oulpepeb'b complete herbal. S5 



thereby cured. The kernels within the husks, commonly 

 called ashen key, prevail against stitches and pains in the 

 side, proceeding of wind and voiding away the stone, by 

 provoking urine. 



I can justly except against none of this, save only the 

 first, viz. — That ash-tree tops and leaves ai-e good against 

 the biting of serpents and vipers. I suppose this had its 

 rise from Gerard or Pliny, both which bold, that there is 

 ■uch an antipathy between an adder and an ash-tree, that 

 if an adder be encompassed around with ash-tree leaves, 

 she would sooner run through fire than through the leaves ; 

 the contrary to which is the truth, as both my eyes are 

 witness. The rest are virtues something likely, only if it 

 be in winter when you cannot get the leaves, you may 

 safely use the bark instead of them. The keys you may 

 easily keep all the year, gathering them when they are 

 ripe. 



A.VENS, CALLED ALSO COLEWORT, and HEKB 

 BE^^E'r,—( Oeum fferb'anum.) 



Descrip. — The ordinary avens have many long, rough, 

 dark green winged leaves rising from the root, every one 

 made of many leaves set on each side of the middle rib, 

 the largest three whereof grow at the end, and are snip- 

 ped or dented round about the edges ; the other being 

 small pieces, sometimes two and sometimes more, standing 

 on each side of the middle rib underneath them : among 

 which do rise up divers rough or hairy stalks, about two 

 feet high, branching forth with leaves at every joint, not 

 ■o long as those below, but almost as much cut in on the 

 edges, some into three, some into more. On the tops of 

 the branches stand small, pale yellow flowers, consisting 

 of five leaves, like the flowers of cinque-foil, but large, 

 in the middle whereof standeth a small green herb, which 

 when the flower is fallen, groweth to be sound, being 

 made of many long purple seeds like grains, which will 

 ■tick upon your clothes. The root consists of many brown- 

 ish strings of fibres, smelling somewhat like unto cloves, 

 especially those which grow in the higher, hotter, and 

 drier grounds, and in free and clear air. 



Flaccm — They grow wild in many places under hedges' 

 ■idea, and by the f>ath-way in fiehis ; yet they rather de- 

 light to grow in shadowy than in sunny places. 



TVsM. — They flower in May and June tor the moat u«irt, 

 wad thA<»- ""^'1 '> ripe in July at the farthest. 



