160 THE COMPLETE HERBAL 



poison or infection, was this: Take twenty j ground, about a span long, divided into 

 leaves of rue, a little salt, a couple of wal- 1 many other smaller parts full or small joints 

 nuts, and a couple of figs, beaten together ; set very thick together, whereat come forth 



into a mess, with twenty juniper berries, 

 which is the quantity appointed for every : 



two very small leaves of a French yellow, 

 'green coloured branches and all, where 



l^Ll i O 



day. Another electuary is made thus : : grows forth also a number of exceedingly 

 Take of nitre, pepper, and cumrnin seed, j small yellowish flowers, scarce to be clis- 

 of each equal parts ; of the leaves of Rue J cerned from the stalks and leaves, which 

 clean picked, as much in weight as all the; turn into seeds as small as the very dust, 

 other three weighed; beat them well toge-The root is very long and small, thrusting 

 ther, and put as much honey as will make i down deep into the ground. This has 

 it up into an electuary (but you must first I neither smell nor taste at first, but after- 

 steep your cummin seed in vinegar twenty j wards has a little astringent taste, without 

 tour hours, and then dry it, or rather roast j any manifest heat; yet a little bitter and 

 it in a hot fire-shovel, or in an oven) and is ! sharp withal. 



a remedy for the pains or griefs in the chest : Placed] It grows in dry, sandy, and 

 or stomach, of the spleen, belly, or sides, ; rocky places. 



by wind or stitches; of the liver by ob-| Time.~\ It is fresh and green ail the 

 structions ; of the reins and bladder by the j Summer. 



stopping of urine ; and helps also toex-j Government and virtues."] They say Saturn 

 tenuate fat corpulent bodies. What an in- 1 causes ruptures ; if he do, he does no more 

 famy is cast upon the ashes of Mithridates, ! than he can cure ; if you want wit, he will 

 or Methridates (as the Augustines read his ;! teach you, though to your cost. This herb 

 name) by unworthy people. They that ! is Saturn's own, and is a noble antivene- 

 deserve no good report themselves, love to j rean. Rupture-wort hath not its name in 

 give 'none to others, viz. That renowned' vain : for it is found by experience to cure 

 King of Pontus fortified his body by poison j the rupture, not only in children but also in 

 against poison. (He cast out devils by Beel- \ elder persons, if the disease be not too in- 

 zebub, Prince of the devils.) What a sot is j veterale, by taking a dram of the powder 

 he that knows not if he had accustomed his : of the dried herb every day in wine, or a 

 body to cold poisons, but poisons would i decoction made and drank for certain days 

 have dispatched him? on the contrary, if 'together. The juice or distilled water of 

 not, corrosions would have done it. The j the green herb, taken in the same manner, 

 whole world is at this present time beholden | helps all other fluxes either of man or 

 to him for his studies in physic, and he that j woman ; vomitings also, and the gonorrhea, 

 uses the quantity but of an hazel-nut of that being taken any of the ways aforesaid. It 

 receipt every morning, to which his name' doth also most assuredly help those that 

 is adjoined, shall to admiration preserve { have the stranguary, or are troubled with 

 his body in health, if he do but consider [the stone or gravel in the reins or bladder, 

 that Rue is an herb of the Sun, and under j The same also helps stitches in the sides, 

 Leo, and gather it and the rest accord- j griping pains of the stomach or belly, the. 

 ingly. : obstructions of the liver, and cures the yel- 



ilow jaundice; likewise it kills also the 

 j worms in children. Being outwardly ap- 



Descript.'] THIS spreads very many i plied, it conglutinates wounds notably, and 

 hready branches round about upon the: helps much to stay defluctions of rheum 



