otlpeper's complete herbau 47 



f>hy8ici8Q to the Emperor Agustus Ctesar, wrote a pecu- 

 iar book of the Virtues of this herb ; and among other 

 ▼irtuea saith of it, that it preserveth the liver and body of 

 man from the danger of epidemical diseases, and from 

 witchcraft also: it helpeth those that loathe or cannot 

 digest their meal, those that have weak stomachs, or sour 

 belchiugs, or continual rising in their stomach, using it 

 familiarly either green or dry: either the herb or root, or 

 the flowers in broth, drink, or meat, or made into con- 

 serve syrup, water, electuary, or powder, as every one 

 may beat frame themselves unto, or as the time or season 

 requireth ; taken any of the aforesaid ways, it helpeth 

 the jaundice, falling sickness, the palsy, convulsions, 

 shrinking of the sinews, the gout, and those that are in- 

 clined to dropsy, those that have continual pains in their 

 heads, although it turn to frenzy. The powder mixed 

 with pure honey is no less available for all sorts of coughs 

 or colds, wheezing, or shortness of breath, distillations 

 of thin rheums upon the lungs, which causeth consump- 

 tions. The decoction made with mead and a little penny- 

 royal, Is good for those that are troubled with putrid 

 agues, whether quotidian, t«rtian, or quartan, and to 

 draw down and evacuate the blood and humours, that by 

 falling into the eyes, do hinder the sight : the decoction 

 thereof made in wine, and taken, killeth the worms in the 

 belly, openeth obstructions both of the spleen and liver, 

 cureth stitches and pains in the back or sides, the tor- 

 ments and griping pains of the bowels and the wind 

 cholic : and mixed with honey purgeth the belly, helpeth 

 to bring down women's courses, and is of special use for 

 tho0e that are troubled with the falling down of the mo- 

 ther, and pains thereof, and causeth an easy and speedr 

 delivery of women in child-birth. It helpeth also to oreak 

 and expel the stone, either in the bladder or kidneys : the 

 decoction with wine gargled in the mouth easeth the tooth- 

 ache. It is commended against the stinging or biting of 

 venomous serpents, or mad dogs, being used inwardly and 

 applied outwardly to the place. A dram of the powder 

 of betony, taken with a little honey in some vine^j^ar, doth 

 wonderfully refresh those that are ovir wearied by travel 

 It stayeth bleeding at the mouth and nose, and helpeth 

 those that evacuate blood, and those that aie bursten or 

 have a rupture, and is goo<l for such as are bruised by any 

 fall or otherwiM. The gre«u herb bruised, or the juiot 



