42 



THE COMPLETE HERBAL 



it, not they; the seeds of them expel wind 

 indeed, and so mend what the root marrs. 



CARRAWAY. 



It is on account of the seeds principally 

 that the Carraway is cultivated. 



DescriptJ} It bears divers stalks of fine 

 cut leaves, lying upon the ground, some- 

 what like to the leaves of carrots, but not 

 bushing so thick, of a little quick taste in 

 them, from among which rises up a square 

 stalk, not so high as the Carrot, at whose 

 joints are set the like leaves, but smaller 

 and finer, and at the top small open tufts, 

 or umbels of white flowers, which turn into 

 small blackish seed, smaller than the 

 Anniseed, and of a quicker and hotter 

 taste. The root is whitish, small and long, 

 somewhat like unto a parsnip, but with 

 more wrinkled bark, and much less, of a 

 little hot and quick taste, and stronger 

 than the parsnip, and abides after seed- 

 time. 



Place.~\ It is usually sown with us in 

 gardens. 



Time.~\ They flower in June and July, 

 and seed quickly after. 



Government and virtues^] This is also a 

 Mercurial plant. Carraway seed has a 

 moderate sharp quality, whereby it breaks 

 wind and provokes urine, which also the 

 herb doth. The root is better food than 

 the parsnip ; it is pleasant and comfortable 

 to the stomach, and helps digestion. The 

 seed is conducing to all cold griefs of the 

 head and stomach, bowels, or mother, as 

 also the wind in them, and helps to sharpen 

 the eye-sight. The powder of the seed put 

 into a poultice, takes away black and blue 

 spots of blows and bruises. The herb it- 

 self, or with some of the seed bruised and 

 fried, laid hot in a bag or double cloth, to 

 the lower parts of the belly, eases the pains 

 of the wind cholic. 



The roots of Carraway eaten as men do 

 parsnips, strengthen the stomach of ancient 



people exceedingly, and they need not to 

 make a whole meal of them neither, and are 

 fit to be planted in every garden. 



Carraway comfits, once only dipped in 

 sugar, and half a spoonful of them eaten in 

 the morning fasting, and as many after each 

 meal, is a most admirable remedy, for those 

 that are troubled with wind. 



CELANDINE. 



Descript.~] THIS hath divers tender, 

 round, whitish green stalks, with greater 

 joints than ordinary in other herbs as it 

 were knees, very brittle and easy to break, 

 from whence grow branches with large 

 tender broad leaves, divided into many 

 parts, each of them cut in on the edges, 

 set at the joint on both sides of the 

 branches, of a dark blueish green colour, 

 on the upper side like Columbines, and of 

 a more pale blueish green underneath, full 

 of yellow sap, when any is broken, of a 

 bitter taste, and strong scent. At the 

 flowers, of four leaves a-piece, after which 

 come small long pods, with blackish seed 

 therein. The root is somewhat great at the 

 head, shooting forth divers long roots and 

 small strings, reddish on the outside, and 

 yellow within, full of yellow sap therein. 



Place."] They grow in many places by 

 old walls, hedges and way-sides in untilled 

 places; and being once planted in a garden, 

 especially some shady places, it will remain 

 there. 



Time.'] They flower all the Summer, 

 and the seed ripens in the mean time. 



Government and virtues .] This is an herb 

 of the Sun, and under the Celestial Lion, 

 and is one of the best cures for the eyes ; 

 for, all that know any thing in astrology, 

 know that the eyes are subject to the 

 luminaries; let it then be gathered when tlje 

 Sun is in Leo, and the Moon in Aries, 

 applying to this time ; let Leo arise, then 

 may you make into an oil or ointment, 

 which you please, to anoint your sore eyes 



