THE ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED. 39 



some leaves thereon to a piece at the joints, smaller than 

 the lower, •whereon are set several spiked heads of flowers 

 like lavender, but thicker and shorter for the most part, 

 and of a reddish or purple colour, spotted with white 

 spots both in the upper and lower part, the seeds being 

 contained within the husks that hold the flowers, are 

 blackish, somewhat long and uneven. The roots are 

 many white thready strings ; the stalk perisheth, but the 

 roots, with some leaves thereon, abide all the Winter. 

 The whole plant is something small. 



Flace.l it groweth frequently in woods, and delighteth 

 in shady places. 



Time.} It flowereth in July, after which the seed is 

 quickly ripe, yet in its prime in May. 



Guvernmetit and Virtues.^ I'he herb is appropriated to 

 the planet Jupiter, and the sign Aries. Antonius Musa, 

 physician to the Emperor Augustus Cassar, wrote a pecu- 

 liar book of the virtues of this herb ; and among other 

 virtues, saith of it, that it preserveth the liver and body 

 of men from the danger of epidemical diseases, and from 

 witchcrafts also; it helpeth those that loath or cannot 

 digest their meat, those that have weak stomachs, or sour 

 bclchiiigs, or continual rising in their stomach, using it 

 familiarly, either green or dry ; cither the herb or root, 

 or the flowers m broth, drink, or meat, or made into con- 

 serve, syrup, water, electuary, or powder, as every one 

 may best frame themselves unto, or as the time or season 

 requireth ; taking any of the aforesaid ways, it helpeth 

 the jaundice, falling-sickness, the palsy, convulsions, or 

 shrmking of the sinews, the gout, and those that are in- 

 clined to dropsy, those that have continual pains in their 

 heads, although it turn to phrensy. The powder mixed 

 with pure honey, is no less available for all sorts of coughs 

 or colds, wheesing, or shortness of breath, distillations of 

 thin rheum upon the lungs, which causeth consumptions. 

 *-The decoction made with mead, and a little penny-royal, 

 • is good for those that are troubled with putrid agues, whe- 

 I thcr quotidian, tertian, or quartan, and to driv down 

 f and evacuate (he blood and humours, that by falling into 

 the eyes, do hinder the sight; the decoction thereof 

 made in wine, and taken, killeth the worms in the belly, 

 opeueth obstructions both of the spleen and liverj curetlx 



1 



