90 culpeper's complete herbal. 



applying the herb hot into the region of the apleen as 

 plaister, or the decoction with sponges. Flowers of the 

 white archangel are preserved or conserved to be used to 

 stay the whites, and the flowers of the red to stay the reds 

 in women. It makes the heart merry, drives away melan- 

 choly, quickens the spirits, is good against the quartan 

 agues, stauncheth bleeding at the mouth and nose if it be 

 stamped and applied to the nape of the neck ; the herb 

 also bruised, and with some salt and vinegar and hog's- 

 grease laid upon a hard tumour or swelling, or that vul- 

 garly called the king's-evil, do help to dissolve or discuss 

 them : and being in like manner applied, doth much allay 

 the pains, and give ease to the gout, sciatica, and other 

 pains of the joints and sinews. It is also very effectual to 

 heal green wounds and old ulcers ; also to stay their fret- 

 ting, gnawing, and spreading : it draweth forth splinters, 

 and such like thin^ gotten mto the flesh, and is very good 

 against bruises ana burnings. But the yellow archangel 

 is most commended for old, filthy, corrupt sores and ulcers, 

 yea, although they be hollow ; and to dissolve tumours. 

 The chief use of them is for women, it being an herb of 

 Venus, and may be found in my Guide for women. 



ARSSMART.— (Po%<mttm.) 



Tnihot Arssmart is called also Water-pepper, {Polygonum 

 Hydropiper.) The mild Arssmart is called Dead Arssmart, 

 {Fersicaria i^a<?M/a^a,^or Peach wort, because the leaves are 

 BO like the leaves of a peach-tree : it also called Plumbago. 



Desortp, of the Mud, — This hath broad leaves at the 

 great red joints of the stalks, with semi-circular blackish 

 marks on them usually either blueish or whitish, with 

 such like seed following. The root is long with many 

 strings thereat, perishing yearly ; this hath no sharp taste 

 (as another sort hath, which is quick and biting) but ra- 

 ther sour like sorrel, or else a little drying, or without 

 taste. 



Fla4;e. — It groweth in watery places, ditches, and the 

 like, which for the most part are dry in summer. 



Time. — It flowereth in June, and the seed is ripe in 

 August. 



OovemmerU and Virtues, — As the virtue of both these is 

 various, so is also their government ; for that which is hot 

 and biting is under the dominion of Mars, but Saturn 

 challengeth the other, as appears by that leaden coloured 

 fpot he hath placed upon the leaf. 



