AND ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED. 
175 
forth many long single leaves, cut in on both 
sides into round dents almost to the middle, 
which is not so hard as that of polypody, 
each division being not always set opposite 
unto the other, cut between each, smooth, 
and of a light green on the upper side, and 
a dark yellowish roughness on the back, 
folding or rolling itself inward at the first 
springing up. 
Place.]| It grows as well upon stone 
walls, as moist and shadowy places, about 
Bristol, and other the west parts plenti- 
fully; as also on Framlingham Castle, on 
Beaconsfield church in Berkshire, at Stroud 
in Kent, and elsewhere, and abides green 
all the Winter. 
Government and virtues.| Saturn own it. 
It is generally used against infirmities of 
the Spleen: It helps the stranguary, and 
wasteth the stone in the bladder, and is 
good against the yellow jaundice and the 
hiccough; but the juice of it in women hin- 
ders conception. Matthiolus saith, That 
if a dram of the dust that is on the back- 
side of the leaves be mixed with half a 
dram of amber in powder, and taken with 
the juice of purslain or plantain, it helps 
the gonorrhea speedily, and that the herb 
and root being boiled and taken, helps all 
melancholy diseases, and those especially 
that arise from the French diseases. 
Camerarius saith, That the distilled water 
thereof being drank, is very effectual 
against the stone in the reins and bladder; 
and that the lye that is made of the ashes 
thereof being drank for some time together, 
helps splenetic persons. It is used in out- 
ward remedies for the same purpose. 
STAR THISTLE. 
Descript.] A common Star Thistle hath 
divers narrow leaves lying next the ground, 
cut on the edges somewhat deeply into many 
parts, soft or a little wooly, all over green, 
among which rise up divers weak stalks, 
to the ground, that it seems a pretty bush, 
set with divers the like divided leaves up 
to the tops, where severally do stand small 
whitish green heads, set with sharp white 
pricks (no part of the plant else being 
prickly) which are somewhat yellowish ; out 
of the middle whereof rises the flowers, 
composed of many small reddish purple 
threads; and in the heads, after the flowers 
are past, come small whitish round seed, 
lying down as others do. The root is small, 
long and woody, perishing every year, and 
rising again of its own sowing. 
Place.| It grows wild in the fields about 
London in many places, as at Mile-End 
green, and many other places. 
Time.| It flowers early, and seeds in 
July, and sometimes in August. 
Government and virtues.] This, as almost 
all Thistles are, is under Mars. The seed 
of this Star Thistle made into powder, and 
drank in wine, provokes urine, and helps 
to break the stone, and drives it forth. The 
root in powder, and given in wine and 
drank, is good against the plague and pes- — 
tilence; and drank in the morning fasting 
for some time together, it is very profitable 
for fistulas in any part of the body. Bap- 
tista Sardas doth much commend the dis- 
tilled water hereof, being drank, to help 
the French disease, to open the obstructions 
of the liver, and cleanse the blood from 
corrupted humours, and is profitable against 
the quotidian or tertian ague. 
STRAWBERRIES. 
Tuese are so well known through this 
land that they need no description. ig 
Time.] They flower in May ordinarily, _ 
and the fruit is ripe shortly after. _ ee 
Government and virtues.| Venus owns _ 
the herb. Strawberries, when they are 
green, are cool and dry; but when they are 
ripe, they are cool and moist: The berries 
are excellently good to cool the li 
