AND ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED. 
187 
without any divisions at all in them, or 
denting on the edges; but those that rise up 
after are more and more divided on each 
side, some to the middle rib, being winged, 
as made of many leaves together on a stalk, 
and those upon a stalk, in like manner more 
divided, but smaller towards the top than 
below; the stalk rises to be a yard high or 
more, sometimes branched at the top, with 
many small whitish flowers, sometimes 
dashed over at the edges with a pale pur- 
plish colour, of a little scent, which passing 
away, there follows small brownish white 
seed, that is easily carried away with the 
wind. The root smells more strong than 
either leaf or flower, and is of more use in 
medicines, 
Place.| It is generally kept with us in 
gardens. 
Time.] It flowers in June and July, and 
continues flowering until the frost pull it 
down. 
Government and virtues.] This is under 
the influence of Mercury. Dioscorides saith, 
That the Garden Valerian hath a warming 
faculty, and that being dried and given to 
drink it provokes urine, and helps the 
stranguary. The decoction thereof taken, 
doth the like also, and takes away pains of 
the sides, provokes women’s courses, and is 
used in antidotes. Pliny saith, That the 
powder of the root given in drink, or the 
decoction thereof taken, helps all stoppings 
and stranglings in any part of the body, 
whether they proceed of pains in the chest 
or sides, and takes them away. The root of 
Valerian boiled with liquorice, raisins, and 
anniseed, is singularly good for those that 
are short-winded, and for those that are 
troubled with the cough, and helps to open 
the passages, and to expectorate phlegm 
easily. It is given to those that are bitten 
or stung by any venomous creature, being 
boiled in wine. It is of a special virtue 
against the plague, the decoction thereof | as ¥ 
| fe eee ig ists Teen ] stoma 
expels worms in the belly, and causes a goo 
smell to. It helps to expel the wind in the 
belly. The green herb with the root taken 
fresh, being bruised and applied to the 
head, takes away the pains and prickings 
there, stays rheum and thin distillation, 
and being boiled in white wine, and a drop 
thereof put into the eyes, takes away the 
dimness of the sight, or any pin or web 
therein. It is of excellent property to heal 
any inward sores or wounds, and also for 
outward hurts or wounds, and drawing 
away splinters or thorns out of the flesh. 
VERVAIN. 
Descript.| Tue common Vervain hath 
somewhat long broad leaves next the 
ground deeply gashed about the edges, and 
some only deeply dented, or cut all alike, 
of a blackish green colour on the upper 
side, somewhat grey underneath. The stalk 
is square, branched into several parts, ris- 
ing about two feet high, especially if you 
reckon the long spike of flowers at the tops 
of them, which are set on all sides one above 
another, and sometimes two or three to- 
gether, being small and gaping, of a blue 
colour and white intermixed, after which 
come small round seed, in small and some- 
what long heads. The root is small and 
long. 
Place.] It grows generally throughout 
this land in divers places of the hedges and 
way-sides, and other waste grounds. _ 
Time.] It flowers in July, and the seed 
is ripe soon after. 
Government and virtues.| This is an — 
herb of Venus, and excellent for the womb 
to strengthen and remedy all the cold griefs 
of it, as Plantain doth the hot. Vervain is _ 
hot and dry, opening obstructions, cleans- _ 
ing and healing; It helps the yellow jaun- _ 
dice, the dropsy and the gout; it kills and 
colour in the face and body, st 
