AND ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED. 15 
tween an adder and an Ash-tree, that if an 
adder be encompassed round with Ash-tree 
leaves, she will sooner run through the fire 
than through the leaves. The contrary to 
which is the truth, as both my eyes are wit- 
nesses. The rest are virtues something like- 
ly, only if it be in Winter when you cannot 
get the leaves, you may safely use the bark 
instead of them. The keys you may easily 
keep all the year, gathering them when 
they are ripe. 
AVENS, CALLED ALSO COLEWORT, AND 
HERB BONET. 
Descript.] Tue ordinary Avens hath 
many long, rough, dark, green winged 
leaves, rising from the root, every one made 
of many leaves set on each side of the mid- 
dle rib, the largest three whereof grow at 
the end, and are snipped or dented round 
about the edges; the other being small 
pieces, sometimes two and sometimes four, 
standing on each side of the middle rib 
underneath them. Among which do rise 
up divers rough or hairy stalks about two 
feet high, branching forth with leaves at 
every joint not so long as those below, but 
almost as much cut in on the edges, some 
into three parts, some into more. On the 
tops of the branches stand small, pale, yel- 
low flowers, consisting of five leaves, like 
the flowers of Cinquefoil, but large, in the 
middle whereof stand a small green herb, 
which when the flower is fallen, grows to 
be round, being made of many long green- 
ish purple seeds (like grains) which will 
stick upon your cloaths. The root consists 
of many brownish strings of fibres, smelling 
somewhat like unto cloves, especially those 
which grow in the higher, hotter, and drier 
grounds, and in free and clear air. | 
Place.| They grow wild in many places 
under hedge’s sides, and by the path-ways 
in fields; yet they rather delight to grow in 
Shadowy than sunny places. 
Time.] They flower in May or June for 
the most part, and their seed is ripe in July 
at the farthest. 
Government and virtues.] It is governed 
by Jupiter, and that gives hopes of a whole- 
some heathful herb. It is good for the dis- 
eases of the chest or breast, for pains, and 
stitches in the side, and to expel crude and 
raw humours from the belly and stomach, 
by the sweet savour and warming quality. 
It dissolves the inward congealed blood 
happening by falls or bruises, and the spit- 
ting of blood, if the roots, either green or 
dry, be boiled in wine and drank; as also 
all manner of inward wounds or outward, 
if washed or bathed therewith. The decoc- 
tion also being drank, comforts the heart, 
and strengthens the stomach and a cold 
brain, and therefore is good in the Spring 
time to open obstructions of the liver, and 
helps the wind cholic; it also helps those 
that have fluxes, or are bursten, or have a 
rupture; it takes away spots or marks in 
the face, being washed therewith. The juice 
of the fresh root, or powder of the dried 
root, has the same effect with the decoction. 
The root in the Spring-time steeped in wine, 
gives it a delicate savour and taste, and be- 
ing drank fasting every morning, comforts 
the heart, and is a good preservative against 
the plague, or any other poison. It helps 
indigestion, and warms a cold stomach, and 
opens obstructions of the liver and spleen. 
It is very safe; you need have no dose 
prescribed; and is very fit to be kept in 
every body’s house. 
BALM. 
Tus herb is so well known to be an in- 
habitant almost in every garden, that I shall 
not need to write any description thereof, 
although its virtues, which are many, may 
not be omitted. 
Government and virtues.| It is an herb 
of Jupiter, and under Cancer, and strength- 
ens nature much in all its actions. Let a — 
