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Lily of the Valley

Names. Called also conval lily, male lily, and lily constancy. Description. The root is small, and creepeth far in the ground, as grass roots do. The leaves are many, against which riseth up a stalk half a foot high, with many white flowers, like little bells with turned edges, of a strong, though pleasing smell; the berries are red, not much unlike those of asparagus.

Place. They grow plentifully upon Hamstead-heath and many other places of this nation.

Time. They flower in May, and the seed is ripe in September. Temperature and virtues. It is under the dominion of Mercury, and therefore strengthens the brain, recruits a weak memory, and makes it strong again: The distilled water dropped into the eyes, help inflammations there; as also that infirmity they call the pin and web. The spirit of the flowers distilled in wine, restoreth lost speech, helps the palsy, is exceedingly good in the apoplexy, and comforteth the heart and vital spirits. Gerrard saith, that the flowers being close stopped up in a glass, put into ant-hill, and taken away again a month after, ye shall find liquor in the glass, which, being outwardly applied, helps the gout.