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Of Glasse Saltwort

The Description. 1 GLasseworth hath many grosse thicke and round stalks a foot high, full of fat and thicke sprigs, set with many knots or joints, without any leaves at all, of a reddish greene colour: the whole plant resembles a branch of Corall: the root is very small and single.

The Place.

These plants are to be found in salt marshes almost everie where. The Time.

They floure and flourish in the Summer moneths.

The Names.

Stones are beaten to pouder and mixed with ashes, which beeing melted together, become the matter whereof glasse is made. Which while it is made red hot in the furnace, and is melted, becomming liquid and fit to worke upon, doth yeeld as it were a fat floting aloft; which when it is cold waxeth as hard as a stone, yet is it brittle and quickly broken. This is commonly called Axungiavitri: in English, Sandever: in French, Suin de Voirre: in Italian, Fior de Cristallo, i. Floure of Crystal. The herb is also called of divers, Cali articulatum, or jointed Glassewort: in English, Crab-grasse, and Frog-grasse.

The Vertues.

A great quantitie taken is mischievous and deadly: the smel and smoke also of this herb being burnt drives away serpents.