1530 The Kitchen Garden. 



The Vfe of Dragons. 



The chiefe vfe whereunto Dragons are applyed, is, that according to an 

 old receiued cuftome and tradition (and not the Judgement of any learned 

 Author) the diftilled water is giuen with Mithridatum or Treakle to expell 

 noyfome and peftilentiall vapours from the heart. 



CHAP. LIX. 

 Ruta. Garden Rue, or Herbe Grace. 



GArden Rue or Herbe Grace groweth vp with hard whitifh wooddy ftalkes, 

 whereon are fet diuers branches of leaues, being diuided into many fmall ones, 

 which are fomewhat thicke and round pointed, of a blewifh greene colour: 

 the flowers ftand at the tops of the ftalkes confifting of foure fmall yellow leaues, with 

 a greene button in the middle, and diuers fmall yellow threds about it, which growing 

 ripe, containe within them fmall blacke feede : the roote is white and wooddy, fprea- 

 ding farre in the ground. 



The Vfe of Rue. 



The many good properties whereunto Rue ferueth, hath I thinke in for- 

 mer times caufed the Englifh name of Herbe Grace to be giuen vnto it. For 

 without doubt it is a moft wholefome herbe, although bitter and ftrong, and 

 could our dainty ftomackes brooke the vfe thereof, it would worke admi- 

 rable effects being carefully and skilfully applyed, as time and occafion did 

 require : but not vndifcreetly or hand ouer head, as many vfe to doe that 

 haue no skill. Some doe rippe vp a beade rowle of the vertues of Rue, as 

 Macer the Poet and others, in whom you fhall finde them fet downe, to bee 

 good for the head, eyes, breaft, liuer, heart, fpleene, &c. In fome places they 

 vfe to boyle the leaues of Rue, and keep them in pickle, to eate them as Sam- 

 pire for the <helpe of weake eyes. It is very auaileable in glifters or drinkes 

 againft the winde or the collicke, and to procure vrine that is ftayed by the 

 paines therof. The diftilled water is .often vfed for the fame purpofes afore- 

 faid : but beware of the too frequent or ouermuch vfe thereof, becaufe it 

 heateth exceedingly, and wafteth nature mightily. 



CHAP. LX. 

 Carduus Benedicts. The Blefled Thiftle. 



CArduus benedi&us or the blefled Thiftle, hath many weake tender branches ly- 

 ing for the moft part on the ground, whereon are fet long and narrow leaues, 

 much cut in or waued about the edges, hairy or rough in handling, yet without 

 any hard or fharpe thornes or prickles at all, that the tendereft hand may touch them 

 without harme : but thofe that grow toward the toppes of the ftalkes are fomewhat 

 more prickly, and the heads which grow on the tops of the feuerall branches are fome- 

 what (harpe, fet with prickles like a Thiftle : the flower is yellow, and the feede lying 

 within the woolly or flocky doune like to all other thirties, are blackifh, long and 

 round, with a few haires on the head of them : the roote is white, and perifheth euery 

 yeare after it hath giuen feede. 



The Vfe of the bleffed Thiftle. 



The diftilled water hereof is much vfed to be drunke againft agues of all 

 fortes, eyther peftilentiall or humorall, of long continuance or of lefle: 



but 



