48 



THE COMPLETE HERBAL 



doth. The root being dried and beaten 

 into powder, and the powder made into 

 an electuary, is as singular a remedy for 

 spitting and pissing of blood, as the former 

 Chesnut was for coughs. 



CHICKWEED. 



It is so generally known to most people, 

 that I shall not trouble you with the descrip- 

 tion thereof, nor myself with setting forth 

 the several kinds, since but only two or 

 three are considerable for their usefulness. 



Place.'] They are usually found in moist 

 and watery places, by wood sides, and else- 

 where. 



Time.'] They flower about June, and 

 their seed is ripe in July. 



Government and virtues.'] It is a fine soft 

 pleasing herb under the dominion of the 

 Moon. It is found to be effectual as 

 Purslain to all the purposes whereunto it 

 serves, except for meat only. The herb 

 bruised, or the juice applied (with cloths or 

 sponges dipped therein) to the region of the 

 liver, and as they dry, to have it fresh ap- 

 plied, doth wonderfully temperate the heat 

 of the liver, and is effectual for all impos- 

 thumes and swellings whatsoever, for all 

 redness in the face, wheals, pushes, itch, 

 scabs; the juice either simply used, or boiled 

 with hog's grease and applied, helps cramps, 

 convulsions, and palsy. The juice, or 

 distilled water, is of much good use for all 

 heats and redness in the eyes, to drop some 

 thereof into them ; as also into the ears, 

 to ease pains in them ; and is of good effect 

 to ease pains from the heat and sharpness 

 of the blood in the piles, and generally 

 all pains in the body that arise of heat. 

 It is used also in hot and virulent ulcers 

 and sores in the privy parts of men and 

 women, or on the legs, or elsewhere. The 

 leaves boiled with marsh-mallows, and 

 made into a poultice with fenugreek and 

 linseed, applied to swellings or impos- 

 thumes, ripen and break them, or assuage 



the swellings and ease the pains. It helps 

 the sinews when they are shrunk by cramps, 

 or otherwise, and to extend and make them 

 pliable again by this medicine. Boil a 

 handful of Chickweed, and a handful of 

 red rose leaves dried, in a quart of musca- 

 dine, until a fourth part be consumed ; 

 then put to them a pint of oil of trotters or 

 sheep's feet ; let them boil a good while, 

 still stirring them well; which being strained, 

 anoint the grieved place therewith, warm 

 against the fire, rubbing it well with one 

 hand : and bind also some of the herb (if 

 you will) to the place, and, with God's 

 blessing, it will help it in three times 

 dressing. 



CHICK-PEASE, OR CICERS. 



Descript.~] THE garden sorts whether 

 red, black, or white, bring forth stalks a 

 yard long, whereon do grow many small 

 and almost round leaves, dented about the 

 edges, set on both sides of a middle rib ; 

 At the joints come forth one or two flowers, 

 upon sharp foot stalks, pease-fashion, either 

 white or whitish, or purplish red, lighter 

 or deeper, according as the pease that 

 follow will be, that are contained in small, 

 thick, and short pods, wherein lie one or 

 two pease, more usually pointed at the 

 lower end, and almost round at the head, 

 yet a little cornered or sharp ; the root is 

 small, and perishes yearly. 



Place and Time.'] They are sown in gar- 

 dens, or fields as pease, being sown later 

 than pease, and gathered at the same time 

 with them, or presently after. 



Government and virtues.'] They are both 

 under the dominion of Venus. They are 

 less windy than beans, but nourish more ; 

 they provoke urine, and are thought to in- 

 crease sperm; they have a cleansing faculty, 

 whereby they break the stone in the kid- 

 neys. To drink the cream of them, being 

 boiled in water, is the best way. It moves 

 the belly downwards, provokes women'" 



