THE ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED. ^75 



Rhubarb or Raphontick. c?. (h. d. 2.) 



Do not start, and say, this grows you know not how far 

 ofl"; and then ask me, how it conies to pass that I bring. 

 it among our English simples? For though the name may 

 speak it foreign, yet it grows with us in England, and that 

 frequent enough in our gardens ; and when you havC 

 thoroughly pursued its virtues, you will conclude it no- 

 thing inferior to that which is brought out of China, and 

 by that time this hath been as much used as that hath been, 

 the name which the other hath gotten will be eclipsed by 

 the f^me of this; but as it groweth only in gardens, by 

 cultivation, Ave need not describe it. 



l^lace.'\ It groweth in gardens, flowcreth about the be- 

 ginning or middle of June, and the seed is ripe in July. 



Timc.2 The roots that arc to be dried and kept all the 

 next year, arc not to be taken up before the stalk and 

 leaves be quite withered and gone, and that is not until 

 the middle or end of October, and if they be taken a little 

 before the leaves do spring, or when they are sprung up, 

 the roots will not have so good a colour in them. I havo 

 given the precedence unto this because in virtues also it 

 hath the pre-eminence. I come now to describe unto 

 you, that which is called Patience, or Monk's Rhubarb; 

 and next unto that, the great round-leaved Dock, or 

 bastard Rhubarb, for the one of these may supply in 

 tile absence of tlie other, being not much unlike iu their 

 virtues, only one more powerful and efficacious than the 

 other. And lastly,, shall shew you the virtues of all the 

 three sorts. 



Gartlen-Patience, or Monk's Rhubarb. <^.(h. d. 2.) 



This is a Dock bearing the name of Rhubarb for some 

 purging quality therein, and groweth up with large tall 

 stalks,, set with somewhat broad and long fair green leaves, 

 not, dented at all. The tops of t!ie stalks being divided 

 into many small branches, bear reddish or purplish 

 flowers, and three-square seed, like unto other dock. 

 The root is long, great and yellow, like unto the wild 

 docks-j but a little redder; and if it be a little dried, 

 - "^'^ N. 6. 



