AND ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED. 



81 



two or three feet long, with finely cut and 

 jagged leaves of a whitish or rather blueish 

 sea green colour ; At the tops of the 

 branches stand many small flowers, as it 

 were in a long spike one above another, 

 made like little birds, of a reddish purple 

 colour, whith whitish bellies, after which 

 come small round husks, containing small 

 black seeds. The root is yellow, small, and 

 not very long, full of juice while it is green, 

 but quickly perishes with the ripe seed. 

 In the corn fields in Cornwall, it bears 

 white flowers. 



Place.'] It grows in corn fields almost 

 every where, as well as in gardens. 



Time.~\ It flowers in May, for the most 

 part, and the seed ripens shortly after. 



Government and virtues J] Saturn owns 

 the herb, and presents it to the world as a 

 cure for his own disease, and a strengthener 

 of the parts of the body he rules. If by 

 my astrological judgment of diseases, from 

 the decumbiture, you find Saturn author of 

 the disease, or if by direction from a 

 nativity you fear a saturnine disease ap- 

 proaching, you may by this herb prevent 

 it in the one, and cure it in the other, and 

 therefore it is fit you keep a syrup of it 

 always by you. The juice or syrup made 

 thereof, or the decoction made in whey by 

 itself, with some other purging or opening 

 herbs and roots to cause it to work the 

 better (itself being but weak) is very effec- 

 tual for the liver and spleen, opening the 

 obstructions thereof, and clarifying the 

 blood from saltish, choleric, and adust 

 humours, which cause leprosy, scabs, tet- 

 ters, and itches, and such like breakings- 

 out of the skin, and after the purgings doth 

 strengthen all the inwards parts. It is also 

 good against the yellow-jaundice, and 

 spends it by urine, which it procures in 

 abundance. The powder of the dried herb 

 given for some time together, cures melan- 

 choly, but the seed is strongest in opera- 

 tion for all the former diseases. The dis- 



tilled water of the herb is also of good 

 effect in the former diseases, and conduces 

 much against the plague and pestilence, 

 being taken with good treacle. The dis- 

 tilled water also, with a little water and 

 honey of roses, helps all sores of the mouth 

 or throat, being gargled often therewith. 

 The juice dropped into the eyes, clears the 

 sight and takes away redness and other 

 defects in them, although it procure some 

 pain for the present, and cause tears. 

 Dioscorides saith it hinders any fresh 

 springing of hairs on the eye-lids (after they 

 are pulled away) if the eye-lids be anointed 

 with the juice hereof, with Gum Arabic 

 dissolved therein. The juice of the Fumi- 

 tory and Docks mingled with vinegar, and 

 the places gently washed therewith, cures 

 all sorts of scabs, pimples, blotches, wheals, 

 and pushes which arise on the face or 

 hands or any other parts of the body. 



THE FURZE BUSH. 



IT is as well known by this name, as it is 

 in some counties by the name of Gorz or 

 Whins, that I shall not need to write any 

 description thereof, my intent being to 

 teach my countrymen what they know not, 

 rather than to tell them again of that which 

 is general known before. 



Placed] They are known to grow on 

 dry barren heaths, and other waste, gra- 

 velly or sandy grounds, in all counties of 

 this land. 



Time.'] They also flower in the Summer 

 months. 



Government and virtues.] Mars owns the 

 herb. They are hot and dry, and open 

 obstructions of the liver and spleen. A de- 

 coction made with the flowers thereof hath 

 been found effectual against the jaundice, 

 as also to provoke urine, and cleanse the 

 kidneys from gravel or stone ingendered 

 in them. Mars doth also this by sym- 

 pathy. 



