The Time.
They flower in Iune and Iuly.
The Names.
The seuerall names whereby they are knowne to vs, are set forth in their titles; and therefore I neede not here say more of them then onely this, that neyther they here set downe, nor the common or ordinary sort, nor any of the rest not here expressed, are any of them the true Hyssope of the ancient Greeke Writers, but supposititiæ, vsed in the stead thereof. The Germander, from the forme of the leaues like vnto small oaken leaues, had the name Chamædrys giuen it, which signifieth a dwarfe Oake.
The Vertues.
The common Hyssope is much vsed in all pectorall medicines, to cut fleagme, and to cause it easily to be auoided. It is vsed of many people in the Country, to be laid vnto cuts or fresh wounds, being bruised, and applyed eyther alone, or with a little Sugar. It is much vsed as a sweet herbe, to be in the windowes of an house. I finde it much commended against the Falling Sicknesse, especially being made into Pils after this manner: Of Hyssope, Horhound, and Castor, of each halfe a dramme, of Peony rootes (the male kinde is onely fit to be vsed for this purpose) two drams, of Assafætida one scruple: Let them be beaten, and made into pils with the iuyce of Hyssope; which being taken for seuen dayes together at night going to bed, is held to be effectual to giue much ease, if not thoroughly to cure those that are troubled with that disease. The vse of Germander ordinarily is as Tyme, Hyssope, and other such herbes, to border a knot, whereunto it is often appropriate, and the rather, that it might be cut to serue (as I said) for a strewing herbe for the house among others. For the physicall vse it serueth in diseases of the splene, and the stopping of vrine, and to procure womens courses.
{Conclusion}
Thus haue I led you through all my Garden of Pleasure, and shewed you all the varieties of nature noursed therein, pointing vnto them, and describing them one after another. And how lastly (according to the vse of our old ancient Fathers) I bring you to rest on the Grasse, which yet shall not be without some delight, and that not the least of all the rest.