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THE COMPLETE HERBAL 
also for the ulcers or excoriations of the 
lungs, or other inward parts. It is exceed- 
ing good for all wounds, either fresh or 
green, to heal them speedily, and for all 
old ulcers that are of spreading natures. 
For all which purposes the juice of the 
herb, or the powder drank in water wherein 
hot steel hath been often quenched; or 
the decoction of the green herb in wine or 
water drank, or used to the outward place, 
to wash or bathe them, or to have tents 
dipped therein and put into them, are ef- 
fectual. 
MOONWORT. 
Descript.| Ir rises up usually but with 
one dark, green, thick and flat leaf, stand- 
ing upon a short foot-stalk not above two 
fingers breadth; but when it flowers it may 
be said to bear a small slender stalk about 
four or five inches high, having but one 
leaf in the middle thereof, which is much 
divided on both sides into sometimes five 
or seven parts on a side, sometimes more; 
each of which parts is small like the middle 
rib, but broad forwards, pointed and round, 
resembling therein a half-moon, from 
whence it took the name; the uppermost 
parts or divisions being bigger than the low- 
est. The stalks rise above this leaf two or 
three inches, bearing many branches of 
small long tongues, every one like the spiky 
head of the adder’s tongue, of a brownish 
colour, (which, whether I shall call them 
flowers, or the seed, I well know not) which, 
after they have continued awhile, resolve 
into a mealy dust. The root is small and 
fibrous. This hath sometimes divers such 
like leaves as are before described, with so 
many branches or tops rising from one 
_ stalk, each divided from the other. 
Place.| It grows on hills and heaths, yet 
_ where there is much grass, for therein it 
delights to grow. 
_ Time.] It is to be found only in April 
and May; for in June, when any hot 
weather comes, for the most part it is 
withered and gone. 
Government and virtues.] The Moon 
owns the herb. Moonwort is cold and drying — 
more than adder’s tongue, and is therefore 
held to be more available for all wounds 
both inward and outward. The leaves 
boiled in red wine, and drank, stay the im- 
moderate flux of women’s courses, and the | 
whites. It also stays bleeding, vomiting, — 
and other fluxes. It helps all blows and 
bruises, and to consolidate all fractures and — 
dislocations. It is good for ruptures, but is — 
chiefly used by most with other herbs to 
make oils or balsams to heal fresh or green | 
wounds (as I said before) either inward or — 
outward, for which it is excellently good. — 
Moonwort is an herb which (they say) © 
will open locks, and unshoe such horses a3 — 
tread upon it: This some laugh to scorn, — 
and those no small fools neither; but coun- — 
try people that I know, call it Unshoe the © 
Horse. Besides I have heard commanders 
say, that on White Down in Devonshire, 
near Tiverton, there were found thirty 
horse shoes, pulled off from the feet of the — 
Earl of Essex’s horses, being there drawn — 
up in a body, many of them being but newly — 
shod, and no reason known, which caused 
much admiration, and the herb described — 
usually grows upon heaths. 
MOSSES. 
I sHavu not trouble the reader with 4 
description of these, since my intent is to 
speak only of two kinds, as the most pri” — 
cipal, viz. Ground Moss and Tree Moss, — 
both which are very well known. 
Place.| The Ground Moss grows in out — 
moist woods, and in the bottom of hills, # _ 
boggy grounds, and in shadowy ditches; — 
and many other such like places. The tree — 
Moss grows only on trees. | 
Government and virtues.] All sorts of | 
a 
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