38 THE COMPLETE HERBAL 



stalk, two feet high, and belter, with some 

 leaves thereon to the top, where it branches 



lands, and dry grounds in many aces of 

 this land. 



forth much ; and on every branch stands a Time.'] They flower in July, and their 

 large bush of pale whitish flowers, consist- 1 seed is ripe quickly after, 

 ing of four leaves a-piece : The root is t Government and virtues.'] It is an herb of 

 somewhat grea^ shoots forth many branches Mercury, and a strong one too, therefore 

 under ground, keeping the leaves green all i excellent good in all afflictions of the brain, 

 the winter. The decoction of the herb being drank, 



Place .] They grow in many places upon brings down women's courses, and provokes 

 the sea-coasts, as well on the Kentish as t urine. It is profitable for those that are 

 Essex shores ; as at Lid in Kent, Colches- ; bursten, or troubled with convulsions or 

 ter in Essex, and divers other places, and ! cramps, with shortness of breath, or choleric 

 in other counties of this land. \ torments and pains in their bellies or 



Time.'] They flower and seed about the j stomach; it also helps the yellow-jaundice, 

 time that other kinds do. jand stays vomiting, being taken in wine. 



Government and virtues.'] The Moon | Taken with salt and honey, it kills all 

 claims the dominion of these also. The | manner of worms in the body. It helps 

 broth, or first decoction of the Sea Colewort, 5 such as have the leprosy, either taken in 

 doth by the sharp, nitrous, and bitter qual- i wardly, drinking whey after it, or the green 

 ities therein, open the belly, and purge the j herb outwardly applied. It hinders con- 

 body; it cleanses and digests more power- j ception in women, but either burned or 

 fully than the other kind : The seed hereof! strewed in the chamber, it drives away 

 bruised and drank kills worms. The leaves j venomous serpents. It takes away black 

 or the juice of them applied to sores or j and blue marks in the face, and makes 

 ulcers, cleanses and heals them, and dis- 5 black scars become well coloured, if the 

 solves swellings, and takes away inflam- j green herb (not the dry) be boiled in wine, 

 mations. j and laid to the place, or the place washed 



5 therewith. Being applied to the huckle- 



CALAMINT, OR MOUNTAIN-MINT. i bone, by continuance of lime, it spends the 



j humours, which cause the pain of the 



Descript.~] THIS is a small herb, seldom i sciatica. The juice being dropped into 

 rising above a foot high, with square hairy, Uhe ears, kills the worms in them. The 

 and woody stalks, and two small hoary 5 leaves boiled in wine, and drank, provoke 

 leaves set <n a joint, about the height of j sweat, and open obstructions of the liver 

 Marjoram, or not much bigger, a little den ted ; and spleen. It helps them that have a ler- 

 about the edges, and of a very fierce or 5 tian ague (the body being first purged) by 

 quick scent, as the whole herb is : The f taking away the cold fits. The decoction 

 flowers stand at several spaces of the stalks, i hereof, with some sugar put thereto after- 

 frorn the middle almost upwards, which are | wards, is very profitable for those that be 

 small and gaping like to those of the Mints, \ troubled with the over-flowing of the gall, 

 of a pale bluish coloui : After which follow j and that have an old cough, and that are 

 small, round blackish seed. The root is j scarce able to breathe by shortness of their 

 small and woody, with divers small strings wind; that have any cold distemper in their 

 spreading within the ground, and dies not j bowels, and are troubled with the hardness 

 but abides many years. or the spleen, for all which purposes, both 



Place.'] It grows on heaths, and up- the powder, called Diacnluminthes. and the 



