54 THE ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED. 



brandies cometh forth a lonj; stalk, bearing many 

 "wliitish flowers togotlicr on a long tnlt, consisting of five 

 small Icavfs a-pioce, laid open like a star, after ^^llich 

 come the btrrios separated one from another, more than 

 a cluster ot grapes, green at the first, and very red when 

 they arc thorough ri])p, of no good scent, but of a most 

 loathsome taste, provoking vomit. The root growcth 

 to be exceeding great, with many long twines or 

 branches going from it, of a pale whitish colonr on the 

 outside, and more white within, and of a sharp, bitter, 

 loathsome ta^te. 



Place.'] It growcth on banks, or under hedges, through 

 this land ; the roots lie very deep. 



Tiwe.'\ Itllowerefh ir\ July and August, some earlier, 

 and some later than the other. 



Government and Virtues.'] They are furious martial 

 plants. The root of Briony purges the belly with great 

 Tiolence, troubling the stomach, and burniiis; the liver, 

 and therefore not rashly to be taken ; but being cor- 

 rected, is very profitable for the diseases of the head, as 

 falling sickness, giddiness and swimmings, by drawing 

 '* away much phlegm and rheumatic humours that oppress 

 the head, as also the joints and sinews, and is therefore 

 good for palsies, convulsions, cramps, and stitches in the 

 •sides, and the dropsy, and in provoking urine ; it 

 cleanseth the reins and kidnics from gravel and stone, 

 by opening the obstruction of the spleen, and consumeth 

 the hardness and swelling thereof. The decoi^lion of 

 the root in wine, drank once a week at going to bed, 

 cleanseth the motiicr, and helpeth the rising thereof, ex- 

 pelleth the dead child ; a dranj of the root in ])owdcr 

 taken in white wine, bringcth down their courses. An 

 riefiuary made of the roots and honey, doth mightily 

 cleanse the chest ot rotten jihlegm, and wonderfully 

 helps any old strong cough, to those that are troubled 

 with shortness of breath, and is very good for them that 

 are bruised inwardly, to help to expel the clotted or 

 congealed blood. The leaves, fruit and root, do cleanse 

 old and filthy sores, are good against all fretting and 

 running cankers, gangrenes, and tetters, and therefore 

 the berries are by some country-people called tetter- 

 berries. The root cleanseth the skin wonderfully from 

 all black and blue spots, freckles, morphew, leprosy, foul 



