4 6 
Of the Hiftorie of Plants. 
Li 
B. I. 
T ypha. 
Cats Taile. 
D 
The names. 
They ate called injGreeke n't. : in^Latine Typha : of 
fome Cefirnm Morionis : in French Martean Majfes : in 
Dutch, iltfcljDoDetJ, and t In Italian Muzz a 
forda : in Spanifh Bchordo , and lttnco amaCorodato : In 
Englifh, Cats Taile, and Reed-Mace. Of this Cats 
Taile Ariftophtmes raaketh mention in his Comedy of 
Frogs, where he bringeth them forth one talking with 
another, being very glad that they had fpent the whole 
day in skipping and leaping inter Cyperum & Phleum, 
among Galingale and Cats Taile. Ottid feemeth to 
name this plant S cirpusdtox he termeth the mats made 
of the Icancs, Catf-taile Mats, as in his fixth Booke 
Fuji or tm, 
At Dominos, difeedite, ait,plauJlro/]ite morantes 
Sujlulit , in plaujiro feirpea mattafuit. 
«]j The nature. 
It is cold and dry of complexion. 
The vert ties . 
The foft Dovvne ftamped with fwines greale well 
wathed, healeth burnings or fealdings with fire or 
water. 
Some pra&itioners by their experience haue found. 
That the Dovvne of the Cats tatle beaten with the 
leaues of Betony,the roots of Gladiole,and the Icaues 
of HippoglofJ'on into powder, and mixed with the yelks 
ofegges hard fodden, and fo eaten, is a rnoft perfeift 
medicine againft the difeafe in children called in 
Greeke which is,when the gut called InteJHnum 
ciccum is fallen into the cods. This medicine muft be 
miniftred euery day fading for the fpace of thirtie 
dayes, the quantitie thereof to be miniftred at onetimeis r. This being vfed as before is 
fpecified doth notonelyhelpe children and ftriplings, but growne men alfo, if in time of their 
cure they vfe conuenient ligature or truffings, and fit confounding plaifters vpon the gric-ucd 
place, according to art appointed for that purpofe in C.hirurgerie. 
This Dovvne in fome places of the Me of Elie, and the low countries adioyning thereto, is ga- 
thered and well fold to make mattrefles of, for plowmen and poorc people. 
It hath beene alfo often proued to healekibed or humbled heeles (as they are termed) being 
applied to them, either before or after the skinne is broken. 
Chap. 38. Of Stitcbivort. 
^ The deferiptitm. 
1 ^ T itchwort, or as Ruetlius termeth it Holufteum, is of two kindes, and hath round tender 
ftalkes full of joints leaning toward the ground : at euery ioynt grow two leaues 
one againft another. The flowers bevvhire, confiding of many fmall leaues fet in the 
manner of a ftarre. The roots are fmall, jointed, and threddy. The feed is contained in fmall 
heads fomewhat long, and fharpeat the vpper end, and when it is ripe it is very fmall and browne. 
2 The fecond is like the former in iTiape of leaues and flowers, which are fet in forme of a 
ftarre ; but the leaues are orderly placed, and in good proportion, by couples two together,being 
of awhitifh colour. When the flowers be vaded then follow the feeds, which are inclofed in bul- 
lets like the feed of flax, but nor fo round. The chines or threds in the middle of the floure are 
fometimesofa reddilTi,orofablackifhcolour. j: There are more differences ofthis plant, or ra- 
ther varieties,as differing little but in the Iargenefle ofthe Ieaues,floures,or ftalkes. $ 
% The place. 
They grow in the borders of fields vpon banke fides and hedges, almoft euery where.’ 
The time. 
They flourifh all the Sommer, efpecially in May and lune. 
«|J The 
