Fig. 543. Dwale, or Deadly Nightshade

The Description.

            Dwale or deadly Nightshade hath round blackish stalks six foot high, whereupon do grow great broad leaves of a dark green colour; among which do grow small hollow flowers bell-fashion, of an overworn purple colour; in the place whereof come forth great round berries of the bigness of the black cherry, green at the first, but when they be ripe of the colour of black jet or burnished horn, soft and full of purple juice: among which juice lie the seeds like the berries of Ivy: the root is very great, thick, and long lasting.

The Place.

            It groweth in untoiled places near unto high ways and the sea marshes, and such like places.

            It groweth very plentifully in Holland in Lincolnshire, and in the Isle of Ely at a place called Walsoken, near unto Wisbech.

            I found it growing without the gate of Highgate near unto a pound or pinfold on the left hand.

The Time.

            This flourisheth all the summer and spring, beareth his seed and flower in July and August.

The Names.

            It is called of the Latins, Solanum somniferum, or Sleeping Nightshade; and Solanum læthale, or deadly Nightshade; and Solanum maniacum, Raging Nightshade: of some, Apollinaris minor ulticana, and Herba opsago: in English, Dwale, or sleeping Nightshade: the Venetians and Italians call it Belladona: the Germans, Dollwurtz: the Low Dutch, Dulle besien; in French, Morelle mortelle: it cometh very near unto Theophrastus his Mandragoras, (which differeth from Dioscorides his Mandragoras.)

The Nature.

            It is cold even in the fourth degree.

The Virtues.

            A. This kind of Nightshade causeth sleep, troubleth the mind, bringeth madness if a few of the berries be inwardly taken, but if more be given they also kill and bring present death. Theophrastus in his 6^th book doth likewise write of Mandrake in this manner; Mandrake causeth sleep, and if also much of it be taken it bringeth death.

            B. The green leaves of deadly Nightshade may with great advice be used in such cases as Petty Morel: but if you will follow my counsel, deal not with the same in any case, and banish it from your gardens and the use of it also, being a plant so furious and deadly: for it bringeth such as have eaten thereof into a dead sleep wherein many have died, as hath been often seen and proved by experience both in England and elsewhere. But to give you an example hereof it shall not be amiss: It came to pass that three boys of Wisbech in the Isle of Ely did eat of the pleasant & beautiful fruits hereof, two whereof died in less than eight hours after that they had eaten of them. The third child had a quantity of honey and water mixed together given him to drink, causing him to vomit often: God blessed this means and the child recovered. Banish therefore these pernicious plants out of your gardens, and all places near to your houses, where children or women with child do resort, which do oftentimes long and lust after things most vile and filthy; and much more after a berry of a bright shining black colour, and of such great beauty, as it were able to allure any such to eat thereof.

            C. The leaves hereof laid unto the temples cause sleep, especially if they be imbibed or moistened in wine vinegar.It easeth the intolerable pains of the headache proceeding of heat in furious agues, causing rest being applied as aforefaid.