OULPBPKR'S COICPLETS HSRBAL. 107 



largMt end, which, when it beareth its berries, are some- 

 what wrinkled and loose, another growing under it which 

 is solid and firm, with many small threads hanging there- 

 at. The whole plant is of a very sharp bitter taste, prick- 

 ing the tongue as nettles do the hands, and so abideth for 

 a great while without alteration. The root thereof was 

 anciently used instead of starch to starch linen with. 



There is another sort of cuckoo-point with lesser ieares 

 than the former, and sometimes harder, having blackish 

 spots upon them, which for the most part abide longer 

 green in summer than the former, and both leaves and 

 roots are more sharp and fierce than it ; in all things else 

 it is like the former. 



Place. — These two sorts ctow frequently, almost under 

 every hedge-side in many places of this land. 



7^im«.— -They shoot forth leaves in the spring, and con- 

 tinue but until the middle of summer or somewhat later : 

 their basks appearing before they fall away, and their 

 fruit showing m April. 



Oovemment and Virtues. — It is under the dominion of 

 Mara. Tragus reporteth that a dram weight, or more if 

 need be, of the spotted wake-robin either fresh and green, 

 or dried, being beaten and taken, is a present and sure 

 remedy for poison and the plague. The juice of the herb 

 taken to the quantity of a spoonful hath the same effect ; 

 but if there be a little vinegar added thereto, as well as 

 to the root aforesaid, it somewhat allayeth the sharp bit- 

 ing taste thereof upon the tongue. The green leaves 

 bruised and laid upon any boil or plague-sore, doth won- 

 derfully help to draw forth the poison. A dram of the 

 powder of tne dried root taken with twice so much sugar 

 in the form of a licking electuary, or the green root, doth 

 wonderfully help those that are pursy and short-winded, 

 M also those that have a cough ; it breaketh, digestetb. 

 and riddeth away phlegm from the stomach, chest, ana 

 lungs : the milk wherein the root hath been boiled is ef- 

 fectual also for the same purpose. The said powder taken 

 in wine or other drink, or tbe juice of the berries, or the 



Kwder of them, or the wine wberem they have been 

 iled provoketh urine, and bringetb down women's 

 oounes, and purgetb them effectually after child-bearing, 

 to bring away tbe after-birth. Taken with sheep's milk 

 it healetb the inward ulcers of tbe bowels : the distilled 

 water thereof is effectual to all the purposes aforesaid. A 



