112 THE ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED. 



Devil's Bit. ? . (h. d. 2.) 



Thfue arc three sorts hereof, in nothing unlike^ save the 

 colour oi" the flowers. 



Deacript.^ This rises up with a round green smooth 

 stalk, about two feet high, set witii divers long and some- 

 what narrow, smooth, dark green k-avts, somewhat 

 iiipp'd about the edges, for the most part, being else all 

 whole, and not divided at all, or but very seldom, even to 

 the tops of the branches, which yet are smaller than those 

 below, with one rib only in the middle. At the end of 

 each branch standeth a round head of many flowers set 

 together in the same manner, or more neatly than Scabious, 

 and of a more bluish, purple or white colour, wliich being 

 past, there followetli seed that I'alk-th away. The root 

 somewliat thick, but short and blackish, with many 

 strings, abiding after seed time many years. This root 

 was longer, until the devil (as the friars say) bit away the 

 rest of it for spite, envying its usefulness to mankind ; for 

 sure he was not troubled with any disease for which it is 

 proper. 



Place. \ The first groweth as well in dry meadows and 

 fields as moist, in many places of this laud ; but <he other 

 two are more rare, and hard to be met Avith, yet they are 

 to be found growing wild about Appledore, near Rye in 

 Kent. 



Time.^ They flower not usually until August. 

 Government and Virtues,~\ The plant is venereal, pleasing 

 and harmless. The herb or the root, (all that the devil 

 hath left of it) being boiled in wine and drank is very 

 powerful against the plague and all pestilential diseases 

 or fevers, poisons also, and the bitings of venomous 

 beasts j it helpeth all those that are inwardly bruised by 

 any casualty, or outwardly by falls or blows, dissolving 

 the clotted blood ; and the herb or root beaten and out- 

 wardly applied, takcth away the black and blue marks 

 that remain in the skin. The deco6tion of the herb, with 

 honey of roses put therein, is very efi"e(5hial to help the- 

 inveterate tumours aud swellings of the almonds and 

 throat, by often gargling the throat therewith ; it helpeth 

 also to procure women's courses, and easeth all pains of 

 tJiC motherj and to break and discuss wind therein, and 



