n cxtlpepsb'8 complete hbbbal. 



than violet leaves, thicker also, and of a dark green shin- 

 ing colour on the upper side, and of a pale yellow green 

 underneath, little or nothing dented about the edges, from 

 among which rise small, round, hollow, brown green husks, 

 upon short stalks, about an iuch long, divided at the 

 brims into five divisions, very like the cups or heads of 

 the henbane seed, but that they are smaller ; and these be 

 all the flowers it carrieth, which are somewhat sweet be- 

 ing smelled unto, and wherein, when they are ripe, are 

 contained small corned rough seeds, very like the kernel 

 or stones of grapes or raisins. The roots are small and 

 whitish, spreading divers ways in the ground, increasing 

 into divers heads : but not running or creeping under the 

 ground as some other creeping herbs do. They are some- 

 what sweet in smell, resembling nardus, but more when 

 they are dry than green ; and of a sharp but not unplea- 

 lant taste. 



Place, — It groweth frequently in gardens. 



Time. — They keep their leaves green all winter ; but 

 shoot forth new in the spring, and with them come forth 

 those heads or flowers which give ripe seed about Mid- 

 ■ammer, or somewhat after. 



Oovemment and Virttiet. — "lis a plant nader the do- 

 minion of Mars, and therefore inimical to nature. This 

 herb being drunk, not only provoketh vomiting, but 



1>urgeth downward, and by urine also, purgeth both cho- 

 er and phlegOL If you add to it some spikenard, with the 

 whey 01 goat's milk, or honeyed water, it is made more 

 strong ; out it purgeth phle^ more manifestly than cho- 

 ler, and therefore doth much help pains in the hips and 

 other parts : being boiled in whey they wonderfully help 

 the obstructions of the liver and spleen, and are therefore 

 profitable for the dropsy and jaundice : being steeped in 

 wine and drank, it helps those continual a^ues that come 

 by the plenty of stubborn humours : an oil made thereof 

 by setting in the sun, with some laudanum added to it, 

 provoketh sweating, (the ridge of the back anointed there- 

 with) and thereby driveth away the shaking fits of the 

 ague. It will not abide any long boiling, for it loseth its 

 chief strength thereby ; nor much beating, for the finer 

 powder doth provoke vomits and urine, and the coarser 

 purgeth downwards. 



Tnt common use hereof ia to take the juice of five or 

 ■even leaves in a little drink to cause vomiting ; the root* 



