30 
THE COMPLETE HERBAL 
or rather boiled and applied like a poultice 
are excellent good to unite broken bones 
and strengthen joints that have been put 
out. The decoction of either leaves or 
roots being drank, and the decoction of 
leaves applied to the place, is excellent 
good for the king’s evil that is broken and 
runneth; for by the influence of the moon, 
it revives the ends of the veins which are 
relaxed. There is scarce a better remedy to 
be applied to such places as are burnt with 
fire than this is, for it fetches out the fire, 
and heals it without a scar. This is an 
excellent remedy for such as are bursten, 
being either taken inwardly, or applied to 
the place. In like manner used, it helps 
the cramp and the gout. It is excellently 
good in hectic fevers, and restores radical 
moisture to such as are in consumptions. 
BRIONY, OR WILD VINE. 
It is called Wild, and Wood Vine, Tamus, 
or Ladies’ Seal. The white is called White 
Vine by some; and the black, Black Vine. 
Descript.] The common White Briony 
grows ramping upon the hedges, sending 
forth many long, rough, very tender 
_ branches at the beginning, with many very 
rough, and broad leaves thereon, cut (for 
the most part) into five partitions, in form 
very like a vine leaf, but smaller, rough, and 
of a whitish hoary green colour, spreading 
very far, spreading and twining with his 
small claspers (that come forth at the joints 
_ with the leaves) very far on whatsoever 
stands next to it. At the several joints 
also (especially towards the top of the 
branches) comes forth a long stalk bearing 
many whitish flowers together on a long 
tuft, consisting of five small leaves a-piece, 
laid open like a star, after which come the 
_berries separated one from another, more 
e than a cluster of grapes, green at the first, 
and very red when they are thorough ripe, 
(G1 no good scent, but of a most loathsome 
‘The root cleanses the skin ‘wonderfully _ 
from all black and blue spots, freckles, 
be exceeding great, with many long twines 
or branches going from it, of a pale whitish 
colour on the outside, and more white 
within, and of a sharp, bitter, loathsome 
taste. | 
Place.] It grows on banks, or under 
hedges, through this land; the roots lie very 
deep. . 
Time.] It flowers in July and August, | 
some earlier, and some later than the other. 
Government and virtues.] They are furi- 
ous martial plants. The root of Briony 
purges the belly with great violence, trou- 
bling the stomach and burning the liver, and _ 
therefore not rashly to be taken; but being 
corrected, is very profitable for the diseases _ 
of the head, as falling sickness, giddiness, 
and swimmings, by drawing away much 
phlegm and rheumatic humours that op- 
press the head, as also the joints and 
sinews; and is therefore good for palsies, 
convulsions, cramps, and stitches in the 
sides, and the dropsy, and for provoking | 
urine; it cleanses the reins and kidneys 
from gravel and stone, by opening the ob- | 
structions of the spleen, and consumes the 
hardness and swelling thereof. The de- 
coction of the root in wine, drank once 3 
week at going to bed, cleanses the mother, 
and helps the rising thereof, expels the 
dead child; a dram of the root in powder | 
taken in white wine, brings down theif 
courses. An electuary made of the roots | 
and honey, doth mightily cleanse the chest : 
of rotten phlegm, and wonderfully help — 
any old strong cough, to those that are . 
troubled with shortness of breath, and is 
good for them that are bruised inwardly, to 
help to expel the clotted or congealed blood. 
The leaves, fruit, and root do cleanse old _ 
and filthy sores, are good against all fret-_ 
ting and running cankers, gangrenes, and _ 
tetters, and therefore the berries are by q 
some country people called tetter-berries. _ 
soiiecbsabtieiiciaaiaian 
