8<>6 Of the Hiftory of Plants. Lib. 2 . 
doc grow leaucs like thofe of the Quince. tree, but rounder t amongft the which come forth Jong 
{lender foot-ftalkcs, whereon do grow round knoppes, which doe open or fpread abroad intofaire 
floures, after which commeth in place long fruit, like to an oliue,and of the fame colour, wherein is 
contained flat rough feeds, of a duskie colour. The root iswooddie, and coucred with a thick bark 
or rinde, which is much vied in Phyficke. 
2 The fecond kinde of Caper is likewife a prickly plant, much like the bramble bufh, hailing 
many (lender branches fet full of fharpe prickles. The whole plant traileth vpon the place where 
it groweth.befet with round blackifh leaues diforderly placed, in.fhape like thofe of Aftrabacg), 
but greater,approching to the forme of Fole-foot : among which commeth forth a fmall and ten- 
der naked twig, charged at the end with a fmall knap or bud, which openeth it felfetoa fmall ftar- 
like flotirc,of a pleal’ant fweet fmelf,in place whereofeomes a fmall fruit, long and round like the 
Cornell berrie,of a browne colour .The root is long and wooddie, and couered with a thickebarke 
pr rinde, which is likewife vfed in medicine . 
• «fj The Place. 
The Caper groweth in Italy,Spainc, and other hot Regions without manuring, inaleane foyle, 
in rough places amongft rubbifh, and vpon old walls, as D iofeondes reporteth. 
Thcephraftm writeth,that it is by nature wild, and refufeth to be husbanded, yet in thefe oiir daies 
diners vfe to cherifh the fame, and to fet it in dry and ftony places : my felfe at the impreflion here- 
of, planted fome feeds in the bricke walls of my garden, which as yet do fpring and grow green,the 
fticccfle I exped. 
TbeTime. 
The Caper floureth in Sommer, euen vntill Autumne. The knoppes of the floures before 
they open are thofe Capers or fauce that wee eat, which ate gathered and prefcrued in pickle or 
Salt. 
% The Names. 
It is called in Greeke wWemand in Latino alfo Capparls : but properly Cynoshatos pox Canirub us .• 
which is alfo taken for the wilde Rofe ; it is generally called Cappersin nioft languagesun Englifh, 
Cappers, Caper, and Capers. 
f The Temperature. 
Capers, or the floures not yet fully growne,be of temperature hot, and of thinne parts ; if they be 
eaten greene, they yeeld very little nourifhment, and much leffe if they be falted. And therefore 
they be rather a fauce and medicine, than a meat. 
The Vertices. 
A They ftir vp an appetiteto meat •, they be good for a moift ftomack,and ftay the watering there- 
of, and clenfeth away the flegme that cleaueth vnto it. Theyopenthe ftoppingsoftheliuerand 
milt, with meat ; they are good to be taken of thofe that haue a quartaine Ague, and ill fpleenes. 
They are eaten boiled ("the fait firft wafhed off) with oile and vineger,as other fallads be, and fome- 
times are boiled with meat. 
j3 The rinde or barke of the root cOnfifteth of diner's faculties, it heateth, clenfeth, purgeth,cutteth 
and digefteth, hauingwithall a certaine binding qualitie. 
q This barke isofa fingular remediefor hard fpleenes, being outwardly applied, and alfo inward- 
ly taken, and the fame boiled in vineger or oxymel,or being beaten and mixed with other Amplest 
for after this manner itexpelleth thickeand groffe humours, and conueieth away the fame mixed 
vvithbloud,by vrine,andalfoby fiege, whereby the milt or fpleene is helped, and thepaineof the 
huckle bones taken away : moreouer it bringeth downe the defired fickneffe, purgeth and draweth 
flegme out of the head, as Galen writeth. 
D The fame barke (as Diofcondes teacheth) doth clenfe old filthie fores, and fcoureth away the 
thicke lips and crufts about the edges, and being chewed it taketh away the tooth-ache. 
E Being ftamped with vineger, it fcoureth away tetters or Ring-wormes,hard fwellings,and cures 
theKings-euill. 
F The barke of the roots of Capets is good againftthe hardneffeand flopping of the fpleene,and 
profiteth much if it be giuen in dtinke to fuch as haue the Sciatica, the Palfie, and thofe that are 
burden or bruifed by falling from fome high place: it doth mightily prouoke vrine,infomuch that 
if it be vfed ouermuch,or giuen in too great a quantity, it procureth b loud to come with the vrine. 
C H A Pr} 
