CULPEPER'S CO^iPLETK HERBAJU 7l 



the wcoud decoction doth bind the body. The juice 

 thereof drunk in wine helpeth those that are bitten by 

 an adder, and the decoction of the flowers bringeth down 

 women's courses ; being taken with honey it recovereth 

 hoarseness or loss of the voice. The often eating of them 

 well boiled helpeth those that are entering into a con- 

 sumption. The pulp, or the middle ribs of coleworta 

 boiled in almond milk, and made up into an electuary 

 with honey, being taken often is very protitable for those 

 that are puffy and short winded. Being boiled twice, and 

 an old cock being boiled in the broth and drunk, it help- 

 eth the pains, and the obstruction of the liver and spleen, 

 and the stone in the kidneys. The juice boiled with 

 honey, and dropped into the comers of the eves, cleareth 

 the sight by consuming any cloud or film beginning to 

 dim it : it also consumeth the canker growing therein. 

 Thf - are much commended being eaten before meat to 

 keep one from surfeiting, as also from being drunk with 

 too much wine, or quickly makes a man sober that is 

 drunk before ; for, as they say, there is such an antipa- 

 thy or enmity between the vine and the coleworts, that 

 one will die where the other groweth. The decoction 

 of coleworts taketh away the pain and ache, and allayeth 

 the swellings of sore and gouty legs and knees, wherein 

 many grosa and watery humours are fallen, the place 

 being bathed therewith warm. It helpeth also old and 

 filthy sores being bathed therewith, and healeth all small 

 scabs, pushes, and wheals that break out in the skin : the 

 ashes of colewort stalks mixed with old hog's grease, 

 are very effectual to anoint the sides of those that have 

 had long pains therein, or any otherplace pained with 

 melancholy and windy humours. Tnis was certainly 

 Chrysippus's god, and therefore he wrote a whole volume 

 about them and their virtues, and that none of the least 

 neither, for he would be no small fool : he appropriates 

 them to every part of the body, and to every disease in 

 every part : and honest old Cato, they say, used no other 

 physic. I know not what metal there bodies were made 

 of ; this I am sure, cabbages are extremely windy whether 

 yoa take them as meat or as medicine ; yea, as windy 

 meat as can be eaten, unless yon eat bag -pi pes or bellows, 

 and they are but seldoio ate in our days ; and colewort 

 flowers are something more tolerable, and the wholesomer 

 food of the two : the moon challengeth the dominion of 

 the herb. 



