AND ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED. 
eet 
155 
ROSA SOLIS, OR SUN DEW. 
Ir is likewise called Red-rot, and Youth- 
wort, 
Descript.| It hath divers small, round, 
hollow leaves somewhat greenish, but full of 
certain red hairs, which make them seem 
red, every one standing upon his own foot- 
stalk, reddish, hairy likewise. The leaves 
are continually moist in the hottest day, 
yea, the hotter the sun shines on them, the 
moister they are, with a sliminess that will 
rope (as we say) the small hairs always 
holding the moisture. Among these leaves 
rise up slender stalks, reddish also, three or 
four fingers high, bearing divers small white 
knobs one above another, which are flowers; 
after which in the heads are contained 
small seeds. The root is a few small hairs. 
Place.] It grows usually in bogs and wet 
places, and sometimes in moist woods. 
Time.| It flowers in June, and the leaves 
are fittest to be gathered. 
Government and virtues.] The Sun rules 
it, and it is under the sign Cancer. Rose 
Solis is accounted good to help those that 
have a salt rheum distilling on the lungs, 
which breeds a consumption, and therefore 
the distilled water thereof in wine is held 
fit and profitable for such to drink, which 
water will be of a good yellow colour. The 
Same water is held to be good for all other 
diseases of the lungs, as phthisics, wheez- 
ings, shortness of breath, or the cough; 
as also to heal the ulcers that happen in the 
lungs; and it comforts the heart and faint- 
ing spirits. The leaves outwardly applied 
to the skin, will raise blisters, which has 
caused some to think it dangerous to be 
taken inwardly; but there are other things 
which will also draw blisters, yet nothing 
dangerous to be taken inwardly. There is 
an usual drink made thereof with aqua vite 
and spices frequently, and without any 
_ offence or danger, but to good purpose used 
in quali and passions of the heart. 
ROSEMARY. 
Our garden Rosemary is so well known, 
that I need not describe it. 
Time.| It flowers in April and May with 
us, sometimes again in August. 
Government and virtues.| The Sun claims 
privilege in it, and it is under the celestial 
Ram. It is an herb of as great use with us 
in these days as any whatsoever, not only 
for physical but civil purposes. The phy- 
sical use of it (being my present task) is 
very much used both for inward and out- 
ward diseases, for by the warming and com- 
forting heat thereof it helps all cold dis- 
eases, both of the head, stomach, liver, and 
belly. The decoction thereof in wine, helps 
the cold distillations of rheums into the 
eyes, and all other cold diseases of the head 
and brain, as the giddiness or swimmings 
therein, drowsiness or dulness of the mind 
and senses like a stupidness, the dumb 
palsy, or loss of speech, the lethargy, and 
falling-sickness, to be both drank, and the 
temples bathed therewith. It helps the 
pains in the gums and teeth, by rheum fall- 
ing into them, not by putrefaction, causing 
an evil smell from them, or a stinking 
breath. It helps a weak memory, and 
quickens the senses. It is very comfortable 
to the stomach in all the cold griefs thereof, 
helps both retention of meat, and digestion, 
the decoction or powder being taken in wine. 
It is a remedy for the windiness in the 
stomach, bowels, and spleen, and expels it 
powerfully. It helps those that are liver- 
grown, by opening the obstructions thereof. 
It helps dim eyes, and procures a clear 
sight, the flowers thereof being taken all the _ 
while it is flowering, every morning fast- _ 
ing, with bread and salt. But Dioscorides _ 
and Galen say, That if a decoction be made _ 
thereof with water, and they that have the 
yellow jaundice exercise their bodies p1 2 
