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Of Gith, or Nigella

The Description.

NIgella, which is both faire and pleasant, called Damaske Nigella, is very like unto the wilde Nigella in his small cut and jagged leaves, but his stalke is longer: the flours are like the former, but greater, and every floure hath five small greene leaves under him, as it were to support and beare him up: which floures being gone, there succeed and follow knops and seed like the former, but without smell or savour.

The Place.

The tame are sowne in gardens: the wilde ones doe grow of themselves among corne and other graine, in divers countries beyond the seas. The Time.

The seed must be sowne in Aprill: it floureth in July and August. The Names.

Gith is called in Italian, Nigella: in English, Gith, and Nigella Romana, in Cambridgeshire, Bishops wort: and also Divae Catherinae flos, Saint Katharines floure.

The Vertues.

The seed parched or dried at the fire, brought into pouder, and wrapped in a piece of fine lawne or sarcenet, cureth all murs, catarrhes, rheumes, and the pose, drieth the braine, and restoreth the sence of smelling unto those which have lost it, being often smelled unto from day to day, and made warme at the fire when it is used.

It takes away freckles, being laid on mixed with vineger. To be briefe, as Galen saith, it is a most excellent remedy.

It serveth well among other sweets to put into sweet waters, bagges, and odoriferous pouders.