46 THE COMPLETE HERBAL 
turn into green berries inclosed with thin 
skins, which change to be reddish when 
they grow ripe, the berry likewise being 
reddish, and as large as a cherry; wherein 
are contained many flat and yellowish seeds 
lying within the pulp, which being gathered 
and strung up, are kept all the year to be 
used upon occasion, 
Place.| They grow not naturally in this 
land, but are cherished in gardens for their 
virtues. 
_ Time.| They flower not until the middle 
or latter end of July; and the fruit is ripe 
about August, or the beginning of Sep- 
tember. 
Government and wirieni: ] This also is a 
“plant of Venus. They are of great use in 
physic: The leaves being cooling, may be 
used in inflammations, but not opening as 
the berries and fruit are: which by draw- 
_ ing down the urine provoke it to be avoided 
plentifully when it is stopped or grown hot, 
sharp, and painful in the passage; it is 
good also to expel the stone and gravel out 
of the reins, kidneys and bladder, helping 
to dissolve the stone, and voiding it by grit 
or gravel sent forth in the urine; it also 
helps much to cleanse inward imposthumes 
or ulcers in the reins or bladder, or in those 
that void a bloody or foul urine. The 
distilled water of the fruit, or the leaves 
together with them, or the berries, green or 
dry, distilled with a little milk and drank 
_ morning and evening with a little sugar, is 
_ effectual to all the purposes before speci- 
fied, and especially against the heat and 
sharpness of the urine. I shall only mention 
_ one way, amongst many others, which 
might be used for ordering the berries, to 
be helpful for the urine and the stone ; 
_ which is this; Take three or four good 
handfuls of the berries, either green or 
fresh, or dried, and having bruised them, 
put them into eo 
good to many, both to ease the pains, and © 
expel urine and the stone, and to cause the 
stone not to engender. The decoction of | 
the berries in wine and water is the most 
usual way; but the powder of them taken 
in drink is more effectual. 
CHERVIL. 
Ir is called Cerefolium, Mirrhis, and — 
Mirrha, Chervil, Sweet Chervil, and Sweet 
Cicely. 
Descript.| The garden Chervil doth at | 
first somewhat resemble Parsley, but after — 
it is better grown, the leaves are much cut in 
and jagged, resembling hemlock, being @ 
little hairy and of a whitish green colour, 
sometimes turning reddish in the Summer, 
with the stalks also; it rises a little above 
half a foot high, bearing white flowers in 
spiked tufts, which turn into long and round 
seeds pointed at the ends, and blackish when 
they are ripe; of a sweet taste, but no smell, 
though the herb itself smells reasonably 
well. The root is small and long, and 
perishes every year, and must be sown 
a-new in spring, for seed after July for 
Autumn fails. ) 
The wild Chervil grows two or three feet — 
high, with yellow stalks and joints, set with 
broader and more hairy leaves, divided 
into sundry parts, nicked about the edges; 
and of a dark green colour, which likewise 
grow reddish with the stalks; at the tops 
whereof stand small white tufts of flowers, 
afterwards smaller and longer seed. The 
root is white, hard, and enduring long: 
This has little or no scent. 
Place.| The first is sown in gardens for 
a sallet herb; the second grows wild in 
many of the meadows of this land, and by 
the hedge sides, and on heaths. 
Time.| They flower and seed early, and 
thereupon are sown again in the end of 
Summer. | 
_ Government od virtues.) The garden i 
