4° 
Of the Hiftorie of Plants. 
L i B. 1 
Chap. 33. Of c Paper c R^ed. 
P Aper Reed hath many large Haggle leaues fomewhat triangular and finooth, not much vn- 
likethofeof Catf-tailc, rifing immcdiatly from a tuft of roots compaft ofmany ftrino-s, 
amongftthevvhich it fhootethvp two or three naked ftalkes, fquare,and rifing fome fix or 
feuen cubits high abouc the water -at the top whereof there (lands a tuft or bundle of chaffie 
threds fet in comely order, refembiing a tuft of flowers, but barren and void of feed. 
The place. 
Papyrus Nilotica. This kindeof Reed growes in the Riuers 
Paper Reed. about Babylon, and neere the city Alcaire, 
in the riucr Nilus, and fuch other places of 
thofe countries. 
The time. 
The time of fpringing and flourifhing an- 
fwercth that of the common Reed. 
% The names. 
This kindeof Reed which I haue Engli- 
fhed Paper Reed, or Paper plant, is the fame 
(as I do reade) that Paper was made of in 
-'Egypt, before the inuention of paper made 
oflinnen clouts was found out. It is thought 
by men oi great learning and vnderflanding 
in the Scriptures, and let dovvne by them 
for truth, that this plant is the fame Reed 
mentioned in the fecond chapter of Exodus . 
whereof was made that basket or cradle’ 
which was dawbed within and without with 
flime of that countrcy, called Bitumen ludai- 
cum, wherein Mofcs was put being commit- 
ted to the water, when Pharaoh gaue com- 
mandement that all the male children of the 
Hcbrewes fhould be drowned. 
Thenature, venues, andvfe. • 
The roots of Paper Reed doe nourifh , as 
may appeare by the people of Tsgypt, which 
do vfe to chew them in their mouthes , and 
fwallow dovvne the juice, finding therein 
great delight and comfort. 
B Theafhes burned affivage and confume hard apoftumes, tumors, and corrafiue vlcers in any 
part of the body, but chiefely in the mouth. 
C The burnt paper made hereof doth performe thofe effefts more forcibly. 
D The ftalkes hereof haue a lingular vfe and priuiledge in opening the chanels or hollow pafla- 
ges ofa Fiftula, being put therein ; for they dofvvellasdoth the pith ofElder,ora tent made of 
a fponge. 
g The people about Nilus do vfe toburne the leaues and ftalkes, but efpecially the roots, 
p The frailes wherein they put Raifins and Figs are fometimes made hereof i but generally with 
the herbe Spartum, deferibed in the nexr Chapter. 
Chap. 34.. Of z5MatJVeed. 
Thckindes. 
There bediuers kindes of Mat-VVeeds,as fhall be declared in their feuerall deferiptions. 
C[ The description. 
T He herbe Spartum, as Pliny faith, growerh of it felfe, and fendeth forth from the root a mul- 
titude of llcnder rufhie leaues ofa cubit high, or higher, tough and pliable, ofa vvhitifh 
colour, which in time draweth narrow together, making the flat leafe to become round, as 
istheRufh, The ftuborftalkethereofbearethatthe top certaine feather-like tufts comming 
forth 
