Of Mugwort
The Description.
MUgwort hath broad leaves, very much cut or cloven like the leaves of common Wormewood, but larger, of a darke greene colour above, and hoarie underneath: the stalkes are long and straight, and full of branches, whereon do grow small round buttons, which are the floures, smelling like Marjerome when they wax ripe: the root is great, and of a wooddie substance. The Place.
The common Mugwort groweth wilde in sundry places about the borders of fields, about high waies, brooke sides, and such like places. Sea Mugwort groweth about Rie and Winchelsea castle, and at Portsmouth by the Isle of Wight.
The Time.
They floure in July and August.
The Names.
Mugwort is called in Latine, Artemisia, which name it had of Artemisia Queene of Halicarnassus, and wife of noble Mausolus King of Caria, who adopted it for her owne herbe.
The Vertues.
Pliny saith, That the traveller or wayfaring man that hath the herbe tied about him feeleth no wearisomnesse at all; and that he who hath it about him can be hurt by no poysonsome medicines, nor by any wilde beast, neither yet by the Sun it selfe; and also that it is drunke against Opium, or the juyce of blacke Poppy. Many other fantasticall devices invented by Poets are to be seene in the Works of the Antient Writers, tending to witchcraft and sorcerie, and the great dishonour of God: wherefore I do of purpose omit them, as things unworthy of my recording, to your reviewing.