THE COMPLETE HERBAL 



stalk, two feet high and better, with some 

 leaves thereon to the top, where it branches 

 forth much; and on every branch stands a 

 large bush of pale whitish flowers, consist- 

 ing of four leaves a-piece : The root is 

 somewhat great, shoots forth many branches 

 under ground, keeping the leaves green all 

 the Winter. 



P/ace.] They grow in many places upon 

 the sea-coasts, as well on the Kentish as 

 Essex shores ; as at Lid in Kent, Colches- 

 ter in Essex, and divers other places, and 

 jn other counties of this land. 



Time.] They flower and seed about the 

 dme that other kinds do. 



Government and virtues.'] The Moon 

 claims the dominion of these also. The 

 broth, or first decoction of the Sea Colewort, 

 doth by the sharp, nitrous, and bitter qua- 

 lities therein, open the belly, and purge the 

 body ; it cleanses and digests more power- 

 fully than the other kind: The seed hereof, 

 bruised and drank, kills worms. The leaves 

 or the juice of them applied to sores or 

 ulcers, cleanses and heals them, and dis- 

 solves swellings, and takes away inflam- 

 mations. 



CALAMINT, OR MOUNTAIN-MINT. 



DescriptJ] THIS is a small herb, seldom 

 rising above a foot high, with square hairy, 

 and woody stalks, and two small hoary 

 leaves set at a joint, about the height of 

 Marjoram, or not much bigger, a little dented 

 about the edges, and of a very fierce or 

 quick scent, as the whole herb is: The 

 flowers stand at several spaces of the stalk, 

 from the middle almost upwards, which are 

 small and gaping like to those of the Mints, 

 of a pale bluish colour : After which follow 

 small, round blackish seed. The root is 

 small and woody, with divers small strings 

 spreading within the ground, and dies not, 

 but abides many years. 



It grows on heaths, and up- 



lands, and dry grounds, in many places of 

 this land. 



Time.~\ They flower in July and their 

 seed is ripe quickly after. 



Government and virtues.'] It is an herb of 

 Mercury, and a strong one too, therefore 

 excellent good in all afflictions of the brain. 

 The decoction of the herb being drank, 

 brings down women's courses, and provokes 

 urine. It is profitable for those that are 

 bursten, or troubled with convulsions or 

 cramps, with shortness of breath, or choleric 

 torments and pains in their bellies or 

 stomach ; it also helps the yellow-jaundice, 

 and stays vomiting, being taken in wine. 

 Taken with salt and honey, it kills all 

 manner of worms in the body. It helps 

 such as have the leprosy, either taken in- 

 wardly, drinking whey after it, or the green 

 herb outwardly applied. It hinders con- 

 ception in women, but either burned or 

 strewed in the chamber, it drives away 

 venomous serpents. It takes away black 

 and blue marks in the face, and makes 

 black scars become well coloured, if the 

 green herb (not the dry) be boiled in wine, 

 and laid to the place, or the place washed 

 therewith. Being applied to the huckle- 

 bone, by continuance of time, it spends the 

 humours, which cause the pain of the 

 sciatica. The juice being dropped into 

 the ears, kills the worms in them. The 

 leaves boiled in wine, and drank, provoke 

 sweat, and open obstructions of the liver 

 and spleen. It helps them that have a ter- 

 tian ague (the body being first purged) by 

 taking away the cold fits. The decoction 

 hereof, with some sugar put thereto after- 

 wards, is very profitable for those that be 

 troubled with the over-flowing of the gall, 

 and that have an old cough, and that are 

 scarce able to breathe by shortness of their 

 wind; that have any cold distemper in their 

 bowels, and are troubled with the hardness 

 or the spleen, for all which purposes, both 

 the powder, called Diacaluminthes, and the 



