22 THE COMPLETE HERBAL 



the end roundly dented about the edges, ( pure honey is no less available for all sorts 

 standing upon long foot stalks, from among I of coughs, or colds, wheesing, or shortness 

 which rise up small, square, slender, but ; of breath, distillations of thin rheum upon 

 upright hairy stalks, with some leaves there- ! the lungs, which causes consumptions, 

 on to a piece at the joints, smaller than the j The decoction made with Mead, and a little 

 lower, whereon are set several spiked heads i Pennyroyal, is good for those that are 

 of flowers like Lavender, but thicker and j troubled with putrid agues, whether quo- 

 shorter for the most part, and of a reddish ; tidian, tertian, or quartan, and to draw 

 or purple colour, spotted with white spots j down and evacuate the blood and humours, 

 both in the upper and lower part. The j that by falling into the eyes, do hinder the 

 seeds being contained within the husks that j sight; the decoction thereof made in wine 

 hold the flowers, are blackish, somewhat j and taken, kills the worms in the belly, 

 long and uneven. The roots are many j opens obstructions both of the spleen and 

 white thready strings: the stalk perishes, 1 liver ; cures stitches, and pains in the 

 but the roots with some leaves thereon, j back and sides, the torments and griping 

 abide all the Winter. The whole plant is j pains in the bowels, and the wind cholic ; 

 somewhat small. Jand mixed with honey purges the belly, 



Placed] It grows frequently in woods, J helps to bring down women's courses, and 

 and delights in shady places, \ is of special use for those that are troubled 



Time.'] And it flowers in July ; after > with the falling down of the mother, and 

 which the seed is quickly ripe, yet in its j pains thereof, and causes an easy and 



prime in May. ; speedy delivery of women in child-birth, 



Government and virtues,"] The herb is ap- ! It helps also to break and expel the stone, 

 propriated to the planet Jupiter, and the j either in the bladder or kidneys. The de- 

 sign Aries. Antonius Musa, physician to \ coction with wine gargled in the mouth, 

 the Emperor Augustus Caesar, wrote a pe- } eases the tooth-ache. It is commended 

 culiar book of the virtues of this herb ; and : against the stinging and biting of venomous 

 among other virtues saith of it, that it pre- : serpents, or mad dogs, being used inwardly 

 serves the liver and bodies of men from j and applied outwardly to the place. A 

 the danger of epidemical diseases, and from idram of the powder of Betony taken with 

 witchcraft also ; it helps those that loath j a little honey in some vinegar, does won- 

 and cannot digest their meat, those that | derfully refresh those that are over wearied 

 have weak stomachs and sour belchmgs, or j by travelling. It stays bleeding at the mouth 

 continual rising in their stomachs, using it] or nose, and helps those that void or spit 

 familiarly either green or dry; either the j blood, and those that are bursten or have 

 herb, or root, or the flowers, in broth, drink, a rupture, and is good for such as are 



or meat, or made into conserve, syrup, 

 water, electuary, or powder, as every one 



bruised by any fall or otherwise. The 

 green herb bruised, or the juice applied to 



may best frame themselves unto, or as the any inward hurt, or outward green wound 

 time and season requires ; taken any of j in the head or body, will quickly heal and 

 the aforesaid ways, it helps the jaundice, 5 close it up ; as also any veins or sinews that 

 falling sickness, the palsy, convulsions, or \ are cut, and will draw forth any broken 

 shrinking of the sinews, the gout and those j bone or splinter, thorn or other things got 

 that are inclined to dropsy, those that have ! into the flesh. It is no less profitable for 

 continual pains in their heads, although it j old sores or filthy ulcers, yea, tho' they be 

 turn to phrensy. The powder mixed with \ fistulous and hollow. But some do advise 



