[E204] The numerous virtues of this herb are thus summed up in the King's Coll. MS. of the Promptorium:
"Bis duo dat maratrum, febres fugat atque venenum,
Et purgat stomacum, sic reddit lumen acutum."
Macer gives a detailed account, in which the following remarkable passages occur: "þe edderes wole ete fenel, when her yen dasnyþ, and so she getiþ ayene her clere sighte; and þer þoroghe it is founde and preved þat fenel doþ profit to mannis yene: þe yen þat ben dusked, and dasniþ, shul be anoynted with þe ius of fenelle rotis medeled with hony; and þis oynement shalle put a-way alle þe dasewenesse of hem, and make hem bryȝt." The virtue of fennel in restoring youth, was a discovery attributed by Macer to serpents; "Þis prouiþ auctours and filisoferis, for serpentis whan men (sic) olde, and willeth to wexe stronge, myghty, and yongly a-yean, þei gon and eten ofte fenel, and þei become yongliche and myghty."—MS. in the possession of H. W. Diamond, Esq. This herb is called in German Fenchel, Dutch Venckel. In Piers Plowman mention occurs of: "A ferthyng worth of fynkel-sede for fastinge daies;" C. vii. 360; spelt fenel in the other texts. "Fenkylle or fenelle, feniculum."—Prompt. Parv. "Fenelle or fenkelle, feniculum, maratrum."—Catholicon Anglicum.
[E205] "Andreas the Herborist writeth that the root of the Langdebeefe tyed or bounde to the diseased place, swageth the ache of the veynes (called Varix) being to muche opened or enlarged and fylled with grosse blood."—Lyte's Dodoens, 1578, p. 568. See also Gerard's Herbal, 1633.
This is no doubt Helminthia echioides, Linn., of which Parkinson (Paradisus) gives a good description and figure under this name, and says, "The leaves are onely used ... for an herbe for the pot among others." Lyte's reference is to some other plant which has "a purple flower."—Note by Mr. J. Britten, F.L.S.
[E206] "Leek." A remnant of A.S. porleac, from Lat. porrum and leac = a plant, Ger. lauch.
[E207] "Longwort," called in Lyte's Dodoens, p. 125, Sage of Jerusalem, "whiche herbe hath no particular vse in Physicke, but it is much vsed in Meates and Salades with egges, as is also Cowslippes and Prymeroses, whervnto in temperature it is much like." See also Gerard's Herbal, 1633, where it is called "Cowslips of Jerusalem."
[E208] "Liuerwort," so called from the liver shape of the thallus, and its supposed effects in disease of the liver. O. L. Ger. Steenleuerwnyt. According to Lyte's Dodoens, p. 59, "a soueraigne medicine against the heate and inflammation of the Lyuer, and all hoate Feuers or Agues." Anemone Hepatica, Linn.
The first portion of this note refers to a Cryptogam called Liverwort, having nothing to do with the plant meant by Tusser.—Note by Mr. J. Britten, F.L.S.