The Vse of the Ilex or euer-greene Oake.
Seeing this is to be accounted among the kindes of Oake (and all Oakes by Dioscorides his opinion are binding) it is also of the same qualitie, but a little weaker, and may serue to strengthen weake members. The young tops and leaues are also vsed in gargles for the mouth and throate.
6. Cupressus. The Cypresse tree.
The Cypresse tree that is noursed vp by vs, in our Country, doth grow in those places where it hath beene long planted, to a very great height, whose bodie and boughes are couered with a reddish ash-coloured bark; the branches grow not spreading, but vpright close vnto the bodie, bushing thicke below, and small vpwards, spire fashion, those below reaching neere halfe the way to them aboue, whereon doe grow euer greene leaues, small, long and flat, of a resinous sweete smell, and strong taste, somewhat bitter: the fruit, which are called nuts, grow here and there among the boughes, sticking close vnto them, which are small, and clouen into diuers parts, but close while they are young, of a russetish browne colour; wherein are contained small browne seede, but not so small as motes in the Sunne, as Matthiolus and others make them to be.
The Vse of the Cypresse tree.
For the goodly proportion this tree beareth, as also for his euer-greene head, it is and hath beene of great account with all Princes, both beyond, and on this side of the Sea, to plant them in rowes on both sides of some spatious walke, which by reason of their high growing, and little spreading, must be planted the thicker together, and so they giue a goodly, pleasant and sweet shadow: or else alone, if they haue not many, in the middle of some quarter, or as they thinke meete. The wood thereof is firme and durable, or neuer decaying, of a brown yellow colour, and of a strong sweete smell, whereof Chests or Boxes are made to keepe apparell, linnen, furres, and other things, to preserue them from moths, and to giue them a good smell.
Many Physicall properties, both wood, leaues and nuts haue, which here is not my purpose to vnfold, but only to tell you, that the leaues being boyled in wine, and drunke, helpe the difficultie of making vrine, and that the nuts are binding, fit to bee vsed to stay fluxes or laskes, and good also for ruptures.