T R I BE 2 
Chap. 37. Theatrum Botanicum. 
cffientaria, and by LobeL Gians mguentctria cathartica filiquata : by Theophraftus B a\dvQ- onely, and by Plrny 
^Myobolanus Trogloditis, in his 12 booke and 21. chap, but why the Grecians ftiouldcall it Balanos an Acorne, 
being like unto none of thekindesof Acornes, nor the fruite it felfe, nor fhell or huskelknow not, for if they 
that doe fo call it, had ever feenc the huskes, wherein the Nuts are encloled, they would furely have given it a 
more proper name. Monarchist ookethemtobe the Avellan* purgatrices of the Weft Indies,becaufe the fruite 
is more like an Hafell nut than an Acorne, and called them Ben Magnum , but he was much miftaken therein, 
and therefore the Arabians called it Ben and Habben , which fignificth a Nut with them, yet Tena feemeth to 
make the name and forme to agree together. Rauwolfius called it Machalep album faying it is three fquare, and 1 
like a Beech maft or fruite of the Beech tree, for which caufe onely as it is likely, Bellonius compared the tree to 
a Beech, it is called either Bahnusmyrcpfica or Gians Vnjptentaria , after the Greeke fignification of moft wri¬ 
ters, but we in thefedayes more ufually call it Nux Ben, and the oy]e Oleum cte Ben, or as the ancients called it 
Oleum 'Balamnum, 1 have given the tnglifb name to it, according to the mod proper fignification as I thinke, cal¬ 
ling it rather a Nut, than an Acorne as Gerard doth after the Greeke name. 
The Vertues. 
The kernells of the nuts bruifed and drunke with Vofca pofiet(that is water and vinegar mingled together)dotI'i 
purge the body from grofle and thinne flegme alfo. and thereby is helpefull to thofe are troubled with the wind 
collicke,if a few Aniteede and Fennelfeede be pitt unto it: the oyle that is drawne out of the nuts doth the lame 
alfo,and provoketh vomiting, clenfing the ftomacke, of muchfoule matter gathered therein, yet it doth much 
trouble the ftomack in the meane time:butthe nut being toafted at the fire lofeth much ofthat evill quality,often¬ 
times caufing'them to purge downewards only: it is with very good effed alfo put into glifters for the fame pur- 
pofes, the oyle dropped into the eares,helpeth the noife in them,and the dcafenefle alfo :a dragme of the kernell 
taken in poflet, doth foften and diffolve the hardneffe of the fpleene and fiver .Mefues commendeth the drie pref- 
fing after die oyle is taken from it,being of a clenfing as well as of a cutting qualitie,& by reafon that the moifture 
is taken from it, of a drying effed alfo, for to helpe the itch, the lepry and running fores, and to take away the 
ruggednefle of the skin, morphe w, drie fcabbes,lcarres, freckles,wheales and pimples,from the face or body; ef- 
pecially if it be ufed with vinegar and niter, with which it well agreeth, and performeth the cures much better ; 
It is alfo ufed with the meale of Orobus the bitter Vetch, or the mealeof Darnell in manner ofa plaifier, to be 
laid to the fide to confume the fpleene ; It helpeth the gout alfo ufed in the fame manner; ufed with barly meale, 
it comforteth the finewes, that are pained with cold, and all fpafmcs or crampes, and ufed with hony diffolveth 
all knots and hard fwellings, the fhells or huskes are of an exceeding binding propertie, fit to be ufed 
when occafion ferveth for fuch purpofes: The oyle that is preffed forth out of the nuts is much ufed of Perfu- 1 
mers, although it have no fweete fmellof it felfe to commend it, yet it is of fo excellent a qualitie,that being kept j 
never folong, it will not grow ranke, and therefore it doth both preferve the fweete fenrs of Muske, Civet, j 
Ambergrife and the like mixed with it, and keepeth that the gloves,leather, or other things, (ball not gather fpots \ 
or ftainesinthem, nor ever grow mouldy, as thofe things that are perfumed with oyle of Almonds will doe. i 
This oyle likewife is much fitter than oyle of Almonds,to receive any fweet thing to be fiieped in it,and to keepe I 
the fent thereof in it, for being utterly without fent of it felfe, neither growing ranke by any time, the fent of any 
thing will be the fooner infufed, and the longer alfo retained and kept therein. 
Chap. XXXVII. 
Trangu'afivc A'nuf nigra baccifcra. The blacks Alder trtfe. 
He black Aller or Alder tree, rileth feldometo be 
of any great bigneffe, but for the mod part abideth 
like a hedge,bufh or tree,fpreading into branches, 
the wood of the body being white, and of a darke 
red at the core or heart,the outward barke being 
of a blackifh colour, whereon many white fpots 
are noted to be feene; but the inner barke next unto the wood is 
yellow, which being chewed will turne the fpittle yellow, as 
much or more than Rubarbe, neare unto a Saffron colour, the 
leaves are fomewhat like unto thofe of the ordinary Alder tree, or 
thofe of the female Cornell or Dogge berry trce,but blacker, and 
not fo long but rather rounder, the flowers are white comming 
forth at the joynts with the leaves which turne into fmall round 
berries, greene at thefirfl,and red afterwards, but blackifh when 
they are thorough ripe,divided as it’were into two parts, where n 
is contained two fmall round and flat feedes: the roote runneth 
not deepe into the ground, but fpreadeth rather under the up¬ 
per cruft of the earth. 
The Tlace. 
This tree or fhrubbe grOweth in woods in many places of our 
land, as in Saint Johns wood by Hornfey, in the woods upon 
Hampfteed heath, &c. 
The Time . 
It flowreth in May, and the berries are ripe in Septem¬ 
ber. The Names. 
It is called Frangula quia cito frangitur, that is, the branches be 
brittle and eafie to brcakc, and Alnw nigra baccifera , that it might 
jlnus nigra baccifcra feu Frangula- 
The blacke Aider tree. 
