70 



THE COMPLETE HERBAL 



Spring before the leaves come forth, as in j from any morphew, spots, or blemishes 

 Autumn or Winter. I therein, and make it clear 



Government and virtues^} It is a plant! 



under the dominion of Mercury. The fresh { EEINGO, OB SEA-HOLLY. 



roots of Elecampane preserved with sugar, } DescriptJ] THE first leaves of our ordi- 



or made into a syrup or conserve, are very 

 effectual to warm a cold windy stomach, 

 or the pricking therein, and stitches in the 



nary Sea-Holly, are nothing so hard and 

 prickly as when they grow old, being almost 

 round, and deeply dented about the edges, 



sides caused by the spleen ; and to help the | hard and sharp pointed, and a little crumpled, 

 cough, shortness of breath, and wheezing in i of a bluish green colour, every one upon 

 the lungs. The dried root made into pow- >*--*.- 



der, and mixed with sugar, and taken, serves , 

 to the same purpose, and is also profitable 

 for those who have their urine stopped, or 

 the stopping of women's courses, the pains 

 of the mother, and the stone in the reins, 

 kidneys, or bladder ; it resists poison, and 

 stays the spreading of the venom of ser- 

 pents, as also putrid and pestilential fevers, 1 



a long foot stalk ; but those that grow u| 

 higher with the stalk, do as it were compass 

 it about. The stalk itself is round and 

 strong, yet somewhat crested, with joints 

 and leaves set thereat, but more divided, 

 sharp, and prickly ; and branches rising 

 from thence, which have likewise other 

 small branches, each of ihem having several 



bluish round prickly heads, with many 

 and the plague itself. Trie roots and herbs ii small jagged prickly leaves under them, 



beaten and pat into new ale or beer, and 

 daily diank, clears, strengthens, and quick- 

 ens the sight of the eyes wonderfully. The 

 decoction of the roots in wine, or the juice 

 taken therein, kills and drives forth all 

 manner of worms in the belly, stomach, and 

 maw; and gargled in the mouth, or the 

 root chewed, fastens loose teeth, and helps 

 to keep them from putrefaction ; and being 

 drank is good for those that spit blood, 

 helps to remove cramps or convulsions, 

 gout, sciatica, pains in the joints, applied 

 outwardly or inwardly, and is also good for 

 those that are bursten, or have any inward 

 bruise. The root boiled well in vinegar 

 beaten afterward, and made into an oint- 

 ment with hog's suet, or oil of trotters, is an 

 excellent remedy for scabs or itch in young 



standing like a star, and sometimes found 

 greenish or whitish : The root grows won- 

 derfully long, even to eight or ten feet in 

 length, set with rings and circles toward the 

 upper part, cut smooth and without joints 

 down lower, brownish on the outside, and 

 very white within, with a pith in the middle; 

 of a pleasant tasle, but much more, being 

 artificially preserved, and candied with 



sugar. 



Place.] It is found about the sea coast 

 in almost every county of this land which 

 borders upon the sea. 



Time.'] It flowers in the end of Sum- 

 mer, and gives ripe seed within a month 

 after. 



Government and virtues.'] The plant is 

 venereal, and breeds seed exceedingly, and 

 strengthens the spirit procreative ; it is hot 



or old ; the places also bathed or washed 



with the decoction doth the same ; it also j and moist, and under the celestial Balance- 

 helps al) sorts of filthy old putrid sores or \ The decoction of the root hereof in wine, 

 cankers whatsoever. In the roots of this i is very effectual to open obstructions of the 

 herb lieth the chief effect for the remedies j spleen and liver, and helps yellow jaun- 

 aforesaid. The distilled water of the leaves j dice, dropsy, pains of the loins, and wind 

 and roots together, is very profitable tojcholic, provokes urine, and expels the 

 cleanse the skin of the face, or other parts, { stone, procures women's courses. The con- 



