34 
THE COMPLETE HERBAL 
- 
Herb-Carpenter; though in Essex we call 
another herb by that name. 
Descript.| This has larger leaves than 
those of the Self-heal, but else of the same 
fashion, or rather longer; in some green on 
the upper side, and in others more brown- 
ish,dented about the edges, somewhat hairy, 
as the square stalk is also which rises up to 
be half a yard high sometimes, with the 
leaves set by couples, from the middle 
almost, whereof upwards stand the flowers, 
together with many smaller and browner 
leaves than the rest, on the stalk below set 
at distance, and the stalk bare between 
them; among which flowers, are also small 
ones of a blueish and sometimes of an ash 
colour, fashioned like the flowers of ground- 
ivy, after which come small, round blackish 
seeds. The root is composed of many 
strings, and spreads upon the ground. 
The white flowered Bugle differs not in 
form or greatness from the former, saving 
that the leaves and stalks are always green, 
and never brown, like the other, and the 
flowers thereof are white. 
Place.| They grow in woods, copses, 
and fields, generally throughout England, 
but the white flowered Bugle is not so 
plentiful as the former. 
_ Time.] They flower from May until July, 
and in the mean time perfect their seed. 
The roots and leaves next thereunto upon 
the ground abiding all the Winter. 
Government and virtues.] This herb be- 
Jongs to Dame Venus: If the virtues of it 
make you fall in love with it (as they will 
if you be wise) keep a syrup of it to take 
_ inwardly and an ointment and plaister of it 
to use outwardly, always by you. 
_ The decoction of the leaves and flowers 
made in wine, and taken, dissolves the con- 
_ gealed blood in those that are bruised in- 
__wardly by a fall, or otherwise is very 
effectual for any inward wounds, thrusts, 
pe hee ty pounds 
the body or bowels; and it is | 
for those that are liver-grown (as they call — 
it.) It is wonderful in curing all manner of — 
ulcers and sores, whether new and fresh, | 
or old and inveterate; yea, gangrenes and 
fistulas also, if the leaves bruised and ap- 
plied, or their juice be used to wash and 
bathe the place, and the same made into a 
lotion, and some honey and allum cures 
all sores in the mouth and gums, be they 
never so foul, or of long continuance; and 
works no less powerfully and effectually for 
such ulcers and sores as happen in the 
secret parts of men and women. Being 
also taken inwardly, or outwardly applied, 
it helps those that have broken any bone, 
or have any member out of joint. An 
ointment made with the leaves of Bugle, 
Scabions and Sanicle bruised and boiled 
in hog’s grease, until the herbs be dry, and 
then strained forth into a pot for such 
occasions as shall require; it is so singular 
good for all sorts of hurts in the body, that 
none that know its usefulness will be with- 
out it. 
The truth is, I have known this herb cure 
some diseases of Saturn, of which I thought 
good to quote one. Many times such as 
give themselves much to drinking are 
troubled with strange fancies, strange sights 
in the night time, and some with voices, 
as also with the disease ephialtes, or the 
mare. I take the reason of this to be 
(according to Fernelius) a melancholy 
vapour made thin by excessive drinking 
strong liquor, and so flies up and disturbs 
the fancy, and breeds imaginations like 
itself, viz. fearful and troublesome. Those 
I have known cured by taking only two 
spoonfuls of the syrup of this herb after 
supper two hours, when you go to bed. 
But whether this does it by sympathy or 
antipathy, is some doubt in astrology. I 
know there is a great antipathy between 
Saturn and Venus in matter of procreation; 
yea, such a one, that the barrenness of 
Saturn can be removed by none but Venus; 
