AND ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED. 53 



and somewhat flat heads. The root is| 



tough, and somewhat woody, yet lives and j COLTSFOOT. 



shoots a-new every year, 



Place.] It grows upon hedges, and ! CALLED also Coughwort, Foal's-foot, 

 sometimes in the open fields, in divers j Horse-hoof, and Bull's-foot. 

 places of this land. Descript.~] This shoots up a slender stalk, 



Time.] They flower all the months of \ with small yellowish floweis somewhat 

 July and August, and the seed ripen m | earlier, which fall away quickly, and after 

 the mean while. 1 they are past, come up somewhat round 



Government and virtues.'] It is under the j leaves, sometimes dented about the edges, 

 dominion of Venus. It has power to rarity j much lesser, thicker, and greener than those 

 and digest, and therefore the green leaves j of butter-bur, Avith a little down or frieze 

 bruised 5 and laid as a plaister, disperse | over the green leaf on the upper side, which 

 knots, nodes, or kernels in the flesh ; and j may be rubbed away, and whitish or meally 

 if, when dry, it be taken in wine, it helps j underneath. The root is small and white, 

 the stranguary ; and being anointed with * spreading much under ground, so that 

 oil, it provokes sweat. It is a singular food { where it takes it will hardly be driven 

 for cattle, to cause them to give store of] away again, if any little piece be abid- 

 tnilk ; arid why then may it not do the like, ] ing therein; and from thence spring fresh 

 being boiled in ordinary drink, for nurses, j leaves. 



Place.l It grows as well in wet grounds 

 COLUMBINES. as in drier places, 



THESE are so well known, growing al-j Time.~\ And flowers in the end of 

 most in every garden, that I think I may I February, the leaves begin to appear in 

 save the expence of time in writing a de- ! March, 

 scription of them. Government and virtues. The plant is 



Time.'] They flower in May, and abide: under Venus, the fresh leaves or juice, or 



not for the most part when June is past, 

 perfecting their seed in the mean time. 

 Government and virtues.] It is also an 



a syrup thereof is good for a hot dry cough, 

 or wheezing, and shortness of breath. The 

 dry leaves are best for those that have thin 



herb of Venus. The leaves of Columbines \ rheums and distillations upon their lungs, 

 are commonly used in lotions with good j causing a cough, for which also the dried 

 success for sore mouths and throats. Tra- j leaves taken as tobacco, or the root is very 

 gus saith, that a dram of the seed taken in {good. The distilled water hereof simply, 

 wine with a little saffron, opens obstruc- \ or with Elder flowers and Nightshade, is a 

 tions of the liver, and is good for the yellow j singularly good remedy against all hotagues, 

 jaundice, if the party after the taking to drink two ounces at a time, and apply 

 thereof be laid to sweat well in bed. The j cloths wet therein to the head and stomach, 

 seed also taken in wine causes a speedy j which also does much good, being applied 

 delivery of women in childbirth : if one * to any hot swellings and inflammations : 

 draught suffice not, let her drink the j It helps St. Anthony's fire, and burnings, 

 second, and it will be effectual : The* and is singularly good to take away wheals 

 Spaniards used to eat a piece of the root \ and small pushes that arise through heat ; 

 thereof in the morning fasting, many days j as also the burning beat of the piles, or 

 together, to help them when troubled with \ privy parts, cloths wet therein being fhere- 

 the stone in the reins or kidneys. | unto applied. 



