Of Peionie
The Description. 1 PEionie (being the male, called Poeonia mas: in English, Male Peiony) hath thicke red stalkes a cubit long: the leaves be great and large, consisting of divers leaves growing or joyned together upon one slender stemme or rib, not much unlike the leaves of the Wall-nut tree both in fashion and greatnesse: at the top of the stalkes grow faire large redde floures very like roses, having also in the midst, yellow threds or thrums like them in the rose called Anthera; which being vaded and fallen away there come in place three or foure great cods or husks, which do open when they are ripe; the inner part of which cods is of a faire red colour, wherein is contained blacke shining and polished seeds, as big as a Pease, and betweene every blacke seed is couched a red or crimson seed, which is barren and empty.
The Place.
All the sorts of Peionies do grow in our London gardens, except that double Peiony with white floures, which we do expect from the Low-countries or Flanders.
The male Peionie groweth wild upon a conny berry in Betsome, being in the parish of South-fleet in Kent, two miles from Gravesend, and in the ground sometimes belonging to a farmer there called John Bradley. (Dagger) I have beene told that our Author himselfe planted that Peionie there, and afterwards seemed to finde it there by accident: and I doe beleeve it was so, because none before or since have ever seene or heard of it growing wilde in any part of this kingdome. (Dagger) The Names.
It is called of divers Aglaophotis, or brightly shining, taking his name of the shining and glittering graines, which are of the colour of scarlet. There be found two Aglaophotides, described by AElianus in his 14 booke; one of the sea, in the 24. chapter: the other of the earth, in the 27. chapter. That of the sea is a kinde of Fucus, or sea mosse, which groweth upon high rocks, of the bignesse of Tamarisk, with the head of Poppy; which opening in the Summer Solstace doth yeeld in the night time a certaine fierie, and as it were sparkling brightnesse or light.
That of the earth, saith he, which by another name is called Cynospastus, lieth hid in the day time among other herbes, and is not knowne at all, and in the night time it is easily seene: for it shineth like a star, and glittereth with a fiery brightnesse.
And this Aglaophotis of the earth, or Cynospastus, is Poeonia; for Apuleius saith, that the seeds or graines of Peionie shine in the night time like a candle, and that plenty of it is in the night season found out and gathered by the shepheards. Theophrastus and Pliny do shew that Peionie is gathered in the night season; which AElianus also affirmeth concerneth Aglaophotis. AElianus saith, that Cynospastus is not plucked up without danger; and that it is reported how he that first touched it, not knowing the nature thereof, perished. Therefore a string must be fastned to it in the night, and a hungry dog tied therto, who being allured by the smell of rosted flesh set towards him, may plucke it up by the roots.
Moreover, it is set downe by the said Author, as also by Pliny and Theophrastus, that of necessitie it must be gathered in the night; for if any man shall pluck off the fruit in the day time, being seene of the Wood-pecker, he is in danger to lose his eies. The like fabulous tale hath been set forth of Mandrake, the which I have partly touched in the same chapter. But all these things be most vaine and frivolous: for the root of Peionie, as also the Mandrake, may be removed at any time of the yeare, day or houre whatsoever. But it is no marvell, that such kindes of trifles, and most superstitious and wicked ceremonies are found in the books of the most Antient Writers; for there were many things in their time very vainly feined and cogged in for ostentation sake, as by the AEgyptians and other counterfeit mates, as Pliny doth truly testifie. It is reported that these herbes tooke the name of Peionie, or Poean, of that excellent Physition of the same name, who first found out and taught the knowledge of this herbe unto posteritie. CHAP. 155.Of Cinkefoile, or five finger Grasse.
The Description.
CInkefoile is so common and so universally knowne, that I thinke it a needlesse travell to stand about the description.
The Time.
These plants do floure from the beginning of May to the end of June. The Names.
Cinke-foile is called in Latine, Quinque-folium: the Apothecaries use the Greeke name Pentaphyllon: and sometime the Latine name. There be very many bastard names, wherewith I will not trouble your eares: in Italian, Cinquefoglio: in French, Quinte fueille: in Spanish, Cinco en rama: in English Cink-foile, Five finger Grasse, Five leaved grasse, and Sinkfield. The Vertues.
The decoction of the roots held in the mouth doth mitigate the paine of the teeth.