106 THE COMPLETE HERBAL 



of a strong, though pleasing smell ; the \ birth. The root roasted, and mixed with a 

 berries are red, not much unlike those of I little hog's grease, makes a gallant poultice 



Asparagus. 



Place] They grow plentifully upon; 

 Hampstead-Heath, and many other places; 



to lipen and break plague-sores. The 

 ointment is excellently good for swellings 

 in the privities, and will cure burnings and 



11" * 1 i * t 



in this nation. jscaldings without a scar, and trimly deck a 



Time.'] They flower in May, and the ! blank place with hair, 

 seed is ripe in September. 



Government and virtues] It is under the \ 



dominion of Mercury, and therefore itj Descript.~] OUR English Liquorice rises 

 strengthens the brain, recruits a weak | up with divers woody stalks, whereon are 

 memory, and makes it strong again: The j set at several distances many narrow, long, 

 distilled water dropped into the eyes, helps \ green leaves, set together on both sides of 

 inflammations there ; as also that infirmity ; the stalk, and an odd one at the end, very 

 which they call a pin and web. The spirit j well resembling a young ash tree sprung up 

 of the flowers distilled in wine, restores lost 1 from the seed. This by many years con- 

 speech, helps the palsy, and is excellently j tinuance in a place without removing, and 

 good in the apoplexy, comforts the heart j not else, will bring forth flowers, many 

 and vital spirits. Gerrard saith, that the j standing together spike fashion, one above 

 flowers being close stopped up in a glass, j another upon the stalk, of the form of pease 

 put into an ant-hill, and taken away again j blossoms, but of a very pale blue colour, 

 a month after, ye shall find a liquor in the j which turn into long, somewhat flat and 

 glass, which, being outwardly applied, helps j smooth cods, wherein is contained a small., 

 the gout. | round, hard seed : The roots run down ex- 



Sceedino; deep into the ground, with divers 



WHITE LILIES. .1 11 1 , , 



I other small roots and fibres growing with 



IT were in vain to describe a plant so! them, and shoot out suckers from the main 

 commonly known in every one's garden ; 1 roots all about, whereby it is much increas- 

 therefore I shall not tell you what they are, ied, of a brownish colour on the outside, 

 but what they are good for. 1 and yellow within. 



Government and virtues.] They are under 5 Place.] It is planted in fields and gar- 

 the dominion of the Moon, and by anti-jdens, in divers places of this land, and 

 pathy to Mars expel poison ; they are ex- j thereof good profit is made, 

 cellently good in pestilential fevers, the j Government and virtues.] It is under the 

 roots being bruised and boiled in wine, and | dominion of Mercury. Liquorice boiled 

 the decoction drank ; for it expels the \ in fair water, with some Maiden-hair and 

 venom to the exterior parts of the body : < figs, makes a good drink for those that have 

 The juice of it being tempered with barley j a dry cough or hoarseness, wheezing or 

 meal, baked, and so eaten for ordinary [shortness of breath, and for all the griefs of 

 bread, is an excellent cure for the dropsy : the breast and lungs, phthisic or consump- 

 An ointment made of the root, and hog's tions caused by the distillation of salt 

 grease, is excellently good for scald heads, \ humours on them. It is also good in all 

 unites the sinews when they are cut, and? pains of the reins, the stranguary, and heat 

 cleanses ulcers. The root boiled in any i of urine : The fine powder of Liquorice 

 convenient decoction, gives speedy delivery j blown through a quill into the eyes that 

 to women in travail, and expels the after- : have a pin and web (as they call it) 01 



