Of Golden Rod.

Golden Rod. <column-break/> Arnold of the new towne his Golden Rod.

The description (la descripción).

Golden Rod hath long broad leaues somewhat hoarie and sharpe pointed; among which rise up browne stalkes two foote high, diuiding themselues towarde the toppe into sundrie branches, charged or loden with small yellow flowers, which when they be ripe, turne into downe, which is caried away with the winde. The roote is threddie and browne of colour. The second sort of Golden Rod hath small thinne leaues, broader than those of the first described, smooth, with some fewe cuts or nicks about the edges, and sharpe pointed; of a hot and harsh taste in the throte being chewed; which leaues are set upon a faire reddish stalke, whereof it tooke his name. The flowers growe at the top of a golde yellow colour, whereof some haue thought it tooke his name: whose opinion I hold for best; which flowers turne into downe that is carried away with the winde, as is the former. The roote is small, compact of many strings or threds.

The place (el lugar).

They both growe plentifully in Hampsteed wood neere vnto the gate that leadeth out of the wood, vnto a village called Kentish towne, not far from London; in a wood by Rayleigh in Essex, harde by a Gentlemans house called Master Leonard, dwelling vpon Dawes heath; in Southfleete, and in Swanscombe wood also neere vnto Grauesend.

The time (la época).

They flower and flourish in the end of August.

The names (los nombres).

It is called in English Golden Rod: in Latine Virga aurea, bicause the branches are like a golden rod; in Dutch Gulden roede; in French Verge d'or.

The temperature (el temperamento).

Golden Rod is hot and drie in the second degree; it clenseth with a certaine astriction or binding qualitie.

The vertues (las virtudes).

Golden Rod prouoketh vrine, wasteth away the stones in the kidneies, and expelleth them; and withall bringeth downe tough and rawe flegmatike humors sticking in the vrine vessels, which now and then do hinder the comming away of the stones; and causeth the grauell or sand which is brittle, to be gathered togither into one stone. And therfore Arnoldus Villanouanus by good reason hath commended it against the stone and paine of the kidneies. It is of the number of those plants that serue for wound drinkes, and is reported that it can fully performe all those things that Saracens Confound can: and in my practise shall be placed in the foremost ranke. Arnoldus writeth, that the distilled water drunke with wine for some few daies togither, worketh the same effect, that is, for the stone and grauell in the kidneies. It is extolled aboue all other herbes for the stopping of blood in sanguinolent vlcers and bleeding wounds; and hath in times past been had in greater estimation and regarde than in these daies: for within my remembrance, I haue knowne the drie herbe which came from beyond the seas, solde in Bucklers burie in London for halfe a crowne an ounce. But since it was founde in Hampsteed wood, euen as it were at our townes end, no man will giue halfe a crowne for an hundred weight of it: which plainly setteth foorth our inconstancie and sudden mutabilitie, esteeming no longer of any thing (how pretious soeuer it be) than whilest it is strange and rare. This verifieth our English prouerbe, Far fetcht and deere bought, is best for Ladies. Yet it may be more truly said of fantasticall Phisitions, who when they haue found an approued medicine, & perfect remedy neer home against any disease; yet not contented with that, they will seeke for a new farther off, and by that meanes many times hurt more than they helpe. Thus much I haue spoken, to bring these new fangled fellowes backe againe to esteeme better of this admirable plant than they haue done; which no doubt hath the fame vertue now that then it had, although it do growe so neere our own homes in neuer so great quantitie.