AND ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED. 



53 



and somewhat flat heads. The root is 

 tough, and somewhat woody, yet lives and 

 shoots a-new every year. 



Place.] It grows upon hedges, and 

 sometimes in the open fields, in divers 

 places of this land. 



Time.] They flower all the months of 

 July and August, and the seed ripen in 

 the mean while. 



Government and virtues.] It is under the 

 dominion of Venus. It has power to rarify 

 and digest , and therefore the green leaves 

 bruised and laid as a plaister, disperse 

 knots, nodes, or kernels in the flesh ; and 

 if, when dry, it be taken in wine, it helps 

 the stranguary ; and being anointed with 

 oil, it provokes sweat. It is a singular food 

 for cattle, to cause them to give store of 

 milk ; and why then may it not do the like, 

 being boiled in ordinary drink, for nurses. 



COLUMBINES. 



THESE are so well known, growing al- 

 most in every garden, that I think I may 

 save the expence of time in writing a de- 

 scription of them. 



Time.] They flower in May, and abide 

 not for the most part when June is past, 

 perfecting their seed in the mean time. 



Government and virtues.] It is also an 

 herb of Venus. The leaves of Columbines 

 are commonly used in lotions with good 

 success for sore mouths and throats. Tra- 

 gus saith, that a dram of the seed taken in 

 wine with a little saffron, opens obstruc- 

 tions of the liver, and is good for the yellow 

 jaundice, if the party after the taking 

 thereof be laid to sweat well in bed. The 

 seed also taken in wine causes a speedy 

 delivery of women in childbirth : if one 

 draught suffice not, let her drink the 

 second, and it will be effectual : The 

 Spaniards used to eat a piece of the root 

 thereof in the morning fasting, many days 

 together, to help them when troubled with 

 the stone in the reins or kidneys. 



COLTSFOOT. 



CALLED also Coughwort, Foals's-foot, 

 Horse-hoof, and Bull's-foot. 



Descript.] This shoots up a slender stalk, 

 with small yellowish flowers somewhat 

 earlier, which fall away quickly, and aftei 

 they are past, come up somewhat round 

 leaves, sometimes dented about the edges, 

 much lesser, thicker, and greener than those 

 of butter-bur, with a little down or frieze 

 over the green leaf on the upper side, which 

 may be rubbed away, and whitish or meally 

 underneath. The root is small and white, 

 spreading much under ground, so that 

 where it takes it will hardly be driven 

 away again, if any little piece be abid- 

 ing therein ; and from thence spring fresh 

 leaves. 



Place.] It grows as well in wet grounds 

 as in drier places. 



Time.] And flowers in the end of 

 February, the leaves begin to appear in 

 March. 



Government and virtues.] The plant is 

 under Venus, the fresh leaves or juice, or 

 a syrup thereof is good for a hot dry cough, 

 or wheezing, and shortness of breath. The 

 dry leaves are best for those that have thin 

 rheums and distillations upon their lungs, 

 causing a cough, for which also the dried 

 leaves taken as tobacco, or the root is very 

 good, The distilled water hereof simply, 

 or with Elder flowers and Nightshade, is a 

 singularly good remedy against all hot agues, 

 to drink two ounces at a time, and apply 

 cloths wet therein to the head and stomach, 

 which also does much good, being applied 

 to any hot swellings and inflammations : 

 It helps St. Anthony's fire, and burnings, 

 and is singularly good to take away wheals 

 and small pushes that arise through heat ; 

 as also the burning heat of the piles, or 

 privy parts, cloths wet therein being there- 

 unto applied. 



