THE COMPLETE HERBAL 



Herb-Carpenter ; though in Essex we call 

 another herb by that name. 



Descript.^ This has larger leaves than 

 those of the Self-heal, but else of the same 

 fashion, or rather longer; in some green on 

 the upper side, and in others more brown- 

 ish, dented about the edges, somewhat hairy, 

 as the square stalk is also which rises up to 

 be half a yard high sometimes, with the 

 leaves set by couples, from the middle 

 almost, whereof upwards stand the flowers, 

 together with many smaller and browner 

 leaves than the rest, on the stalk below set 

 at distance, and the stalk bare between 

 them; among which flowers, are also small 

 ones of a blueish and sometimes of an ash 

 colour, fashioned like the flowers of Ground- 

 ivy, after which come small, round blackish 

 seeds. The root is composed of many 

 strings, and spreads upon the ground. 



The white flowered Bugle differs not in 

 form or greatness from the former, saving 

 that the leaves and stalks are always green, 

 and never brown, like the other, and the 

 flowers thereof are white. 



Place. ] They grow in woods, copses, 

 and fields, generally throughout England, 

 but the white flowered Bugle is not so 

 plentiful as the former. 



TimeJ] They flower from May until July, 

 and in the mean time perfect their seed. 

 The roots and leaves next thereunto upon 

 the ground abiding all the Winter. 



Government and virtues J] This herb be- 

 longs to Dame Venus : If the virtues of it 

 makes you fall in love with it (as they will 

 if you be wisej keep a syrup of it to take 

 inwardly, an ointment and plaister of it 

 to use outwardly, always by you. 



The decoction of the leaves and flowers 

 made in wine, and taken, dissolves the con- 

 gealed blood in those that are bruised in- 

 wardly by a fall, or otherwise is very 

 effectual for any inward wounds, thrusts, 

 or stabs in the body or bowels ; and it is 

 an especial help in all wound-drinks, and 



for those that are liver-grown (as they call 

 it.) It is wonderful in curing all manner of 

 ulcers and sores, whether new and fresh, 

 or old and inveterate ; yea, gangrenes and 

 fistulas also, if the leaves bruised and ap- 

 plied, or their juice be used to Wash and 

 bathe the place ; and the same made into a 

 lotion, and some honey and alum, cures 

 all sores in the mouth and gums, be they 

 ever so foul, or of long continuance ; and 

 works no less powerfully and effectually for 

 such ulcers and sores as happen in the 

 secret parts of men and women. Being 

 also taken inwardly, or outwardly applied, 

 it helps those that have broken any bone, 

 or have any member out of joint. An 

 ointment made with the leaves of Bugle, 

 Scabions and Sanicle, bruised and boiled 

 in hog's grease, until the herbs be dry, and 

 then strained forth into a pot for such ' 

 occasions as shall require ; it is so singularly 

 good for all sorts of hurts in the body, that 

 none that know its usefulness will be with- 

 out it. 



The truth is, I have known this herb cure 

 some diseases of Saturn, of which I thought 

 good to quote one. Many times such as 

 give themselves much to drinking are 

 troubled with strange fancies, strange sights 

 in the night time, and some with voices, 

 as also with the disease Ephialtes, or the 

 Mare. I take the reason of this to be 

 (according to Fernelius) a melancholy 

 vapour made thin by excessive drinking 

 strong liquor, and, so flies up and disturbs 

 the fancy, and breeds imaginations like 

 itself, viz. fearful and troublesome. Those 

 I have known cured by taking only two 

 spoonfuls, of the syrup of this herb after 

 supper two hours, when you go to bed. 

 But whether this does it by sympathy, or 

 antipathy, is some doubt in astrology. I 

 know there is great antipathy between 

 Saturn and Venus in matter of procreation; 

 yea, such a one, that the barrenness of 

 Saturn can be removed by none but Venus ! 



