96 
THE COMPLETE HERBAL 
Descript.| The wild hop grows up as 
the other doth, ramping upon trees or 
hedges, that stand next to them, with rough 
branches and leaves like the former, but it 
gives smaller heads, and in far less plenty 
than it, so that there is scarcely a head or 
two seen in a year on divers of this wild 
kind, wherein consists the chief difference. 
Place.] They delight to grow in low 
moist grounds, and are found in all parts 
of this land. 
Time.| They spring not until April, and 
flower not until the latter end of June; the 
heads are not gathered until the middle or 
latter end of September. 
Government and virtues.] It is under the 
dominion of Mars. This, in physical opera- 
tions, is to open obstructions of the liver 
and spleen, to cleanse the blood, to loosen 
the belly, to cleanse the reins from gravel, 
and provoke urine. The decoction of the 
tops of Hops, as well of the tame as 
the wild; works the same effects. In 
cleansing the blood they help to cure the 
French diseases, and all manner of scabs, 
itch, and other breakings-out of the body; 
as also all tetters, ringworms, and spread- 
ing sores, the morphew and all discolouring 
of the skin. The decoction of the flowers 
and hops, do help to expel poison that any 
one hath drank. Half a dram of the seed 
in powder taken in drink, kills worms in 
the body, brings down women’s courses, and 
expels urine. A syrup made of the juice and 
sugar, cures the yellow jaundice, eases the 
head-ache that comes of heat, and tempers 
the heat of the liver and stomach, and is 
profitably given in long and hot agues that 
rise in choler and blood. Both the wild and 
the manured are of one property, and alike 
effectual in all the aforesaid diseases. By 
_ all these testimonies beer appears to be bet- 
_ ter than ale. 
_ Mars owns the plant, and then Dr. Rea- 
_ son will tell you how it performs these 
HOREHOUND. 
THERE are two kinds of Horehound, the 
white and the black. The black sort is like- 
wise called Hen-bit; but the white one is 
here spoken of. 
Descript.| Common Horehound grows 
up with square hairy stalks, half a yard 
or two feet high, set at the joints with two 
round crumpled rough leaves of a sullen 
hoary green colour, of a reasonable good 
scent, but a very bitter taste. The flowers 
are small, white, and gaping, set in a rough, 
hard prickly husk round about the joints, 
with the leaves from the middle of the 
stalk upward, wherein afterward is found 
small round blackish seed. ‘The root is 
blackish, hard and woody, with many 
strings, and abides many years. 
Place.| It is found in many parts of 
this land, in dry grounds, and waste green 
places. 
Time.] It flowers in July, and the seed 
is ripe in August. 
Government and virtues.] It is an herb 
of Mercury. A decoction of the dried herb, 
with the seed, or the juice of the green herb 
taken with honey, is a remedy for those that 
are short-winded, have a cough, or are fallen 
into a consumption, either through long 
sickness, or thin distillations of rheum upoD 
the lungs. It helps to expectorate tough 
phlegm from the chest, being taken from the 
roots of Iris or Orris. It is given to wome? 
to bring down their courses, to expel the 
after-birth, and to them that have taken 
poison, or are stung or bitten by venomous 
serpents. The leaves used with honey; 
to clear the eyesight, and snuffed up into the 
nostrils, purges away the yellow-jaundice, 
and with a little oil of roses dropped into 
| the ears, eases the pains of them. Galen 
purge foul ulcers, stay running or creeping | 
sores, and the growing of the flesh over the — 
nails. It also helps pains of the sides. The — 
juice thereof with wine and honey, helps — 
