152 THE COMPLETE HERBAL 



WINTER-ROCKET, OR CRESSES. I hav authors made with Roses! What a 



{racket have they kept? I shall add, red 



Descript.'] WiNTER-Rocket, or Winter- \ Roses are under Jupiter, Damask under 

 Cresses, hath divers somewhat large sad \ Venus, White under the Moon, and Pro- 

 green leaves lying upon the ground, torn or} vence under the King of France. The 

 cut in divers parts, somewhat like unto j white and red Roses are cooling and dry- 

 Rocket or turnip leaves, with smaller pieces |ing, and yet the white is taken to exceed 

 next the bottom, and 'broad at the ends, { the red in both the properties, but is seldom 

 which so abide all the Winter (if it spring! used inwardly in any medicine : The bit- 

 up in Autumn, when it is used to be eaten) J terness in the Roses when they are fresh, 

 from among which rise up divers small! especially the juice, purges choler, and 

 round stalks, full of branches, bearing many \ watery humours; but being dried, and that 

 small yellow flowers of four leaves a-piece, j heat which caused the bitterness being con- 

 after which come small pods, with reddish i sumed, they have then a binding and as- 

 seed in them. The root is somewhat stringy, I tringent quality : Those also that are not 

 and perishes every year after the seed is i full blown, do both cool and bind more 

 ripe. I than those that are full blown, and the 



Place.'] It grows of its own accord in white Rose more than the Red. The decoc- 

 gardens and fields, by the way -sides, in * tion of red Roses made with wine and used, 

 divers places, and particularly in the next \ is very good for the head-ache, and pains 

 pasture to the Conduit-head behind Gray's I in the eyes, ears, throat, and gums ; as also 

 Inn, that brings water to Mr. Lamb's con- for the fundament, the lower part of the 

 duit in Holborn. { belly and the matrix, being bathed or put 



Time.'] It flowers in May, seeds in June, ) into them. The same decoction with the 

 and then perishes. | Roses remaining in it, is profitably applied 



Government and virtues.'] This is pro- 1 to the region of the heart to ease the in- 

 fi table to provoke urine, to help stranguary, j flammation therein ; as also St. Anthony's 

 and expel gravel and stone. It is good for j fire, and other diseases of the rtcomach. 

 the scurvy, and found by experience to be i Being dried and beaten to powder, and 

 a singularly good wound herb to cleanse in- ; taken in steeled wine or water, it helps to 

 ward wounds ; the juice or decoction being! stay women's courses. The yellow threads 

 drank, or outwardly applied to wash fou'lin the middle of the Roses (which are 

 ulcers and sores, cleansing them by shai p- j erroneously called the Rose Seed) being 

 ness, and hindering or abating tne dead | powdered and drank in the distilled water 

 flesh from growing therein, and healing j of Quinces,staystheoverflowingof women's 

 them by their drying quality. j courses, and doth wonderfully stay the de- 



ROSES | fluctions of rheum upon the gums and teeth, 



| preserving them from corruption, and 



I HOLD it altogether needless to trouble J fastening them if they be loose, being 

 the reader with a description of any of these, | washed and gargled therewith, and some 

 since both the garden Roses, and the Roses \ vinegar of Squills added thereto. The heads 

 of the briars are well enough known : take; with the seed being used in powder, or in a 

 therefore the virtues of them as follows ; j decoction, stays the lask and spitting o r 

 And first I shall begin with the garden j blood. Red Roses do strengthen the hearl s 

 kinds. ; the stomach and the liver, and the reten- 



Govemment and virtues.] What a pother [ tive faculty : They mitigate the pains that 



