12 THE COMPLETE HERBAL 



the spirits is good against quartan agues, : Government and virtues.'] As the virtue of 

 stancheth bleeding at mouth and nose, if it j both these is various, so is also their govern- 

 be stamped and applied to the nape of the I ment ; for that which is hot and biting, is 

 neck; the herb also bruised, and with some! under the dominion of Mars, but Saturn 

 salt and vinegar and hog's-grease, laid upon ! challenges the other, as appears by that 

 an hard tumour or swelling, or that vulgarly j leaden coloured spot he hath placed upon 

 called the king's evil, do help to dissolve or j the leaf. 



discuss them ; and being in like manner ; It is of a cooling and drying quality, 

 applied, doth much allay the pains, and give j and very effectual for putrined ulcers in man 

 ease to the gout, sciatica, and other pains j or beast, to kill worms, and cleanse the 

 of the joints and sinews. It is also very putrified places. The juice thereof dropped 

 effectual to heal green wounds, and old j in, or otherwise applied, consumes all cold 

 ulcers ; also to stay their fretting, gnawing j swellings, and dissolveth the congealed 

 and spreading. It draws forth splinters, ; blood of bruises by strokes, falls, &c. A 

 and such like things gotten into the flesh, j piece of the root, , or some of the seeds 

 and is very good against bruises and bur- j bruised, and held to an aching tooth, takes 

 nings. But the yellow Archangel is most \ away the pain. The leaves bruised and 

 commended for old, filthy, corrupt sores ; laid to the joint that has a felon thereon, 

 and ulcers, yea although they grow to be i takes it away. The juice destroys worms 

 hollow ; and to dissolve tumours. The j in the ears, being dropped into them ; if 

 chief use of them is for women, it being an ; the hot Arssmart be strewed in a chamber, 

 herb of Venus. ; it will soon kill all the fleas ; and the herb 



| or juice of the cold Arssmart, put to a 



ARSSMART. } horse, or other cattle's sores, will drive away 



i the fly in the hottest time of Summer ; a 



THE hot Arssmart is called also Water- {good handful of the hot biting Arssmart 

 pepper, or Culrage. The mild Arssmart; put under a horse's saddle, will make him 

 iscalleddead Arssmart Persicaria, or Peach- 1 travel the better, although he were half 

 wort, because the leaves are so like the \ tired before. The mild Arssmart is good 

 leaves of a peach-tree ; it is also called { against all imposthumes and inflammations 

 Plumbago. i at the beginning, and to heal green wounds. 



Description of the mild.'] This has broad I All authors chop the virtues of both 

 leaves set at the great red joint of the I sorts of Arssmart together, as men chop 

 stalks ; with semicircular blackish marks i herbs for the pot, when both of them are 

 on them, usually either blueish or whitish, i of contrary qualities The hot Arssmart 

 with such like seed following. The root is { grows not so high or tall as the mild doth, 

 long, with many strings thereat, perishing j but has many leaves of the colour of. 

 yearly ; this has no sharp taste (as another s peach leaves, very seldom or never spotted ; 

 sort has, which is quick and biting) but ! in other particulars it is like the former, but 

 rather sour like sorrel, or else a little drying, j may easily be known from it. if you will 

 or without taste. j but be pleased to break a leaf of it cross 



Place.'] It grows in watery places, ditches, | your tongue, for the hot will make your 

 and the like, which for the most part are | tongue to smart, but the cold will not. If 

 dry in Summer. , j you see them both together, you may easily 



Time.'] It flowers in June, and the seed j distinguish them, because the mild hatli far 

 is ripe in August. ? broader leaves. 



