183 



CHAP. II 



Of the Piony. 



The Kindes. 



THe Sorts of Pionyes which I have met with, are in number 

 II. I. The male Piony. 2. The Female Piony. 3. Double 

 Red Piony. 4. The double white Pyony. 5 The Spanifh 

 Dwarf Piony. 6 Columbine leafed Pyony. 7. The party coloured 

 Piony. 8. The female white Piony. 9. The female yellow Piony. 

 10 The doubtful female Piony. 11. Certain, f ingle, and double fe- 

 male Pionies, that fprang with Clufius, of the feed of the double 

 Red, which is not usual. All thefe forts, except the female, are 

 Plants fo fcarce, that they are poffeffed but by a few, and thofe great 

 Lovers of Rarities in this kinde and therefore I shall trouble you 

 onely with the defcription of that. 



The Forme. 



The * * * Piony rifeth up with many ftalks, * * * . At the 

 top of the ftalks, are growing fair large red flours, like the great 

 double Rofe of Provence; but that it is of a darker red, having alfo 

 in the midft, yellow Threds or Thrums like them in the Rofe, which 

 fome take to be the feed though falsely, which being faded and fallen 

 away, there come in their places, two, three, or four rough crooked 

 Pods^ bending a contrary way, as fome Rams Horns do. 



The Signature and Vertues. 



The Heads of the Flower of Piony, being not yet blown, have 

 some Signature and proportion with the Head of man, having sutures 

 and little vains difperfed up and down like unto thofe which environ 

 the brain, * * * the Roots are moft effeSluall; for if they be frefh 

 taken up and hung about the neck of children they cure it [Falling- 

 fickneffe] ; but the fureft way both for them, and efpecially thofe 

 which are elder if to take the roots * * * and infufe it in a fufficient 

 proportion of Sack, for four and twenty hours at leaft, being 'firft 

 wafhed clean, and ftamped very small, then ftrain it, and drink a 

 good draught firft and laft, morning and evening, for feverall dayes 

 together, before and after the full of the moon; * * * The distilled 

 water, or Syrup, made of the flowers, worketh the same effect that 

 the Root and Seed do, though more weakly. Take the roots of 

 Piony, and peel off the outward skins: take alfo Periwinckle leaves, 

 ftamp and ftrain them into black Cherry-water, and let the Patient 

 for three mornings fafting, drink a good draught thereof; but if he 

 mend not at three times, let him drink longer. This Receit was 

 approved by the Lady Cage. 



