Lib. 2. Of the Hiilorie of Plants. 1^45 
The Names. 
It is «•>*'.»»<«, or without a name among the later writers : the old and antient Pbylitions do call it 
: for all thofe things that are found written in Diofcorides or Pliny concerning Onub-ychis, doe 
efpecially agree hereunto. Diofcorides writeth thus ; Onobrychis hath leaues like a Lentil),'butlon- 
ger ; a ftalk a fpan high ■ a crimfon floure ; a little root: it groweth in moiftand vntilled places.-and 
Pliny in like manner ; Onobrychis hath the leaues of a Lentill , fomwbat longer, a red floure, a fina 1 1 
and {lender root;it growethabout Iprings or fountaines of water. 
All which things and euery particular are in this , or namelelfe herbe, as it is manifeft : 
and therefore it is not to be doubted at all, but that the fame is the Onobrychis of the old Wrircrs:it 
maybe called in Englifhred Fetchling,oras fomefuppofe Medick Fitch,or Cockcs-head. 
The Temperature. 
Thefe herbs as Galen hath written in his books of the Faculties of (imple Medicines, do rarifie 
or make thin and wafte away. 
TheVertues. 
Therefore the leaues thereof when it isgreene,beingbutasyet layed vponhard fwellings,wax- A 
en kernalspn manner of a falne, do wafte and confume them away, but beeing dried and drunke in 
wine they cure the ftrangurie ; and laied on with oile it procureth fweat. 
Which things alfo concerning OnobrycbisJOiefcorides hath in thefe words fet doivne : the herbe B 
ftamped and applied wafteth away hard f, veilings of the kernels ; butbeeing drunkewith wine it 
helpeth the ftrangurie.and rubbed on with oile itcaufethfweatings. 
Chap. 52.4. Of Tdajlard ‘Dittame. 
Fraxinella. The Dejcription. 
Baftard Dittame., 
F 
| Aftard Dittanie is a very rare and gallant 
) plant, hailing many browne fta!ks,fomvvhat 
rough, diuided into liindry finall branches, 
garniihed with leaues like Liquorice, or rather 
like the leaues of the Afh tree, but blacker, thic- 
ker, and more fill ofiuice,of an vnpleafant fauor: 
among which grow floures, conlifting of fine 
whitifh leaues ftripped vvith red, whereof one 
which groweth vndermoft hangeth downe lovvj 
but the four which grow vppennoft grow more 
ftiffeand vpright:out of the midft of this floure 
commerh forth a taflell, which is like a beard, 
hanging alfo downwards, and fomewhat turning 
vpatthelower&nd: which beeing vaded, there 
come in place foure huskes ioined together, 
much like the husks orcoddes of Columbines, 
fomewhatroughwithout,flimie to handle, and 
ofa lothfome fauour,almoft like the fmellof a 
goatwvhereupon fome Herbarifts haue called ic 
Tragium: in the cods are contained fmall black 
fhining feeds likePeonie feeds in colour : the 
roots are white, a fingerthicke, one twilling or 
knotting within another, in tail fomwbat bitter. 
There is another kinde hereof growing in my 
garden, not very much differing: the leaues of 
the one are greater, greener,harder, and fharper 
pointed : of the other blackcr,not fo hard, nor fo 1 
lharpe pointed : the floures alfo hereofbe fom - 
thing more bright coloured, and of the other a 
little redder. 
«f The Placi. 
Baftard Dittany groweth wilde in the monntaines of Italy and Germaine, and I haue it grow 
ing in my garden. 
Mmmmm 3 
The 
