•k 1 B * 3* Of the Hiftory of Plants. 
x 343 
Vermilion, and Grant d’ejcarlatc i in Englith, after the Dutch, Scarlet Berry, or Scarlet graine and 
after the Apothecaries word. Coccus Baphtcus : the maggot within is that which is named Cutch" 
nele, as moft dodeeme. 
Theophr ajlns faith the Acorne or fruit hereof is called of diners. w», minium. 
V be 'temperature and Vertues, 
This graine is aftringent and fomwhat bitter, and alfo dry without (harpnefle and bitincr there A 
fore, faith Galen, it is good for great wounds and finewes that be hurt, if it be layd thereon- feme 
temper it with: Vineger ; others with Oxymel or fyrrup of vineger. 
It is commended and giuen by the later Phy iltians to (fay the Menfes : it is alfo counted amono- r 
thofc Simple which be cordials, and good toftrengrhen the heart. Of thi* graine that noble and 
famous conic ft ion Alkennes, made by the Arabians, hath taken his name, which many doe highly 
commend againft the infirmities of the hearnnotwithffanding it was chiefly deuifed in the hem ' n 
mner f or purging of melancholy 5 which thing is plainly perceiued by the great quantitie of Lap* 
Lamina added thereto; and therefore feeing that this ftonehath in ita venomous quality and like 
wife a property to purge melancholy, it canot of it felfe be good for the heart, but the other things 
be good, which be therefore added, that they might defend the heart from the hurts of this ftone 
and correA the malice thereof. 
This compofition is commended againft the trembling and fhaking of the heart, and for fwou C 
nings and melancholy palfions, and forrow proceeding of no euident caufe : it is reported to recre- 
ate the minde, and to make a man merry and ioyfull. r 
It is therefore good againft melancholy difeafes,vaine imaginations, fighings,griefe and for D 
row without manifeft caufe,for that it purgeth away melancholy humors : after this maner 1 1 may ' 
becomfortable for the heart, and delightfull to the minde,in taking away the material! caufe of 
forrow ; neither can it otherwife ftrengthen a wcake and feeble heart, vnleflc this ftone called Lapis 
Cyaneus be quite left out. ‘ 
Therefore he that is purpofed tovfethis compofition againft beatings and throbbings of the E 
heart, and fwounings, and that not as a purging medicine, fliall do well and wifely by leaning out 
the ftone Cyancus ; for this being taken in a little weight or ftnall quantitie, cannot puro-eatall buc 
may in the meane feafon trouble and torment the ftomacke,and withall thorow his iharpe and’ ve- 
nomous qualitie (if it be oftentimes taken) be very offenfme to the guts and intrailes,and by this 
meanes-bring moreharme than good. 1 
Moreouer, it is not neceflarie, no nor expedient, that the briftle died with Cochene'e, called p 
Chefmes , as the Apothecaries terme it, fhou'd be added to this compofition i for this briftle is not 
died without Auripigmentum, called alfo Orpiment, and other pernitious things ioyned therewith 
whofe poyfonfome qualities are added to theiuyccs together with the colour, if either the briftle ' 
or died filkebe boyledin them. 
The berries of the Cochenele mud betaken by thcmfelues, which alone are fufficient to dy the Q 
iuices, and to impart vntotliem their vertue: neither is it likewife needfullto boiletheraw'filke 
together with the graines, as moft-Phyfitians thinke : this may be left out, for it maketh nothin^ 
at all for the ftrengthning of the heart. 
Chap. 34. Of the great Scarlet Okg. 
The Defcription. 
•npHegreat Starlet Oke, or the great Holme Oke, groweth many times to the full height of a 
1 tree,fpmetimes as big as the Peare tree, with boughesfar fpreading like the Acorne or com- 
mon Maft trees ; the timber is firme and found : the leaues are fet with prickles round about the 
edges, like thofe of the former Skarit t Oke : the leaues when the tree waxeth old haue on them no 
priculcs at all, but are fomwhat bluntly cut or indented about the edges, greene on thevpper fide, 
and gray vnderneath ; the Acorne ftanderb in a prickly cup like our common Oke Acorne, which 
when itisripebecommeth ofabrowne colour, with awhitekernelwithinoftaftenoevnpleafant. 
There is found vpon the branches of this tree a certaine kinde of long hairy mofle of the colour of 
afhes,notvnlike ro that of our Englifh Oke. t This tree is euer greene, and at the tops of the 
branches about the endof May, here m England, carrieth diners longcatkinsof moffie yellow 
flouresAvhich fa 11 away, and are not fucceeded by the acornes,for they grow out vpon other ftalks. 
Cluftns in theyeare 1 5 S i obferued two trees ; the one ina garden aboue the Bridge, and the other: 
in the pnuat garden at White-Hall, hauirig leffer leaues than the former. The later ofthefe is yet 
Handing, and euery yeare bearcs ftnall Acornes, which I could neuer obferue to come to any ma- 
turitie. + 
The 
