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Blue-Bottle
Names. It is called Syanus, I suppose from the colour of it; hurt-sickle, because it turns the edges of sickles that reap the corn; blue-blow, corn-flower, and blue-bottle.
Description. I shall only describe that which is commonest, and in my opinion most useful; its leaves spread upon the ground, being of a whitish green colour, somewhat on the edges like those of corn-scabions, among which ariseth up a stalk divided into divers branches, beset with long leaves of a greenish colour, either but very little indented, or none at all; the flowers are of a blue colour, whence it took its name, consisting of an innumerable company of small flowers set in a scaly head, not much unlike those of knapweed; the seed is smooth, is bright and shining, wrapped up in a woolly mantle; the root perisheth every year.
Place. They grow in corn-fields, amongst all sorts of corn (pease, beans, and tares excepted.) If you please to take them up from thence, and transplant them in your gardens, especially towards the full of the moon, they will grow more double than they are, and many times change colour. Time. They flower from the beginning of May to the end of harvest. Government and virtues. As they are naturally cold, dry, and binding, so they are under the dominion of Saturn. The powder or dried leaves of the blue-bottle, or corn-flower, is given with good success to those that are bruised by a fall, or have broken a vein inwardly, and void much blood at the mouth; being taken in the water of plantain, horse-tail, or the greater comfrey, it is a remedy against the poison of the scorpion, and resisteth all venoms and poison. The seed or leaves taken in wine, is very good against the plague, and all infectious diseases, and is very good in pestilential fevers The juice put into fresh or green wounds, doth quickly solder up the lips of them together, and is very effectual to heal all ulcers and sores in the mouth. The juice dropped into the eyes takes away the heat and inflammation of them. The distilled water of this herb, hath the same properties, and may be used for the effects aforesaid.
BUGLE.
Names. Besides the name bugle, it is called middle confound and middle comfrey, brown bugle, and by some sicklewort, and herb-carpenter; though in Essex we call another herb by that name.
Description. This hath larger leaves than those of the self-heal, but else of the same fashion, or rather longer, in some green on the upper side, and in others more brownish dented about the edges, somewhat hairy, as the square stalk is also which riseth up to be half a yard high sometimes, with the leaves set by couples, from the middle almost whereof upwards stand the flowers, together with many smaller and browner leaves than the rest, on the stalk below, set at a distance, and the stalk bare between them; among which flowers are also small ones of a blueish and sometimes of an ash-colour, fashioned like the flowers of ground-ivy, after which come small, round, blackish seeds. The root is composed of many strings, and spreadeth upon the ground.
The white flowered bugle differeth not in form or greatness from the former, saving that the leaves and stalks are always green, and never brown, like the other; and the flowers thereof are white.
Place. They grow in woods, copses, and fields, generally throughout England, but the white flowered bugle is not so plentiful as the former. Time. They flower from May until July, and in the mean time perfect their seed. The roots and leaves next thereunto upon the ground abiding all the winter.
Government and virtues: This herb belongeth to dame Venus: If the virtues of it make you fall in love with it (as they will if you be wise) keep a syrup of it to take inwardly, and an ointment and plaister of it to use outwardly, always by you.
The decoction of the leaves and flowers made in wine, and taken, dissolves the congealed blood in those that are bruised inwardly by a fall, or otherwise is very effectual for any inward wounds, thrusts, or stabs in the body or bowels: and is an especial help in all wound-drinks, and for those that are liver-grown (as they call it.) It is wonderful in curing all manner of ulcers and sores, whether new or fresh, or old and inveterate yea, gangrenes and fistulas also, if the leaves bruised and applied, or their juice be used to wash and bathe the place, and the same made into a lotion, and some honey and allum, cureth all sores in the mouth and gums, be they never so foul, or of long continuance; and worketh no less powerfully and effectually for such ulcers and sores as happen in the secret parts of men and women. Being also taken inwardly, or outwardly applied, it helpeth those that have broken any bone, or have any member out of joint. An ointment made with the leaves of bugle, scabions and sanicle bruised and boiled in hog's-grease, until the herbs be dry, and then strained forth into a pot for such occasions as shall require; it is so singularly good for all sorts of hurts in the body, that none that know its usefulness will be without it.