AND ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED. 
119 
Place.| It grows very rarely on oaks 
with us; but upon sundry other, as well 
timber as fruit trees, plentifully in woody 
groves, and the like, through all this land. 
Time.| It flowers in the spring-time, 
but the berries are not ripe until October, 
and abides on the branches all the Winter, 
unless the blackbirds, and other birds, do 
devour them. 
Government and virtues.| This is under 
the dominion of the Sun, I do not question; 
and can also take for granted, that which 
grows upon oaks, participates something of 
the nature of Jupiter, because an oak is one 
of his trees; as also that which grows upon 
pear trees, and apple trees, participates 
something of his nature, because he rules 
the tree it grows upon, having no root of 
its own. But why that should have most 
virtues that grows upon oaks, I know not, 
unless because it is rarest and hardest to 
come by; and our college’s opinion is in. 
this contrary to scripture, which saith, 
God’s tender mercies are over all his works; 
and so it is, let the college of physicians 
walk as contrary to him as they please, and 
that is as contrary as the east to the west. 
Clusius affirms that which grows upon pear 
trees to be as prevalent, and gives order, 
that it should not touch the ground after it 
is gathered ; and also saith, that, being hung 
about the neck, it remedies witchcraft. Both 
the leaves and berries of Misselto do heat 
and dry, and are of subtil parts; the bird- 
lime doth molify hard knots, tumours, and 
imposthumes; ripens and discusses them, 
and draws forth thick as well as thin 
humours from the remote parts of the body, 
digesting and separating them. And being 
mixed with equal parts of rosin and wax, 
doth molify the hardness of the spleen, and 
helps old ulcers and sores. Being mixed 
with sandaric and orpiment, it helps to 
draw off foul nails; and if quick-lime and 
wine lees be added thereunto, it works the : 
the best) made into powder, and given in 
drink to those that have the falling sickness, 
doth assuredly heal them, as Matthiolus 
saith: but it is fit to use it for forty days 
together. Some have so highly esteemed it 
for the virtues thereof, that they have called 
it Lignum Sanctae Crucis, Wood of the 
Holy Cross, believing it helps the falling 
sickness, apoplexy and palsy very speedily, 
not only to be inwardly taken, but to be 
hung at their neck. Tragus saith, that the 
fresh wood of any Misselto bruised, and the 
juice drawn forth and dropped in the ears 
that have imposthumes in them, doth help 
and ease them within a few days. 
MONEYWORT, OR HERB TWOPENCE. 
Descript.| THe common Moneywort 
sends forth from a small thready root divers 
long, weak, and slender branches, lying and 
running upon the ground two or three feet — 
long or more, set with leaves two at a joint 
one against another at equal distances, 
which are almost round, but pointed at the 
ends, smooth, and of a good green colour. 
At the joints with the leaves from the mid- 
dle forward come forth at every point some- 
times one yellow flower, and sometimes 
two, standing each on a small foot-stalk, 
and made of five leaves, narrow-pointed at 
the end, with some yellow threads in the 
middle, which being past, there stand in 
their places small round heads of seed: 
Place.] It grows plentifully in almost 
all places of this land, commonly in moist 
grounds by hedge-sides, and in the middle 
of grassy fields. oe 
Time.| They flower in June and July, 
and their seed is ripe quickly after. Bia 
Government and virtues.| Venus owns it. — 
Moneywort is singularly good to stay all 
fluxes in man or woman, whether they 
lasks, » bloody- fo i ee 
Sed _ 
