AND ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED. 



27 



Government and virtues.~\ It is a herb of 

 the Sun, and therefore cordial; half a dram, 

 or a dram at most, of the root hereof in 

 powder taken in wine and vinegar, of each 

 a little quantity, and the party presently 

 laid to sweat, is held to be a sovereign 

 remedy for those that are infected with the 

 plague, and have a sore upon them, by ex- 

 pelling the poison, and defending the heart 

 and spirit from danger. It is also accounted 

 a singular good wound herb, and therefore 

 used with other herbs in making such balms 

 as are necessary for curing of wounds, 

 either green or old, and especially if the 

 nerves be hurt. 



THE BRAMBLE, OR BLACK-BERRY BUSH. 



IT is so well known that it needs no 

 description. The virtues thereof are as 

 follows : 



Government and virtues^] It is a plant of 

 Venus in Aries. If any ask the reason 

 why Venus is so prickly ? Tell them it is 

 because she is in the house of Mars. The 

 buds, leaves, and branches, while they are 

 green, are of a good use in the ulcers and 

 - putrid sores of the mouth and throat, and 

 of the quinsey, and likewise to heal other 

 fresh wounds and sores ; but the flowers 

 and fruit unripe are very binding, and so 

 profitable for the bloody flux, Tasks, and 

 are a fit remedy for spitting of blood. 

 Either the decoction of the powder or of 

 the root taken, is good to break or drive 

 forth gravel and the stone in the reins and 

 kidneys. The leaves and brambles, as 

 well green as dry, are exceeding good lotions 

 for sores in the mouth, or secret parts. 

 The decoction of them, and of the dried 

 branches, do much bind the belly and are 

 good for too much flowing of women's 

 courses ; the berries of the flowers are a 

 powerful remedy against the poison of the 

 most venomous serpents ; as well drank as 

 outwardly applied, helps the sores of the 

 fundament and the piles ; the juice of the 



berries mixed with the juice of mulberries, 

 do bind more effectually, and helps all fret- 

 ting and eating sores and ulcers wheresoever. 

 The distilled water of the branches, leaves, 

 and flowers, or of the fruit, is very pleasant, 

 in taste, and very effectual in fevers and hot 

 distempers of the body, head, eyes, and 

 other parts, and for the purposes aforesaid. 

 The leaves boiled in lye, and the head 

 washed therewith, heals the itch and 

 running sores thereof, and makes the hair 

 black. The powder of the leaves strewed 

 on cankers and running ulcers, wonderfully 

 helps to heal them. Some use to conden- 

 sate the juice of the leaves, and some the 

 juice of the berries, to keep for their use 

 all the year, for the purposes aforesaid. 



ELITES. 



DescriptJ] OF these there are two sorts 

 commonly known, viz. white and red. 

 The white has leaves somewhat like to 

 Beets, but smaller, rounder and of a whitish 

 green colour, every one standing upon a 

 small long footstalk: the stalk rises up two 

 or three feet high, with such like leaves 

 thereon ; the flowers grow at the top in long 

 round tufts., or clusters, wherein are con- 

 tained small and round seeds; the root is 

 very full of threads or strings. 



The red Elite is in all things like the 

 white but that its leaves and tufted heads 

 are exceeding red at first, and after turn 

 more purple. 



There are other kinds of Elites which 

 grow different from the two former sorts 

 but little, but only the wild are smaller in 

 every part. 



Place.'] They grow in gardens, and wild 

 in many places in this land. 



Time.'] They seed in August and Sep- 

 tember. 



Government and virtues.^ They are all 

 of them cooling, drying, and binding, serv- 

 ing to restrain the fluxes of blood in either 

 man or woman, especially the red; which 

 i 



