THE ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED. 103 



Watcr-cress pottage is a good remedy to cleanse the 

 blood in the Spring, and help hcad-achs, and consume 

 the gross humours Winter hath left behind ; those that 

 ■would live in health, may use it if they please, if they 

 will not, 1 cannot help it. If any fancy not pottage, 

 they may cat the herb as a sallet. 



Ci'osswort. $ . (c. d. 2.) 



Tins is so called from the situation of its leaves. 



Descript.'] Common Crosswort groweth up with square 

 hairy brown stalks, a little above a foot high, having four 

 small broad and pointed, hairy, yet smooth green leaves 

 growing at every joint, each against other cross-way. 

 Towards the tops of the stalks at the joints, with the 

 leaves in three or four rows downwards, stand small, 

 pale, yellow flowers, after which come small blackish 

 round seeds, four for the most part, set in every husk. 



The root is very small and full of fibres, or threads, 

 taking good hold of the ground, and spreading with the 

 branches a great deal of ground, which perish not ia 

 Winter, although the leaves die every year, and spring 

 again new. 



Placer\ It groweth in many moist grounds, as well 

 meadows as untilled places about London, in Hamp- 

 stead church-yard, at \^'yc in Kent, and suadry other 

 places. 



Time.'] It flowers from May all the Summer long, in 

 one place or other, as they are open to the sun ; the 

 seed ripeneth soon after. 



Government and VirtiiesJ] It is under the dominion of 

 Saturn. This is a singular good wound herb, and is 

 used inwardly, not only to stay bleeding of wounds, 

 but to consolidate them, as it doth outwardly any green 

 Avound, which it quickly soldereth up and healeth. The 

 decoiiion of the herb in wine, helpeth to cxpe6lorate 

 phlegm out of the chest, and is good for obstructions 

 in. the breast, stomach, or bowels, and helpeth a de- 

 cayed appetite. It is also good to Avash any wound or 

 sore with, to cleanse and heal it. The herb bruised, 

 and then boileJ, apflied outwardly for certain days to- 

 f. 4. 



