3. Of this there is another variety set forth by Clusius by the name of Anagallis tenuifolia monelli, because he received the figure and history thereof from John Monell of Tournai in France; it differs thus from the last mentioned, the leaves are longer and narrower, somewhat like those of Gratiola, and they now and then grow three at a joint, and out of the bosoms of the leaves come commonly as many little footstalks as there are leaves, which carry flowers of a blue colour with the middle purplish, and these are somewhat larger than them of the former, otherwise like.

            4. The yellow Pimpernel hath many weak and feeble branches trailing upon the ground, beset with leaves one against another like the great Chickweed, not unlike to Nummularia, or Moneywort; between which and the stalks, come forth two single and small tender footstalks, each bearing at their top one yellow flower and no more. The root is small and thready.

The Place.

            They grow in ploughed fields near pathways, in gardens and vineyards, almost everywhere. I found the female with blue flowers in a chalky corn field in the way from Mr. William Swaine's house of Southfleet to Longfield Downs, but never any where else, saith our author. I also being in Essex in the company of my kind friend Mr. Nathaniel Wright found this among the corn at Wrightsbridge, being the seat of Mr. John Wright his brother. The yellow Pimpernel grows in the woods between Highgate and Hampstead, and in many other woods.

The Time.

            They flower in summer, and especially in the month of August, at what time the husbandmen having occasion to go unto their harvest work, will first behold the flowers of Pimpernel, whereby they know the weather that shall follow the next day after: as for example, if the flowers be shut close up, it betokeneth rain and foul weather; contrariwise, if they be spread abroad, fair weather.

The Names.

            It is called in Greek and Latin Anagallis: of divers, (as Pliny reporteth) Corchorus, but untruly: of Marcellus an old writer, Macia; the word is extant in Dioscorides among the bastard names. That with the crimson flower, being the male, is named Phœnicion, and Corallion; of this is made the composition or receipt called Diacorallion, that is used against the gout; which composition Paula Ægineta setteth down in his seventh book. Among the bastard names it hath been called Aetitis, Ægitis, and Sauritis: in English, Red Pimpernel, and blue Pimpernel.

The Temperature.

            Both the sorts of Pimpernel are of a drying faculty without biting, and somewhat hot, with a certain drawing quality, insomuch that it doth draw forth splinters and things fixed in the flesh, as Galen writeth.

The Virtues.

            A. Dioscorides writes, That they are of power to mitigate pain, to cure inflammations or hot swellings, to draw out of the body and flesh thorns, splinters, or shivers of wood, and to help the King's evil.

            B. The juice purgeth the head by gargarising or washing the throat therewith; it cures the toothache being sniffed up into the nostrils, especially into the contrary nostril.

            C. It helpeth those that be dim sighted: the juice mixed with honey cleanses the ulcers of the eye called in Latin Argema.

            D. Moreover he affirmeth, That it is good against the stinging of Vipers, and other venomous beasts.

            E. It prevaileth against the infirmities of the liver and kidneys, if the juice be drunk with wine. He addeth further, how it is reported, That Pimpernel with the blue flower helpeth up the fundament that is fallen down; and that red Pimpernel applied, contrariwise bringeth it down.