22 THE COMPLETE HERBAL 
many leaves rising from the root, which are 
somewhat broad and round at the end, 
roundly dented about the edges, standing 
upon long foot stalks, from among which 
rise up small, square, slender, but upright 
hairy stalks, with some leaves thereon to a 
piece at the joints, smaller than the lower, 
whereon are set several spiked heads of 
flowers like lavender, but thicker and 
shorter for the most part, and of a reddish 
or purple colour, spotted with white spots 
both in the upper and lower part. The 
seeds being contained within the husks that 
hold the flowers, are blackish, somewhat 
long and uneven. The roots are many white 
thready strings: the stalk perishes, but the 
roots with some leaves thereon, abide all 
the Winter. The whole plant is somewhat 
small. 
Place.] It grows frequently in woods, 
and delights in shady places. 
Time.] And it flowers in July; after 
which the seed is quickly ripe, yet in its 
prime in May. 
Government and virtues.] The herb is 
appropriated to the planet Jupiter, and the 
sign Aries. Antonius Musa, physician to 
the Emperor Augustus Cesar, wrote a pe- 
culiar book of the virtues of this herb; and 
among other virtues saith of it, that it pre- 
serves the liver and bodies of men from the 
danger of epidemical diseases, and from 
witchcrafts also; it helps those that loath 
and cannot digest their meat, those that 
have weak stomachs and sour belchings, or 
continual rising in their stomach, using it 
familiarly either green or dry; either the 
herb, or root, or the flowers, in broth, drink, 
or meat, or made into conserve, syrup, 
water, electuary, or powder, as every one 
may best frame themselves unto, or as the 
time and season requires; taken any of 
the aforesaid ways, it helpes the jaundice, 
falling sickness, the palsy, convulsions, or 
shrinking of the sinews, the gout and those 
eben one ass 
continual pains in their heads, although it 
turn to phrensy. The powder mixed with 
pure honey, is no less available for all sorts 
of coughs or colds, wheesing, or shortness 
of breath, distillations of thin rheum upon 
the lungs, which causes consumptions. The 
decoction made with mead, and a little pen- 
ny-royal, is good for those that are troubled 
with putrid agues, whether quotidian, ter- 
tian, or quartan, and to draw down and 
evacuate the blood and humours, that by 
falling into the eyes, do hinder the sight; 
the decoction thereof made in wine and 
taken, kills the worms in the belly, opens — 
obstructions both of the spleen and liver; 
cures stitches, and pains in the back and 
sides, the torments and griping pains in the 
bowels, and the wind colic; and mixed with 
honey purges the belly, helps to bring down 
women’s courses, and is of special use for 
those that are troubled with the falling 
down of the mother, and pains thereof, and 
causes an easy and speedy delivery of — 
women in child birth. It helps also to break © 
and expel the stone, either in the bladder 
or kidneys. The decoction with wine gar-_ 
gled in the mouth, eases the tooth-ach. It is _ 
commended against the stinging and biting 
of venomous serpents, or mad dogs, being — 
used inwardly and applied outwardly to the 
place. A dram of the powder of Betony 
taken with a little honey in some vinegar, — 
does wonderfully refresh those that are — 
over wearied by travel. It stays bleeding, 
at the mouth or nose, and helpeth those that — 
void or spit blood, and those that are 
bursten or have a rupture, and is good for 
such as are bruised by any fall or otherwise. — 
The green herb bruised, or the juice ap- 
plied to any inward hurt, or outward greet — 
wound in the head or body, will quickly heal _ 
and close it up; as also any veins or sinewS~ 
that are cut, and will draw forth any broken 
bone or splinter, thorn or other things got 
into the flesh. It is no less profitable for 
ms 
