Chap. LX.
Carduus Benedictus.
The Blessed Thistle.
Carduus benedictus or the blessed Thistle, hath many weake tender branches lying for the most part on the ground, whereon are set long and narrow leaues, much cut in or waued about the edges, hairy or rough in handling, yet without any hard or sharpe thornes or prickles at all, that the tenderest hand may touch them without harme: but those that grow toward the toppes of the stalkes are somewhat more prickly, and the heads which grow on the tops of the seuerall branches are somewhat sharpe, set with prickles like a Thistle: the flower is yellow, and the seede lying within the woolly or flocky doune like to all other thistles, are blackish, long and round, with a few haires on the head of them: the roote is white, and perisheth euery yeare after it hath giuen seede.
The Vse of the blessed Thistle.
The distilled water hereof is much vsed to be drunke against agues of all sortes, eyther pestilentiall or humorall, of long continuance or of lesse: but the deception of the herbe giuen in due time, hath the more forcible operation: it helpeth to expell wormes, because of the bitternesse, and is thereby also a friend to the stomack ouercharged with chollar, and to clense the liuer: it prouoketh sweate and vrine, is helpefull to them are troubled with the stone, and to ease paines in the sides.
| 1 | Angellica. Angellica. |
| 2 | Dracunculus hortensis. Dragons. |
| 3 | Ruta hortensis. Garden Rue, or Herbegrace. |
| 4 | Carduus benedictus. The blessed Thistle. |
| 5 | Alkakengi siue Solanum Halicacabum & Vesicarium. Winter Cherries. |
| 6 | Asarum. Asarabacca |
| 7 | Liqueritia. Licoris. |