The Description.
1 Dittanie of Crete now called Candie (as Dioscorides saith) is a hot and sharpe hearbe, much like unto Penni-Royall, saving that his leaves be greater and somewhat hoary, covered over with a soft downe or white woollie cotton: at the top of the branches grow small spikie eares or scaly aglets, hanging by little small stemmes, resembling the spiky tufts of Marjerome, of a white colour: amongst which scales there do come forth small floures like the flouring of Wheat, of a red purple colour; which being past, the knop is found full of small seed, contrary to the saying of Dioscorides, who saith, it neither beareth floure nor seed, but my selfe have seene it beare both in my Garden: the whole plant perished in the next Winter following.
The Place.
The first Dittany commeth from Crete, an Island which we call Candie, where it growes naturally: I have seene it in my garden, where it hath floured and borne seed; but it perished by reason of the injury of our extraordinary cold Winter that then happened: nevertheless Dioscorides writeth against all truth, that it neither beareth floures nor seed.
The Vertues.
The juyce taken with wine is a remedy against the stinging of serpents.
The same is thought to be of so strong an operation, that with the very smell also it drives away venomous beasts, and doth astonish them.
It is reported likewise that the wilde Goats or Deere in Candy when they be wounded with arrowes, do shake them out by eating of this plant, and heale their wounds.
It prevaileth much against all wounds, and especially those made with invenomed weapons, arrowes shot out of guns, or such like, and is very profitable for Chirurgians that use the sea and land wars, to carry with them and have in readinesse: it draweth forth also splinters of wood, bones, or such like.