146 
THE COMPLETE HERBAL 
other poppies, and therefore cannot but be 
as effectual in hot agues, frenzies, and other 
inflammations either inward or outward. 
Galen saith, The seed is dangerous to be 
used inwardly. 
PURSLAIN. 
GarpeEN Purslain (being used as a sal- 
lad herb) is so well known that it needs no 
description ; I shall therefore only speak of 
its virtues as follow. 
Government and virtues.] ’Tis an herb of 
the Moon. It is good to cool any heat in 
the liver, blood, reins, and stomach, and in 
hot agues nothing better: It stays hot and 
choleric fluxes of the belly, women’s 
courses, the whites, and gonorrhea, or run- 
ning of the reins, the distillation from the 
head, and pains therein proceeding from 
heat, want of sleep, or the frenzy. The seed 
is more effectual than the herb, and is of 
singularly good use to cool the heat and 
sharpness of urine, venereous dreams, and 
the like: insomuch that the over frequent 
use hereof extinguishes the heat and virtue 
of natural procreation. The seed bruised 
and boiled in wine, and given to children, 
expels the worms. The juice of the herb is 
held as effectual to all the purposes afore- 
said; as also to stay vomitings, and taken 
with some sugar or honey, helps an old and 
dry cough, shortness of breath, and the 
phthisick, and stays immoderate thirst. The 
distilled water of the herb is used by many 
(as the more pleasing) with a little sugar 
to work the same effects. The juice also is 
singularly good in the inflammations and 
ulcers in the secret parts of man or woman, 
as also the bowels and hemorrhoids, when 
they are ulcerous, or excoriations in them. 
_ The herb bruised and applied to the fore- 
_ head and temples, allays excessive heat 
- _ therein, that hinders rest and sleep; and 
< kang to the eyes, takes away the redness 
Anthony’s fire and the like, break forth; 
if a little vinegar be put to it, and laid to 
the neck, with as much of galls and linseed 
together, it takes away the pains therein, 
and the crick in the neck. The juice is used 
with oil of roses for the same causes, or for 
blasting by lightning, and burnings by 
gunpowder, or for women’s sore breasts, 
and to allay the heat in all other sores or 
hurts; applied also to the navels of chil- 
dren that stick forth, it helps them; it is 
also good for sore mouths and gums that 
are swollen, and to fasten loose teeth. 
Camerarius saith, the distilled water used 
by some, took away the pain of their teeth, 
when all other remedies failed, and the 
thickened juice made into pills with the 
powder of gum tragacanth and arabick, be- 
ing taken, prevails much to help those that 
make bloody water. Applied to the gout it 
eases pains thereof, and helps the hardness 
of the sinews, if it come not of the cramp, 
or a cold cause. 
PRIMROSES. 
Tuey are so well known, that they need 
no description. Of the leaves of Primroses 
is made as fine a salve to heal wounds as 
any that I know; you shall be taught to 
makes salves of any herb at the latter end of 
the book: make this as you are taught 
there, and do not (you that have any in 
genuity in you) see your poor neighbours 
go with wounded limbs when an halfpenny 
cost will heal them. 
PRIVET. 
Descript.] Our common Privet is carried 
up with many slender branches to a reason" 
able height and breadth, to cover arbours; 
bowers and banquetting houses, and 
brought, wrought, and cut into so many 
forms, of men, horses, birds, &c. which 
though at first supported, grows afterwards 
Seda of — It i Dente bee, and marrow } 
