oulpkpkr's ooMPLira hxrbal. 106 



The root is ver/ small, and fall of fibres, or threadsf 

 taking good bold of the grouDd, and spreading with the 

 braDchea a (^reat deal of ground, which pensh not in 

 winter, although the leaves die every year, and spriug 

 agaio anew. 



Place. — It groweth in many moist grounds, as well in 

 meadows as untilled places about Loudon, in Hampstead 

 churchyard, at Wye m Kent, and sundry other places. 



TitM. — It flowers from May all the summer long, in 

 one place or another, as they are more open to the son : 

 the seed ripeueth soon after. 



Oovemment aiui Virtites. — It is under the dominion of 

 Saturn. This is a singular good wound herb, and is 

 used inwardly not only to stav bleeding of wounds, but 

 to consolidate them, as it aoth outwardly anv green 

 wound, which it quickly soldereth up and healetL The 

 decoction of the herb in wine helpeth to expectorate 

 phlegm out of the chest, and is good for obstructions in 

 the breast, stomach, or bowels, and helpeth a decayed 

 appetite. It is also ^ood to wash any wound or sore with, 

 to cleanse and heal it The herb bruised and then boiled, 

 applied outwardly for certain days together, renewing it 

 often ; and in the mean time the decoction of the herb in 

 wine, taken inwardly every day, doth certainly cure the 

 rupture in any, so as it be not too inveterate ; but very 

 speedily, if it be fresh and lately taken. 



CROWFOOT.— (Ranunculus AuricomuB.) 



Mavt are the names this furious biting herb hath ob* 

 tained ; for it is called Frog's-foot from the Greek name 

 barrakion; Crowfoot, Gk^dknobs, Qold-cups, King's 

 Knobs, Baffiners, Trod Flowers, Polts, Locket-gouleons, 

 and Butter-flowers. 



Abundant are the sorts of this herb, that to describe 

 them all would tire the patience of Socrates himself ; but 

 because I have not yet attained to the spirits of Socrates^ 

 I shall bat describe the most usuaL 



Descnp. — The most common crowfoot hath many thin 

 green leaves cut into divers parts, in taste biting and 

 ■harp, biting and blistering the tongue ; it bears many 

 flowers of a oright resplendent yellow colour ; I do not 

 rtmember that I ever saw anything yellower — virgins in 

 aoeieot times used to make powder of them to furrow 

 bride-beds — after which flowers come small heads, nome 

 ^[>iked and rugged like a pine-apple. 



