AND ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED. 



121 



Mosses art- under the dominion of Saturn, i every joint, which are somewhat broad and 

 The Ground Moss is held to be singularly ! long, as if it were rough or crumpled, with 

 good to break the stone, and to expel and \ many great veins therein of a sad green 

 drive it forth by urine, being boiled in wine \ colour, and deeply dented about the edges, 

 and drank. The herb being bruised and \ and almost divided. From the middle of 

 boiled in water, and applied, eases all in- \ the branches up to the tops of them (which 

 flammations and pains coming from an hot j are long and small) grow the flowers round 

 cause; and is therefore used to ease the j them at distances, in sharp pointed, rough, 

 pains of the gout. j hard husks, of a more red or purple colour 



The Tree Mosses are cooling and binding, \ than Balm or Horehound, but in the same 

 and partake of a digesting and molifying manner or form as the Horehound, after 



quality withal, as Galen saith. But each 

 Moss partakes of the nature of the tree 



which come small, round, blackish seeds in 

 great plenty. The root sends forth a num- 



from whence it is taken ; therefore that of \ ber of long strings and small fibres, taking 

 the oak is more binding, and is of good effect i strong hold in the ground, of a dark yellow- 



to stay fluxes in man or woman ; as also 

 vomiting or bleeding, the powder thereof 

 being taken in wine. The decoction there- 

 of in wine is very good for women to be; 

 bathed in, that are troubled with the over- ; 

 flowing of their courses. The same being j 

 drank, stays the stomach that is troubled 

 with casting, or hiccough ; and, as Avicena 

 saith, it comforts the heart. The powder 

 thereof taken in drink for some time 



ish or brownish colour, and abides as the 

 Horehound does : the smell of the one not 

 much differs from the other. 



Place.'] It grows only in gardens with us 

 in England. 



Government and virtues.~\ Venus owns the 

 herb, and it is under Leo. There is no better 

 herb to take melancholy vapours from the 

 heart, to strengthen it, and make a merry, 

 chearful, blithe soul than this herb. It may 



together, is thought available for the dropsy, be kept in a syrup or conserve ; therefore 

 The oil that has had fresh Moss steeped '( the Latins called it Cardiaca. Besides, it 

 therein for a time, and afterwards boiled i makes women joyful mothers of children, 

 and applied to the temples and forehead,; and settles their wombs as they should be, 

 marvellously eases the head-ache com- therefore we call it Motherwort. It is held 

 ing of a hot cause ; as also the distillations | to be of much use for the trembling of the 

 of hot rheums or humours in the eyes, or | heart, and faintings and swoonings ; from 

 other parts. The ancients much used it in | whence it took the name Cardiaca. The 

 their ointments and other medicines against \ powder thereof, to the quantity of a spoon- 

 the lassitude, and to strengthen and com- \ fill, drank in wine, is a wonderful help to 

 fort the sinews : For which, if it was good \ women in their sore travail, as also for the 

 then, I know no reason but it may be found suffocating or risings of the mother, and for 

 so still. these effects, it is likely it took the name of 



Motherwort with us. It also provokes 



MOTHERWORT. \ urine and women's courses, cleanses the 



| chest of cold phlegm, oppressing it, kills 



[>escript.'] THIS hath a hard, square, | worms in the belly. It is of good use to 

 brownish, rough, strong stalk, rising three j warm and dry up the cold humours, to 

 or four feet high at least, spreading into* digest and disperse them that are settled 

 many branches, whereon grow leaves on * in the veins, joints, and sinews of the body, 

 each side, with long foot-stalks, two at | and to help cramps and convulsions. 



