AND ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED. 
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short branches, on every one whereof stand 
two, three or four small heads, or buttons, 
which breaking the skin that incloses them, 
shoots forth a tuft of pale greenish yellow 
threads, which falling away, there come in 
their places small three-cornered cods, 
wherein is contained small, long and round 
seed. The whole plant hath a strong un- 
pleasant scent. 
Place.] It grows in many places of this 
land, in the borders of moist meadows, and 
ditch-sides. 
Time.] It flowers about July, or the be- 
ginning of August. 
Government and virtues.] Dioscorides 
saith, That this herb bruised and applied, 
perfectly heals old sores, and the distilled 
water of the herb and flowers doth the like. 
It is used by some among other pot-herbs 
to open the body, and make it soluble; but 
the roots washed clean, and boiled in ale 
and drank, provokes to stool more than the 
leaves, but yet very gently. The root 
boiled in water, and the places of the body 
most troubled with vermin and lice washed 
therewith while it is warm, destroys them 
utterly. In Italy it is good against the 
plague, and in Saxony against the jaundice, 
as Camerarius saith. 
GARDEN-RUE. 
Garpen-rvur is so well known by this 
name, and the name Herb of Grace, that I 
shall not need to write any farther descrip- 
tion of it, but shall shew you the virtue of it, 
as follows. 
Government and virtues.] It is an herb 
of the Sun, and under Leo. It provokes 
urine and women’s courses, being taken 
either in meat or drink. The seed thereof. 
taken in wine, is an antidote against all 
dangerous medicines or deadly poisons. The 
leaves taken either by themselves, or with 
less; being often taken in meat and drink, it 
abates venery. A decoction thereof with 
some dried dill leaves and flowers, eases all 
pains and torments, inwardly to be drank 
‘and outwardly to be applied warm to the 
place grieved. The same being drank, helps 
the pains both of the chest and sides, as also 
coughs and hardness of breathing, the in- 
flammations of the lungs, and the torment- 
ing pains of the sciatica and the joints, 
being anointed, or laid to the places; as also 
the shaking fits of agues, to take a draught 
before the fit comes; being boiled or infused 
in oil, it is good to help the wind cholic, 
the hardness and windiness of the mother, 
and freeth women from the strangling or 
suffocation thereof, if the share and the 
parts thereabouts be anointed therewith: It 
kills and drives forth the worms of the 
belly, if it be drank after it is boiled in wine 
to the half, with a little honey; it helps the 
gout or pains in the joints, hands, feet or 
knees, applied thereunto; and with figs it 
helps the dropsy, being bathed therewith: 
Being bruised and put into the nostrils, it 
stays the bleeding thereof. It takes away 
wheals and pimples, if being bruised with a 
few myrtle leaves, it be made up with wax, 
and applied. It cures the morphew, and 
takes away all sorts of warts, if boiled in 
wine with some pepper and nitre, and the 
place rubbed therewith, and with almond 
and honey helps the dry scabs, or any 
tetter or ringworm. The juice thereof 
warmed in a pomegranate shell or rind, and 
dropped into the ears, helps the pains of 
them. The juice of it and fennel, with a — 
little honey, and the gall of a cock put there-_ 
unto, helps the dimness of the eye-sight. 
An ointment made of the juice thereof with | 
‘oil of roses, ceruse, and a little vinegar, and 
anointed, cures St. Anthony’s fire, and all © 
running sores in the head: an ae 
