L I B. 2 
m 
Of the Biftorie of Plants. 
leaues there fhoot forth fet vponfleiiderfoot-ftalkescertaine long hollow floures like bcls , the 
mouth whereof endeth in fine Ihatge corners. Then hole Route changeth many times his colour 
according to the foile and climate; now ar.d then purple or blcwjfomerimcs whitifh, and oftenol 
an afhe colour. The root and feed is like the precedent. .;;•■■■ 
4 Croffe-woort Gentian hath many ribbed leaues fpred vpon the ground, like vnto the leaues 
ofSopewoort,butofablackergreene colour: amongj^hich'rile vpweake iointed ftalkes trailing 
or leaning toward the ground. The floures grow at the top, in bundles thicke thruft together, like 
thole of iweet Williams, of a light blew colour . The root is thieve, and creepeth in the ground far 
abroad,whereby it greatly increafeth. • • , 
5 Carolus Clttfius hath fet forth in his Pannonicke hill brie a kinde of Gentian, which he recei- 
ued from M' . Thomas Pennic oi London, D r . in Phi licke, of famous memorie,and a fecond Diofrori. 
dcs for his Angular knowledge in Plants; which TaiirnarnoManus hath fet forth in his Dutch fcooke 
for thefeuenthof Clufms , wherein, he greatly deceiued himfcTfe,and hath with a falft defcription 
wronged others. ' 
This twelfth fort orkindeof Gentian after Ch/flus, hath around ftiffo ftalkc,firmear,d folide, 
fomewbat reddifhat thebottome, iointed or kneed like vnto Crofilwoort Gentian. The leaues 
are broad,fmooth,full of ribbes or flucwes, fet about the ftalkes by couples, one oppoflre againft 
another. The floures grow vpon fmall tender ftalkes, compafi: of flue flender blewifli leaues, fpot- 
ted very curioufly with many blacke fp.ots and little lines; hailing in the middle flue yellow 
chiues. The feed is fmall like fend ; the root is little, garniftied with a few firings of a yellowifh 
colour. 
The Place. 
Gentian groweth in fhadowie woods,and the mountains of Italic, Sclauonia, Germany, Prance, 
and Burgundie ; from whence M r . iflaac de Laune a learned Phifition fent me plants for. the increafe 
of my warden. Croflewoort Gentian groweth in a pafture at the Weft end oflittle Rayne in Elfex 
on the North fide of the way leadingProm Braintree to Much-Dunmow ; and in. the horfe way by 
the fame clofe. 
The Time. 
They floure and flourilh in Auguft,and the feed is ripe in September. 
| T/* Names. 
Gentiu-s King of Illyria was the firft finder of this berbe , and the firft that vfed it in medicine, 
forwhich caufe it was called Gentian after his owne name: in Greeke jwn which namealfothe 
Apothecaries retaine vnto this day, and call it Gentiana: itis named inEnglifh Felwoort Genti- 
an . Bitterwoort; Baldmoyne, and Baldmoney. 
x This by moft Writers is called Genii ana, and Genii ana maior Lutea. 
i Gefner callcth this Gcntiana pmicea ; Chip vs, Gentiana maiorflore purpureo. 
3 This is Gcntiana folijs hirmdinariaof Gtfner : and Gentiana ^AfcUpiadis folio of Clufltos. 
4 This.CmM/,r,or Gcntiana Cruciatafif Tragus, Fuehfltes,Dcdon.Gefner and others.-it is the Gen- 
tiana minor of Matthiolus. 
5 Cluflus calls this Gentiana maior pallida funttu diflincla. 
srr jhe Temperature. 
Theroot of Felwoort is hot, as Diofeorides faith, clenfing or fcouring: diners copies liaue, that 
it is likewife binding, and ofabittertafte. 
^[ 7 he yertites. 
A It is excellent good, as Galen faith, when there is need of attenuating, purging, clenfing, and re- 
mouing of obftruftions, which qualitie it takethofhis extreme bitternefle. 
B Itis reported to be good for thofe that are troubled with crampes and convulfions ; for fuch 
as areburftjOr bane falne from fome high place : for fuch as haue euill liners and bad ftomacks. It 
is put into Counterpoifons,as into the compofition named Theriaca diatejflaron: which A tins cal- 
Icth Mytteriumpa. myfterie or hid fecrct. 
C This is of fuch force and vertue,faith Pliny, that it helpeth cattell which are not onely troubled 
with the cough, but are alfo broken winded. 
D The root of Gentian giuen in ponder the quantitie of a dramme, with a little pepper and herbe 
Grace mixed therewith, is profitable for them that are bitten or ftung with any manner of veno- 
mous beaft or mad dog : or for any that hath taken poifon. 
V Tbedecoiftiondrunke is good againft theftoppingsof the liner, and cruditie of the ftomacke, 
helpeth digeft ion, diffolueth and fcattereth congealed bloud, and is good againft all cold difeafes 
of the inward parts. 
Chap. 
