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Of Water-Docke: Rubarb

The Monks Rubarb is called in Latine, Rumex sativus, and Patientia, or Patience, which word is borrowed of the French, who call this herb Patience: after whom the Dutchmen also name this pot herb Patientie: of some, Rhabarbarum Monachorum, or Monks Rubarb, because as it seemes some Monke or other hath used the root hereof in stead of Rubarb.

Bloudwort or bloudy Patience is called in Latine Lapathum sanguineum: of some, Sanguis Draconis, of the bloudy colour where-with the whole plant is possest: it is of pot-herbs the chiefe or principall, having the propertie of the bastard Rubarb, but of lesse force in his purging qualitie. The Vertues.

Monks Rubarb or Patience is an excellent wholsome pot-herb, for being put into the pottage in some reasonable quantitie, it helps the jaundice, and such like diseases proceeding of cold causes.

If you take the roots of Monks Rubarb and red Madder of each halfe a pound, Sena foure ounces, Anise seed and Licorice of each two ounces, Scabious and Agrimonie of each one handfull; slice the roots of the Rubarb, bruise the Anise seed and Licorice, breake the herbs with your hands and put them into a stone pot called a stean, with foure gallons of strong ale, to steep or infuse the space of three daies, and then drinke this liquor as your ordinary drink for three weeks together at the least, though the longer you take it, so much the better; providing in a readinesse another stean so prepared, that you may have one under another, being alwaies carefull to keep a good diet: it purifieth the bloud and makes yong wenches look faire and cherry-like. There have not bin any other faculties attributed to this plant, either of the antient or later writers, but generally of all it hath bin referred to the other Docks or Monks Rubarb: of which number I assure my selfe this is the best, and doth approch neerest unto the true Rubarb. Many reasons induce me so to thinke and say; first, this hath the shape and proportion of Rubarb, the same color both within and without, without any difference, they agree as well in taste as smell; it coloureth the spittle of a yellow colour when it is chewed, as Rubarb doth; and lastly, it purgeth after the same gentle manner as the right Rubarb doth; only herein it differeth, that this must be given in three times the quantitie of the other. Other distinctions and differences I leave to the learned Physitions of our London colledge, who are very well able to search this matter, as a thing far above my reach, being no Graduat, but a Country Scholler, as the whole frame of this historie doth well declare: but I hope my good meaning will be well taken, considering I do my best: and I doubt not but some of greater learning wil perfect that which I have begun according to my small skill, especially the ice being broken to him, and the wood rough-hewn to his hand. Notwithstanding I thinke it good to say thus much more in my own defence, That although there be many wants and defects in mee, that were requisite to performe such a worke; yet may my long experience by chance happen upon some one thing or other that may do the Learned good: considering what a notable experiment I learned of one John Benet a Surgeon of Maidstone in Kent, (a man as slenderly learned as my selfe) which he practised upon a butchers boy of the said towne, as himselfe reported unto me. His practise was this: Being desired to cure the foresaid Lad of an ague which did grievously vex him, hee promised him a medicine; and for want of one for the present (for a shift, as himselfe confessed unto me) he tooke out of his garden three or four leaves of this plant of Rubarb, which my selfe had among other simples given him, which he stamped and strained with a draught of ale, and gave it the lad in the morning to drinke: it wrought extreamely downeward and upward within one houre after, and never ceased until night: in the end, the strength of the boy overcame the force of the physick, it gave over working, and the Lad lost his Ague; since which time (as he saith) he hath cured with the same medicine many of the like maladie, having ever great regard to the quantitie, which was the cause of the violent working in the first cure. By reason of which accident, that thing hath bin revealed to posteritie, which heretofore was not so much as dreamed of. Whose blunt attempt may incourage some sharper Wit and greater Judgement in the faculties of plants, to seeke farther into their nature than any of the Antients have done; and none fitter than the learned Physitions of the Colledge of London, where are many singularly well learned and experienced in naturall things.

The roots sliced and boiled in the water of Carduus benedictus, to the consumption of the third part, adding thereto a little hony, and eight or nine spoonfulls of the decoction thereof drunke before the fit, cure the ague in two or three times so taking it at the most: unto robustious or strong bodies twelve spoonfuls may be given. This experiment was practised by a worshipfull Gentlewoman Mistresse Anne Wylbraham upon divers of her poore neighbours with good successe.