CINQUEFOIL AND TORMENTIL 169 



of Dioscorides, but adds, "methynk that it smelleth 

 of superstition that in a quartayn the leves of four 

 stalks should be taken ; in a tertian the leves of 

 three ; and in a quotidian the leves of one." 

 Hippocrates, centuries before the Christian era, 

 declares the efficacy of the plant in intermittent 

 fever. Though now discarded, all the mediaeval 

 herbalists were loud in its praises. Tusser, for 

 instance, we see in his " Fiue Hundred Pointes of 

 Good Husbandrie," includes "cinqfile" amongst the 

 "necessarie herbes to grow in the garden for 

 Physick." The unanimity of these authors is not 

 altogether surprising, since they brought little or 

 nothing to the test of actual experiment, but pinned 

 their faith on the statements of Pliny, Dioscorides, 

 and other ancient writers, borrowing copiously from 

 them and from each other. 



The tormentil Potentilla Tormentilla is " of like 

 vertue with cinquefoile, but of greater efficacy ; it is 

 much used against pestilentiall diseases, resisting 

 putrefaction, so it expels poyson and preserveth 

 from infection. The decoction of the leaves or 

 the juyce thereof healeth all wounds. It also 



and in the Potecaries and Herbaries Latin ; with the pro- 

 perties, degrees, and naturall places of the same." The first 

 part was published in London in 1551, a second part was 

 added in 1562, and a third in 1566, these latter being issued 

 from Cologne. In 1568 these were gathered into one goodly 

 volume, of which Queen Elizabeth graciously accepted the 

 dedication. 



