AND ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED. 



15 



adder and an Ash-tree, that if an adder be 

 encompassed round with Ash-tree leaves, 

 she will sooner run through the fire than 

 through the leaves : The contrary to which 

 is the truth, as both my eyes are witnesses. 

 The rest are virtues something likely, only 

 if it be in Winter when you cannot get the 

 leaves, you may safely use the bark instead 

 of them. The keys you may easily keep 

 all the year, gathering them when they are 

 ripe. 



AVENS, CALLED ALSO COLEWORT, AND 

 HERB BONET. 



DescriptJ] The ordinary Avens hatii 

 many long, rough, dark green, winged 

 leaves, rising from the root, every one made 

 of many leaves set on each side of the mid- 

 dle rib, the largest three whereof grow at 

 the end, and are snipped or dented round 

 about the edges; the other being small 

 pieces, sometimes two and sometimes four, 

 standing on each side of the middle rib 

 underneath them. Among which do rise 

 up divers rough or hairy stalks about two 

 feet high, branching forth with leaves at 

 every joint not so long as those below, but 

 almost as much cut in on the edges, some 

 into three parts, some into more. On the 

 tops of the branches stand small, pale, yel- 

 low flowers consisting of five leaves, like 

 the flowers of Cinquefoil, but large, in the 

 middle whereof stand a small green herb, 

 which when the flower is fallen, grows to 

 be round, being made of many long green- 

 ish' purple seeds, (like grains) which will 

 stick upon your clothes. The root consists 

 of many brownish strings or fibres, smelling 

 somewhat like unto cloves, especially those 

 which grow in the higher, hotter, and drier 

 grounds, and in free and clear air. 



Place.'] They grow wild in many places 

 under hedge's sides, and by the path-ways 

 in fields ; yet they rather delight to grow in 

 shadowy than sunny places. 



Time.] They flower in May or June for 



the most part, and their seed is ripe in Jury 

 at the farthest. 



Government and virtues.] It is governed 

 by Jupiter, and that gives hopes of a whole- 

 some healthful herb. It is good for the dis- 

 eases of the chest or breast, for pains, and 

 stiches in the side, and to expel crude and 

 raw humours from the belly and stomach, 

 by the sweet savour and warming quality. 

 It dissolves the inward congealed blood 

 happening by falls or bruises, and the spit- 

 ting of blood, if the roots, either green or 

 dry, be boiled in wine and drank ; as also 

 all manner of inward wounds or outward, 

 if washed or bathed therewith. The de- 

 coction also being drank, comforts the heart, 

 and strengthens the stomach and a cold 

 brain, and therefore is good in the spring 

 times to open obstructions of the liver, and 

 helps the wind cholic ; it also helps those 

 that haye fluxes, or are bursten, or have a 

 rupture ; it takes away spots or marks in 

 the face, being washed therewith. The 

 juice of the fresh root, or powder of the 

 dried ra9t, has the same effect with the 

 decoction. The root in the Spring-time 

 steeped in wine, gives it a delicate savour 

 and taste, and being drank fasting every 

 morning, comforts the heart, and is a 

 good preservative against the plague, or 

 any other poison. It helps indigestion, 

 and warms a cold stomach, and opens 

 obstructions of the liver and spleen. 



It is very safe : you need have no dose 

 prescribed ; and is very fit to be kept in 

 every body's house. 



BALM. 



THIS herb is so well known to be an in- 

 habitant almost in every garden, that I shall 

 not need to write any description thereof, 

 although its virtues, which are many, may 

 not be omitted. 



Government and virtues.] It is an herb of 

 Jupiter, and under Cancer, and strengthens 

 nature much in all its actions. Let a syrup 



