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. Wisdom is 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 I can 

 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." 



