The Kindes.
The herb called Saint James his Wort is not without cause thought to be a kind of Groundsel: of which there be sundry sorts, some of the pasture, & one of the sea; some sweet smelling, and some of a loathsome savor.
The Description.
1 SAint James his wort or Rag-wort is very well known every where, and bringeth forth at the first broad leaves gashed round about like to the leaves of common Wormewood, but broader, thicker, not whitish or soft, of a deep green colour, with a stalke which riseth up above a cubit high, chamfered, blackish, and somwhat red withall. The armes or wings are set with lesser leaves like those of Groundsell or wilde Rocket. The floures at the top be of a yellow colour like Marigolds, as well the middle button, as the small floures that stand in a pale round about, which turne into downe as doth Groundsel. The root is threddy.
The Place.
Land Rag-wort groweth every where in untilled pastures and fields, which are somewhat moist especially, and neare unto the borders of fields.
The Time.
They floure in July and August, at which time they are carried away with the Down.
The Names.
In Latine, Herba S. Jacobi: in English, S. James his Wort: the countrey people doe call it Stagger-wort, and Staner-wort, and also Rag-wort, and Rag-weed. In Holdernesse in York-shire they call it Seggrum.
The Vertues.
It is commended by the later Physitians to bee good for greene wounds; it also healeth them, with the juyce heereof tempered with honey and May Butter, and boiled together unto the forme of an Unguent or salve.
It is much commended, and not without cause, to helpe old aches and paines in the armes, hips, and legs, boiled in hogs grease to the forme of an ointment.
Moreover, the decoction hereof gargarised is much set by as a remedy against swellings and impostumations of the throat, which it wasteth away and throughly healeth.
The leaves stamped very small, and boiled with some hogs grease unto the consumption of the juyce, adding thereto in the end of the boyling a little Masticke and Olibanum, and then strained, taketh away the old ache in the huckle bones called Sciatica.