118 THE ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED. 



Place.'] It growcth in divers ditches, banks, and in corn 

 fields and highways, throughout the l:i;id. 



Time.'] It llowereth and beareth seed about the end of 

 Summer, when other thistles do flower and seed. 



Government and Urtuei.'] Mars owns the plant, and 

 manifests to the world, that though it may hurt your 

 finger, it will help your body ; for I fancy it much for 

 the ensuing virtues. Pliny and Dioscorides write. That 

 the leaves and roots thereof taken in drink, helpeth those 

 that have a crick in their neck, whereby they cannot 

 turn their neck, but their whole body must turn also 

 {sure they do not mean those that have got a crick in 

 their neck hy being under the hangman'shand). Galen, 

 saith, tliat the root and leaves hereof are of a heating 

 ■quality, and good for such persons as have their bodies 

 drawn together by some spasm or convulsions, as it is 

 •with children that have the rickets. 



Dragons. ^. (h. d. 40 



They are so well known to every one that plants them in 

 their gardens, they need no description ; if not, lei thera 

 look down to the lower end of the stalks, and see how 

 like a snake they look. 



Government and Virtues.'^ The plant is under the 

 dominion of Mars, and therefore it would be a wonder if 

 it should want some obnoxious quality or other ; in all 

 herbs of that quality, the safest way is either to distil the 

 herb in an alembick, in what vehicle you please, or else 

 to press out the juice, and distil that in a glass still in 

 sand. It scoureth and cleanseth the internal parts of the 

 body mightily, and it cleareth the external parts also, 

 being externally applied, from freckles, morphew, and 

 sun-burning: \our best way to use it externally, is to 

 mix it with vinegar ; an ointment of it is held to be good 

 in wounds and ulcers ; it consumes cankers, and that flesh 

 growing in the nostrils which they call Polypus : Also 

 the distilled water being dropped into the eyes, taketh 

 away spots there, or the pin and web, and mends the 

 dimness of sight ; it is excellent good against pestilence 

 and poison. Pliny and Dioscorides affirm, that no serpent 

 ^vili meddle with him that carries this herb about him. 



