104 THE ENGLISU PHYSICIAN EXLAUGEI). 



gcther, renewing it often ; and in the mean time (he dc- 

 cofction of tlic herb in Mine, taken inwardly every day, 

 doth certainly cnrc tiic rujJtnre in any, so as it be not 

 too inveterate j but very speedily if it be fresh and lately 

 taken. 



Crowfoot. S. (h. d. 3.) 



Many are the names this fnrious biting herb hath ob- 

 tained, almost cnon,'>h to make np a Welchman's pedigree, 

 if he fetch no farther than Jolin of Gaunt, or William the 

 l-'onqueror ; for it is ealled Frogsfoot from the Creek 

 Kamc Bcirrakion ; Crowfoot, Gold Knobs, Gold Cups, 

 King's Knob, BiilTiners, Troil-dowers, Polts, Locket 

 Goiilions, and Butter-iiowers. 



Abundance arc the sorts of this herb, that to describe 

 them all would tire the patience of Socrates himself; but 

 because I have not yet attained to the spirits of Socrates, 

 I shall but describe the most usual. 



Descript.^ The most common Crowfoot hath many dark 

 grewi leaveSj cut into divers parts, in taste biting and 

 sharp, biting and blistering the tongue; it bears many 

 ilovvcrS, and those of a bright resplendent yellow colour; 

 I do not remember that I ever saw any thing yellower ; 

 Tirgios in ancient time, used to make powder of them io 

 furrow bride-beds; after which iiowers come small heads, 

 some spiked and rugged like a pine-apple. 



Place.'] They grow very common every-Avhere ; unless 

 you turn your head into a hedge, you cannot but see 

 them as you w alk. 



Time.'] They ilower in May and June, even till Sep- 

 tember. 



Government and Virtues.] This fiery and hot-spirited 

 herb of JSJars is no way fit to be given inwardly, but an 

 ointment of the leaves or llowers will draw a blister, and 

 may be so fitly applied to the nape of the neck to draw 

 back rheum from the eyes. The herb being bruised and 

 mixed with a little mustard, draws a blister as well, and 

 as perfedlly as Cantharides, and m ith far less daisger to 

 the vessels of urine, which Cantharides naturally delight 

 to wrong J 1 knew the herb once applied io a i^estileutial 



