160 PLANTS AND PLANETS. [CHAP 
of a prating fellow, or one that hath more tongue 
than wit, or more proud than honest, shall never 
trouble me. Wzsdom ts justified by her children. And 
~ so much for Wormwood.” 
The remark “I have delivered it as plain as I 
durst” is evidently a little further indulgence in self- 
exaltation, for on the last page he again remarks: 
“You must not think, courteous people, that Ican © 
spend time to give you examples of all diseases: 
These are enough to let you see so much light as you 
without art are able to receive: If I should set you 
to look at the sun, I should dazzle your eyes, and 
make you blind.” 
The leaves of the Common Alder-tree “gathered 
while the morning dew is on them, and brought into 
a chamber troubled with fleas, will gather them 
thereunto, which, being suddenly cast out, will rid the 
chamber of these troublesome bed-fellows.” 
The name Angelica affords him another opportunity 
to rail against the physicians and Papists, and he 
then gives the following directions for the gathering 
of this plant :—“ It is an herb of the Sun in Leo; let it 
be gathered when he is there, the Moon applying to 
his good aspect ; let it be gathered either in his hour, 
or in the hour of Jupiter, let Sol be angular; observe 
the like in gathering the herbs of other planets, and 
you may happen to do wonders.” Very likely! 
Anemone is “called also Wind-flower, because 
they say the flower never opens save when the wind 
bloweth. Pliny is my author; if it be not so, blame 
him. The seed also (if it bears any at all) flies away 
with the wind.” 
