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Moneywort, or Herb Twopence

Description. The common moneywort sendeth forth from a small thready root divers long, weak, and slender branches, lying and running upon the ground two or three feet long or more, set with leaves two at a joint, one against another at equal distances, which are almost round, but pointed at the ends, smooth and of a good green colour. At the joints with the leaves, from the middle forward, come forth at every point sometimes one yellow flower, and sometimes two, standing each on a small footstalk, and made of five leaves, narrow-pointed at the end, with some yellow threads in the middle, which being past, there stand in their places small round heads of seed. Place. It groweth plentifully in almost all places of this land commonly in moist grounds by hedge-sides, and in the middle of grassy fields. Time. They flower in June and July, and their seed is ripe quickly after. Government and virtues. Venus owns it. Moneywort is singularly good to stay all fluxes in man or woman, whether they be lasks, bloody-fluxes, the flowing of women's courses, bleeding inwardly or outwardly, and the weakness of the stomach that is given to casting. It is very good also for the ulcers or excoriations of the lungs, or other inward parts. It is exceeding good for all wounds, either fresh or green, to heal them speedily and for all old ulcers that are of spreading natures. For all which purposes the juice of the herb, or the powder drank in water wherein hot steel hath been often quenched; or the decoction of the green herb in wine or water drank, or used to the outward place, to wash or bathe them, or to have tents dipped therein and put into them, are effectual.