For all the purposes aforesaid, the small Sage is accounted to be of the more force and vertue.
Chap. VII.
Horminum sativum. Garden Clary.
There is but one sort of Garden Clary, though many wilde, which hath foure square stalks, with broad rough wrinkled whitish leaues, somewhat vneuenly cut in on the edges, and of a strong sweete sent, growing some next the ground, & some by couples vpon the stalkes: the flowers growe at certaine distances, with two small leaues at the ioynts vnder them, somewhat like vnto the flowers of Sage, but lesser, and of a very whitish or bleake blew colour: the seede is of a blackish browne colour, somewhat flat, and not so round as the wilde: the rootes spread not farre, and perish euery yeare that they beare flowers and seede. It is altogether to bee sowne of seed in the Spring time, yet sometimes it will rise of it owne sowing.
The Vse of Clary.
The most frequent and common vse of Clary, is for men or women that haue weake backes, to helpe to comfort and strengthen the raines, being made into Tansies and eaten, or otherwise. The seede is vsed of some to be put into the corner of the eye, if any mote or other thing haue happened into it: but assuredly although this may peraduenture doe some good, yet the seede of the wilde will doe much more. The leaues taken dry, and dipped into a batter made of the yolkes of egges, flower, and a little milke, and then fryed with butter vntill they be crispe, serue for a dish of meate accepted with manie, vnpleasant to none.
Chap. VIII.
Nepeta. Nep.
Although those that are Herbarists do know three sorts of Nep, a greater & two lesser, yet because the lesser are not vsuall, but in the Gardens of those that delight in natures varieties, I do not here shew you them. That which is vsuall (and called of manie Cat Mint) beareth square stalkes, but not so great as Clarie, hauing two leaues at euery ioynt, somewhat like vnto Balme or Speare Mintes, but whiter, softer, and longer, and nicked about the edges, of a strong sent, but nothing so strong as Clary: the flowers growe at the toppes of the stalkes, as it were in long spikes or heads, somewhat close together, yet compassing the stalkes at certaine ioynts, of a whitish colour, for forme and bignesse like vnto Balme, or somewhat bigger: the rootes are composed of a number of strings, which dye not, but keepe greene leaues vpon them all the Winter, and shoote anew in the Spring. It is propagated both by the seede, and by slipping the rootes.