THE ENGLISH PHYSFCIAN ENLARGED. 181 



Descript.'] The common sort hereof hath many long 

 and somewhat bread dark green leaves, rising from the 

 root, denied about the edges, and sometimes a little rent 

 or torn on both sides in two or three places, and some- 

 what hairy withal ; amongst which ariseth a long round 

 stalk, four or five feet high, divided into many branches, 

 at the tops whereof stand great scaly green heads, and 

 from the middle of them thrust forth a number of dark 

 purplish red thrumbs or threads, which after they are 

 withered and past, there are found divers black seeds, 

 lying in a great deal of down, somewhat like unto Thistle 

 seed, but smaller ; the root is white, hard and woody, and 

 divers fibres annexed thereunto, which perish not, but 

 abideth with leaves thereon all the Winter, shooting out 

 fresh every Spring. 



Flace.^ It groweth in most fields and meadows, and 

 about their borders and hedges, and in many waste 

 grounds also every where. 



Tit/ie.l It usually ilowereth in June or July, and the 

 seed is ripe shortly after. 



Government and Virtues.'] Saturn challengeth the herb 

 for his own. This Knapweed helpcth to stay fluxes, both 

 of blood at the mouth or nose, or other outward parts, 

 and those veins that are inwardly broken or inward 

 wounds, as also the fluxes of the belly; it staycth distil, 

 lations of thin and sharp humours from the head upon 

 the stomach and lungs ; it is good for those that are 

 bruised by any fall, blows, or otherwise, and is profitable 

 for those thai are bursten, and have ruptures, by drinking 

 the deco6tion of the herb and roots iu wine, and applying 

 the same outwardly to the place. It is singularly good 

 in all running sores, cancerous and fistulous, drying up of 

 the moisture, and healing them up gently, without sharp- 

 ness ; it doth the like to running sores or scabs of the 

 head, or other parts. It is of special use for the sore- 

 ness of the throat, swelling of the uvula and jaws, and 

 excellent good to stay bleeding, and heal up all green 

 wounds. 



