Liquorice
Description. Our English liquorice riseth up with divers woody stalks, whereon are set at several distances many narrow, long, green leaves, set together on both sides of the stalk, and an odd one at the end, very well resembling a young ash tree spring up from the seed. This by many years continuance in a place without removing, and not else, will bring forth flowers, many standing together spike fashion, one above another upon the stalk, of the form of pease blossoms, but of a very pale blue colour, which turn into long, somewhat flat and smooth pods, wherein is contained a small, round hard seed: the roots run down exceedingly deep into the ground, with divers other smnll roots and fibers growing with them, and shoot out suckers from the main roots all about, whereby it is much increased, of a brownish colour on the outside, and yellow within.
Place. It is planted in fields and gardens, in divers places of this land, and thereof good profit is made.
Government and virtues] It is under the dominion of Mercury. Liquorice boiled in fair water, with some maiden-hair and figs, maketh a good drink for those that have a dry cough or horseness, wheezing or shortness of breath, and for all the griefs of the breasts and lungs phthisic or consumptions caused by the distillations of the reins, the stranguary, and heat of urine: the fine powder of Liquorice blown through a quill into the eyes that have a pin and web (as they call it) or rheumatic distillations in them, doth cleanse and help them; The juice of liquorice is as effectual in all the diseases of the breast and lungs, the reins and the bladder, as the decoction. The juice distilled in rose-water, with some green tragacanth, is a fine licking medicine for hoarseness, wheezing, &c.