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Of Divels Bit

The Description.

DIvels bit hath small upright round stalkes of a cubite high, beset with long leaves somwhat broad, very little or nothing snipt about the edges, somwhat hairie and even. The floures also are of a dark purple colour, fashioned like the floures of Scabious: the seeds are smal and downy, which being ripe are carried away with the winde. The root is blacke, thick, hard and short, with many threddie strings fastned thereto. The great part of the root seemeth to be bitten away: old fantasticke charmers report, that the divel did bite it for envie, because it is an herbe that hath so many good vertues, and is so beneficial to mankinde.

The Place.

Divels bit groweth in dry medows and woods, & about waies sides. The Time.

It floureth in August, and is hard to be knowne from Scabious, saving when it floureth.

The Names.

It is commonly called Morsus Diaboli, or Divels bit, of the root (as it seems) that is bitten off: for the superstitious people hold opinion, that the divell for envy that he beareth to mankinde, bit it off, because it would be otherwise good for many uses.

The Vertues.

There is no better thing against old swellings of the Almonds, and upper parts of the throat that be hardly ripened.

It clenseth away slimie flegme that sticketh in the jawes, it digesteth and consumeth it: and it quickely taketh away the swellings in those parts, if the decoction thereof bee often held in the mouth and gargarized, especially if a little quantitie of Mel Rosarum, or honie of Roses be put into it.