THE ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED. 2l 



if it be stamped aiul applied to the nape of the neck; 

 the herb also bruised, and ivith some salt and vinegar and 

 hogs-grease, laid upon an hard tumour or swelling, or 

 that vulgarly called the king's evil, doth help to dissolve 

 or discuss them; and being in like Evaiiner applied, doth 

 much allay the pains, and give ease to the gout, sciatica, 

 and other pains of the joints and sinews. It is also very 

 elitctual to heal green wounds, and old ulcers ; also to 

 stay their fretting, gnawing and spreading. It draweth 

 forth splinters, aud sucli like things gotten into the flesh, 

 and is very good against bruises and burnings. But the 

 yellow Archangel is most commended for old, filthy, 

 corrupt sores and ulcers, yea, although they grow to be 

 hollow ; and to dissolve tumours. The chief use of them 

 is for women, it being an herb of Venus. 



Arssmart. c? and T2 . (h. d. 4:.) 



The hot Arss mart is called also Water-pepper, or 

 Culrage. The mild Arssmart is called dead Arssmart, 

 Percicaria, or Peach-wort, because the leaves are so like 

 the leaves of a Peach-tree ; it is also called Plumbago. 



Descriplion of the Mild.'] This hath broad leaves set at 

 the great red joint of the stalks, with semi-circular 

 blackish marks on them, usually either bluish or whitish, 

 ■with such like seed following. The root is long, with 

 many strings thereat, perishing yearly ; this hath no 

 sharp taste (as another sort hath, which is quick and 

 biting) but rather sour like sorrel, or else a little drying, 

 or without taste. 



Place.'] It groweth in watery places, ditches, and the 

 like, which for the most part are dry in Summer. 



2'ime.] It llowereth in June, and the seed is ripe in 

 August. 



Government and Virtues.'] As the virtue of both these 

 is various, so is also their government; for that which is 

 hot and biting, is under the dominion of Mars, but Saturn 

 challengcth the other, as appears by that leaden coloured 

 spot he hath placed upon the leaf. 



It is of a cooling and drying quality, and very effeCiual 

 for putrified ulcers in man or beast, to kill worms, aud 

 cleanse the putrified places. The juice thereof dropped 

 1 



