4 THE ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED, 



Deicn'pt.'] Of llio many sorts of this licrb there is but 

 one knuwu to grow coiiimonl) in this nation; of which 

 one fakt's this (lc>.crii)tion : It. hath a great and thfck root, 

 ol a reddish colour, long, narrow, iiairy leaves, green 

 like the leaves of Bugloss, which lie very thick upon the, 

 ground ; the stalks rioo up compassed round about, tluck 

 with leaves, which arc lesser and narrower ilian thelor- 

 mer ; they are tender, and slender, tiie liowers arc hol- 

 low, small, and of a reddish colour, the seed is grayish. 

 Place-I It grows in Kent near Kochester, and in many 

 places in the West Country, both in L'evon^hirc and 

 Cornwall. 



7V///e.] They flower in July, and beginning of August, 

 and the seed is ripe soon after, but the root is in its piiine 

 as carrots and parsnips are, before the hert) runs up to 

 stalk. 



Govei'nment and Virtues'] It is an herb under the domi- 

 nion of Venus, and indeed one of her dai lings, though 

 somewhat hard to come by. It helps old ulcers, hot in- 

 flammations, burnings by common fire, and St. Antho- 

 ny's lire, by antipathy to Mars ; for these uses, your best 

 way is to make it into an ointment ; also if you make a 

 vinegar of i(, as you make vinegar of roses, it helps the 

 morphy and leprosy ; if you apply the herb to the privi- 

 ties, it draws forth the dead child. It helps the yellow- 

 jaundice, spleen, and gravel in the kidneys. Dioscorides 

 saith, it helps such as are bitten by venomous beasts, 

 ■whether it be taken inwardly, or applied to the w ound ; 

 nay, he saith further, if any that haih newly eaten it, do 

 but spit into the mouth of a serpent, the serpent instantly 

 dies. It stays the llux of (he belly, kills worms, helps 

 the fits of the mother. Its deco6tion made in wine, and 

 drank, strengthens the back, and easeth tiic pains thereof. 

 It helps bruises and falls, and is as gallant a remedy to 

 drive out tlie small pox and measles as any is ; an oint- 

 ment made of it, is excellent for green wounds, pricks or 

 thrusts. 



Adder's Tongue. ]> and s. (t. d. 2.) 



Tuts little plant is likewise called Serpent's Tongue, 

 and although common in our meadows, requires diligence 

 to gather it. 



