Xribe z. TbeTbeaterofTlantes. Chap.2. 
places, from whence it is brought, or that it is but the bigger branches of the great routes of Rubarbe, the 
colour and properties as 1 fayd being fo like.The lift and Iaft, Label and Pena have onely fet forth, under the ti¬ 
tles before exprefl'ed , whom all other writers that have mentioned them have followed ; and it is probable that 
the Turkes, with whom as it fhould feeme it is called Rhaponticnm, ufed it in iteede of the true Rhaponticnm of 
Dio]corides, and to note the difference betvveene them ,Lobel addeth Helenii folio. But fomc of latter times have 
called it Centaurium hclemifilio,for by that name, I received the feedes thereof from beyond Sea; but that quality 
yellow, in the true Rhapmticum of® iofeorides, and not to be found, either in this or the great Centory.doth 
ealily convince their obftinacy, that will hill perfilt in an opinion fo contrary to truth. 
7 he Venues, 
The leaves of thefe kindes of Docket, boyled in broth, doe a little (Tome more, fome leile) mollifie or loofen 
the belly; bnt the rootes have a more opening or purging quality in them, and fome more or lelfe alio according 
ro their quality. The firll round leafed one, fomc what more than the garden Patience or Monkes Rubarbe, al¬ 
though weaker than the next thereunto by muchrThe BaltsrdRubarbe hath alrnofl worne out theufe of the Pati¬ 
ence or Monks Rubarbe,it is grown fo common & plentiful;fo that unlelle f ome that are wilful & will not life it, 
but Patience,or that are too gripple, not to be at any coft to have the belt, or have little care what they ufe, but 
take what commeth nexttohand, thereis (dr fhould be) none, but will ufe itin their diet Beere, or Ale,or in 
decoftions to purge the Liver, and clenfe the blood, before the other; yet that I may relate the properties that 
are found therein(that thereby you may beaffured this Baftard Rubavbe,willdoc the fame more effeftually) are 
thefe. Trams faith, a dramme of the dryed rootes of the firft fort called of fome Monkes Rubarbe, with a lcru- 
ple of Ginger, made into pouder, and taken fading, in a draught or meffeofwarme broth, purgeth choler and 
flegme downeward very gently, and fafcly without danger; the feede thereof contrarily doth binde the belly, 
and thereby helpeth to ftay any fort of laske, or bloody flixe; thediftilled water thereof is very pofitably ufed 
to heale lcabbcs, as alfofoule ulcerous fores, and to allay the inflammations of them. The juyee of the leaves or 
rootes or the decoftion of them in V inegar, is of very many ufed as a mod effeftuall remedie to heale all fcabbes 
and running fores. The round leafed Docke or Baftard Rubarbe, hath as 1 fayd all the properties of Monkes Ru¬ 
barbe, but more effeftuall, both for inward and outward difeafes, and moreover healeth the fling of Scorpions; 
and as Biofcorid.es faith, he that (hall take the roote thereof, (hall fecle no paine after the flinging: the decoftion 
thereof with Vinegar, (tilled or dropped into the eares taketh away the paines, gargled in the mouth, taketh a- 
vvay tooth-ach, and being drunke healeth the Iaundife: the feed thereof taken, eafeth the gnawing and griping 
paines of the ftomacke, and taketh away the loathing thereof unto meate, which commeth by vitious fharpe hu¬ 
mors gathered to the mouth of the ftomacke; the roote thereof, helpeth the ruggednefle ofthe nayles, and being 
boyled in wine, it helpeth the fwellings of thethroate, called the Kings Evill, asalfowhen the kernells ofthe 
eares be l'wolne: and helpeth them that are troubled with the done; provoketh Vrine, and helpeth the dimnefi'e 
of the fight. The rootes of this Baftard Rubarbe, is ufed in opening and purging Diet drinkes,or in Diet Eeere 
or Ale, with other things, to open the Liver, and clenfe the blood, and to allay the heate thereof. The properties 
ofthe other round leafed Docke, which we have entituled Englilh Rubarbe, are the fame with the former, but 
much more effeftuall, and hath all the properties of the true Indian Rubarbe, excepting the force in purging, 
which is but of halfc the ftrength thereof, and therefore needetb, as I fayd, to be taken in double quantitie, and 
likewife hath not that bitternefie or attrition, in other things it worketh almofl in an equall quality: The true 
Indian Rubarbe is an excellent and lafemedeciiie, to purge the body ofcholer and flegme, being either taken of 
it ielfe, made into powder, and drunke in a draught of white wine, or fteeped therein all night, and taken fa¬ 
ffing, or put among other purgers as (hall be thought convenient, clenfing the ftomacke and Liver, and thereby 
the blood, opening obftruftions, and helping thofe griefes that come thereof, as the Iaundife, the Dropfie, the 
fwelling of the fpleene, tertian and day agues, and the pricking paine ofthe fides, as alfo ftayeth the ff fitting of 
blood, comming as well from the Lnnges, as any other part: the powder taken with Caflla diffolved, and a 
little wafht Venice Turpentine, clenfeth the Rcines, and helpeth to ftrengthen them afterwards, and is very ef¬ 
feftuall to 11 ay the Gonorrhoea or running of the reines. It is alfo given for the paines and fwellings in the head, 
for thofe ihat are troubled with melancholy, and helpeth the Sciatica and Goute,and the paines of the Cramper 
for which purpofe one dramme or two, of the excraft thereof, made in this manner, and given in broth doth 
work effectually. Let a fufficient quantities of Rubarbe be fleeped inCinamon water, which being ftrongly prefled 
forth, let it be Hilled in a glaffe Limbeck in balneo, untill the water be drawne forth, and the fubftance remai¬ 
ning, be of the thickneffe of honey, which keepe in aclofe covered pot or glafle, for the ufe aforefaid. The 
powder of Rubarbe, taken with a little Mumia and Madder rootes, in fome red wine, difiolvcth congealed or 
clotted blood in the body, happeningby any fall, or bruife, and healeth burftings, and broken parts, as well in¬ 
ward as outward; the oyle likewife wherein itharhbeene boyled, being anointed worketh the lame effeft : It 
helpeth the yexing, or hickocke, and all fluxes of the belly, if it be toafted or dryed a little by the fi e, but much 
more if it be more roafted to be halfe burnt, and taken in wine after this manner: Take apint of good Claret 
wine,and burne it with fome Sugar, and a toppeor tcvoofRofemary, into which put a dramme and a halfe of 
Rubarbe torrified, or roafted by the fire as is aforefaid, and one dramme of fhcbal Myrobalanes, alittle broken 
. or bruifed, let thefe (land in the burnt wine all right by the fire, and (frame it forth in the morning, giving this 
at two times faffing, which will in three or foure dayes ftay any fcowi ing or laxe, ftrengthning the (tomack and 
inward parts afterwards.lt is ufed to heale thofe Vlcersthathappen in the eyes, and eye lids, being fleeped and 
ftrayned,as alfo to affwage the tumors and allay the inflammations, and applyed with honey or cute, that is to 
fay boyled wine, it taketh away all blacke and blew fpots, or markes that happen therein. This Kubaibb is fo 
gentle a medicine, that it may be given to all forts of gentle conffittitions, (but in robuffious or ftrong bodies it 
purgeth little or nothing) whether they be children, or women withchilde, and that fafely at all times of the 
yeare: the whey of milke, but Specially of Goates milke, is the bell and mod accommodate liquor,wherein it is 
to be fleeped & taken,or elfe in white wine,and it worketh thereby the more effeftually in opening obftruftions, 
and in purging the ftomacke and Liver, from choler and flegme; and moff doe ufe a little Indian Spiknard as the 
beft corrector thereof: The other two laft forts of Rubarbe are not much or often ufed, and their qualities 
are more aftringent then opening,little experience having beene made with us, tofhew you more, of them. 
I*P 
