36 



THE COMPLETE HERBAL 



cording to the soil where it grows, and be- 

 fore the stalk with the flowers have abiden 

 a month above ground, it will be withered 

 and gone, and blow away with the wind, 

 and the leaves will begin to spring, which 

 being full grown, are very large and broad, 

 being somewhat thin and almost round, 

 whose thick red foot stalks above a foot 

 long, stand to wards the middle of the leaves. 

 The lower part being divided into two round 

 parts, close almost one to another, and are 

 of a pale green colour; and hairy under- 

 neath. The root is long, and spreads under- 

 ground, being in some places no bigger than 

 one's finger, in others much bigger, blackish 

 on the outside, and whitish within, of a 

 bitter and unpleasant taste. 



Place and Time.] They grow in low and 

 wet grounds by rivers and water sides. 

 Their flower (as is said) rising and decaying 

 in February and March, before their leaves, 

 which appear in April. 



Government and virtues.'] It is under the 

 dominion of the Sun, and therefore is a 

 great strengthener of the heart, and clearer 

 of the vital spirit. The roots thereof are 

 by long experience found to be very avail- 

 able against the plague and pestilential 

 fevers by provoking sweat ; if the powder 

 thereof be taken in wine, it also resists the 

 force of any other poison. The root hereof 

 taken with Zedoary and Angelica, or without 

 them, helps the rising of the mother. The 

 decoction of the root in wine, is singularly 

 good for those that wheese much, or are 

 short-winded. It provokes urine also, and 

 women's courses, and kills the flat and 

 broad worms in the belly. The powder of 

 the root doth wonderfully help to dry up 

 the moisture of the sores that are hard to be 

 cured, and takes away all spots and 

 blemishes of the skin. It were well if 

 gentlewomen would keep this root preserved, 

 to help their poor neighbours. It is fit the 

 rich should help the poor, for the poor can- \ 

 not help themselves. 



THE BURDOCK. 



They are also called Personata, and 

 Loppy-major, great Burdock and Clod-bur. 

 It is so well known, even by the little boys, 

 who pull off the burs to throw and stick 

 upon each other, that I shall spare to write 

 any description of it. 



Place.] They grow plentifully by ditches 

 and water-sides, and by the highways al- 

 most everywhere through this land. 



Government and virtues.'] Venus chal- 

 lenges this herb for her own, and by its leaf 

 or seed you may draw the womb which 

 way you please, either upwards by applying 

 it to the crown of the head, in case it falls 

 out ; or downwards in fits of the mother, 

 by applying it to the soles of the feet ; or 

 if you would stay it in its place, apply it to 

 the navel, and that is one good way to stay 

 the child in it. The Burdock leaves are 

 cooling, moderately drying, and discussing 

 withal, whereby it is good for old ulcers and 

 sores. A dram of the roots taken with 

 Pine kernels, helps them that spit foul, 

 mattery, and bloody phlegm. The leaves 

 applied to the places troubled with the 

 shrinking of the sinews or arteries, gives much 

 ease. The juice of the leaves, or rather 

 the roots themselves, given to drink with 

 old wine, doth wonderfully help the biting 

 of any serpents: And the root beaten with 

 a little salt, and laid on the place, suddenly 

 eases the pain thereof, and helps those that 

 are bit by a mad dog. The juice of the 

 leaves being drank with honey, provokes 

 urine, and remedies the pain of the bladder. 

 The seed being drank in wine forty days 

 together, doth wonderfully help the sciatica. 

 The leaves bruised with the white of an egg, 

 and applied to any place burnt with fire, 

 takes out the fire, gives sudden ease, and 

 heals it up afterwards. The decoction of 

 them fomented on any fretting sore, or 

 canker, stays the corroding quality, which 

 must be afterwards anointed with an oint- 



