culpeper'b complete herbal. 5S 



leaves, and branches, while they are green, are of good 

 use in the ulcers and putrid sore^ of the mouth and throat, 

 and of the quinsej, and likewise to heal other fresh wounds 

 and sores ; but the flowers and fruits unripe are very 

 bindiuiT, and so profitable for the bloody flux, laxes, and 

 are a fit remedy for spitting of blood. Either the decoc- 

 tion or powder of the root oeing taken is good to break 

 or diive forth gravel and the stone in the reins and kid- 

 neys. The leaves and brambles, as well green as dry, are 

 excellent good lotions for sores in the mouth or secret 

 parts : the decoction of them and of the dried branches, 

 do much bind the belly, and are good for too much flowing 

 of women's courses : the berries of the flowers are a pow- 

 eiful remedy a^inst the poison of the most venomous 

 serpents : as well drank as outwardly applied, helpeth 

 the sores of the fundament, and the piles : the juice of 

 the berries mixed with the juice of mulberries do bind 

 more effectually, and help all fretting and eating sores 

 and ulcers whatsoever. The distilled water of the brancheSi 

 leaves, and flowers, or of the fruit, is very pleasant in taste, 

 and very effectual in fevers and hot distempers of the 

 body, head, eyes, and other parts, and for the purposes 

 aforesaid. The leaves boiled in lye, and the head washed 

 therewith, healeth the itch and the running sores thereof, 

 and maketh the hair black. The powder of the leaves 

 strewed on cankers and running ulcers, wonderfully helps 

 to heal them. Some used to condensate the juice of the 

 leaves, and some the juice of the berries, to keep for their 

 nae all the year for the purposes aforesaid. 



BIJTES.-/^maran^uj Blihm.) 



Descrip. — Of these there are two sorts, white and red. 

 The white bath leaves somewhat like unto beets, but 

 ■mailer, rounder, and of a whitish green colour, every one 

 standing upon a small long foot stalk ; the stalk rises up 

 two or three feet high with such like leaves thereon ; the 

 flowers grow at the top in lone round tufts or clusters, 

 wherein are contained small and round seeds : the root is 

 very full of threads or strings. 



The red blite is in all things like the white, but that its 

 leaves and tufted heads are exceeding red at first, and 

 after turn more purplish. 



There are other Kinds of blites whicn grow, differing 

 f roru the two former sorts but little, but only the wild are 

 •mailer in every part. 



