The Description.

            1. Avena Vesca, Common Oats, is called Vesca, à Vescendo, because it is used in many countries to make sundry sorts of bread; as in Lancashire, where it is their chiefest bread corn for bannocks, haver cakes, tharf-cakes, and those which are called generally oaten cakes; and for the most part they call the grain Haver, whereof they do likewise make drink for want of Barley.

            2. Avena Nuda is like unto the common Oats; differing in that, that these naked Oats immediately as they be threshed, without help of a mill become oatmeal fit for our use. In consideration whereof in Norfolk and Suffolk they are called unhulled and naked Oats. Some of those good house-wives that delight not to have anything but from hand to mouth, according to our English proverb, may (whiles their pot doth seethe) go to the barn, and rub forth with their hands sufficient for that present time, not willing to provide for tomorrow, according as the Scripture speaketh, but let the next day bring with it.

The Nature.

            Oats are dry and somewhat cold of temperature, as Galen saith.

The Virtues.

            A. Common Oats put into a linen bag, with a little bay salt quilted handsomely for the same purpose, and made hot in a frying pan, and applied very hot, easeth the pain in the side called the stitch, or colic in the belly.

            B. If Oats be boiled in water, and the hands or feet of such as have the serpigo or impetigo, that is, certain chaps, chinks, or rifts in the palms of the hands or feet (a disease of great affinity with the pox) be holden over the fume or smoke thereof in some bowl or other vessel wherein the Oats are put, and the patient covered with blankets to sweat, being first anointed with that ointment or unction usually applied contra Morbum Gallicum: it doth perfectly cure the same in six times so anointing and sweating.

            C. Oatmeal is good for to make a fair and well coloured maid to look like a cake of tallow, especially if she take next her stomach a good draught of strong vinegar after it.

            D. Oatmeal used as a cataplasm dries and moderately discusses, and that without biting; for it hath somewhat a cool temper, with some astriction, so that it is good against scourings.