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THE COMPLETE HERBAL 
ing of five round pointed leaves, which 
afterwards have small round heads, wherein 
is small brownish seed contained. The root 
is long, white, and woody, perishing after it 
hath borne seed. 
Place.| It grows by way-sides and lanes, 
in many places of this land. 
Time.] It flowers in July or thereabouts. 
Government and virtues.| It is under the 
dominion of Saturn. A small quantity of 
the root given in wine, is commended by 
Dioscorides, against lasks and fluxes of the 
belly. The decoction hereof drank, is prof- 
itable for those that are bursten, and for 
cramps and convulsions, and for those that 
- are troubled with an old cough. The de- 
coction thereof gargled, eases the pains of 
the tooth-ache. And the oil made by the 
often infusion of the flowers, is of very good 
effect for the piles. The decoction of the 
root in red wine or in water, (if there be an 
ague) wherein red hot steel hath been often 
quenched, doth stay the bloody-flux. The 
same also opens obstructions of the bladder 
and reins. A decoction of the leaves hereof, 
and of sage, marjoram, and camomile flow- 
ers, and the places bathed therewith, that 
have sinews stiff with cold or cramps, doth 
bring them much ease and comfort. Three 
ounces of the distilled water of the flowers 
drank morning and evening for some days 
together, is said to be the most excellent 
remedy for the gout. The juice of the leaves 
and flowers being laid upon rough warts, 
as also the powder of the dried roots rubbed 
on, doth easily take them away, but doth 
no good to smooth warts. The powder of 
the dried flowers is an especial remedy for 
those that are troubled with the belly-ache, 
or the pains of the cholic. The decoction of 
the root, and so likewise of the leaves, is of 
great effect to dissolve the tumours, swel- 
__ lings, or inflammations of the throat. The 
__ seed and leaves boiled in wine, and applied, 
draw forth speedily thorns or splinters 
gotten into the flesh, ease the pains, and 
heal them also. The leaves bruised and 
wrapped in double papers, and covered with 
hot ashes and embers to bake a while, and 
then taken forth and laid warm on any 
blotch or boil happening in the groin or 
share, doth dissolve and heal them. The 
seed bruised and boiled in wine, and laid 
on any member that hath been out of joint, 
and newly set again, takes away all swel- 
ling and pain thereof. 
MUSTARD. 
Descript.]| Our common Mustard hath 
large and broad rough leaves, very much 
jagged with uneven and unorderly gashes, 
somewhat like turnip leaves, but less and 
rougher. The stalk rises to be more than 
a foot high, and sometimes two feet high, 
being round, rough, and branched at the 
top, bearing such like leaves thereon as 
grow below, but lesser, and less divided, 
and divers yellow flowers one above another 
at the tops, after which come small rough 
pods, with small, lank, flat ends, wherein 
is contained round yellowish seed, sharp, 
hot, and biting upon the tongue. The root 
is small, long, and woody when it bears 
stalks, and perishes every year. 
Place.| This grows with us in gardens 
only, and other manured places. 
Time.] It is an annual plant, flowering 
in July, and the seed is ripe in August. 
Government and virtues.] It is an excel- 
lent sauce for such whose blood wants clari- 
fying, and for weak stomachs, being an 
herb of Mars, but naught for choleric peo- 
ple, though as good for such as are aged, 
or troubled with cold diseases. Aries claims 
something to do with it, therefore it 
| strengthens the heart, and resists poison. 
Let such whose stomachs are so weak they 
cannot digest their meat, or appetite it, 
take of Mustard-seed a dram, cinnamon a3 
much, and having beaten them to powder, 
{and half as much mastic in powder, and ; 
