Chap. 7 o 4. 'EngUjb Herbs. wfrj 
V. Gerard delcribes it after this manner, {thru 
a Root con fifltng of divers Strings or Fibres , from 
which fprings up an upright Stalk, hollow and a- 
bout 3 Feet high , dividing it felf into divers Branch- 
es , on which ’ do grow Leaves by three and three , 
f '//& to the other Trefoils) flight ly and fuperfici- 
oufly nicked on the edges-, from the bottom whereof 
come the Flowers, every one flanding on its own 
fingle Foot /talk, con filling of little Chaffy Husks , 
of a light or pale blcwifh color : After which, comes 
up little Heads or Knobs, in which lyes the Seed, 
of a whit if) b yellow color, and leffer than that of 
Fenugreek. The whole Plant is not only of a whi- 
tijlj green color, but alfo of a fweet Smell, Jlrong, 
Aromatical or Spicy, and yet more fweet when it 
is dryed ■, which Scent the gathered and dryed Plant, 
does continue in a long time. Alfo whi/Jt growing, 
it fmells more in moift and rainy Weather , than 
in hot and dry Weather. 
VI. The lecond, or Wronger fmelling Garden 
Trefoil, or Claver. It has a Fibrous Root, which 
with us perifhes every Tear, but abides all Winter 
in hotter Climates, where it is Natural. Its firjl 
Leaves are a little larger than thofe which grow 
higher upon the Stalks, three always J landing toge- 
ther upon a long Footjlalk, of a dark green color, 
a l mo ft fhining, fet with fame hairinefs thereon. 
The Stalk is Jlrong, round, and hairy alfo, rifing 
up to the height of two Feet or more, on which 
grow the Leaves , more long and pointed than the 
'lower. It branches from the bottom ujually, to the 
top, where grow many large Flowers in a Bufh or 
'Tuft, thick fet together, of a blcwifh purple color, 
and fomewhat hairy or hoary withal , efpe dally the 
Husks containing the Flowers, which afterwards 
turn into broad brownifh hairy Cods, each contain- 
ing but one Seed, which is a little broad, rough and 
pointed at one end.* The Smell of the Leaves and 
whole Plant is Jlrong, which whilft it is young, fome 
fancy to fmcll like Rue but growing old, the /aid 
Smell grows ftronger , which they fancy then fmells 
fomething like Bitumen. With us this Jlrong Smell 
grows weaker every Tear than other, and af- 
ter the fccond Tears Sowing, has almofi no Smell 
at all -, tho > in its Native Countries , it always re- 
tains its Original Smell. 
VII. The third, or American Trefoil. Its 
Root is fmall and branched out, being Fibrous or 
Jlnngy, and fo fpreading two fever always. From 
whence fprings fever al round Stalks leaning to the 
Ground , and fpreading then/f elves out into many 
Branches , on which grow Jeveral Leaves, three 
Leaves upon one long Footjlalk, each of which is 
fomewhat round, not much unlike the la ft Defer i bed ■, 
faving that they are larger or broader, and of a 
dark green color. 'Die Form of the Leaves , and 
the manner and growing of this Plant, differs not 
much from our Common Meadow Trefoil, fo 
much they are alike. The Smell of the Leaves, and 
whole Plant is lirong, and not much unlike the lafl 
Dejcribcd. At the lops of the Stalks and Branches , 
grow long fpiky Ears of whitifh Flowers, being 
fomething fmaller than thofe of the fecond Kind, 
before Defer ibed, after which, come in their places 
fmall round and flattifh Seed. 
VIII. The Places. The firft and fecond grows 
in France, Germany, Italy and England, but only 
in Gardens. And Diofcorides fays, that the firlt 
grew in Gardens in his time, and not Wild in 
Greece, or any other place that ever he heard of. 
The third grows in the more Northern parts of 
America, as Canada , New-England, Virginia, Sec. 
for which reafon I put it in this place, for that pof- 
fibly fome of our Englifh Planters may at fome 
time or other, find it in fome of their Plantations. 
a toe 1 imes. 
mey r lower in June and 
July, and their Seed is ripe in fome little time 
after * but the other two Flowering later with us 
leldom perfeQ- their Seed here. 
X. The Vitalities. The firlt (which is chiefly 
uled; is according to Galen, temperate in refp^dt 
to heat or cold, drynefs or moilture. They are 
Aperitive, Anodyn, Diuretick, Vulnerary • Hyfte- 
nck, and Alexipharmick. 
XL The Specification. It cures Difeafes of the 
Lyes, di Icufles Tumors and Contufions, heals 
Wounds and Ulcers, eafes the Gout and other 
P a ' ns 5 a P rovo ^ es . t h e Terms, as alfo the Locbes 
when ltopr, and is prevalent againlt thebitings of 
Vipersand other Serpents, as alfo gives eafe in the 
strangury, and other ftoppages of Urine. 
XII. The Preparations. You may make there- 
n 0n \r *' ^ liquid Juice and E fence. 2. A 
L c coawn in I Vine or Water. 3 .'An Oxymel. 
4 - A Pouder of the Seed. An Oil by In fa 
latwn or DecoUion. 6 . A Balfam. 7. A Dijlil/ed 
The Virtues. 
XIII. The Liquid Juice or EJfence. They may 
be given to 4 or 6 Spoonfuls alone, or in Wine, or 
other fit Vehicle j it eales the pains of the Spleen 
and Hypochonders, opens ObftruUions of the Vif-. 
ccra provokes Urine and the Terms, as alfo the 
Locoes when Itopt; gives eafe in the Strangury, 
or heat and fealding of Urine, and is good againlt 
the bitings of Vipersand Serpents, or of other Ve- 
nomous Creatures. Any fimple Wound, Sore or 
Ulcer, being wafhed herewith, it cleanfes, drys, 
and induces the healing ; difeuffes Tumors and re- 
cent Contufions, and gives eafe to external pains : 
tsoth Diofcorides and Galen, commend this Plant 
in particular, againft the bitings or Hinging of any 
oerpent, or other Venomous Creature. The Juice 
is alfo good to walh the breakings out with Scurf 
or Scabs of Childrens Heads, or any other part- 
and to wafh places bitten or Hung, &c. as Pliny 
kb. 21. cap. 21. advifes. 
XIV. The Dec off ion in Wine or Water. It has 
all the former Virtues, but becaufe weaker, may 
be given Morning, Noon and Night, to half a 
nnt or more ^ outwardly alfo, applying it by Bath- 
ing or fomentation, to the parts affetted. 
XV. The Oxymel. It is made of a Deco fl ion of 
the Herb, Flowers and Seed in Vinegar, and then 
compjeated with Honey. This being drink, is a 
lpecial remedy for fuch as are bitten or ftungwith 
any Venomous Creature. 
XVI. The Pouder of the Seed. This is of mod 
force with Galen , who appoints it to be put into 
Treacle or Mithriiate, againlt all Dtleales for 
which the Herb is good. It is indeed lingular 
good againft the Pleurifie, hear, fealding, and Itop- 
page of Urine, and the Strangury : It is profitable 
againft the Epilepfy, Vapors, and Hylterick Fits. 
Dofe two Drams or more, in fome fit Vehicle. 
XVII. The Oil by Infolation or DecoQ'wn of the 
Leaves, Heads and Flowers. It is excellent to dif- 
cufs all hard Swellings, or Wen-like Tumors in 
any part of the Body ; to allay Inflamations, digeft 
Sores and Ulcers, bringing them to maturity; then 
cleanfing them from their putrid Matter, and heal- 
ing them in fuch a manner as is to be admired : It 
heals alfo green Wounds, as weft as old Ulcers ; 
helps Contufions, and eafes pains of the Gout -, as 
alfo Pains and Aches in any part, Stitches, Cramps 
Lamenels of the Joints, 0V. 
XVIII. T be 
