It is planted in out-yards, backsides, or voide places of Orchards, as well to cast clothes thereon to dry, as for medicines both for men and horses: being made into an oyle, it is good to annoint childrens bellies for to kill the Wormes: and the powder thereof mixed with Hogs grease, to annoint the running sores or scabs in their heads; but beware how you giue it inwardly to men, women, or children. It is often put into horses drenches, to helpe to cure them of the bots, and other diseases.
14. Paliurus. Christs thorne.
This thorny shrubbe (wherewith as it is thought, our Sauiour Christ was crowned, because as those that haue trauelled through Palestina and Iudæa, doe report no other thorne doth grow therein so frequent, or so apt to be writhed) riseth in some places to a reasonable height, but in our country seldome exceedeth the height of a man, bearing many slender branches, full of leaues, set on either side thereof one by one, which are somewhat broad and round, yet pointed, and full of veines, thicke set also with small thornes, euen at the foote of euery branch, and at the foote of euery leafe one or two, some standing vpright, others a little bending downe: the flowers are small and yellow, standing for the most part at the end of the branches, many growing vpon a long stalke, which after turne into round, flat, and hard shelly fruit, yet couered with a soft fleshy skinne, within which are included two or three hard, small, and browne flat seeds, lying in seuerall partitions. The leaues hereof fall away euery yeare, and spring forth afresh againe the next May following. The rarity and beauty of this shrubbe, but chiefly (as I thinke) the name hath caused this to be much accounted of with all louers of plants.
The Vse of Christs thorne.
Wee haue so few of these shrubbes growing in our country, and those that are, doe, for any thing I can vnderstand, neuer beare fruit with vs; that there is no other vse made hereof then to delight the owners: but this is certainly receiued for the Paliurus of Dioscorides and Theophrastus, and thought also by Matthiolus to be the very true Rhamnus tertius of Dioscorides. Matthiolus also seemeth to contradict the opinion is held by the Physitians of Mompelier, and others, that it cannot be the Paliurus of Theophrastus. It is held to be effectuall to helpe to breake the stone, both in the bladder, reines, and kidneyes; the leaues and young branches haue an astringent quality, and good against poysons and the bitings of serpents.
15. Larix. The Larch tree.
The Larch tree, where it naturally groweth, riseth vp to be as tall as the Pine or Firre tree, but in our Land being rare, and noursed vp but with a few, and those onely louers of rarities, it groweth both slowly, and becommeth not high: the barke hereof is very rugged and thicke, the boughes and branches grow one aboue another in a very comely order, hauing diuers small yellowish knobs or bunches set thereon at seuerall distances; from whence doe yearely shoote forth many small, long, and narrow smooth leaues together, both shorter and smaller, and not so hard or sharpe pointed as either the Pine or Firre tree leaues, which doe not abide the Winter as they doe, but fall away euery yeare, as other trees which shed their leaues, and gaine fresh euery Spring: the blossomes are very beautifull and delectable, being of an excellent fine crimson colour, which standing among the greene leaues, allure the eyes of the beholders to regard it with the more desire: it also beareth in the naturall places (but not in our Land that I could heare) small soft cones or fruit, somewhat like vnto Cypresse nuts, when they are greene and close.