AND ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED. ‘3 
abideth like a hedge-bush, or a_ tree 
spreading its branches, the woods of the 
body being white, and a dark red cole, or 
heart; the outward bark is of a blackish 
colour, with many whitish spots therein; 
but the inner bark next the wood is yellow, 
which being chewed, will turn the spittle 
near into a saffron colour. The leaves are 
somewhat like those of an ordinary Alder- 
tree, or the Female Cornet, or Dogberry- 
tree, called in Sussex Dog-wood, but black- 
er, and not so long. The flowers are white, 
coming forth with the leaves at the joints, 
which turn into small round berries, first 
green, afterwards red, but blackish when 
_ they are thorough ripe, divided, as it were, 
into two parts, wherein is contained two 
small round and flat seeds. The root run- 
neth not deep into the ground, but spreads 
rather under the upper crust of the earth. 
Place.|] This tree or shrub may be found 
plentifully in St. John’s wood by Hornsey, 
and the woods upon Hampstead-Heath; as 
also a wood called the Old Park in Bar- 
comb in Essex, near the brook’s sides. 
Time.] It flowers in May, and the ber- 
_ ries are ripe in September. 
Government and virtues.| It is a tree of 
Venus, and perhaps under the celestial sign 
Cancer. The inner yellow bark hereof 
_ purges downwards both choler and phlegm, 
and the watery humours of such that have 
the dropsy, and strengthens the inward 
- parts again by binding. If the bark hereof 
_ be boiled with Agrimony, Wormwood, Dod- 
_ der, Hops and some Fennel, with Smallage, 
_ Endive, and Succory-roots, and a reason- 
_ able draught taken every morning for some 
, time together, it is very effectual against 
_ the jaundice, dropsy, and the evil disposi- 
_ tion of the body, especially if some suitable 
_ purging medicines have been taken before, 
_ to void the grosser excrements: It purgeth 
and strengtheneth the liver and spleen, 
pores them from such evil humours and 
_ hardness as they are afflicted with. It is 
to be understood that these things are per- 
formed by the dried bark; for the fresh 
green bark taken inwardly provokes strong 
vomitings, pains in the stomach, and grip- 
ings in the belly; yet if the decoction may 
stand and settle two or three days, until the 
yellow colour be changed black, it will not 
work so strongly as before, but will 
strengthen the stomach, and procure an 
appetite to meat. The outward bark con- 
trariwise doth bind the body, and is helpful 
for all lasks and fluxes thereof, but this also 
must be dried first, whereby it will work the 
better. The inner bark thereof boiled in 
vinegar is an approved remedy to kill lice, 
to cure the itch, and take away scabs, by 
drying them up in a short time. It is singu- 
lar good to wash the teeth, to take away 
the pains, to fasten those that are loose, to 
cleanse them, and to keep them sound. The 
leaves are good fodder for kine, to make 
them give more milk. 
If in the Spring-time you use the herbs 
before-mentioned, and will take but a hand- 
ful of each of them, and to them add an 
handful of Elder buds, and having bruised 
them all, boil them in a gallon of ordinary 
beer, when it is new; and having boiled 
them half an hour, add to this three gallons 
more, and let them work together, and drink 
a draught of it every morning, half a pint 
or thereabouts; it is an excellent purge for 
the Spring, to consume the phlegmatic 
quality the Winter hath left behind it, and 
withal to keep your body in health, and 
consume those evil humours which the heat 
of Summer will readily stir up. Esteem it 
as a jewel. 
THE COMMON ALDER-TREE. 
Descript.] Tus grows to a reasonable 
height, and spreads much if it like the 
place. It is so generally known to country 
people, that I conceive it needless to tell 
that which is no news. 
Place and Time.] It delights to grow in 
