94 THE COMPLETE HERBAL 
by experience, that the root of that which 
grows wild in our country, works not so 
churlishly as those do which are brought 
from beyond sea, as being maintained 
by a more temperate air. The root, used as 
a pessary, provokes the terms exceedingly; 
also being beaten into powder, and strewed 
upon foul ulcers, it consumes the dead 
flesh, and instantly heals them; nay, it will 
help gangreens in the beginning. Twenty 
grains taken inwardly is a sufficient dose for 
one time, and let that be corrected with half 
so much cinnamon; country people used to 
rowel their cattle with it. If a beast be 
troubled with a cough, or have taken any 
poison, they bore a hole through his ear, and 
put a piece of the root in it, this will help 
him in 24 hours time. Many other uses far- 
riers put it to which I shall forbear. 
HERB ROBERT. 
Tue Herb Robert is held in great esti- 
mation by farmers, who use it in diseases 
of their cattle. 
Descript.] It rises up with a reddish 
stalk two feet high, having divers leaves 
thereon upon very long and reddish foot- 
stalks, divided at the ends into three or five 
divisions, each of them cut in on the edges, 
which sometimes turn reddish. At the tops 
of the stalks come forth divers flowers made 
of five leaves, much larger than the doves 
foot, and of a more reddish colour; after 
which come black heads, as in others. The 
root is small and thready, and smells as the 
_ whole plant, very strong, almost stinking. 
Place.| This grows frequently every 
where by the way-sides, upon ditch banks 
and waste grounds wheresoever one goes. 
Time.] It flowers in June and July 
_ chiefly, and the seed is ripe shortly after. 
a Government and virtues.| It is under the 
_ dominion of Venus. Herb Robert is com- 
“mended not only against the stone, but to 
speedily heals all green wounds, and is ef- © 
fectual in old ulcers in the privy parts, or 
elsewhere. You may persuade yourself this — 
is true, and also conceive a good reason for — 
it, do but consider it is an herb of Venus, | 
for all it hath a man’s name. ' 
HERB TRUE-LOVE, OR ONE-BERRY. 
Descript.| Orptnary Herb True-love 
has a small creeping root running under the _ 
uppermost crust of the ground, somewhat 
like cough grass root, but not so white, 
shooting forth stalks with leaves, some 
whereof carry no berries, the others do; 
every stalk smooth without joints, and- 
blackish green, rising about half a foot high, 
if it bear berries, otherwise seldom so high, — 
bearing at the top four leaves set directly | 
one against another, in manner of a cross 
or ribband tied (as it is called in a true 
loves knot,) which are each of them apart 
somewhat like unto a night-shade leaf, but _ 
somewhat broader, having sometimes three 
leaves, sometimes five, sometimes six, and | 
those sometimes greater than in others, in 
the middle of the four leaves rise up oné 
small slender stalk, about an inch high, — 
bearing at the tops thereof one flower 
spread open like a star, consisting of fout 
small and long narrow pointed leaves of 8 
yellowish green colour, and four others — 
lying between them lesser than they; in the 
middle whereof stands a round dark pur — 
plish button or head, compassed about with 
eight small yellow mealy threads with three 
colours, making it the more conspicuous; 
and lovely to behold. This button or head — 
in the middle, when the other leaves até 
withered, becomes a blackish purple berry) — 
full of juice, of the bigness of a reasonable 
grape, having within it many white seeds: 
The whole plant is without any maanifct 
taste. 
‘Plave:} It grows in woods and copses; 
‘and sometimes inthe comers or borders o 
