12 THE COMPLETE HERBAL 
ancholy, quickens the spirits, is good 
against quartan agues, stancheth bleeding 
at mouth and nose, if it be stamped and 
applied to the nape of the neck; the herb 
also bruised, and with some salt and vine- 
gar and hog’s-grease, laid upon an hard 
tumour or swelling, or that vulgarly 
called the king’s evil, do help to dissolve 
or discuss them; and being in like manner 
applied, doth much allay the pains, and 
give ease to the gout, sciatica, and other 
pains of the joints and sinews. It is also 
very effectual to heal green wounds, and 
old ulcers; also to stay their fretting, 
gnawing and spreading. It draws forth 
splinters, and such like things gotten into 
the flesh, and is very good against bruises 
and burnings. But the yellow Archangel 
is most commended for old, filthy, cor- 
rupt sores and ulcers, yea although they 
grow to be hollow; and to dissolve tumours. 
The chief use of them is for women, it being 
a herb of Venus. 
ARSSMART. 
Tue hot Arssmart is called also Water- 
pepper, or Culrage. The mild Arssmart is 
called dead Arssmart Persicaria, or Peach- 
wort, because the leaves are so like the 
leaves of a peach-tree; it is also called 
Plumbago. 
Description of the Mild.| This has broad 
leaves set at the great red joint of the 
stalks; with semi-circular blackish marks 
on. them, usually either bluish and whitish, 
with such like seed following. The root is 
long, with many strings thereat, perishing 
yearly; this has no sharp taste (as another 
sort has, which is quick and biting) but 
rather sour like sorrel, or else a little dry- 
ing, or without taste. 
_ Place.| It grows in watery places, 
_ ditches, and the like, which for the most 
part are dry in Summer. 
_ _Time.] It flowers in June, and the seed 
ierior ne 
broader leaves. 
Government and virtues.] As the virtue — 
of both these is various, so is also their gov- _ 
ernment; for that which is hot and biting, is 
under the dominion of Mars, but Saturn 
challenges the other, as appears by that 
leaden coloured spot he hath placed upon 
the leaf. 
It is of a cooling and drying quality, — 
and very effectual for putrified ulcers in 
man or beast, to kill worms, and cleanse the _ 
putrified places. The juice thereof dropped — 
in, or otherwise applied, consumes all cold — 
swellings, and dissolveth the congealed 
blood of bruises by strokes, falls, &c. A 
piece of the root, or some of the seeds 
bruised, and held to an aching tooth, takes _ 
away the pain. The leaves bruised and © 
laid to the joint that has a felon thereon, 
takes it away. The juice destroys worms 
in the ears, being dropped into them; if — 
the hot Arssmart be strewed in a chamber, — 
it will soon kill all the fleas; and the herb — 
or juice of the cold Arssmart, put to a 
horse, or other cattle’s sores, will drive 
away the fly in the hottest time of Summer; 
a good handful of the hot biting Arssmart 
put under a horse’s saddle, will make him 
travel the better, although he were half — 
tired before. The mild Arssmart is good — 
against all imposthumes and inflammations — 
at the beginning, and to heal green wounds. — 
All authors chop the virtues of both sorts — 
of Arssmart together, as men chop herbs — 
for the pot, when both of them are of con- — 
trary qualities. The hot Arssmart grows ~ 
not so high or tall as the mild doth, but — 
| has many leaves of the colour of peach © 
leaves, very seldom or never spotted; in © 
other particulars it is like the former, but — 
may easily be known from it, if you will — 
but be pleased to break a leaf of it cross — 
your tongue, for the hot will make your ~ 
tongue to smart, but the cold will not. If — 
you see them both together, you may easily © 
distinguish them, because the mild hath far 
