66 THE ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED. 



being generally so well known, that descriptions are al. 

 together needless. 



Placc.^ They are generally planfed in gardens. 



Ttme.'^ Their flower time is toAvards the middle or end 

 of July, and the seed is ripe in August. 



Government and VhtuesJ] The Cabbages or Coleworts 

 boiled gently in broth, and eaten, do open the body, but 

 the second dccodlion doth bind the body. The juice 

 thereof drank in wine, helpeth those that are bitten by 

 an adder, and the dccoclion of the flowers briogeth 

 down women's courses; being taken with honey, it 

 recovereth hoarseness, or loss of the voice. The often 

 eating of them well boiled, helpeth those that are en- 

 tering into a consumption. The pulp of the middle ribs 

 of Coleworts boiled in almond milk, and made up into 

 an eledluary with honey, being taken often, is very pro- 

 Utable for those that are pursy and short-winded. Being 

 boiled twice, an old cock boiled in the broth and drank, 

 it helpeth the pains, and the obstru6lions of the liverand 

 spleen, and the stone in tiie kidnies. The juice boiled 

 with honey, and dropped into the corners of the eyes, 

 cleareth the sight, by consuming any film or cloud be- 

 ginning to dim it; it also consumeth the canker growing 

 therein. They are much commended, being eaten be- 

 fore meat to keep one from surfeiting, as also from being 

 drunk with too much wine, or quickly make a man sober 

 again that is drunk before. For (as they say) there is 

 such an antipathy or enmity between the V^ine and the 

 Coleworts, that the one will die Mhere the other 

 groweth. The decoction of Coleworts taketh away the 

 pain and ach, and allayeth the swellings of sores and 

 gouty legs and knees, wherein many gross and watery 

 humours are fallen, the place being bathed therewith 

 warm. It helpeth also old and filthy sores, being bathed 

 therewith, and healeth all small scabs, pushes and Mheals, 

 that break out in the skin ; the ashes of Colewort stalks 

 mixed with old hog's grease, are very efte^lual to anoint 

 the sides of those that have had long pains therein, or any 

 other place pained with melancholy and windy humours. 

 Cabbages are extreme windy, whether you take them 

 as a meal or as a medicine: yea, as windy a meal as can 

 be eaten, and Colewort-flowers are something more 



