THE COMPLETE HERBAL 



GARLICK. 1 GENTIAN, FELWORT, OR BALDMONY. 



IT is confessed that Gentian, which is 



THE offensiveness of the breath of him I most used amongst us, is brought over from 

 that hath eaten Garlick, will lead you by j beyond sea, yet we have two sorts of it 

 the nose to the knowledge hereof, and (in- \ growing frequently in our nation, which, 

 stead of a description) direct you to the \ besides the reasons so frequently alledged 

 place where it grows in gardens, which 1 why English herbs should be fittest for 

 kinds are the best, and most physical. | English bodies, has been proved by the 



Government and virtues.] Mars owns this j experience of divers physicians, to be not 

 herb. This was anciently accounted the { a whit inferior in virtue to that which 

 poor man's treacle, it being a remedy for j comes from beyond sea, therefore be pleased 

 all diseases and hurts (except those which- j to take the description of them as follows, 

 itself breed.) It provokes urine, and women's 1 Descript.~\ The greater of the two hath 

 courses, helps the biting of mad dogs and many small long roots thrust down deep 

 other venomous creatures, kills worms in \ into the ground, and abiding all the Winter, 

 children, cuts and voids tough phlegm, | The stalks are sometimes more, sometimes 

 purges the head, helps the lethargy, is a 5 fewer, of a brownish green colour, which 

 good preservative against, and a remedy is sometimes two feet high, if the ground 

 for any plague, sore, or foul ulcers ; takes j be fruitful, having many long, narrow, dark 

 away spots and blemishes in the skin, eases j green leaves, set by couples up to the top ; 

 pains in the ears, ripens and breaks impos- ! the flowers are long and hollow, of a purple 

 thumes, or other swellings. And for all j colour, ending in fine corners. The smaller 

 those diseases the onions are as effectual, j sort which is to be found in our land, 

 But the Garlick hath some more peculiar j grows up with sundry stalks, not a foot 

 virtues besides the former, viz. it hath | high, parted into several small branches, 

 a special quality to discuss inconveniences j whereon grow divers small leaves together, 

 coming by corrupt agues or mineral vapours; i very like those of the lesser Centaury, of a 

 or by drinking corrupt and stinking waters; 1 whitish green colour ; on the tops of these 

 as also by taking wolf-bane, hen-bane, { stalks grow divers perfect blue flowers, 

 hemlock, or other poisonous and danger- j standing in long husks, but not so big as 

 ous herbs. It is also held good in hydro- \ the other ; the root is very small, and full 

 pick diseases, the jaundice, falling sickness, j of threads. 



cramps, convulsions, the piles or hsemorr- ; Place.] The first grows in divers places 

 hoids, or other cold diseases. Many authors j of both the East and "West counties, and as 

 quote many diseases this is good for ; but \ well in wet as in dry grounds ; as near 

 conceal its vices. Its heat is very vehement, j Longfield, by Gravesend, near Cobham in 

 and all vehement hot things send up but | Kent, near Lillinstone in Kent, also in a 

 ill-favoured vapours to the brain. In cho- \ chalk pit hard by a paper-mill not far from 

 leric men it will add fuel to the fire ; in | Dartford in Kent. The second grows also 

 men oppressed by melancholy, it will j in divers places in Kent, as about South- 

 attenuate the humour, and send up strong j fleet, and Longfield ; upon Barton's hills in 

 fancies, and as many strange visions to | Bedfordshire ; also not far from St. Albans, 

 the head ; therefore let it be taken inwardly \ upon a piece of waste chalky ground, as 

 with great moderation ; outwardly you may j you go out by Dunstable way towards 

 make more bold with it. * Gorhambury. 



