164 
THE COMPLETE HERBAL 
sion, which is the most assured refuge of 
help to people of divers counties of the land 
that they can have. It is no less effectual to 
help ruptures and burstings, the decoction — 
in wine, or the powder in broth or drink, 
being inwardly taken, and outwardly ap- 
plied to the place. The same is also avail- 
able for inward or outward bruises, falls or 
blows, both to dispel the congealed blood, 
and to take away both the pains and the 
black and blue marks that abide after the 
hurt. The same also, or the distilled water 
of the whole plant, used to the face, or other 
parts of the skin, cleanses it from morphew, 
freckles, spots, or marks whatsoever, leav- 
ing the place fresh, fair, and lovely; for 
which purpose it is much used by the Italian 
Dames. 
SAMPHIRE. 
Descript.| Rocx Samphire grows up 
with a tender green stalk about half a yard, 
or two feet high at the most, branching 
forth almost from the very bottom, and 
stored with sundry thick and almost round 
(somewhat long) leaves of a deep green 
colour, sometimes two together, and some- 
times more on a stalk, and sappy, and of 
a pleasant, hot, and spicy taste. At the 
top of the stalks and branches stand umbels 
of white flowers, and after them come large 
seed, bigger than fennel seed, yet some- 
what like it. The root is great, white, and 
long, continuing many years, and is of an 
hot and spicy taste likewise. 
Place.] It grows on the rocks that are 
often moistened at the least, if not over- 
flowed with the sea water. 
Time.| And it flowers and seeds in the 
end of July and August. 
Government and virtues.|] It is an herb 
of Jupiter, and was in former times wont to 
_ be used more than now it is; the more is the 
pity. It is well known almost to every body, 
= that ill digestions and obstructions are the. 
cause of most of the diseases which the frail 
nature of man is subject to; both which 
might be remedied by a more frequent use 
of this herb. If people would have sauce 
to their meat, they may take some for profit 
as well as for pleasure. It is a safe herb, 
very pleasant both to taste and stomach, 
helps digestion, and in some sort opening 
obstructions of the liver and spleen; pro- 
vokes urine, and helps thereby to wash 
away the gravel and stone engendered in 
the kidneys or bladder. 
SANICLE. 
Tus herb is by many called Butter 
wort. 
Descript.] Ordinary Sanicle sends forth 
many great round leaves, standing upon 
long brownish stalks, every one somewhat 
deeply cut or divided into five or six parts, 
and some of these also cut in somewhat like 
the leaf of crow’s-foot, or dove’s-foot, and 
finely dented about the edges, smooth, and 
of a dark shining colour, and somewhat 
reddish about the brims ; from among which 
arise up small, round green stalks, without 
any joint or leaf thereon, saving at the top, 
where it branches forth into flowers, having 
a leaf divided into three or four parts at that 
joint with the flowers, which are small and 
white, starting out of small round greenish 
yellow heads, many standing together in 4 
tuft, in which afterwards are the seeds 
contained, which are small round buts; 
somewhat like the leaves of clevers, and 
stick in the saMe manner upon any thing 
many blackish strings or fibres, set together 
at a little long head, which abides with 
green leaves all the Winter, and perishes 
not. 
Place.] It is found in many shadowy 
woods, and other places of this land. 
Time.] It flowers in June, and the seed 
‘is ripe shortly after. 
| Government and virtues.] This is one 
that they touch. The root is composed of | 
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