82 culpeper'b complete hbbbix.. 



be boiled in wine, or bruised and taken in wine, is alec 

 effectual in the biting of serpents. And you know what 

 Alexander pottage is good for, that you may no longer eat 

 it oat of ignorance, but out of knowledge. 



ALDER (BLACK.)— (Alnut Nigra,) 



Descrip. — This tree seldom groweth to any great big- 

 ness, but for the most part abideth like a hedge-bush, or a 

 tree spreading its branches, the woods of the body being 

 white, and a dark red cole or heart ; the outward bark is 

 of a blackish colour, with many whitish spots therein ; 

 but the inner bark next the wood is yellow, which being 

 chewed, will turn the spittle near into a saffron colour. 

 The leaves are somewhat like those of an ordinary alder- 

 tree, or the female comet, or Dog-berry tree, called in 

 Sussex dog-wood, but blacker, and not so long : the flowers 

 are white, coming forth with the leaves at the joints, which 

 turn into small round berries first green, afterwards red, 

 but blackish when they are thorougD ly ripe, divided as it 

 were into two parts, wherein is contained two small round 

 and flat seeds. The root runneth not deep into the ground, 

 but spreads rather under the upper crust of the earth. 



Place, — This tree or shrub may be found plentifully in 

 St. John*8 wood by Homsey, and the woods on Hamp- 

 stead-heath ; as also in a wood called Old Park, in Barcomo, 

 Essex, near the brook's side. 



Time,— ^li flowereth in May, and the berries are ripe in 

 September. 



Oovemment and Virtues. — It is a tree of Venus, and 

 perhaps under the celestial sign Cancer. The inner yellow 

 Dark hereof purgeth downwards both choler and phlegm^ 

 and the watery humours of such as have the dropsy, ana 

 stren^hens the inward parts again by binding. If the 

 bark hereof be boiled with agrimony, wormwowi, dodder, 

 hops, and some fennel with smallage, endive, and succory 

 roots, and a reasonable draught taken every morning for 

 some time together, it is very effectual against the jaundice, 

 dropsy, and the evil disposition of the body, especially if 

 some suitable purging medicines have been taken before, 

 to void the grosser excrements ; it purgeth and strength- 

 eneth the liver and spleen, cleansing them from such evil 

 humours and hardness as they are afflicted with. It is -to 

 be undcist*. vmI that these things are performed by the dry 

 bark ; for the fresh green bark taken inwardly provoke* 



