Tr 
IB E.2. 
The Theater of Plants. 
Chap.^o. 2 %% 
°7! e ofEufarbixm, recovereth their fpeccb againe that have lofl it, by^eafon of the A^oplexfe^orany'oth^r cafu^ 
aide : it being mixed with vinegar and applied, taketh away the markes and fcarres of wounds and al other 
foule (pots or blemiO.es in the outward skin: The Ar,t' Uf horbi» m is the chiefcft.if not the onely remedy anainft 
Che violent heate, and piercing qua me of the SxpMium, f or the / uycc thereof bein c0 ^,w and S. 
tempereth it fo well and fpeedily, that it never faiieth to give cafe. b y cool,n S ana lumie s 
Send. 
Chap. XXX. 
Sene or purging Sene , 
1 • 2 - Sena A'exandrina & Jtalica, 
Sene of Alexandria and of Italy. 
Here are two forts of this purging Sene tree, differing very little betweene thcmfdves, as alfo three or 
gjplndby ofbafeorbaftardlorts > "ore churhfh then the other in working, asyoufhall heart by 
’ I. Sena Alexandria. Sene of Alexandria. 
This Sene by the judgement of thofe that have written thereof groweth not above a cubite high, with den- 
der branches ,fc with many leave, together on ai nbbe, fometvhat like unto Licoris, being narrow and pointed, 
which being dryed and brought over unto us, if they bee F 3 
freflijWilUmell very like unto frefla new made hay : the 
flowers Hand at the tops of the branches,one above another 
being as c JAlatthiolus faith (for wee have never feene them 
beare flower in England) of a yellow colour, like unto the 
flowers of Coleworts, that is conlifting of five leaves laid 
open,(but fome rather thinke, the flowers are formed like 
unto thole of the Spanifli Broome, or of the baftard Send 
called Colnt£d i 2 iS mod plants that beare cods do) with pur- 
veines running thorough every leafe : after which come 
crooked thinne huskes, fafhionfcd lomewhat like a halfe 
Moone : in the middle part whereof (the shinnesofthe 
htiskes growing fo clofe together, that they can hardly be 
parted) groweflatfeed very like unto grape kernels, but 
of a blackifli greene colour, and fomewhat flat: the whole 
plant perifheth(as it is fayd) every yeare,andmufl:be new 
fowne of them that w-ill have it. 
2 . Sena ltalica. The Sene of Italy. 
This Sene diftereth in no other thing from the former, 
but in the forme of the leaves, which are not fo narrow 
and pointed,but broader and rounder, which difference is 
plainly to be difeerned, by comparing the leaves of that 
Sene that commeth over from Alexandria, with that 
which groweth in Italy, and therefore there ncedeth no 
more to be fayd thereof. 
The place. 
The firfl: groweth (as it is generally thought) in Arabia 
Falix i and in Syria fome fay, and brought to Alex¬ 
andria in Egypt, as many other things are, which from 
thence is cranfported unto all other Countries. The other 
Matthiolus faith, was in his time frequently fowen, in 
the Duke of Florence his dominions in Italy; many Acres 
in a field being fowne therewith, they will hardly fpring 
up with any leaves in our Country, for experience hath 
beene made thereof many times. 
The Time „ 
They flower in the Summer moneths, but in Italy as 
Matthiolus faith, it muff not be lowne untill tJMay ^and will not indure but unto Autumne. 
The Flames. 
Aicfnes and other Arabians call it Sem } but Hermolans Senna y it is generally held by all good Authors, that it 
Was not knowne to the ancient Greeke and Latine writers, Dtofcoriaes y Theophraflus,Galen^liny , c rc. or others 
that did tranferibe their copies, although fome would referre it to TAiofcoridcs his Delphinium , others to Pclecy -» 
fome to Peplium , others to Empetron J fome to Alypon , and others to the C erc or third Colutea of Theo- 
phrajtus , or to his firfl: Colut£a i all which are quite contrary thereunto, and can by no meanes agree unto them. 
The Arabians being the firfl; finders out thereof, and of the purging quality therein ; who did much ufe the 
huskes or cods,as wee call them :.but later experience hath found the leaves to bee of more effect with us. 
The Vertue. 
The leaves of Sene, howfoeverufed area very fafe and gentle purger, as well made into pouder, and the 
weight ora Trench Crowne or dramme thereof taken in W ine or Ale, or broth falling; as. the infulion of halfe 
an ounce in Wine or Ale for anight, or the decodion of halfe an ounce, or if need be of fix drammes, with 
lome other herbes or rootes (but becaufe they area little windie, a few Anifeedor Fennell feede, and a little 
Cunger is to be added unto them to heljae to corred that evill quality) and then they purge melancholy,chpl? 
£sr; 
