Lib. z . Of the Hiftory of Plants. 1195 
Chap. 499 Of facet Trefoile, or garden flatter , 
Trifolium odor at um. 
Sweet Trefoilc. IT The Defcription. 
S Weet Trefoilehathanvpright ftalk, hollow, 
and of the height of two cubits, diuiding it 
felfe into diue s branches : whereon do grow 
leaues by three and three like to the other^rre- 
foiles, fleightly and fuperficioufly nicked in the 
edges.-from the bofom wherof come the floures* 
euery oneftandingonhis owne finglefoot-ftalkj 
confiding oflittle chaffie husks,of a light orpale 
blewifh colour .-after which comevp littleheads 
orknops,inwhich lieth thefeed,ofawhitifh yel- 
low colour, and lefier than that of Fenu-greeke : 
the root hath diners firings: the whole plant is 
notonely of a whitilli green co!our,but alfo ofa 
fweet fmell,and of a ftrong aromat icall or fpicie 
fent,and more fweet when it is dried:which ftnel 
in the gathered and dried plant doth likewife 
continue long: and in moift and rainie weather, 
it fmelleth more than in hot and drie weather : 
and alfo when it is yet frefh and greene it lofeth 
and recouereth againe his fmell feuen times a 
day ; whereupon the oldwiuesin Germaniedo 
call it Jbteuen gejctten ftratlt,thatis, theherbe 
that changeth feuen times a day. 
The Place. 
It is fowne in gardens not onely beyond the 
feas,but in diners gardens in England. 
•([ The Time. 
It is fowne in May, it floureth in lune and Iu- 
• Iy,and perfe&eth his feed in the end of Augitft,the fame yere it is fowne. 
f The Names. 
It is commonly called in Latine Trifolium odoratum: in high Dutch as we haue faid <§>tetten gte 
jeitetl : in low Dutch, ^eueng^etijctutlt, that is to fay, an herb of fenen times : it is called in Spa- 
nish, Trcbolreal in French, Trenleoderifcram : in Englilh, Sweet Trefoile, and garden Clauer : it 
feemeth to be Lotus Vrhamupxfatiua, ofvvhich Diofcoridis writeth in his fourth booke:neuerthelefle 
diners Authors fet downe Meliloc, for Lotus vrbatta^nd Tri folium odoratum,butr,ot properly, t The 
Gardiners and herbe women in Cheapfide commonly call it, and know it by the name ofBalfam,or 
garden Balfam. f 
f Tfc Temperature. 
Galen faith ,that fweet T refoile doth in a meane concofi and drie, and is in a meane and tempe-' 
rate facultiebetweene hot and cold : the which faculties vndoubtedly are plainely perceiued in 
this fweet Trefoile. 
The Vertucs. 
The iuicc pr#ed forth, frith Dio fcor ides, with hony added thereto, clenfeth the vlcers of the eies , ^ 
called in Latine Argcma, and taketh avvay fpots in the fame, called i^tlbugines , and remooueth fuch ' 
things as doe hinder the fight. 
Theoilewhreintheflouresareinfufed orfteeped, doth perfeftly cure greene wounds in very g 
fhortfpace; itappeafeth the paine of the gout, and all other aches, and is highly commended a- 
gainft ruptures, and burftings in young children. 
The iuice giuen in white wine cureth thofethat haue fallen from fome high place, auoideth Q 
congealed and clotted bloud,and alfo helpeth thofe that do pifle blond, by meanes of fome great 
bruife, as was prooued lately vpon a boy in Fanchurch ftreet, whom a cart went ouer, where- 
Hhhhh 2 j upon 
