1172- Of the Hiftory of Plants. Lib. 2. 
word fiardo-bcnediilus : it is mod plaine,thac it is Species Jtractyhdispra kind of wil de baftard Saf- 
fron : it is called dtraBylis hi)[utior,bzmewilde baftard Saffron: Valerius Gerdus named] it Cnicus 
Jiipinus-.it is called in high Dutch, 23 efeegnete DlfleliJaOttiO 23 f netlltf $ the later name whereof is 
knowne to the low Countrey men : in Spanifh it is called Car do Sartfo . in French, chat don bere/Jl, 
or betteijl .■ in the Ifle Lemnos,Garderacantha : in EngIifh,BlefTed Thiftle, but more commonly by 
the Latine name Cardttus Benediehis. 
5 ] The Temperature. 
Wilde baftard Saffron doth drie and moderately digeft, as Galen witneffeth. 
As Car duns Benedict us is bitter, fo is italfohot and drie in the fecond degree, andvvithall clen- 
fing and opening. ' . • ' ' ' - 5 
•(]■ The Vcrtues. 
A The tops, feed, and leaues of AtraitylU, faith Diofcoridcs, being beaten and dtunk with pepper and 
wine.arearemedieforthofe that are flung of the fcorpion. 
B Bleffed Thiftle taken in meat or drinke, is good for the fwimming and giddinefTe of the head it 
ftrengthneth memorie,and is a Angular remedie againft deafenefTe. 
C Thefameboiled inwineanddrunkehot,healeth the griping paines of thebelly, killethandex- 
pelleth wormeSjCaufcth fweat,pTouokethvrine,anddriuethout graueljdenfeth the ftornack.and is 
very good againft the Feuer quai taine. 
D The iuice of the faid Cardans is fingular good againft all poifon.as Hiereme Backe witnefleth in 
what fort foeuer the medicine be taken^nd helpeth the inflammation of the liuer,as reporteth /*a- 
chimus Gamer arius of Noremberg. 
E The ponder ofthe leaues miniftred in the quantitie of halfe a dram, is very good againft the pe- 
ftilence,if it be receiued w ithin 24.houres after the taking of the ficknes ,and the party fweat vpon 
the fame : the like vertue hath the wine, wherein the herbe hath been fodden. 
F The green herb pounded and laid to, is good againft all hot fvvellings,as Eryfipel<ts,p lague. fores, 
and botches,efpecially thofethat proceed of the peftilence, and isalfogood to be laied vpon the 
bitings of mad dogs,fcrpents,fpiders,or any venomous beaft whatfoeuer 5 and fo is it likewife if i 
be inwardly taken. 
G Thediftilled water thereof is of lefle vertue. 
H It is reported that it likewife cureth ftubborne and rebellious vlcers, if the decodfion be taken 
for certaine daies together ; and likewife Arnoldus dt Villa noua reporteth, that if it be ftamped with 
Barrows greafe to the form of an vnguent, adding thereto a little wheat floure,it doth the fame.be- 
ing applied twice a day. 
I Theherbealfo is good being ftamped andapplied, and fo is the iuice thereof. 
K The extra dlion of theleaues drawne according to Art,is excellent good againft the French dif- 
eafe,and quartaine agues, as reporteth the forefaid Camer arius. 
L The fame Author reporteth, that the diftilled water taken with the water of Louage,and Dod- 
der, helpeth the fattce-flegme face, if it be drunke for certaine daies together. 
p. 4 p°* Of Thiftle vpon Thjlle , and diners other 
. \ Wilde Thijlles. - 
«j 7 he Defcription. 
1 A Mong all the Thornes and Thirties, this is moil full of prick les-the ftalks thereof ate 
jT\verie long, and leem to be cornered by reafon of certaine thin skins growing to them, 
being fent downe forth of theleaues : the leaues are fet round about with many deep 
ga na- ' in§ - VCry ful1 of P rickles as wel1 as the ‘talks : the heads arevery thicke fet in euery place 
with ftiffe prickles, and confiftof a multitude of feales ; outofwhich grow purple floures as thev 
doout of other Thiftles/eldome white:the root is almoft ftraight,but it groweth not deep" 
2 To this alfo may be referred that which Lobel writeth to be named ofthe Italians/;?*, and Car ■ 
dmsferoxjox it is fo called of the wonderful! lharpe and ftiffe prick'es , wherewith the whole plant 
aboundeth .the ftalke thereof is fhort, fcarce a handful! high : the floure groweth forth ofa pric- 
y eac,a.i is o a pale yellow colour, like that of wilde baftard Saffron,and it is alfb inuironed 
ancl let round about on euery fide with long hard thornes and prickles. 
3 The third groweth feldome about- a cubite or two foot high : it bringeth forth many round 
ftalkes, parted into diners branches ; the leaues are like thoff of white Cotton Thiftle, blit Jefler, 
and blacker,and not couered with downe or Cotton : vpon. the tops of the ftalks grow little heads 
like 
