36 
THE COMPLETE HERBAL 
cording to the soil where it grows, and be- 
fore the stalk with the flowers have abiden 
a month above ground, it will be withered 
and gone, and blow away with the wind, 
and the leaves will begin to spring, which 
being full grown, are very large and broad, 
being somewhat thin and almost round, 
whose thick red foot stalks above a foot 
long, stand towards the middle of the leaves. 
The lower part being divided into two round 
parts, close almost one to another, and are 
of a pale green colour; and hairy under- 
neath. The root is long, and spreads under 
ground, being in some places no bigger than 
ones finger, in others much bigger, blackish 
on the outside, and whitish within, of a 
bitter and unpleasant taste. 
Place and Time.| They grow in low and 
wet grounds by rivers and water sides. 
Their flower (asissaid) rising and decaying 
in February and March, before their leaves, 
which appear in April. 
Government and virtues.] It is under the 
dominion of the Sun, and therefore is a 
great strengthener of the heart, and clearer 
of the vital spirits. The roots thereof are 
by long experience found to be very avail- 
able against the plague and _pestilential 
fevers by provoking sweat; if the powder 
thereof be taken in wine, it also resists the 
force of any other poison. The root hereof 
taken with zedoary and angelica, or without 
them, helps the rising of the mother. The 
decoction of the root in wine, is singular 
good for those that wheese much, or are 
short winded. It provokes urine also, and 
_ women’s courses, and kills the flat and 
_ broad worms in the belly. The powder of 
_ the root doth wonderfully help to dry up 
the moisture of the sores that are hard to be 
cured, and takes away all spots and 
_ blemishes of the skin. It were well if 
_ gentlewomen would keep this root pre- 
ee served, to help their poor neighbours. It is 
: sift the rich should help the poor, for the 
poor cannot help themselves. 
THE BURDOCK. 
TuHey are also called Personata, and ) 
Loppy-major, great Burdock and Clod-bur. 
It is so well known, even by the little boys, — 
who pull off the Burs to throw and stick — 
upon one another, that I shall spare to write _ 
any description of it. 
Place.] They grow plentifully by ditches ! 
and water-sides, and by the highways al- 
most every where through this land. 
Government and virtues.] Venus chal- 
lenges this herb for her own, and by its leaf 
or seed you may draw the womb which | 
way you please, either upwards by applying | 
it to the crown of the head, in case it falls 
out; or downwards in fits of the mother, — 
by applying it to the soles of her feet; or 
if you would stay it in its place, apply it to 
the navel, and that is one good way to stay — 
the child in it. The Burdock leaves are 
cooling, moderately drying, and discussing 
withal, whereby it is good for old ulcers and 
sores. A dram of the roots taken with 
pine-kernels, helps them that spit foul, 
mattery, and bloody phlegm. The leaves _ 
applied to the places troubled with the | 
shrinking of the sinew or arteries, give much 
ease. The juice of the leaves, or rather 
the roots themselves, given to drink with — 
old wine, doth wonderfully help the biting 
of any serpents: And the root beaten with 
a little salt, and laid on the place, suddenly 
eases the pain thereof, and helps those that _ 
are bit by a mad dog. The juice of the — 
leaves being drank with honey, provokes — 
urine, and remedies the pain of the bladder. _ 
The seed being drank in wine forty days 
together, doth wonderfully help the sciatica. 
The leaves bruised with the white of an egg, 
and applied to any place burnt with fire, 
takes out the fire, gives sudden ease, and 
heals it up afterwards. The decoction of 
them fomented on any fretting sore or — 
canker, stays the corroding quality, which 
| must be afterwards anointed with an oint- | 
