Vertue

"Vertuous Vegetables and Fruits"

If you have already read the disclaimer. You may Cut to the veggies.

Surfeite, age and sickenes are enemies all to health,
Medicenes to mende the bodie, excelleth worldly wealth:
Phisicke shall florish, and in daunger will give cure,
Till death unknit the lively knot, no lenger we indure.
--William Bullein, 1562

Meanwhile, call the Pharmacist at CVS
--Maggie Boleyn, 2000

Here is my little "give something back to the Internet". This will be ongoing, as it’s darned difficult to read the printing sometimes. But, once you are familiar the typeface used, and the odd spellings, it is rather clear writing. I’ll leave the spelling untouched. (Ok, except for ‘j’ and ‘i’ , and ‘u’ and ‘v’, otherwise, I’ll leave it alone)

This is from "Bullein’s Bulwark of Defence Against All Sicknes, Sorenes and Woundes", written in 1562. I just love Dr Bullein. Hey, don’t take my word for it, check out this website

There is much vertue in fruits and vegetables. Witness the current "Nine is Divine" campaign to encourage people to eat more servings of this food group. Even in the 16th century, the value of eating certain fruits and veggies was known to doctors. (This information is for educational and entertainment purposes, only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice. You should not use this information to diagnose or treat a health problem or disease without consulting with a qualified healthcare provider. Please consult your healthcare provider with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your condition)

Some Vertuous Vegetables, herbs and other foods

Quicksilver
Cardamons
Licorice rootes
Egges
Bread of a Daie Old
Milke
Lamb and Mutton
Butter
Aples
Fennel
Onions
Nutmegges, Sinamon, Mace, Cloves
Cabage
Lettice
Vinegar
Oile made of olives
Spinage
Burnete
Parseley
Sage
Rosemarie
Tyme
Ginger
Basill
Wild Basill
Mintes
Chestnut
Suger of the Cane
Honey
Wine
Beer
Cheries
Pomegrante, Limondes, Oringes
Mulberie
Water
Peper
Baie

What is the goodnes of Licorice rootes?

Licorice called Glycirrhiza of the sweetness, groweth greate plenty in hotte countries. Even so there is moch here in Englande, the yellower and miister the better: it is sweete warme, and moiste of nature. Liqueris is wholesome against the exasperacion or sharpness in Arterias: to bite upon this roote, or kepe it in the mouth, for that purpose, for the burnying heate in the stomacke, and sickness of the lunges, spleen and old rotten cough, Skabbes in the bladder, and soreness in the raines: drunke in pocions or brothes, Loquoris health wounde, if it be anointed therewith. The pouder thereof put into the iye, will help Ptergyus, which is a little skinne growing from the corner, covering the sight. Liquoris, wine and honie, health both wounds, without and with in also.

What saie you of Cardamons?

Cardamom, is a precious spice, called the grain of Paradice, growyng in Arabia Felix: the veste the heaviest and sharpeste, bitter taste in the mouthe, with a pleasaunte verdure, kening up into the hedde, or pallet of the mouth: these bee hotte of nature, and to be dronke againste the fallyng sicknes, Sciatica, cough resolucion of the Sinewes, ruptures, paines in the bellie, and killeth wormes in the bellie, and provoke urine. A dragme dronke in wine, with as moche of the barke of Laurus, breaketh the stone: the common graines be nigh hande as good and are hotte and drie.

What Is the nature of Quicksilver? (Quicksilver is mercury)

There is moche varietie whether it should be hot or colde in the iiii degree, but is should seme rather to be hot, by reason it doth dissolve and perce, it hat virtue to consume: and it is perilous to be used in oyntmentes to kill scabbes withal for it is so persinge and subtill, at lengthe it will come into the inwarde partes, where as finally it will mostifie and kill. It is founde in Minerals of Silver and is a distroier of other metals. With this Quicksilver and Sal Armoniake, is made Marcuie subiemmat, whiche muste bee kepte in a close vessel, ashusted in the oven or burnte until it come to the couller of white Suger, which Marcurie sublemmat, is used of Chergians for to clense foule ulcers and sores and is a poison inwardly to be taken, except with all speede arfter the same a voment to taken of oyle or Azarbaccha. If Quicksilver be taken inwardly, it is also periolous, and nothing better to helpe it then to drinke wormewood wine with the seede of Clarie boiled therein. Marvaulous thinges be done by the means of Quicksilver: as the Chimistes doth know, and yet for all that we see littell Golde multiplied thereby. Thus to consulde, Quicksilver maye bee conveniently ministred in ointments, to heale the Pox.

Egges

Egges be commended of the moste excellent writers, as Dioscorides and Galen that thi do excel all other norishing meates, & also good in medicen, Isack the Arabian, in his diates doth praise He(n)nes Egges, for that thi be plesant to the mouth, and profitable to the stomacke, and that thei nourishe more then any other meates, and are sonest turned into good bloud, and eftfones into seede of generacion, specially Egges that bee new and white, but old Egges be most filthy and noisome to the stomacke. Furthermore Egges be no partes of the fowle saith Galen Simplie medi., but a porcion of the thing from whens thei come: and Symeon saith iii things must be considered in Egges, the first of the substance and clenes of nature, the second is their age, either new or old: the third is the maner of their dressing, as potching, seething or rosting…..

Bread of a Daie Old

The best bread is that, that is of a daie old: and the loves (loaves) or manchedes, maie neither be great nor little, but meane. For the fire in small loves, drieth up the moistnes or virtue of the bread, and in greate loves, it leveth rawness and grosenes. Rede Galen, in the properties of bread, sodden bread, which is called Simnelles, or Cracknelles, bee very unholsome, and hurthe man one. Rye bread is winde, and hurtfull to many, therefore it must be well salted, and baken with Anisedes. And co(m)monly crustes of bread, be drie and burned: their doe engender choler aduste and mela(n)cholie humours. Therefore, in greate mennes houses, the bread is chipped, and so largely pared, that moche of it abused, and shamfully made into sosse for Dogges: which would feede a great number of poore people, but many men bee more affectionate to Dogges, then to men. Barly bread doeth clense and make the bodie leane

Milke

Womens Milke is the moste gentle nutriment for yong children, which milke is of the decoction of pure blood, but naturall heate, and drawn foorth by the Nibles fro(m) the breastes or Pappes, this is the first foode of mankinde:for like as breade is a blessing of God for men, euen so is Milke one of the great blessings as appereth in the promise which God made to Isreael. Without Milke it is not possible to bring up man or beast. The best Milke is of wome(n) and moste temperate, for it preserueth against consumption. The seconde is Goates Milke, which doth nurish and is hotter then womens milke, Sheepes Milke, is not so much nourishing, and not pleasaunt to the stomacke.Yonge Cowes Milke is thicker, and full of Butter….

What is the virtues of Lambes, and Weathers fleshe?

Simeon Sethi saith, Lambes fleshe is partly warme, but superfluous mioste and euill for flegmatike persone, & doeth moche harme, to them that haue the Dropsie, boneach, or a disease called Epialus, whiche is spittying of flegme, thinyng like glasse. Therefore, if Lambes fleshe were sodden, as it is rosted, it would bring many diseases unto the bodies of theim, without it were sodden in wine, and some hotte Grosseries, herbes, or rootes. When a Wheather is twoo yere olde, whiche is fedde upon a good ground: the fleshe thereof shall bee temperate, and nourisheth mouche. Hyppocrates saieth, that the Lambe of a yere old, doeth nourishe moche. Galen semeth not greatly to commende Mutton, but that which is tender, swete, and not olde, is verie profitable, as experience and custome, doe daiely teache us: The doung, Callowe, and wolle, bee verie profitable in medicines, as Plini saieth, and Couradus Gesnerus, de animalibus, and Galen in his third booke de Alementis.

What saie you of …Butter…?

Butter of nature is hot and moist, and hath virtue to molifie hard Apostimacions that are aboue nature, as Galen saith, fresh Butter do ripe,clense, and warme the inwarde partes in meates: ointementes and drinkes.Fresh Butter is holsome for to anoint the swelling of the Hypochondrion or bellie, and for the Phlegmon and bubo, Furder, to cause young children their teeth to growe, through the anointing of the place: and it is good to make an ointment for the Pleurici. And to be dronk in wine or Beare, for the stopping of the Lunges, Butter, hony and bitter Almondes, be wholesome for the clense the breast and being put in Suppositors, and Clisters doe molifie the belly. Newe Butter meanly salted is good with Bread, Fleshe, and Fishe. The olde Butter changing with many colours is the worste, it is moisome to the stomacke. Butter is good in the morning, but not holsome at night: yet Butter preuaileth against poison in woundes, it will purge clense, and increase flesh. When the Butter is first made, there is a Milke coming from the same somewhat sharpe, sower and colde, very holsome to be dronke in the morning or
euening, against hotte burning choler, it openeth muche, if it be eaten with Sugar, and new white bread.

The verutes of Milke and Cheese and the tangential rant about William Hilton are not presented at this time. It is the funniest thing, right in the middle of the discussion of the virtues of Milke, Butter and Cheese, our favorite Doctor was suddenly reminded of the evil William Hilton. Bullein then took "leave to molest thine eares with him" for an entire page. Then, he continues with the "Butter of nature is hot and moist…" paragraph as if nothing happened. This stuff has got to be put into a book, it's great.

What is the vertue of Aples?

Aples be very cold and windie, hard to digeste, engenderers of ill blood, hurtfull to the flegmatike persones, good to cholerike stomacks, if their be through ripe, but beste if thei be rosted, or bake(n) and eaten with grose peper to bedward. Thei bee of many kindes, as Costardes, the grene Cotes, the Pippen, the quene Aple, and so forthe,the distilled water of Aples, camphere, Vinegar and Milke, is a good medicen to anoint the faces of children that have the small pockes, when the said pockes be ripe, to kepe them from pittes or exxes, provided, that thei have given them in their Milke Saffron, or Mithridatum, to expell the venome, and kepe them from the aire, durying the saied sickness. The pappe of an Aple with Rose water, applied to the iyes, dooe qunche the burnying, and take away the rednes of theim. Aples bee good in winter, and provoke urine: eate theim with a little Salte, Tartes of Aples with Anisedes, make swete breath: there is a windy drinke make of it. Cider: vergis is not greatly to be lauded, albeit, custome doe premit it.

What is the vertue of Fennel?

It hath power to warme in the third degree, & drie in y(e) first, & maketh sweet y(e) breath: the seed eaten oftentimes upon an emptie stomacke, dothe helpe the eye sight…It encreaseth Mylke in womens breastes, and seed of generacion. It is good to use Endive or suche like with it, because it is very hotte, and is very good to wash ones feete to bedwarde…
What is the vertue of onions in their kindes?

What is the vertue of onions in their kindes?

They do make thin the bloud, and bringe sleape, they be not good for Cholerike men. The longe Onion is more vehementer then the rounde, and the Redde more then the white the Graye more then the Greene, and the rawe more then the sodden, or preserved in salt, although they cause slepe very painfull and troubelous, hot in the thirde degree, but they warme & clense the stomacke, bringeth good collour to the face, and then it muste bee good for the new Greene sicknes, and doth very well provoke urine & beign rosted and warme applied to the painfull hard Emerodes, eftesones it doth open them, if vineger warme be put to them, and cleane pilled or taken from the ouer rinde and skinne, and cutte of bothe the endes, and cast into water, remaining in it one houer and so slise it: this doth take away the vehement sharpnesse, that els would hurt the eies and head, and being applied with hony, rue, and slat, al incorporated together to the wounde bitten of a Dogge, it healeth soon. Leekes purge the bloud in Marche, and paineth the head, and be not greatly praised, for the iuce is euill saieth Dioscorides. The head being anointed with the iuce of them, keepeth heare from faulynge, there is muche varietee of the Onion amonge writers, saith Plinius, but this shall suffice, for us Englishmen. There be great plenty of good Onions that be brought from Flaunders, called sainct Homars Onions. So there be very many growyng in Holland in Linsolneshere, and in the towne of Durifme in the North countrey.

What saie you of Laurus, called the Baie?

It have been in greate estimacion, since Tyberina Casers tyme, which was crouned with Baies: it signifie victorie, and is of a fierie nature. For example, case(t) twoo drie Baie stickes over eche other, and cast a little pouder of Brimstone between them, and estsones fire will flame forth. Merveilous thinges be written of the Baie tree: reade Thephrastus lib iiii Cup viii Galen libro vii simplice medicanen, saith the Baie tree leaves & berries, doe drie and warme vehemently: the more thi be bitter, the more thei are adstructive. It will breake y(e) stone, and is good for a colde liver, dronke in strong wine. (drams i.) yet it is evill for women with childe. The berrie is hotter then the leafe, and the oile is holsome against colde agues, goodly plasters be made therof.

What saie you of the Mulberie?

Galen … saieth the ripe sweete Mulberies will som what relax, but the tarte unripe will restraine and stoppe the belly: so it is then of nature relaxinge & binding. The barke of the Mulberie tree roote sodden in water to drinke that water doth resolve the belly, saith Dioscorides … the leaves sta(m)ped with vinegar, to heale scalding or burning, to anointe the place therwith Tricelus called the Medler, or Mespilus have vertue also to restrain, stoppe and coole.

What saie you of the Pomgranet, and Balaffia(?), Limondes and Oringes?

Enplaster made of pomgranettes, be good against hotte fevers: the wine of Pomgranettes, is good to comforte the stomack after meate. There is twoo kindes of them, the sower and the swete: the sower be colde, drie in the second degree, but the swete bee colde and moiste in primo. And this fruict is called Man lum pinicion, the flowers bee called Balaustium, of the wilde Pomegranette, whiche flower have vertue to stoppe flixes, by the reason thei be colde and drie, and verie stipticke of nature, and is good to be put in clisters and in the drinke of them, which have Disenteria, or Tenasmus. The sower Limondes are cold and drie, but the swete are warme, the rindes are all drie. And Limondes are good in wine, and doe resiste poison: Oringes are weaker of nature, and are cold and drie.

What is the vertue of the common water of Ryvers, springes and fountaynes, &c.

Water is one of the foure elements, more lighter then earth, hevier than fier and ayre. But this water which is here amonges us in Rivers, Pondes, Springes, Fluddes and Seas, be no pure waters, for the be mingled with sundrie ayres, corruptions, grosenes, and softnes. Notwithstandying in all our meates and drinkes, water is used and amongst all livyng ceatures cannot be forborne, both Man, Beast, Fishe, Fowle, Herbe, &c have neede of water….(the WebMistress is presently hiding many of water's vertues frome you)…Water is a very good servaunt, but a cruell Maister.

What saie you of Peper?

Peper cometh from Inde, the blacke groweth upon clusters, like to little blacke Jenuper beries: Some grow in huskes, and bothe the white Peper, longe Peper, and blacke Peper be all hotte in quarto, and drie in the seconde: the long is moste biting, because it is gathered before it bee ripe, therefore it have still the hotte humour. The blacke is perfite ripe, and is wholesome: the white is swetest, but weakest of theim three. Peper is used in sonderie medicenes, and in meate againste coldness: it draweth, dissolveth, and consumeth moiste humours, and drieth them, and helpeth an Agewe, beyng dronke many tymes, specially before the fitte. Grose Peper wil helpe disestion, and never hurt the liver. There is goodly Diamade of the three Pepers, called Dia trion Piperion, whiche have greate vertue against horsnesse, stoppying of the lunges and cold reumes.

What say you of… Nutmegges…Mace … Sinamon…Cloves

The Nutmegge or Muske Nut moste odoriferous, pleasaunt, and sweet used in many Cordials and holsome reseites aginst coldnesse, and coeth from the hotte countrey of Inde, from an Ilande called Badan, and is inclosed with his Maces, as with a nut, which Maces is a spice most holsome, the clove is not the stalke wherupon this worthy Nut doth growe, the Mauritanians affirmeth that they be hot in the seco(n)d degree. The olde writers speaketh but little of this Nut, it is proved to be good against winde, collike, flegme, weake digestion, vomittes, hed ache, coldnesse of the liver, carfdiakes, stopping of the spleen, dropsie of the harte and is holsome to be beaten in pouder, & tempered with oyle of mintes, and to anointe the forhead and temples against coldnesse of the head, or dullness of memorie, and holsome in plasters for the stomacke, twilted in Leather and Silk, good in stewed brothes, for them whiche be longe sicke, and the oyles comfortable for colde stomackes: but Auicen speaking a little of the Nutmeg saith, is is evel for a Sanguen man to use it, because it will adust the bloud, (and make one appere with a face as though he had a visor of Currall,) because of the driness: so to conclude, the Nutmegge is the fruite, the Mace the flower or Rose that doth enclose it, the Clove is the smale stalke that bare it they say: But Sinamon is a nother maner of barke, Discorides saith there be divers kindes of Sinamon which ar hot and drie of nature in the thirde degree, and helpeth the stopping of the Liver, causeth a sweete breath, and is holsome in blanche pouder or soppes. Cloves cometh from Inde, and growe like nailes upon trees, and bee hotte and drie, and odoriferous, and be goode against colde.

What is the vertue of wilde Basill, called Ocimastrum, havyng stalkes fower square: flowers purple, seedes blacke, and leaves like unto the kyng of herbes, for swetenes, called Bazill.

This growe in sundry places, and florisheth in October: bearing the seedes and coddes, and is hotte and drie of nature, with bitternes. The seede sodden in Wine and drunke warme, helpeth the bitying of Serpentes: and drunke in Wine with Mirrhe and Peper, it healeth the Sciatica, saieth Dioscorides.

What is the vertue of Raisons and Prunes?

Raisons of the Sonne be very wholesome, and comfort digestion, but the stones and rindes would be refused: and then thi be good for the spleen and liver, so be Aligante, Rafis doeth moch commende them, but undoubtedly, the small Raisons be hurtfull to the spleen. Prunes, and Damaseins have vertue to relaxe the bellie, if thei be swete and ripe, thei doe norishe very little, but quench choler. Grapes, Raisones, Prunes, Plumes, and Slowes, if thei be sower be all binders of the bellie.

What is the vertue of Cheries?

The tarte Cheries undoubtedly, bee more wholsomer than the swete and eaten before meate, doo mollifie the bellie, prepare digestion, and thei bee moste excellent againste hotte buryning choler, thei bee good also after meate, and be of many kindes, as blacke, red, and pale, the red Cherie partely tarte is beste, Galen and Rafis greatly commende this frute….

What is the vertue of hony? The fruites of Bees labour and their Sommers travell.

Hony is hotte and drie in the seconde degree, and doth clense very much, and is a medicinable meate, most chiefly for olde men and women, for it doth warme them and converte in them good bloud. It is not good for Cholerike persons, because of the heate and drines: they do greatly erre that say Hony is hot and moyst, but if it be clarified from his waxe and drosse (*)and kept in a close vessel, thereis nothyng likquid upon the earth that remayneth lenger. And this precious jewel Hony hath ever ben more praised, for it will conserve and kepe any fruite, herbe or roote, or any other thyng that is put into it, an exceading long time….(The WebMistress is presently hiding some of Hony’s vertues from you, what do you expect for free?)

….The best Hony is gathered in the Spryng time, the second in Sommer, but that which is gathered in Winter is ill and hurtful….

(*)Well, you may not be able to teach old dogges newe trycks, but every now and then, they can learn a new word--dross-Old English “drose”-modernly meaning the scum of melting metals, waste matter, small or waste coal: refuse, rust, lucre. Drossy-like dross: impure, worthless. Chambers English Dictionary.

What saie you of Suger of the Cane?

Dioscorides remembryng Suger saiyng, there be Redes in Arabia in whiche is a thing contained like Salte, and breaketh in the mouthe like Salte, and is bothe pleasaunt, and good to the bellie & stomacke, deluted or steped in water, if it bee dronke, it helpeth the raines. And Suger is good to clense the darkenes of the (?) jyen/iyen. Suger is used in moste Sirupes and Juleppes, Suger can not bee spared in bankettes, or garnishment of feastes: Although Suger can not bee simply made, from the panell or fande, which cometh from the Cane, without some art yet there is moche crafte in it, by the sophistacion, to make it trim to the sale: swete and pleasaunte, like Muske to the mouthe, more pleasaunte then profitable. But the cleane clarified Honie, doo excell for health: the Suger specially, the Hony of Athens, where as the Bees fedeth most upon time, Suger Candie is good for the lunges.

Hony is more excellent then Suger to preserve.

What is the vertue of Wine?

Hipocrates saith, of a customable thing cometh lesser hurt then things not used, whereof I gather that they which drinke wine moderately with measure doeth profit them much, and maketh good digestion, but hose people that use to drinke wine seldome times, be distempered, White wine if it be cleare is holsome to be dronke before meate, for it preserveth the body and perseth quickly to the bladder, but if it be dronke upon a full stomacke, it will rather make oppilacion, or stoppying of the mefexaites, because it doth switfly drive foode downe, before nature hath of him selfe digested it: and the nature of white wine is of less warmnesse. The second wine is pure Claret, of a cleare Jacent, or yelow choler, this wine doth greatly norish and warme the body, and it is an holsome wine with meate, & is good for fleugmatike folke, but very unholsome for younge children: for Galen saieth, (Some Latin phrase I can’t be bothered to translate for you at this time) because it heateth above nature, and hurteth the head. Nor for them whiche have hot livers, paines in the head, occasioned of hot vapours, or smokes, for it is like unto fier, and Flaxe. The thirde is blacke or depe Redde wine which is thicke, a stopper of the belly, a corrupter of the bloud, a dreder of the stone, hurteful to olde men, and profitable to few men, except they have the blouddy flux….

What is the vertue of Beer?

Good health comes from "Good air, good diet and good beer", said this good doctor. Here is an article in the Michigan Beer Guide for more, while you wait until I can type up the rest from Dr. Bullein.

What is the vertue of Parseley?

Thei have vertue to breake the stone: Parseley is hote in the second degree, and drie in the middest of the third. The sede dronk with white wone: provoketh the menstruall tearmes, as Dioscoris des saieth, also Smallage hath the like vertue, as furder appereth.

I do know Sage by name, because it both grow in my garden and is used in my kitchin, but Christ doth know, the vertu therof is hidden fro me

This noble herbe called Elelift bacon, Saluia, or Sage, as it shoulde appeare by Theophrastus there bee twoo kindes of Sage, the one of the garden whiche is roughe, longe and broade leaves, which sayth Mathiolus, I suppose to bee the female herbe, the other Sage which is shorter, narower, with twoo small eares in the beginnyng of their leaves, which the sayd Theophrstus cal Sphacelo, whom Maibiolus clepeth the male herbe, and of this groweth great plenty in Italy, in the toppes of Mountaines, in the noble countries bothe of Apulie, and Calabri, so dooe there almoste in every Garden in Englande. This herbe is hot and drie saieth Aetius, so saieth Galen, and some ntable practioners do say, that perfume of Sage doeth stop the inmoderate flux menstrual Agrippa did call this the holy herbe, because it was so good to women, not only inexpulsynge evell matter from the Matrix: but also in reteinyng the vitall seede of generation whereby consepcion is made perfect. If a woman drinke the juce theof with a little Salte and Suger sodden together, foure daies before, and after the use with her husbande, gevyng the man the like quantite, before the time of procreation, without doubt conseption foloweth. It is saide, sometime there was so great a pestilence in a Citie of Egypt, that through the poyson theof few were lefte a live, but when the Plage was seased, the younge women were compelled to drynke the wine, or juce of Sage, through whose vertue they were conceaved with children, havying the helpe of man, that in the ende, the Citee was replenished againe, and filled with people of their owne generacion.....

The rest of the vertues of Sage the WebMistress will now hide from you, this stuff absolutely needs to be set down in lovely historical fiction (read “for pay”) which I intend to write.

Who extolled Vertues of sage to what Tudor Monarch??? You’ll have to buy the book.

What is the vertue of Rosemarie?

Dioscerides saieth, that if this herbe with Swines grease, be stamped together, and laied upon an olde rotten sore beyng hote, it hath vertue to heale it. The seede of this herbe drunke before meate: it doeth heale the Kynges evill, or paines in the throte, as Dioscorides, and Galen saieth. The favour of it doeth comfort the braine and harte, the flowers of Rosemarie is an excellent Cordiall, called di Antbos, and be good after fevers, or for Melanchollie men. And the seedes drunke in wine, helpeth the fallying sicknes, and paines of the breast.

What is the vertue of Tyme?

It is vehemente of heate, with drinesse in the thirde degree, Dioscorides saieth, if it bee dronke with Vinegar and Salt, it purgeth fleume: sodden with Honie or Mede, it hath vertue to clense the lunges, and the breast, matrix raines, and blader, and killeth wormes. The pouder of Tyme eaten in Potage, is holsome for the iye sight…..

What is the vertue of Ginger?

It is hote in the thirde degree, and moiste in the ende of the first, if it be uncolloured, white and not roten, it is very good, moste chiefly if it bee conserved and grene, as Mefua saieth, it maketh warme a cold stomacke, and consumeth windes, helpeth evill digestio(n), and maketh meate go easely downe into the stomacke.

What is the vertue of Basill?

This herbe is warme in the seconde dgreee, havyng the vertue of moistnes, and if it be sodden in wine, with Spicknarde, and dronke, it is good against dropsies, windes, fleumes, coldnes of the harte, hardnes of the stomacke. The favor of Basill doeth comfort the brain and harte, the use of this herbe in meates, doeth decaie the sight.

What is the vertue of Mintes?

Mintes be of two kindes, garden, and wilde Myntes, they be hotte unto the thirde degree, and drie in the seconde degree, Garden Mintes be best: the pouder of this with the juce of Pomgranets, stoppeth vomittes, helpeth sighyng, clenseth hotte choller. Three braunches of this sodden with wine, doth healpe repletion dronke fastyng. This juce tempered with good Triakel, and eaten of children in mornynges, will kill wormes and stamped with salte, and applie it to the biyng of a Dogge, it will heale it…..

What then of the Chestnut?

Chestnuttes be commonly roafted upon thy open fiere, whilst Jacke Froste is nipping at thy nose, oh, ha-ha, I made that parte up.

Chestnuttes be commonly knowen, whiche of nature will stoppe flixes and restraine, make fatte, & indurate the Splene. In many places of Italie and Fraunce, the people doth live by these Chestnuttes in winter, whan they want other fruites. Stampe Chestnuttes, Hony, and Salt together, and applie it to the biting of a mad dogge and it will heale it. Chestnuttes moveth venous or carnall lust being roosted and eaten. But customable eaten, thei do ofende the head and splene, because thei doe inflate and stoppe, thei be called Jouis glandes, that is Jupiters Nuttes saieth Dioscorides

What is the vertue of vinegar?

Vinegar is colde and drie, and is hurtfull for them that bee melancollie, but when it is drunke, or powered upon an outwarde wounde, it stoppeth the blood, it also killeth hott apostumacions of Erisippilas; it is an enemie to the Sinewes, vinegar and brimstone sodden together, is good for the goute, to wasshe it with all. Vinegar tempered with wolle, helpeth a disease called Soda in the hedde, applied warme unto the place. It is good in Sause, for warme and moist men: vinegar with cleane clarified honei, penidies, and fair water sodden together, doeth greatly helpe the paines of the throte, lunges, and stopping the winde, and quencheth hotte diseases. And sharp vinegar mingled with Salte, and put upon the bityng of a Dogge, doeth heale it: and against poison it is excellent, chiefly to drinke a little thereof against the Pestilence, in a mornyng.

What is the vertue of oile made of Olives?

Grene oile of Olives, is the mother of all Oiles, which doeth drawe into her owne nature, the vertues of herbes, leaves, flowers, fruites, and rootes, sweete Sallet oile is wholesome, to digest colde herbes, and Sallettes, tempered with sharpe vinegar and Sugar: newe Oile doeth moiste, and warme the stomacke, but olde oile corrupteth the stomacke, and cleaveth to the Lunges, and maketh one hoarse. Oile of Roses, and sharpe vinegar tempered together, is good to anoint the foreheads of them, that be troubled with extreme heate, or fransie: so that Buglosse be sodden in their Possetale, or els drynke the syruppes of Endive, or Buglosse. There bee many goodly vetues in compounded oiles, bothe to make hote, and to coole the bodie, whe(n) it is extreme hotte, as the greate learned man Mesue, had described in his Antidotarii. Of oiles, you shall have plentie followyng.

What is the vertue of Spinage?

It makes thee stronge to the finage. Oh, ha, ha, I put that part in by myself. It is an herbe moche used in meate, colde and moiste in the first degree: it mollifieth, and maketh softe the bellie, it is good for them that be hotte and drie, and ill for flegmatike men.

What is the vertue of Burnete? Whiche is Sommer tyme is used to bee put in bowles, & glasses of wine, served at the table.

It is very pleasaunt to be putte in cleane cuppes, goblettes or peces, wherein is cleane frenche wine, it maketh it pleasaunte with the juce of Lemondes, and good white sugar, it hath golden flowers, grene leaves, purple rootes of the outside, a white within; and doeth drie and binde, and stoppeth the bloody flixe very well.

What is the vertue of Cabage?

Cabage is of twoo properties, of bindying the bellie, and makying laxative, the juce of Cabages lightly boiled in freshe Beefe brothe is laxative, but the substaunce of the herbe is harde of digestion, but if it bee sodden swife, the brothe of it will binde the bellie, if it be tempered with Allume: This herbe hath vertue to clense a newe redde Leprosie, laid upon the sore place, in the maner of a plaster, but to conclude of this herbe, the brothe of it hath vertue, to kepe a man from dronkennes, as Aristotell, Rufis, and Auicen doth reporte, eaten before meat or drinke. And this is good to make potage withall, and is a profitable herbe in a commonwealthe, which the fleminges sell dere, but we have it growe in our owne gardens, if we would preferre our owne commodititie before idelnesse, and not suffer weedes to grow where herbes should be plated. If fenergrice and this besodden plaster waies it helpeth the Goute. The leaves sodden with hony, healeth ulcers and Cankers, and killeth wormes in the belly. Therbe sonndry kindes of wortes, bothe Garden, Fielde and See, much like to eche other in vertue. There be great plentie growing betwene Albrought and Northford in Suffolke uppon the Sea shore. (The Booke of Simples Fol. ix)

What is the vertue of Lettice?

It doeth mightly encrease Mylke in womans brestes, and therfore it is called Lettice, as Marciall saith, first shalbe geven to the vertue and power, to encrease milke in womens breastes everie hower. Lettice is an herbe, colde and moyst, and very comfortable for a hotte stomacke, bringeth sleape, molifieth the belly, the drier it be eaten, the better it is. I meane if it be not muche washed in water, adding cleane salet Oyle, Suger, and Vineger to it, it abateth carnal luste; and muche use of it dulleth the sight. The seede is precious against hot diseases, dronke with Ptisantes. There is an herbe called Rocked gentill, that partely smelleth like a foxe, which is very hot, an encreaser of seede, this herbe must alwaies be eaten with Lettice. The roote therof sodden in watter will draw foorth broken bones, & will helpe the coughe in yonge children. The seede vehmently doeth expell urine dronke in white wine, and killeth wormes, and temereed with an Oxe gaule, to clense blacke spottes in the face or skinne after stripes. (Ibid, Fol. x)

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