B B. ( 28 ) B R 
The BIack-Briony y hath 
long flexible Branches of 
a W oody fubflancc, cover- 
ed with a gapjng or cloven 
Bark growing very far 
abroad, winding it felf 
with its fmall tendrels a- 
bout Trees, Hedges, and 
whatejfe is next unto it, 
like unto the Branches of 
the Vine. The Leaves are 
like unto thofe of Ivy 
or Gardcn-Night-fhade , 
iharp-pointed, and of a 
fhining Green Colour: 
the [Flowers are White, 
fmall, and Modie 5 which 
being paft, there fuccccd 
little Clutters of red Ber- 
ries, fomewhat bigger than 
thofe of the fmall Rajfins, 
or Ribes, which we call 
Currans, or fmall Raifjns. 
The Root is very great 
and thick oftentimes as 
big as a Mans Legg , 
Blackifh without, and ve- 
ry clamy or flimy within,; 
which being but Scraped 
with a Knife, or any other 
thing fit for that Purpofe, 
feems to be a Matter fit to 
fpread upon Cloth or 
Leather in manner of a 
Plaifter or Scare-cloth ; 
which being fo fpread and 
-*fed, it ferveth for many 
infirmities, and unto very 
excellent Purpofcs. 
Diofcorides faith, that 
the Roots purge Waterilh 
Homours, and are good 
for fuch as have the Drop- 
fie $ if they be boiled in 
Wine, adding unto the 
Wine a little Sea- Water, 
and be Drunk in three 
Ounces of fair frefh Wa- 
ter : he faith furthermore, 
that the Fruit or Bernes 
take away the Sun burn 
and other blemifhes of the 
Skin. 
The Berries do not on- 
ly cJeanfe and remove fuch 
kind of Spots, but alfo ve- 
ry quickly waftc and con- 
fume away black and blew 
Marks that come of brui- 
fes and dry Beatings, 
which things, alfo the 
Roots perform being laid 
upon them. 
The young and tender 
Sproutings are kept in 
Pick! e, and referred to be 
eaten with Meats as f>bf- 
coy ides fays. Matthiolvs 
fays that they arc ferved 
on Mens Tables in Tufca - 
n y : others report the like 
