104 
THE COMPLETE HERBAL 
stopped, or are troubled with the wind or 
cholic, if the place be bathed therewith. A 
decoction made with the flowers of Laven- 
der, Hore-hound, Fennel and Asparagus 
root, and a little Cinnamon, is very profit- 
ably used to help the falling-sickness, and 
the giddiness or turning of the brain; to 
gargle the mouth with the decoction thereof 
is good against the tooth-ache. Two spoon- 
fuls of the distilled water of the flowers 
taken, helps them that have lost their voice, 
as also the tremblings and passions of the 
heart, and faintings and swooning, not only 
being drank, but applied to the temples, or 
nostrils to be smelled unto; but it is not safe 
to use it where the body is replete with 
blood and humours, because of the hot and 
subtile spirits wherewith it is possessed. 
The chymical oil drawn from Lavender, 
usually called Oil of Spike, is of so fierce 
and piercing a quality, that it is cautiously 
to be used, some few drops being sufficient, 
to be given with other things, either for 
inward or outward griefs. 
LAVENDER-COTTON. 
Ir being a common garden herb, I shall 
forbear the description, only take notice, 
that it flowers in June and July. 
Government and virtues.] It is under the 
dominion of Mercury. It resists poison, 
putrefaction, and heals the biting of veno- 
mous beasts: A dram of the powder of the 
dried leaves taken every morning, fasting, 
stops the running of the reins in men, and 
whites in women. The seed beaten into 
powder, and taken as worm-seed, kills the 
‘worms, not only in children, but also in 
people of riper years; the like doth the 
herb itself, being steeped in milk, and the 
milk drank; the body bathed with the de- 
-coction of it, helps scabs and itch. 
‘LADIES-SMOCK, OR CUCKOW-FLOWER. 
Tuts is a very pretty ornament to the 
_ sides of most meadows. 
Descript.] The root is composed of many 
small white threads from whence spring up 
divers long stalks of winged leaves, consist- 
ing of round, tender, dark, green leaves, 
set one against another upon a middle rib, 
the greatest being at the end, amongst which 
arise up divers tender, weak, round, green 
stalks, somewhat streaked, with longer and 
smaller leaves upon them; on the tops of 
which stand flowers, almost like the Stock 
Gilliflowers, but rounder, and not so long, 
of a blushing white colour; the seed is red- 
dish, and grows to small branches, being of 
a sharp biting taste, and so has the herb. 
Place.| They grow in moist places, and 
near to brooksides. 
Time.] They flower in April and May, 
and the lower leaves continue green all the 
Winter. 
Government and virtues.]| They are un- 
der the dominion of the Moon, and very lit- 
tle inferior to Water Cresses in all their 
operations ; they are excellently good for the 
scurvy; they provoke urine, and break the 
stone, and excellently warm a cold and weak 
stomach, restoring lost appetite, and help 
digestion. 
LETTUCE. 
Ir is so well known, being generally used | 
as a Sallad-herb, that it is altogether need- | 
less to write any description thereof. 
Government and virtues.] The Moon 
owns them, and that is the reason they cool 
and moisten what heat and dryness Mars 
causeth, because Mars hath his fall in Can- 
cer; and they cool the heat because the — 
Sun rules it, between whom and the Moon 
is a reception in the generation of men, a3 
you may see in my Guide for Women. © 
The juice of Lettuce mixed or boiled with — 
Oil of Roses, applied to the forehead and 
temples procures sleep, and eases the head- 
ache proceeding of an hot cause: Being | 
eaten boiled, it helps to loosen the belly. | 
