PLANTS VVLNERARIiE 
ET FERRVMIN ANTES, 
f D EST, CON SO LID ANTES, 
V VLNERARY OR VVOVND 
H E %% E s. 
CLASSIS QVINTA, 
THE FIFTH T%1BS. 
CHAP. I. 
Ccntauriummajut. The greater Centory. 
Dare not incline to the opinion of home of the Arabian Phifirions and Writers that 
have laid the roote hereof is bitter, and thereby have added (Irong purging qualities 
unto this kinde of Centory, which properly belong unto the Iefl'er kinde, thereby con¬ 
founding them both together ; for if 1 did, I mull have placed it in the fecond Claffid 
among the purging plants. Neither dare I hold with the moderne errour of many, 
that hold the roote of this great Centory, to be the Rhafmticum ofDiofcorides, Calm, 
and others, they being fo much differing one from another, as I (hall (hew you by and 
by. But as the qualities therein are mod certaine to be Vulnerary, t have placed it here. 
Of this kinde there are three ocher forts knowne in thefedayes, which were not for¬ 
merly,which together therewith,(hall be entreated ofin this Chaptered firft ofthae 
which was firft and commonly knowne, 
i. Centauriummajm vnlgare m The common great Centory. 
The common great Centory, hath many large and long foft leaves, deepely cut in on the edges into many 
parts, notched or dented about the edges, of a pale greene colour on the upper fide, and whitifh underneath ■■ the 
(hike is (Irong and round, three or foure foote high, divided at the toppe into many branches, whereon (land 
large round fcaly greene heads; (hooting forth at their toppes, many (mail rhreds or thrummes, ofa pale blcwifh 
afhcolour ; wherein after they are fallen doe grow large whitifh fmooth fhining feedes, fome what like unto the 
feedes of Thilllcs, but larger, and lying among a grear deale of downy matter : the roote "roweth to be more 
than two foote long, and as great, as a reafonablegreatRaddifhor Parfncpperoote.blackifhon the outfide, 
and fomewhat reddifh yellow within, abiding many yeares, fending forth frefh leaves every Spring: thofe dy¬ 
ing for the mod part, that were greene all the Sommer. 1 
1. Ccntaurium majtu Pjrenmm. The Pjrensan great Centory. 
This Pjrcnaan kinde hath larger leaves than the former, and more jagged or cut in deepely on the edges fome? 
what refembling an Artichoke leafe in the divifions, greene above and gray or as it were hoary underneath: the 
(hike rifeth to be about three foote high, cornered and hoafy, having fundry fmallcr leaves and lefle jawed 
fet thereon, and parted at the toppe into (ome branches, each bearing Come fmall leaves; under the heads which 
are mnch greater and more fcaly alfo, with fharpe prickes at their ends, like a little wilde Artichoke head : the 
rnftsofthreds which are the flowers, as in the other, are more purple: the feedes are white wrapped in downs 
like it, and the rooe great and blacke on the outfide, but longer and of the bigneffe ofones wfeft. 
5 . Centaarium majw alterttmfivc Lufitanicum, The great Centory of PorUtaall. 
This other great Centory hath many leaves, rifing from the head of the roote, lying almolf upon the ground' 
which are as long and as large almoft as the former, 'but without any jagge or divifion at all in them, yet fome¬ 
what deepely dented about the edges, and ofa deeper greene colour: the ftalke is round and great, but rifeth not 
up fo high, nor divided it felfe at the toppe into fo many branches, but bearing onelytwoor three heads on a 
flalke, which are fcaly in the fame mmner,& in it filch like thrums, ofa pale whitifli colour or threddy flowers- 
which being pad, there groweth fuch like feede alfo in thofe heads, lying in a flockie or downie fubftance, but a 
little blacker, every one bearded in the fame manner : the roote groweth ro be as great, or greater than the for¬ 
mer, blacke alfo on the outfide; andyellowifh within, yedding forth a yellowiih red juicelike the other which 
is fomewhat bitter, but a little more aromaticall than it, 
4. Cmaununs 
