The Description.

            1. Among the hurtful weeds Darnel is the first. It bringeth forth leaves or stalks like those of wheat or barley, yet rougher, with a long ear made up of many little ones, every particular one whereof containeth two or three grains lesser than those of wheat, scarcely any chaffy husk to cover them with, by reason whereof they are easily shaken out and scattered abroad.

            2. Red Darnel is likewise an unprofitable corn or grass, having leaves like barley. The joints of the straw or stalk are sometimes of a reddish colour, bearing at the top a small and tender ear, flat, and much in form resembling the former.

The Place.

            They grow in fields among wheat and barley, of the corrupt and bad seed, as Galen saith, especially in a moist and dankish soil.

The Time.

            They spring and flourish with the corn, and in August the seed is ripe.

The Names.

            1. Darnel is called in the Arabian Tongue, Zizania and Sceylen: In French, Yuray: in Italian, Loglio: in low Dutch, Dolick: in English, Darnel: of some, Iuray, and Raye: and of some of the Latins, Triticum temulentum.

            2. Red Darnel is called in Greek Phoenix, because of the crimson colour: in Latin, Lolium Rubrum, and Lolium Murinum: of some, Hordeum Murinum, and Triticum Murinum: in Dutch, Muyse cozen: in English, Red Darnel, or great Darnel Grass.

The Temperature.

            Darnel is hot in the third degree, and dry in the second. Red Darnel drieth without sharpness, as Galen saith.

The Virtues

            A. The seed of Darnel, pigeons' dung, oil olive, and powder of linseed, boiled to the form of a plaster, consume wens, hard lumps, and such like excrescenses in any part of the body.

            B. The new bread wherein Darnel is, eaten hot, causeth drunkenness: in like manner doth beer or ale wherein the seed is fallen, or put into the Malt.

            C. Darnel taken with red wine stayeth the flux of the belly, and the overmuch flowing of women's terms.

            D. Dioscorides saith, That Darnel meal doth stay and keep back eating sores, gangrenes, and putrefied ulcers; and being boiled with Radish roots, salt, brimstone, and vinegar, it cureth spreading scabs, and dangerous tetters, and leprous or naughty scurf.

            E. The seed of Darnel given in white or Rhenish wine, provoketh the flowers or menses.

            F. A fume made thereof with parched barley meal, myrrh, saffron, and frankincense, made in form of a poultice, and applied upon the belly, helps conception, and causeth easy deliverance of childbearing.

            G. Red Darnel (as Dioscorides writeth) being drunk in sour or harsh red wine, stoppeth the lask, and the overmuch flowing of the flowers or menses, and is a remedy for those that piss in bed.

The danger.

            Darnel hurteth the eyes, and maketh them dim, if it happen in corn either for bread or drink; which thing Ovid in his first book Fastorum hath mentioned, in this verse:

Et careant lolii oculos vitiantibus agri.
[May the fields be free from darnel, that spoils the eyes.]

            And hereupon it seemeth that the old proverb came, That such as are dim sighted should be said, Lolio victitare.