318 oulpbpxe's complitb herbal. 



that spread on the ground, with small flowers in clnsters 

 let with the leaves, and small seeds succeeding like the 

 rest) perishing yearly, and rising again with its own sowing. 

 It smells like rotten fish, or something worse. 

 Place. — It grows usually upon dunghills, 

 Tim4. — They flower in June and July, and their seed is 

 ripe quickly after. 



Oovemment and Virtuet. — Stinking arrach is used as a 

 remedy to help women pained, and almost strangled with 

 the mother, by smelling to it ; but inwardly taken there 

 is no better remedy under the moon for that disease. I 

 would be large in commendation of this herb, were 1 but 

 eloquent. It is an herb under the dominion of Venus, and 

 under the sign Scorpio ; it is common almost upon every 

 dunghill. The works of Qod are given freely to man, his 

 medicines are common and cheap, and easy to be found. 

 (Tis the medicines of the College of Physicians that are so 

 dear and scarce to find.) I commend it for a universal 

 medicine of the womb, and such a medicine as will easily, 

 safely, and speedily cure any diseases thereof, as fits of the 

 mother, dislocation, or falling out thereof : it cools the 

 womb being overheated. And let me tell you this, and I 

 will tell you the truth — heat of the womb is one of the 

 createat causes of hard labour in child-birth. It makes 

 barren women fruitful : it cleanseth the womb if it be 

 foul, and strengthens it exceedingly : it provokes the terms 

 if they be stopped, and stops them if tbey flow immode- 

 rately ; you can desire nOjp[ood to your womb but this herb 

 will effect it ; therefore if you love children, if you love 

 health, if you love ease, keep a syrup always by you made 

 of the juice of this herb, and sugar, or honey, if it be to 

 cleanse the womb ; and let such as be rich keep it for their 

 poor neighbours, and bestow it as freely as I bestow my 

 studies upon them, or else let them look to answer it ano- 

 ther day, when the Lord shall come to make the inquisi- 

 tion of blood. 



AECHANGEL.— (ZamMim.) 



To put a gloss upon their practice, the physicians call an 

 herb (which country people vulgarly know bv the name 

 of the dead nettle) arcnai^el : whether they favour moi« 

 of superstition or foUy, 1 leave to the judicious reader. 

 Thcore is more curiosity than courtesy to my countrymen 

 uaed by others in the explanation as well of the names, as 



