108 culfepsb's cokplbte hbbbuu 



leaves, bearing a forked head like a crab's claw, oat ol 

 which comes a white flower, consiBtine of three leaves^ 

 with yellowish hairy threads in the middle : it taketh root 

 in the mud in the bottom of the water. 



Place. — It groweth plentifully in the fens in Lincoln- 

 shire. 



Time. — It fiowereth in June, and usually from thence 

 till August. 



Government and Virtues. — It Is a plant under the do- 

 minion of Venus, and therefore a great strengthener of 

 the reins : it is excellent good in that inflammation which 

 is commonly called St. Anthony's fire : it assuageth all 

 inflammations and swellings in wounds, and an ointment 

 made of it is excellent good to heal them : there is scarce 

 a better remedy growing than this is for such as have 

 bruised their kidneys, and on that account evacuating 

 blood : a dram of the powder of the herb taken every 

 morning, is a very good remedy to stop the terms. 



CRESSES (BJjACK).^Sisymbrium Nigra.) 



Descrip. — It hath long leaves deeply cut and jagged on 

 both sides, not much unlike wild mustard ; the stalk 

 small, very limber, though very tough : you may twist 

 them round as you may a willow before they break. The 

 stones are very small and yellow, after which come small 

 pods which contain the seed. 



Place.— It is a common herb growing usually by the 

 wayside, and sometimes upon mud walls in the neigh- 

 bourhood of London ; but it delights most to grow among 

 stones and rubbish. 



Time. — It flowers in June and July, and the seed is 

 ripe in August and September. 



Government and Vtrtties. — It is a plant of a hot and 

 biting nature, under the dominion of Mars. The seed of 

 black cresses strengthens the brain exceedingly, being, in 

 performing that ofllce, little inferior to mustard seed, if 

 at all ; they aro excellent good to stay these rheums which 

 may fall down from the head upon the lungs ; you may 

 beat the seed into powder if you please, and make it up 

 into an electuary with honey ; so you have an excellent 

 remedy by you, not only for the premises, but also for the 

 cough, yellow jaundice, and sciatica. The herb boiled into 

 a poultice is an excellent remedy for inflammations, both 

 in women's breasts and in men's testicles. 



