The Kitchen Garden. 479 



The Vfe of Clary. 



The moll frequent and common vfc of Clary, is for men or women that 

 haue weake backes, to helpe to comfort and llrcngthcn the raines, being 

 made into Tanfies and eaten, or otherwifc. The feede is vfed of fome to be 

 put into the corner of the eye, if any mote or other thing haue happened 

 into it : but afluredly although this may peraduenture doe fome good, yet 

 the feede of the wilde will doe much more. The leaues taken dry, and 

 dipped into a batter made of the yolkes of cgges, flower, and a little mi Ike, 

 and then fryed with butter vntill they be crifpe, ferue for a di(h of meate 

 aivepted with manic, vnpleafant to none. 



CHAP. VIII. 



Nepeta. Nep. 



A Lthough thole that are Herbarifts do know three forts of Nep, a greater & two 

 /-X lefler, yet becaufe the letter are not vfuall, but in the Gardens of thofe that de- 

 light in natures varieties, I do not here (hew you them. That which is vfuall (and 

 called of manie Cat Mint) beareth fquare ftalkes, but not fo great as Clarie, hauing 

 two leaues at euery ioynt, fomewhat like vnto Balme or Speare Mintes, but whiter, 

 fofter, and longer, and nicked about the edges, of a ftrong fent, but nothing fo ftrong 

 as Clary : the flowers growe at the toppes of the ftalkes, as it were in long fpikes or 

 heads, fomewhat dole together, yet compaffing the ftalkes at certaine ioynts, of a 

 whitifh colour, for forme and bignefle like vnto Balme, or fomewhat bigger: the 

 rootes are compofed of a number of firings, which dye not, but keepe greene leaues 

 vpon them all the Winter, and fhoote anew in the Spring. It is propagated both by 

 the feede, and by flipping the rootes. 



The Vfe of Nep. 



Nep is much vfed of women either in baths or drinkes to procure their 

 feminine courfes : as alfo with Clarie, being fryed into Tanfies, to ftreng- 

 then their backes. It is much commended of fome, if the iuyce thereof be 

 drunke with wine, to helpe thofe that are bruifed by fome fall, or other 

 accident. A decoction of Nep is auaileable to cure the fcabbe in the head, 

 or other places of the body. 



CHAP. IX. 

 MeliJJ'a. Baulme. 



THe Garden Baulme which is of common knowne vfe, hath diuers fquare blac- 

 kilh greene ftalkes, and round, hard, darke, greene pointed leaues, growing 

 thereon by couples, a little notched about the edges, of a pleafant fweete fent, 

 drawing neareft to the fent of a Lemon or Citron ; and therefore of fome called Ci- 

 trago : the flowers growe about the toppes of the ftalkes at certaine diftances, being 

 fmall and gaping, of a pale carnation colour, almoft white : the rootes fallen them- 

 I clues rtrongly in the ground, and endure many yeares, and is encreafed by diuiding 

 the rootes; for the leaues dye downe to the ground euery yeare, leauing no fhew of 

 leafe or llalke in the Winter. 



The 



