AND ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED. 
189 
’ drink; the powder of the purple leaves of 
the flowers, only picked and dried and 
drank in water, is said to help the quinsy, 
and the falling-sickness in children, espe- 
cially in the beginning of the disease. The 
flowers of the white Violets ripen and dis- 
solve swellings. The herb or flowers, while 
they are fresh, or the flowers when they are 
dry, are effectual in the pleurisy, and all 
diseases of the lungs, to lenify the sharp- 
ness of hot rheums, and the hoarseness of 
the throat, the heat also and sharpness of 
urine, and all the pains of the back or reins, 
and bladder. It is good also for the liver 
and the jaundice, and all hot agues, to cool 
the heat, and quench the thirst; but the 
syrup of Violets is of most use, and of bet- 
ter effect, being taken in some convenient 
liquor: and if a little of the juice or syrup 
of lemons be put to it, or a few drops of the 
oil of vitriol, it is made thereby the more 
powerful to cool the heat, and quench the 
thirst, and gives to the drink a claret wine 
colour, and a fine tart relish, pleasing the 
taste. Violets taken, or made up with 
honey, do more cleanse and cool, and with 
Sugar contrary-wise. The dried flowers of 
Violets are accounted amongst the cordial 
drinks, powders, and other medicines, es- 
pecially where cooling cordials are neces- 
Sary. The green leaves are used with other 
herbs to make plaisters and poultices to 
inflammations and swellings, and to ease all 
pains whatsoever, arising of heat, and for 
the piles also, being fried with yolk of eggs, 
and applied thereto. 
VIPER’S BUGLOSS. 
Descript.| Tus hath many long rough 
leaves lying on the ground, from among 
which arise up divers hard round stalks, 
very rough, as if they were thick set with 
prickles or hairs, whereon are set such like 
rough, hairy, or prickly sad green leaves, 
Somewhat narrow; the middle rib for the 
most part being white. The flowers cae | 
at the top of the stalk, branched forth in 
many long spiked leaves of flowers, bowing 
or turning like the turnsole, all opening for 
the most part on the one side, which are 
long and hollow, turning up the brims a 
little, of a purplish violet colour in them 
that are fully blown, but more reddish while 
they are in the bud, as also upon their de- 
cay and withering; but in some places of 
a paler purplish colour, with a long pointel 
in the middle, feathered or parted at the 
top. After the flowers are fallen, the seeds 
growing to be ripe, are blackish, cornered 
and pointed somewhat like the head of a 
viper. The root is somewhat great and 
blackish, and woolly, when it grows toward 
seed-time, and perishes in the Winter. | 
There is another sort, little differing 
from the former, only in this, that it bears 
white flowers. 
Place.| The first grows wild almost 
every where. That with white flowers 
about the castle-walls at Lewes in Sussex. 
Time.| They flower in Summer, and 
their seed is ripe quickly after. 
Government and virtues.| It is a most 
gallant herb of the Sun; it is a pity it is no 
more in use than it is. It is an especial - 
remedy against the biting of the Viper, and 
all other venomous beasts, or serpents; as ~ 
also against poison, or poisonous herbs. 
Dioscorides and others say, That whosoever 
shall take of the herb or root before they be 
bitten, shall not be hurt by the poison of 
any serpent. The root or seed is thought to 
be most effectual to comfort the heart, and 
expel sadness, or causeless melancholy; it 
tempers the blood, and allays hot fits of 
agues. The seed drank in wine, procures 
abundance of milk in women’s breasts. 
The same also being taken, eases the pains _ 
in the loins, back, and kidneys. The dis- | 
tilled water of the herb when it is in flower, _ 
or its chief strength, is excellent to be ap- 
plied either inwardly or outwardly, for all 
the . afore There is a sy 
