AND ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED. 
27 
Government and virtues.| It is an herb 
| of the Sun, and therefore cordial; half a 
_ dram, or a dram at most, of the root hereof 
in powder taken in wine and vinegar, of 
each a little quantity, and the party pres- 
_ ently laid to sweat, is held to be a sovereign 
remedy for those that are infected with the 
—— 
plague, and have a sore upon them, by ex- 
pelling the poison, and defending the heart 
_ and spirits from danger. It is also accounted 
a singular good wound herb, and therefore 
used with other herbs in making such balms 
as are necessary for curing of wounds, 
either green or old, and especially if the 
nerves be hurt. 
THE BRAMBLE, OR BLACK-BERRY BUSH. 
Ir is so well known that it needs no 
description. The virtues thereof are as 
follows: 
Government and virtues.] It is a plant of 
_ Venus in Aries. If any ask the reason why 
Venus is so prickly? Tell them ’tis be- 
cause she is in the house of Mars. The 
buds, leaves, and branches, while they are 
green, are of a good use in the ulcers and 
putrid sores of the mouth and throat, and 
of the quinsey, and likewise to heal other 
fresh wounds and sores; but the flowers 
and fruits unripe are very binding, and so 
profitable for the bloody flux, lasks, and 
are a fit remedy for spitting of blood. 
Either the decoction of the powder or of 
the root taken, is good to break or drive 
forth gravel and the stone in the reins and 
kidneys. The leaves and brambles, as well 
green as dry, are exceeding good lotions 
for sores in the mouth, or secret parts. The 
decoction of them, and of the dried 
_ branches, do much bind the belly and are 
good for too much flowing of women’s 
courses; the berries of the flowers are a 
powerful remedy against the poison of the 
Most venomous serpents; as well drank as 
_ outwardly applied, helpeth the sores of the 
Rese and the Gigees 
berries mixed with the juice of mulberries, 
do bind more effectually, and help all fret- 
ting and eating sores and ulcers whereso- 
ever. The distilled water of the branches, 
leaves and flowers, or of the fruit, is very 
pleasant in taste, and very effectual in 
fevers and hot distempers of the body, head, 
eyes, and other parts, and for the purposes 
aforesaid. The leaves boiled in lye, and the 
head washed therewith, healeth the itch and 
running sores thereof, and makes the hair 
black. The powder of the leaves strewed 
on cankers and running ulcers, wonderfully 
helps to heal them. Some use to conden- 
sate the juice of the leaves, and some the 
juice of the berries, to keep for their use 
all the year, for the purposes aforesaid. 
BLITES. 
Descript. Or these there are two sorts 
commonly known, viz. White and red. The 
White has leaves somewhat like to beets, 
but smaller, rounder and of a whitish green 
colour, every one standing upon a small 
long footstalk: the stalk rises up two or 
three feet high, with such like leaves there- 
on; the flowers grow at the top in long 
round tufts or clusters, wherein are con- 
tained small and round seed; the root is 
very full of threads or strings. 
The Red Blite is in all things like the 
White, but that his leaves and tufted heads 
are exceeding red at first, and after turn 
more purple. 
There are other kinds of Blites which © 
grow different from the two former sorts 
but little, but only the wild are smaller in _ 
every part. 
Place.| They grow in gardens, and wild 
in many places in this land. 
Time.] They seed in August and Sep- — 
tember. — 
Government and virtues.] They are all — 
of them cooling, drying, and binding, serv- _ 
| ing! to restrain the fluxes of blood in eid om 
Sa 5005 of the 
