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Show Cua. $ - Lheatrum Botanicum. Tribe y ofPontris,a morefolid and firme fub{tance, a more so = and —— seta vo eli98 . roborating quality after the purging, all whichare the effects fromthe c imate, as being hotter and dryer, . thereforegiving unto the rootes firmeneffe bitternefle and aftriiion, whichare all wanting in fomefort in the rootesof this Rubarbe growing with us : yet it hath the purging quality, onely in a double pr oat and thé formeand colourfo like the true as may be, which caufeth it to be had inrefpeét and good ule,| eli les the beau~ tyoftheplantit {elfe, and may well be called Englifh Rubarbe,to diftinguith it from that which cometh from China.The fourth is thoughtby the moft and beft writers tobe the Rha or R herm of D iafcorides, Galen and the other ancient writers, which was diverfly named inour former times, as Rha Barbarum, Rha Turcicum, Rha Ponticum,.and Rha Scenicum or Sceniticum,manythinking themto be feverall things,becaufe of the names impo- fed,as comming fromfeverall places, when asthe goodneffe or badnefle, newnefle or oldneffe of the rootes mightcaufe this variation, For the Arabians didcall it Raved or Raiwand Sceni,or Seni as {ome write, but I finde it thould be rather Cini, which corruptly the Portugalls, firft pronounced Chini, according to their I anguage and from themall our parts of the world, doe callthat Country China, which was formerly called Sinarum regio: Much controverfic there is among writers, concerning the name Rhabarbarum or Barbaricum : Fir for the name Rha barbarum the Rha of Barbaria, what this name of Barbaria fhouldfignifie, fome thinking it to be that part of Africa; where old Carthage {tood,as Fu/chi#s whofaith /ib.1 de cempofitione medicamentorum,that the fouldiers that went with the Emperour Charles to Tunis, brought true Rubarbeof that Country home with them: others thinke that it was brought from Barbaruma City in India, above the River Indus, and that Rh2Indicumand Barbaricum were all one : and others thought that itcame froman Ifland inthe red Sea: called Barbaria, whereunto fhippes for Merchandife doe muchrefort : but AZarthiolus refufing allthefe Opinions, would faine induce hisowne, that Barbaria being often mentioned in Galen as Lib, 4:¢.6. de tuenda fanitate, that Ginger was brought out of Barbaria, which Dio/corides and Plinye fay groweth amongthe Trogledites, and from them brought tous: and againe he faith that Gans Vaguentariaor Nux Ben, is brought ont of the Coun- try of Barbaria, which Déo/corides faith groweth ine £thiopia, which Countrythe Troglodites doe inhabite, and Plinye lib.12.c. 21, faith it eroweth with the Troglodites.inPlinye alfointhe fame booke and 19 chapter fhewing the canfes of the fearfity of Cmamon inhis dayes, faith it was becaufe the Barbarians in their furie burnt the woods whereit grew: wherebyas Afatthiolus faith,it may plainely appeare, thatthe name Barbaria, can fignifie no other Countrythan the Trogledites of Ethiopia: which-as Strabo in his fifteenth booke of Geosraphy faith, isas plentifull in {pices as the South parts of India: but bythe trafficke of our Merchants in thefe times, there is no Rubarbe growing in thofe parts that theycan heare of ; andif I might gheffe as formerly others haye done, I would fay that the name Barbarum was Joyned with Rha, inthat counted all remote nations from them tobe Barbarians. Nowfor the names, both Grecians and Romanes acScenicumand Sceniticum- Mefues faithit is all one with Indicum, whofe faying Matthiolus contradicteth, faying it thould berather Sinicum which isa Country ofIndia,. for the Scenite be a people ofthe defart of Arabia, and are utterly deftitute ofall- manner of Spice and drugges of worth, 7 he name ofRha Tarcicum and Ponti um,is thought alfo to be all one, becan{e fome Turkith Merchants broughtit from Pontus: and forthe word Rha, ittooke the name as fome fuppofe fromthe River Rha, now fayd tobe called Volga in Pontus, where thofe rootes did grow: but I rather chinke itcame fromthe Arabians Reiwandor Ratwand : whether the Rha and Kha Pontictim, be one think or diverfe, is next to be fpoken of; A¢atthiolus contendeth again{t Barbarum Ruellivs and others, with many words tat reafons to proove themdiffering: Firft that Rha Ponticum as Diofcorides and Galen defcribe them, are auichione fent; then that Rubarbe hathinit a putging quality by: nature, which Rha Ponticumhath not, beingfa id Scorides and Galen to have ratheran aftringent quality therein Dio: and thatit is not bitter as Rubarbe eebyas fomewhat fharpe & quicke; it is not folide and heavie,but fpongie andlight; itis not drye bur tough or pliant; it isnot yellowas Rubarbe, but blacke : by which he is perfwaded that differ Setaia Ruelina Was ina sreaterrorto fay, that theydiffered onelyinreafons the fent, which hapned bythethey coldneffe of aie Cant a where Rha Ponticum grew: Marthiolusalfo faith thar AZanardus Ferrarienfis, having beene Rene : ; puneye nion, was afterward otherwife petfwaded,upon fight ofthe true Rha Ponti: umghar was brought ad : E ae via, agreeing inall things withthat of Diofcorides, as the ooke written to Leonicenus ; Surely this we may well fayd ALauardus relateth, in the laft E sitle of t See fay, that Ru arbe, as we have brought us nowa dayes, and Iam halfe Dio/corides and Paley never fe oF ease Ptah in doubt that wee inthefe times can WW tell Whatfort of Rha Phonticum that was of Diofcorides and Galen; for if wefcanne the text of Diofeorides oi hk ne thall finde himto fay, that the Rha or Rexmcalled by the name Rha Ponticum,is atroote like unto forge leans ificbe but like, the be of it cannot be the fame )but fmaller,on the outfide ofa blackith red Senay har Suds a eee’ thatir grewin the Countries beyondthe Bofphorus : the beltas hee faithis in tie atin oe ‘ Eee or ee holes, and doth fticke in the mouth witha little roote to be Blacke Eh eben aye met aftri@ion he chewing, tending toa Saffron colour: this cannot agree wit ethe roote oF gteat comparifon ofthe but lefle, and of aredder colour, fpongie leffe unes < wit fee of the qualities ofCentoric, and without fent, that Raphonticum, we have formerly feene brought nnto heen and great’ je that as have now, and for the rootes of the great Centory, they are very long made thot in oes unto a Brest Parineppe roots. but blacke on the outfide and very rugged ; Nehich and that ufe themas if Ooeae Unto our dayes ftill obftinately to take the very rootes of reat Centory, fay it is probata ney be beene true Rha Ponticum: So that to afloyle this donbt wee may welt en Gulia tees en petals rookes which were ufually brought in thofe times, when Diofcorides drefled or pared atied mall rootes, ar the long branches of the greater rootes of Rubarbe, and not , ae outer skinnes taken aways which are blackith being dryed, and not {uch great thicke is, that the rootes on boyledsees aie), ereaduleerate,as Galen mentioneth fome were in his time, ae dryed upagaine, which ag “ee in water for fome time,to take out the {trongeft juyce; -and the rootes fent, not having Probable, might be ofa blackifh red ‘colour and . 2 as Thane {pongie, light, and without anypurg tiewrs (fluch quality,a but one ig uk inga ag nelyy anaftrin ana i gent leftbiin them +: for : I. doe verily ; : fa thinke tlnn that Rha > PoxBarbe, but in Sate, f : and longer peeces) Fought overtus; being in colour tae and qualiti OUEIn fmaller ic he fi : Ger peeces) vith R aera €s) iseither is but afmall Poanot kinde of Rubarte, ee aN Rubarke, growing Ru srowi igeeri biggerin thofe[ places Exe 2 LheTheaterofPlantes. Cuar.2. places, from whence itis brought, orthat itis but che bigger branches roote s the colour and properties as I faydbeingfo like, The fift and laft, Lobe/and Pena have onely fer forth, under the ti- tles before expreffed, whom all other writers that have mentioned them have followed : andit is probable that the Turkes, with whom as it fhould feemeit is called Rhaponticum, ufedit in fteede ofthe true Rhaponticum of Dio/corides, and to note the difference betweene them, Lobe/a ddeth Helenii folio,. But fome of latrer times have called it Centanriuwshelemifolio, for by that name, I received the feedes thereof from beyond Sea: bur that quality yellow, in the truce Rhaponticumok D iofcorides ; and not to be found, either in this or the great Centory, doth ealily convince their obftinacy, that will ftill'perfilt in an opinion fo cofitrary to truth. The Vertues, The leaves of thefe kindes‘of Dockes, boyled in broth, doe alittle (fome more, fome lefle) mollifie or loofen the belly; but the rootes have a more opening orpurgitig quality in them, and fome more or lefle alfo according 20 their quality, The firlt round leafed one,fomewhat more than the garden Patience or Monkes Rubarbe; ajthough weakerthan the next thereunto by much: The BaitatdRubar hath almoft be worne out the ufe of the Parience or Monks Rubarbe.itis grown fo comiion& plentiful; fo that unleffe fome that are wilful & will not ufeir, but Patienceor that are too gripple, not tobe at any coft to Have the belt, or havelitt le care what they ufe, but take what commeth next to hand, there is (dr fhould be) none, but will ufe itin their diet Beere, or Ale, or in decottions to. purge the Liver, and clenfe the blood, before the other; yet that I mayrelate the properties thar aré found thetein(that thereby yon may beaflured this Baftard Rubarbe,will doe the fame moreeffectually) are thefe.. Zragusfaith, adramme ofthe dryed rootés of the firft fort called of fome Monkes Rubarbbe, e, witha fcruple of Ginger; made into pouder, and raken fafting, inadraueht or mefle of warme broth, purgeth choler and flegme downeward very geiitly, and {afely without danger; the feede thereof contrarily and thereby helpeth to {tay anyfort of laske, or bloodyflixe: the diftilled water thereofisdoth binde the belly, to heale {cabbes;as alfofoute tlcerons fores; aind toallay the inflammations of them. The veryp. ofitably nfed juyce of the leaves or Footes or the decottion ofthei in Vinegar, is ofvety manyufedas a mofteffe@tuall remedieto heale all f{cabbes and running fores, The round leafed Docke or Baltard Rubarbe,hathas J fayd all the ptoperties of Monkes Rubarbe, but more effectuall, both for inward and outward difeafes, and moreover healeth the fing of Scorpions ; and as Diofcorides faith, he that fhall take the roote thereof, fhall feele no paine after the Ringing : the deco@tion thereof with Vinegar, {tilled or dropped into the eares taketh away the paines; gargled in Waytooth-ach, and. being drunke healeth the Iaundife: the feed thereoftaken, eafeth the the mouth, taketh agnawing and etiping paines ofthe ftomacke, and taketh away the loathing thereof unto meate, which commeth fharpe hu= mors gathered to the mouth ofthe ftomacke: the roore thereof, helpeth the ruggeédnefle ofbyvitious the nayles, and being boyled in wine, it helpeth the {wellings ofthe throate, called the Kings Evill, as alfo when the kernells ofthe eares be {wolne: and helpeth them that are troubled with the ftone; provoketh Vrine, of the fight. The rootes of this Baftard Rubarbe, is ufed in opening and purging Diet and helpeth the dimneffe or inDier Beere or Ale, with other things, to open the Liver, and clenfe the blood, and toallaythe heatedrinkes, thereof, The properties ofthe other round leafed Docke, which we have entituled Englifh Rubarbe,are the fam¢ with the former; bné much more efte(tuall, and hathall the properties of the true Indian Rubarbe, excepting the force whichis but ofhalfe the ftrength thereof, and therefore needeth, as I fayd, tobe taken indouble in purging; quantitie, and likewife hath not that bitterneffe or aftri@ion, in other things it worketh almoft in an equall quality: The trae Indian Rubarbe is an excellent and fafe medecine, to purge the body ofcholer and flegme,being either taken of it felfe, made into powder, and drunke ina draught of white wine, or fteeped thereinall and taken fafling; or putamong other purgers as fhall be thought coivenienr, clenfing the ftomacke andnight, Liver, and thereby the blood, opening obftructions, and helping thofe griefes that come thereof, as the Iaundife, Dropfie, the {welling of the {pleene;tertian and day agues, and the pricking paineofthefides, as alfo ftayeththe the {pitting of blood, comming as well from the Lunges, as any other part: the powder taken with Caffia diffolved, and a little wafht Venice Turpentine, clenfeththe Reines, and helpeth to ftrengthen themafter wards, andis very ef= fetuall to flay the Goverrhea or running of thereines, Itisalfo given for the paines and {wellings in the head, for thofe that are troubled with melancholy,and helpeth the Sciatica and Goute,and the paines ofthe Crampe: for which purpofe one drammeor two, ofthe extract thereof, made in this manner, and given in brethdoth workeffectually. Leta fufficient quantitic of Rubarbe be {teeped inCinamon water, whichbein forth, letit be itilled ina glaffe Limbeck in baéneo, untill the water be drawne forth, and g {trongly preffed thefubftance remaining, be ofthe thicknefle of honey, which keepe in-aclof€ covered pot or glaffe, for the ufe aforefaid, The powderof Rubarbe, taken witha litele Mumia and Madderrootes, in fome red wine, diffolveth ot clotted bloodin the body, happening by any fall, or brnife, and healecliburftings, and broken parts,congealed as well inward as outward; the oyle likewife wheréin it hath beene boyled, being anointed helpeth the yexing, or hickocke, andall fluxes ofthe belly, it itbe toalted or dryedaworketh the fame effe@ : 1¢ little by the fi-e, but much moreifit be more roafted tobe halfe burnt, and takenin wine after this manner: winc,andburne it with fome Sugar, and a toppe or twoofRofemary, into which Take a pint of good Claret put 4 dramme and a halfe of Rubarbe torrified, or roafted bythe fire as is aforefaid, and‘one dramme of Chebul Myrobalanes, alittle broken or bruifed, let thefé ftand in the burnt winé all night by thefite, and ftraine it forth in the morning, giving this at two times falting, whichwill in three or foure dayesftay any {cowringor laxe, ftrengthning the flomack and inward parts afterwards. It isufed to heale thofe Vicersthathappeni n the eyes, and éye lids, being fteeped and yned, asalfo to aflwage the tumorsandallaythe inflammations, and applyed with honeyor cute, that isto yled wine, ittaketh away all blacke and blew {pots, or markes that happen therein, This Rubarbe is fo gentle a medicine, that it maybe given to all forts of gentle conttitutions, (but in robuftious or ftrong bodies ir Pargethlit tle or nothing) whether they be children, or women witlichild e, and that fafely at all times of rhe yeare: the whey of milke, but efpecially of Goates:milke, is the beft and moft accommod ate liquor, whereinit is to be fteeped & taken,orelfein white wine,andit worketh thereby the more effeQually ih opening obftructions, and 1n purging the ftomacke and Liver, ffomcholer and flegme; and moft doe ufea little Indian Spiknard as the beft correator thereof :. The other.two laft forts of Rubarbeare not muchor oftenwed, and their qualities: are More altringent then opening, little experience having beene made with us, to fhew you more of “— Pz ; HAP, |