138 THE COMPLETE HERBAL 



wise the black seed beaten to powder, and | hereof to be bruised, and mixed with old 

 given in wine, is also available. The black j hog's grease, and applied to the place, and 

 seed also taken before bed-time, and in j to continue thereon four hours in men, and 

 the morning, is very effectual for such as in j two hours in women, the place being r.fter- 

 their sleep are troubled with the disease I wards bathed with wine and oil mixed 

 called Ephialtes, or Incubus, but we do j together, and then wrapped up with wool 

 commonly call it the Night-rnare: a disease j or skins, after they have sweat a little. It 

 which melancholy persons are subject unto: | also amends the deformities or discolour- 

 It is also good against melancholy dreams. | ings of the skin, and helps to take away 

 The distilled water or syrup made of the; marks, scars, and scabs, or the foul marks 

 rlowers, works the same effects that the root! of burning with fire or iron. The juice 

 and seed do, although more weakly. The > hereof is by some used to be given in ale to 

 Females is often used for the purpose afore- j drink, to women with child, to procure 

 said, by reason the Male is so scarce a -them a speedy delivery in travail, 

 plant that it is possessed by few and those j PERIWINKLE. 



great lovers or rarities in this kind. 



DescriptJ] THE common sort hereof 



PEPPERWORT, OR DITTANDER. j i .1 u -v 



Uiath many branches trailing or running 



Descript.] OUR common Pepperwortj upon the ground, shooting out small fibres 

 sends forth somewhat long and broad leaves, j at the joints as it runs, taking thereby hold 

 of a light blueish green colour, finely | in the ground, and rootelh in divers places, 

 dented about the edges, and pointed at the! At the joints of these branches stand two 

 ends, standing upon round hard stalks, small, dark-green, shining leaves, somewhat 



three or four feet high, spreading many 

 branches on all sides, and having many 



like bay leaves, but smaller, and with them 

 come forth also the flowers (one at a joint) 



small white flowers at the tops of them, standing upon a tender foot-stalk, being 

 after which follow small seeds in small j somewhat long and hollow, parted at the 

 heads. The root is slender, running much! brims, sometimes into four, sometimes into 

 under ground, an,d shooting up again in : five leaves: The most ordinary sorts are ot 

 many places, and* both leaves and roots area pale blue colour; some are pure white, 

 very hot and sharp of taste, like pepper, for i some of a dark reddish purple colour. The 

 which cause it took the name. j root is little bigger than a rush, bushing in 



Place.~] It grows naturally in many 5 the ground, and creeping with his branches 

 places of this land, as at Clare in Essex ;ifar about, whereby it quickly possesses a 

 also near unto Exeter in Devonshire; upon \ great compass, and is therefore mos' 

 Rochester common in Kent ; in Lanca- 5 usually planted under hedges where it may 

 shire, and divers other places ; but usually \ have room to run. 

 kept in gardens. Placed] Those with the pale blue, and 



TimeJ] It flowers in the end of June, I those with the white flowers, grow in woods 

 and in July. land orchards, by the hedge-sides, in divci.^ 



Government and virtues.'] Here is another j places of this land ; but those with the pui- 

 martial herb for you, make much of it. pie flowers, in gardens only. 

 Pliny and Paulus ^Egineta say, that Pep- ; Time.'] They flower in March and April 

 perwort is very successful for the sciatica, \ Government and virtues.'] Venus owns 

 or any other gout or pain in the joints, or} this herb, and saith, That the leaves eaten 

 any other inveterate grief: The leaves | by man and wife together, cause love be- 



