78 



THE COMPLETE HERBAL 



like. The mucilage of the seed made with j There is another sort, differing in nothing, 

 Rose-water, and a little sugar-candy put j save only it has somewhat broad leaves ; 

 thereto, is very good in all hot agues and \ they have a strong evil savour, being 



burning fevers, and other inflammations, to 

 cool the thirst, and lenity the dryness and 

 roughness of the tongue and throat. It 

 helps also hoarseness of the vt>ice, and dis- 

 eases of the breast and lungs, caused by 

 heat, or sharp salt humours, and the pleu- 



smelled unto, and are of a drying taste. 



Placed] They flower wild in the fields 

 by hedge-sides and highways, and among 

 rubbish and other places. 



Time."] They flower and seed quickly 

 after, namely in June and July. 



risy also. The mucilage of the seed made j Government and virtues.'] This herb is 

 with Plantain water, whereunto the yolk of ? saturnine also. Both the herb and seed of 

 an egg or two, and a little Populeon are j Flux-weed is of excellent use to stay the flux 

 put, is a most safe and sure remedy to ease! or lask of the belly, being drank in water 

 the sharpness, pricking, and pains of the! wherein gads of steel heated have been 

 haemorrhoids or piles, if it be laid on a! often quenched; and is no less effectual 

 cloth, and bound thereto. It helps all in-i for the same purpose than Plantain or Com- 

 rlammations in any part of the body, and \ frey, and to restrain any other flux of blood 



the pains that come thereby, as the head- 

 ache and megrims, and all hot imposthumes, 

 swellings, or breaking out of the skin, as 

 blains, wheals, pushes, purples, and the 

 like , as also the joints of those that are out 

 of joint, the pains of the gout and sciatica, 

 the burstings of young children, and the 

 swellings of the navel, applied with oil of 

 roses and vinegar. It is also good to heal 

 the nipples and sore breasts of women, 

 being often applied thereunto. The juice 

 of the herb with a little honey put into the 

 ears helps the running of them, and the 

 worms breeding in them : The same also 

 mixed with hog's grease, and applied to cor- 

 rupt and filthy ulcers, cleanses them and 

 heals them. 



FLUX-WEED. 



Descript^] IT rises up with a round up- 

 right hard stalk, four or five feet high, 

 spread into sundry branches, whereon grow 

 many greyish green leaves, very finely cut 

 and severed into a number of short and 

 almost round parts. The flowers are very 

 small and yellow, growing spike fashion, 

 after which come small long pods, with 

 small yellowish seed in them. The root is 

 long and woody, perishing every year. 



in man or woman, as also to consolidate 

 bones broken or out of joint. The juice 

 thereof drank in wine, or the decoction of 

 the herb drank, doth kill the worms in the 

 stomach or belly, or the worms that gro\v 

 in putrid and filthy ulcers ; and made into 

 a salve doth quickly heal all old sores, how 

 foul or malignant soever they be. The 

 distilled water of the herb works the same 

 effects, although somewhat weaker, yet it 

 is a fair medicine, and more acceptable to 

 be taken. It is called Flux-weed because 

 it cures the flux, and for its uniting broken 

 bones, &c. Paracelsus extols it to the 

 skies. It is fitting that syrup, ointment, 

 and plaisters of it were kept in your houses. 



FLOWER-DE-LUCE. 



IT is so well known, being nourished up 

 in most gardens, that I shall not need to 

 spend time in Avriting a description thereof. 



Time.'] The flaggy kinds thereof have 

 the most physical uses ; the dwarf kinds 

 thereof flower in April, the greater sorts in 

 May. 



Government and virtues^] The herb is 

 Lunar. The juice or decoction of the green 

 root of the flaggy kind of Flower-de-luce, 

 with a little honey drank, doth purge and 



