counter: poifon. Pliny 
faith, that the powder of the root, given in drink, or fome of the decoétion thereof 
taken, helpeth all ftoppings and ftranglings in any part of the body, whether they pro- 
ceed of pains in the cheft or fides, and taketh them away. The root of valerian, 
boiled with liquorice, raifins, and annife-feed, is good for thofe that are fhort wind- 
ed, and for thofe that are troubled with a cough, and helpeth to open the paffages, 
and to expectorate phlegm eafily. It is given to thofe that are bitten or ftung by any 
venomous creature, being boiled in wine. It is of {pecial virtue againft the plague, 
the decoétion thereof being drunk, and the root being ufed to fell to; it helpeth — 
alfo to expel wind. The green herb with the root taken freh, being bruifed and ap- 
plied to the head, taketh away the pains and prickings therein, ftayeth rheum and 
thin diftillations 3 and, being boiled in white wine, and a drop thereof put into the 
eye, taketh away the dimnefs of the fight, or any pin or web therein. It is of excel- 
Jent property to heal any inward fores or wounds, as alfo for outward hurts or wounds, 
and draweth any {plinter or thorns out of the feth. | 
oe o nieieraalie nb 
Description. THE common vervain hath fomewhat long and broad leaves 
_ hext the ground, gafhed about the edges, and fome only deeply dented, or cut all 
alike, of a blackifh green colour on the upper fide, and fomewhat grey underneath. 
_The ftalk is fquare, branched into feveral parts, rifing about two feet high, efpecial- 
ly if you reckon the long {pike of flowers at the tops of them, which are {fet on all 
fides one above another, and fometimes two or three together, being fmall and gaping, 
of a purplith blue colour, and white intermixed; after which come {mall round feed 
in fmall and fomewhat long heads... The root is fmall and long, but of no ufe. 
379 
»-Phace. _ It groweth generally throughout England, ia divers places by the hedges, tee 
and way-fides, and other wafte grounds. = 
Time, It flowereth about July, and the feed is ripe foon after, 
No. 25. 3 5F GovrRNMENT 
