AND ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED. 81. 
two or three feet long, with finely cut and 
jagged leaves of whitish or rather blueish 
sea green colour: At the tops of the 
branches stand many small flowers, as it 
were in a long spike one above another, 
made like little birds, of a reddish purple 
colour, with whitish bellies, after which 
come small round husks, containing small 
black seeds. The root is yellow, small, and 
not very long, full of juice while it is green, 
but quickly perishes with the ripe seed. In 
the corn fields in Cornwall, it bears white 
flowers. 
Place.| It grows in corn fields almost 
every where, as well as in gardens. 
Time.| It flowers in May, for the most 
part, and the seed ripens shortly after. 
Government and virtues.| Saturn owns 
the herb, and presents it to the world as a 
cure for his own disease, and strengthener 
of the parts of the body he rules. If by 
my astrological judgment of diseases, from 
the decumbiture, you find Saturn author of 
‘the disease, or if by direction from a 
hativity you fear a Saturnine disease ap- 
proaching, you may by this herb prevent 
it in the one, and cure it in the other, and 
therefore it is fit you keep a syrup of it 
always by you. The juice or syrup made 
thereof, or the decoction made in whey by 
itself, with some other purging or opening 
herbs and roots to cause it to work the 
better (itself being but weak) is very effec- 
tual for the liver and spleen, opening the 
obstructions thereof, and clarifying the 
blood from saltish, choleric, and adust 
humours, which cause leprosy, scabs, tet- 
ters, and itches, and such like breakings- 
out of the skin, and after the purgings doth 
_ Strengthen all the inward parts. It is also 
800d against the yellow-jaundice, and 
Spends it by urine, which it procures im 
abundance. The powder of the dried herb 
Siven for some time together, cures melan- 
holy, but the seed is strongest in opera- 
Hon for all the former diseases. The dis- 
3 
tilled water of the herb is also of good 
effect in the former diseases, and conduces 
much against the plague and pestilence, be- 
ing taken with good treacle. The distilled 
water also, with a little water and honey 
of roses, helps all sores of the mouth or 
throat, being gargled often therewith. The 
juice dropped into the eyes, clears the sight, 
and takes away redness and other defects 
in them, although it procure some pain for 
the present, and cause tears. Dioscorides 
saith it hinders any fresh springing of hairs 
on the eye-lids (after they are pulled away) 
if thé eye-lids be anointed with the juice 
hereof, with Gum Arabic dissolved therein. 
The juice of the Fumitory and Docks 
mingled with vinegar, and the places gently 
washed therewith, cures all sorts of scabs, 
pimples, blotches, wheals, and pushes which 
arise on the face or hands, or any other 
parts of the body. 
THE FURZE BUSH. 
Ir as well known by this name, as it is 
in some counties by the name of Gorz or 
Whins, that I shall not need to write any 
description thereof, my interest being to 
teach my countrymen what they know not, 
rather than to tell them again of that which 
is generally known before. 
Place.| They are known to grow on dry 
barren heaths, and other waste, gravelly 
or sandy grounds, in all counties of this 
land. 
Time.| They also flower in the Summer 
months. 
Government and virtues.| Mars owns the 
herb. They are hot and dry, and open ob- 
structions of the liver and spleen. A decoc- 
tion made with the flowers thereof hath — 
been found effectual against the jaundice, _ 
as also to provoke urine, and cleanse the _ 
kidneys from gravel or stone ingendered — 
in them. Mars doth also this, by biog 
pay | 
