70 



THE COMPLETE HERBAL 



Spring before the leaves come forth, as in 

 Autumn or Winter. 



Government and virtues^] It is a plant 

 under the dominion of Mercury. The fresh 

 roots of Elecampane preserved with sugar, 

 or made into a syrup or conserve, are very 

 effectual to warm a cold windy stomach, 

 or the pricking therein, and stiches in the 

 sides caused by the spleen ; and to help the 

 cough, shortness of breath, and wheezing in 

 the lungs. The dried root made into pow- 

 der, and mixed with sugar, and taken, serves 

 to the same purpose, and is also profitable 

 for those who have their urine stopped, or 

 the stopping of women's courses, the pains 

 of the mother and the stone in the reins, 

 kidneys, or bladder ; it resists poison, and 

 stays the spreading of the venom of ser- 

 pents, as also putrid and pestilential fevers, 

 and the plague itself. The roots and herbs 

 beaten and put into new ale or beer, and 

 daily drank, clears, stengthens, and quick- 

 ens the sight of the eyes wonderfully. The 

 decoction of the roots in wine, or the juice 

 taken-therein, kills and drives forth all man- 

 ner of worms in the belly, stomach, and 

 maw; and gargled in the mouth, or the 

 root chewed, fastens loose teeth, and helps 

 to keep them from putrefaction ; and being 

 drank is good for those that spit blood, 

 helps to remove cramps or convulsions, 

 gout, sciatica, pains in the joints, applied 

 outwardly or inwardly, and is also good for 

 those that are bursten, or have any inward 

 bruise. The root boiled well in vinegar 

 beaten afterwards, and made into an oint- 

 ment with hog's suet, or oil of trotters is an 

 excellent remedy for scabs or itch in young 

 or old ; the places also bathed or washed 

 with the decoction doth the same ; it also 

 helps all sorts of filthy old putrid sores or 

 cankers whatsoever. In the roots of this 

 berb lieth the chief effect for the remedies 

 aforesaid. The distilled water of the leaves 

 and roots together, is very profitable to 

 cleanse the skin of the face, or other parts, 



from any morphew, spots, or blemishes 

 therein, and make it clear. 



ERINGO, OR SEA-HOLLY. 



Descript.~\ THE first leaves of our ordi- 

 nary Sea-holly, are nothing so hard and 

 prickly as when they grow old, being almost 

 round, and deeply dented about the edges, 

 hard and sharp pointed, and a little crump- 

 led, of a bluish green colour, every one 

 upon a long foot stalk ; but those that grow 

 up higher with the stalk, do as it were com- 

 pass it about. The stalk itself is round and 

 strong, yet somewhat crested, with joints 

 and leaves set thereat, but more divided, 

 sharp and prickly; and branches rising 

 from thence, which have likewise other 

 small branches, each of them having several 

 bluish round prickly heads, with many 

 small jagged prickly leaves under them, 

 standing like a star, and sometimes found 

 greenish or whitish : The root grows won- 

 derfully long, even to eight or ten feet in 

 length, set with rings and circles towards 

 the upper part, cut smooth and without 

 joints down lower, brownish on the outside, 

 and very white within, with a pith in the 

 middle ; of a pleasant taste, but much more, 

 being artificially preserved, and candied 

 with sugar. 



Placed] It is found about the sea coast 

 in almost every county of this land which 

 borders upon the sea. 



Time.'] It flowers in the end of Sum- 

 mer, and gives ripe seed within a month 

 after. 



Government and virtues.] The plant is 

 venereal, and breeds seed exceedingly, and 

 strengthens the spirit procreative ; it is hot 

 and moist, and under the celestial Balance. 

 The decoction of the root hereof in wine, 

 is very effectual to open obstructions of the 

 spleen and liver, and helps yellow jaun- 

 dice, dropsy, pains of the loins, and wind 

 cholic, provokes urine, and expels the 

 stone, procures women's courses. The con- 



