120 THE COMPLETE HERBAL 



that is given to casting. It is very good | and May ; for in June, when any hot 

 also for the ulcers or excoriations of the j weather comes, for the most part it is 

 lungs, or other inward parts. It is exceed- j withered and gone, 

 ingly good for all wounds, either fresh or \ Government and virtues.'] The Moon owns 



green, to heal them speedily, and for all 

 old ulcers that are of spreading natures. 



the herb. Moonwort is cold and drying 

 more than Adder's Tongue, and is therefore 



For all which purposes the juice of the $ held to be more available for all wounds 

 herb, or the powder drank in water where- j both inward and outward. The leaves 

 in hot steel hath been often quenched ; or j boiled in red wine, and drank, stay the 

 the decoction of the green herb in wine or i immoderate flux of women's courses, and 

 water drank, or used to the outward place, i the whites. It also stays bleeding, vomit- 



to wash or bathe them, or to have tents; 



ing, and other fluxes. It helps all blows 



dipped therein and put into them, are ef- j and bruises, and to consolidate all frac- 

 fectual. | tures and dislocations. It is good for rup- 



MOONWORT j tures, but is chiefly used, by most with 



other herbs, to make oils or balsams to heal 



DescriptJ\ IT rises up usually but with 

 one dark green, thick and flat leaf, stand- 

 ing upon a short foot-stalk not above two 



**'. ~ 



fresh or green wounds (as I said before) 

 either inward or outward, for which it is 

 excellently good. 



fingers breadth ; but when it flowers it may Moonwort is an herb which (they say) 

 be said to bear a small slender stalk about j will open locks, and unshoe such horses as 

 four or five inches high, having but oneUread upon it: This some laugh to scorn, 

 leaf in the middle thereof, which is much ] and those no small fools neither ; but coun- 

 divided on both sides into sometimes five I try people, that I know, call it Unshoe the 

 or seven parts on a side, sometimes more ; ; Horse. Besides I have heard commanders 

 each of which parts is small like the middle j say, that on White Down in Devonshire, 

 rib, but broad forwards, pointed and round, \ near Tiverton, there were found thirty 

 resembling therein a half-moon, from whence* horse shoes, pulled off from the feet of the 

 it took the name; the uppermost parts or j Earl of Essex's horses, being there drawn 

 divisions being bigger than the lowest, i up in a body, many of them being but 

 The stalks rise above this leaf two or three | newlv shod, and no reason known, which 



1 fc. 



inches, bearing many branches of small > caused much admiration: the herb des- 



long tongues, every one like the spiky head , cribed usually grows upon heaths. 



of the adder's tongue, of a brownish colour, ; 



(which, whether I shall call them flowers, or j 



the seed, I well know not) which, after they I I SHALL not trouble the reader with 



have continued awhile, resolve into a mealy 

 dust. The root is small and fibrous. This 



a description of these, since my intent is to 

 speak only of two kinds, as the most prin- 



hath sometimes divers such like leaves as jcipal, viz. Ground Moss and Tree Moss, 

 are before described, with so many branches i both which are very well known. 

 or tops rising from one stalk, each divided! P/crce.] The Ground Moss grows in our 

 from the other. j moist woods, and at the bottom of hills, in 



PlaceJ] It grows on hills and heaths, j boggy grounds, and in shadowy ditches, 

 yet where there is much grass, for therein j and many other such like places. The Tree 

 it delights to grow. \ Moss grows only on trees. 



TimeJ] It is to be found only in April \ Government and virtues.~\ All sorts of 



