108 
THE COMPLETE HERBAL 
branched into many long stems of spiked 
flowers half a foot long, growing in bundles 
one above another, out of small husks, very 
like the spiked heads of lavender, each of 
which flowers have five round pointed leaves 
of a purple violet colour, or somewhat in- 
clining to redness; in which husks stand 
small round heads after the flowers are 
fallen, wherein is contained small seed. The 
root creeps under ground like unto the yel- 
low, but is greater than it, and so are the 
heads of the leaves when they first appear 
out of the ground, and more brown than 
the other. 
Place.| It grows usually by rivers, and 
ditch-sides in wet ground, as about the 
ditches at and near Lambeth, and in many 
places of this land. 
Time.] It flowers in the months of June 
and July. 
Government and virtues.] It is an herb 
of the Moon, and under the sign Cancer; 
neither do I know a better preserver of the 
sight when ’tis well, nor a better cure of 
sore eyes than Eyebright, taken inwardly, 
and this used outwardly; ’tis cold in qual- 
ity. This herb is no whit inferior unto the 
former, it having not only all the virtues 
which the former hath, but more peculiar 
virtues of its own, found out by experience; 
as, namely, The distilled water is a present 
remedy for hurts and blows on the eyes, 
_ and for blindness, so as the Christalline 
_ humours be not perished or hurt; and this 
hath been sufficiently proved true by the 
experience of a man of judgment, who kept 
it long to himself as a great secret. It 
clears the eyes of dust, or any thing gotten 
into them, and preserves the sight. It is 
also very available against wounds and 
thrusts, being made into an ointment in 
this manner: To every ounce of the water, 
_ add two drams of May butter without salt, 
_ and of sugar and wax, of each as much 
also; let them boil gently together. Let 
tents dipped into the liquor that remains” 
after it is cold, be put into the wounds, and 
the place covered with a linen cloth doubled 
and anointed with the ointment; and this 
is also an approved medicine. It likewise 
cleanses and heals all foul ulcers, and sores 
whatsoever, and stays their inflammations 
by washing them with the water, and lay- 
ing on them a green leaf or two in the 
Summer, or dryleaves in the Winter. This 
water gargled warm in the mouth, and 
sometimes drank also, doth cure the quinsy; 
or king’s evil in the throat. The said water 
applied warm, takes away all spots, marks, 
and scabs in the skin; and a little of it 
drank, quenches thirst when it is extraor- 
dinary. 
LOVAGE, 
Descript.| Ir-has many long and green 
stalks of large winged leaves, divided into 
many parts, like Smallage, but much larger 
and greater, every leaf being cut about the 
edges, broadest forward, and smallest at 
the stalk, of a sad green colour, smooth and 
shining; from among which rise up sundry 
strong, hollow green stalks, five or six, 
sometimes seven or eight feet high, full of 
joints, but lesser leaves set on them than 
grow below; and with them towards the 
tops come forth large branches, bearing at 
their tops large umbels of yellow flowers, 
and after them flat brownish seed. The 
root grows thick, great and deep, spreading 
much, and enduring long, of a brownish 
colour on the outside, and whitish within. 
The whole plant and every part of it smell- 
ing strong, and aromatically, and is of 4 
hot, sharp, biting taste. 
Place.| It is usually planted in gardens, 
where, if it be suffered, it grows huge and 
great. 
Time.| It flowers in the end of July, 
and seeds in August. 
Government and virtues.] It is an herb 
of the Sun, under the sign Taurus. If 
Saturn offend the throat (as he always doth — 
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