THE ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED. 215 



Motherwort. ?. and Q,. (h. d. 2.) 



As it groweth only in gardens with us in England, it is 

 needless to give a description of it. 



Government and Virtuss.'] V^euus owns the herb, and 

 it is under Leo. There is no better herb to take 

 melancholy vapours from the heart, strengthen it, and 

 make a merry, chearful, blythe soul, than this herb. It 

 may be kept in a syrup or conserve ; therefore the Latins 

 called it Cardiaca. Besides, it makes women joyful 

 mothers of Children, and settles their wombs as they 

 should be, therefore we call it Motherwort. It is held 

 to be of much use for the trembling of the heart, and 

 faintings and swoonings ; from whence it took the name 

 Cardiaca. The powder thereof, to the quantity of a 

 spoonful, drank in wine, is a wonderful help to women 

 in their sore travail; as also for the suffocating or risings 

 of the mother ; and for these elfedls it is likely it took the 

 name of motherwort with us. It also provoketh urine 

 and women's courses, cleanseth the chest of cold phlegm 

 oppressing it, killeth worms in the belly. It is of good 

 use to warm and dry up the humours, to digest and disperse 

 them that are settled in the veins, joints, and sinews of the 

 body, andj to help cramps and convulsions. 



Mouse-Ear. j . (h. d. 2.) 



Tins is a small herb possessing great virtues. 



Descript.'] Mouse-Ear is a low herb, creeping upon the 

 ground by small strings, like the strawberry plant, whereby 

 it shooteth forth small roots, whereat grow upon the 

 ground many small and somewhat short leaves, set in a 

 round form together, and very hairy, which being broken, 

 do give a whitish milk : from among these leaves spring 

 up two or three small hoary stalks about a span high, with 

 a few smaller leaves thereon ; at the tops whereof standeth 

 usually but one flower, consisting ol many pale yellow 

 leaves, broad at the point, and a little dented in, set in 

 three or four rows (the greater part uppermost) very like 

 a dandelion flower, and a little reddish underneath about 

 the edges, especially if it grow in a dry ground; which 



