162 THE COMPLETE HERBAL 



VIA'TER-ROCKET, OR CRESSES. 



Descript.'] WiNTER-Rocket, or Winter- | 



have authors made with Roses ! Wnai a 

 racket have they kept? I shall add, red 

 Roses are under Jupiter, Damask under 



Cresses, hath divers somewhat large sad \ Venus, White under the Moon, and Pro- 

 green leaves lying upon the ground, torn or j vence under the King of France. The 

 cut in divers parts, somewhat like unto | white and red Roses are cooling and dry- 

 Rocket or turnip leaves, with smaller pieces j ing, and yet the white is taken to exceed 

 next the bottom, and 'broad at the ends, { the red in both the properties, but is seldom 

 which so abide all the Winter (if it spring; used inwardly in any medicine: The bit- 

 up in Autumn, when it is used to be eaten) i terness in the Roses when they are fresh, 

 from among which rise up divers small \ especially the juice, purges choler, and 

 round stalks, full of branches, bearing many j watery humours; but being dried, and that 

 small yellow flowers of four leaves a-piece, j heat which caused the bitterness being con- 

 after which come small pods, with reddish i sumed, they have then a binding and as- 

 seedinthem. The root is somewhat stringy, jtringent quality: Those also that are not 

 and perishes every j'ear after the seed is j full blown, do both cool and bind more 

 ripe. \ than those that are full blown, and the 



P/oce.] It grows of its own accord in | white Rose more than the Red. The decoc- 

 gardens and fields, by the way-sides, in | tion of red Roses made with wine and used, 

 divers places, and particularly in the next | is very good for the head-ache, and pains 

 pasture to the Conduit-head behind Gray's Jin the eyes, ears, throat, and gums; as also 

 Inn, that brings water to Mr. Lamb's con- j for the fundament, the lower part of the 

 duitin Holborn. > belly and the matrix, being bathed or put 



Time.'] It flowers in May, seeds in June, | into them. The same decoction with the 

 and then perishes. I Roses remaining in it, is profitably applied 



Government and virtues.^ This is pro- \ to the region of the heart to ease the in- 

 fitable to provoke urine, to help stranguary, j flammation therein ; as also St. Anthony's 

 and expel gravel and stone. It is good for j fire, and other diseases of the .stomach, 

 the scurvy, and found by experience to bet Being dried and beaten to powder, and 

 a singularly good wound herb to cleanse in- ; taken in steeled wine or water, it helps to 

 ward wounds ; the juice or decoction being -stay women's courses. The yellow threads 

 drank, or outwardly applied to wasli fou'lin the middle of the Roses (which are 

 ulcers and sores, cleansing them by shai p- j erroneously called the Rose Seed) being 

 ness, and hindering or abating tue dead * powdered and drank in the distilled water 

 flesh from growing therein, and healing \ of Quinces, stays the overflowing of women's 

 them by their drying quality. | courses, and doth wonderfully stay the. de- 



} fluctions of rheum upon the gums and teeth, 

 | preserving them from corruption, and 



I HOLD it altogether needless to trouble? fastening them if they be loose, being 

 the reader with a description of any of these, | washed and gargled therewith, and some 

 since both the garden Roses, and the Roses \ vinegar of Squills added thereto. The heads 

 of the briars are well enough known : take j with the seed being used in powder, or in a 

 therefore the virtues of them as follows ;| decoction, stays the lask and spitting of 

 And first I shall begin \vith the garden | blood. Red Roses do strengthen the heart, 

 kinds. i the stomach and the liver, and the reten- 



Government and virtues.] What a pother jtive faculty : They mitigate the pains that 



