Li b. z 
846 Of the Hiftorie of Plants. 
time : which clanger and inconuenience toauoid, I haue (about the place where it groweth in mv 
garden) fattened flicks in the ground, and fome other ftickes I haue fattened alfo crofte-vvaies ouer 
them, left any woman (hould by lamentable experiment findemy words to bee true, by their ftep- 
ping ouer the lame. 
t I iudge our Author fomething too womanifli in this, that is, led moreby vainopinion than 
by any reafon or experience,to confirme this his aflertion, which frequent experience (hews tobe 
vaincand friuolous,efpeciaIly for the touching, finding ouer, or commingnec-reto this herbe. j 
C h a p. 3 1 1. Of \ Birthmorts ; 
*f The K aides. 
B Irthwoort,as Diofcorides writeth, is of three forts, long, round, and winding : Plirtie hath added 3 
fourth kinde called Ptjlolocbut^ or little Birthwoort. The later writers haue ioinedvntothetn a 
fifth, named Saracens Birthwoort. 
I t^ArifioIochinlonga. 2 ArifhilochUrotundx. 
Long Birthwoort- Round Birthwoort. 
The Defcriptien. 
* T Ong Birthwoort hath many fmall long flender ftalkes creeping vpon the ground, tan- 
i^gling one with another very intricately,befet with round leaues not much vnlike Sovv- 
bi ead or Iuie , but larger, of a light or ouerworne greene colour, and of a grieuous or 
Iothlome iinell and fauour : among which come forth long hollow floures, not much vnlike the 
tioures of Aron, but without any peftell or clapper in the fame ; of a dark purple colour: after which 
do follow (mai l fruit like vnto little peares, containing tnangled feeds of a blackiih colour. The 
root is long, thicke,of the colour ofbox,ofa ftrong fauour and bitter tafte. 
a 2 Birthwoort in ftalkes and leaues is like the firft, but his leaues are rounder : the 
nou res chfteronely in this, that they be fomewhat longer and narrower, and of a faint yellowifh co- 
lour, but the fmall flap or point of the floure that turneth backe againe, is of a darke or blacke pur- 
ple 
