38 
THE COMPLETE HERBAL 
stalk, two feet high, and better, with some 
leaves thereon to the top, where it branches 
_ forth much; and on every branch stands a 
large bush of pale whitish flowers, consist- 
ing of four leaves a-piece: The root is 
somewhat great, shoots forth many branches © 
under ground, keeping the leaves green all 
the winter. 
Place.| They grow in many places upon 
the sea-coasts, as well on the Kentish as 
Essex shores; as at Lid in Kent, Colches- 
ter in Essex, and divers other places, and 
_ in other counties of this land. 
Time.| They flower and seed about the 
time that other kinds do. 
Government and virtues.| The Moon 
claims the dominion of these also. The 
broth, or first decoction of the Sea Colewort, 
doth by the sharp, nitrous, and bitter qual- 
ities therein, open the belly, and purge the 
body; it cleanses and digests most power- 
fully than the other kind: The seed hereof 
bruised and drank kills worms. The leaves 
or the juice of them applied to sores or 
ulcers, cleanses and heals them, and dis- 
solves swellings, and takes away inflam- 
mations, 
CALAMINT, OR MOUNTAIN-MINT. 
Descript.| Tuts is a small herb, seldom 
_ rising above a foot high, with square hairy, 
and woody stalks, and two small hoary 
leaves set at a joint, about the highness of 
| majoram, or not much bigger, a little dented 
_ about the edges, and of a very fierce or 
_ quick scent, as the whole herb is; The 
oe flowers stand at several spaces of the stalks, 
—; from the middle almost upwards, which are 
_ small and gaping like to those of the Mints, 
_ ofa pale bluish colour: After which follow 
_ small, round blackish seed. The root is 
lands, and dry grounds in many places of 
this land. 
. Time.| They flower in July, and their 
seed is ripe quickly after. 
Government and virtues.| It is an herb of 
Mercury, and a strong one too, therefore 
excellent good in all afflictions of the brain. 
The decoction of the herb being drank, 
brings down women’s courses, and provokes 
urine. It is profitable for those that are 
bursten, or troubled with convulsions or 
cramps,with shortness of breath, or choleric 
torments and pains in their bellies or 
stomach; it also helps the yellow-jaundice, 
and stays vomiting, being taken in wine. 
Taken with salt and honey, it kills all 
manner of worms in the body. It helps 
such as have the leprosy, either taken in- 
wardly, drinking whey after it, or the green 
herb outwardly applied. It hinders con- 
ception in women, but either burned or 
strewed in the chamber, it drives away 
venomous serpents. It takes away black 
and blue marks in the face, and makes 
black scars become well coloured, if the 
green herb (not the dry) be boiled in wine, 
and laid to the place, or the place washed 
therewith. Being applied to the huckle- 
bone, by continuance of time, it spends the 
humours, which cause the pain of the 
sciatica. The juice being dropped into 
the ears, kills the worms in them. The 
leaves boiled in wine, and drank, provoke 
sweat, and open obstructions of the liver 
and spleen. It helps them that have a ter- 
tian ague (the body being first purged) by 
taking away the cold fits. The decoction 
hereof, with some sugar put thereto after- 
wards, is very profitable for those that be 
troubled with the over-flowing of the gall, 
and that have an old cough, and that are 
| scarce able to breathe by shortness of their 
wind ; that have any cold distemper in their 
| bowels, and are troubled with the hardness 
of Se nlc Sa hl Deepens, Dott 
