The Kinds.

            There be divers sorts of Woodbines, some of them shrubs with winding stalks, that wrap themselves unto such things as are near about them. Likewise there be other sorts or kinds found out by the later herbarists, that climb not at all, but stand upright, the which shall be set forth among the shrubby plants. And first of the common Woodbine.

The Description.

            1. Woodbine or Honeysuckle climbeth up aloft, having long slender woody stalks, parted into divers branches: about which stand by certain distances smooth leaves, set together by couples one right against another; of a light green colour above, underneath of a whitish green. The flowers show themselves in the tops of the branches many in number, long, white, sweet of snaell, hollow within; in one part standing more out, with certain threads growing out of the middle. The fruit is like to little bunches of grapes, red when they be ripe, wherein is contained small hard seed. The root is woody, and not without strings.

            2. This strange kind of Woodbine hath leaves, stalks, and roots like unto the common Woodbine or Honeysuckle, saving that near unto the place where the flowers come forth, the stalks do grow through the leaves, like unto the herb Thoroughwax, called Perfoliata; which leaves do resemble little saucers: out of which broad round leaves proceed fair, beautiful, and well smelling flowers, shining with a whitish purple colour, and somewhat dashed with yellow, by little and little stretched out like the nose of an elephant, garnished within with small yellow chives or threads: and when the flowers are in their flourishing, the leaves and flowers do resemble saucers filled with the flowers of Woodbine: many times it falleth out, that there is to be found three or four saucers one above another, filled with flowers, as the first, which hath caused it to be called double Honeysuckle, or Woodbine.

The Place.

            The Woodbine groweth in woods and hedges, and upon shrubs and bushes, oftentimes winding itself so straight and hard about, that it leaveth his print upon those things so wrapped.

            The double Honeysuckle groweth now in my garden and many others likewise in great plenty, although not long since, very rare and hard to be found, except in the garden of some diligent Herbarists.

The Time.

            The leaves come forth betimes in the spring: the flowers bud forth in May and June: the fruit is ripe in autumn.

The Names.

            It is called in Latin, Volvucrum maius: of Scribonius Largus, Sylvae mater: in shops, Caprifolium, and Matrisylva: of some, Lilium inter spinas: in Italian, Vincibosco: in High Dutch, Geysbladt: in Low Dutch, Gheytenbladt, and Mammekens Cruyt: in French, Cheure-fueille: in Spanish, Madreselva: in Englilh, Woodbine, Honeysuckle, and Caprifoly.

The Temperature.

            There hath an error in times past grown amongst a few, and now almost past recovery to be called again, being grown an error universal, which error is, how the decoction of the leaves of Honeysuckles, or the distilled water of the flowers, are rashly given for the inflammations of the mouth and throat, as though they were binding and cooling. But contrariwise Honeysuckle is neither cold nor binding; but hot, and attenuating or making thin. For as Galen saith, both the fruit of Woodbine and also the leaves, do so much attenuate and heat, as if somewhat too much of them be drunk, they will cause the urine to be as red as blood, yet do they at the first only provoke urine.

The Virtues.

            A. Dioscorides writeth that the ripe seed gathered and dried in the shadow, and drunk unto the quantity of one dram weight, forty days together, doth waste and consume away the hardness of the spleen, removeth wearisomeness, helpeth the shortness and difficulty of breathing, cureth the hicket, procureth bloody urine after the sixth day, and causeth women to have speedy travail in child bearing.

            B. The leaves be of the same force: which being drunk thirty days together, are reported to make men barren and destroy their natural seed.

            C. The flowers steeped in oil and set in the sun, is good to anoint the body that is benumbed, and grown very cold.

            D. The distilled water of the flowers are given to be drunk with good success against the pissing of blood.

            E. A syrup made of the flowers is good to be drunk against the diseases of the lungs and spleen that is stopped, being drunk with a little wine.

            F. Notwithstanding the words of Galen (or rather of Dodonæus) it is certainly found by experience that the water of Honeyuckles is good against the soreness of the throat and uvula: and with the same leaves boiled, or the leaves and flowers distilled, are made divers good medicines against cankers and sore mouths, as well in children as elder people, and likewise for ulcerations and scaldings in the privy parts of man or woman; if there be added to the decoction hereof some alum or verdigris, if the sore require greater cleansing outwardly, provided always that there be no verdigris put into the water that must be injected into the secret parts.