The Description.

            1. The first kind of Melilot hath great plenty of small tough and twiggy branches, and stalks full of joints or knees, in height two cubits, set full of leaves three together, like unto Burgundy Hay. The flowers grow at the top of the stalk, of a pale yellow colour, standing thickly set and compact together, in order or rows, very like the flowers of Securidaca altera: which being faded, there follow certain crooked cods bending or turning upward with a sharp point, in fashion not much unlike a parrot's bill, wherein is contained seed like Fenugreek, but flatter and slenderer: the whole plant is of a reasonable good smell, much like unto honey, and very full of juice: the root is very tough and pliant.

            2. The second kind of Melilot hath small and tender upright stalks, a cubit high, and somewhat more, of a reddish colour, set full of round leaves three together, not snipped about the edges like the other Trefoils; and they are of a very deep green colour, thick, fat, and full of juice. The flowers grow alongst the tops of the stalks, of a yellow colour, which turn into rough round seeds as big as a tare, and of a pale colour. The whole plant hath also the savour of honey, and perisheth when it hath borne his seed.

            3. The third kind of Melilot hath round stalks and jagged leaves set round about, not much unlike the leaves of Fenugreek, always three growing together like the Trefoils, and oftentimes covered over with an hoariness, as though meal had been strewed upon them. The flowers be yellow and small, growing thick together in a tuft, which turn into little cods, wherein the seed is contained: the root is small, tough, and pliant.

            4. The fourth kind of Melilot grows to the height of three cubits, set full of leaves like the common Melilot, and of the same savour: the flowers grow alongst the top of the stalks, of a white colour, which turn into small soft husks, wherein is contained little blackish seed: the root is also tough and pliant.

            5. The Common Melilot hath weak cornered green stalks some two foot and better high, whereon grow longish leaves snipped and oftentimes eaten about the edges, of a fresh green colour: out of the bosoms of the leaves come little stalks some handful long, set thick on their tops with little yellow flowers hanging down and turning up again, each flower being composed of two little yellow leaves, whereof the uppermost comes up again, and the undermost seems to be parted into three. The flowers past, there succeed little cods wherein is the seed.

The Place.

            These plants grow in my garden: the common English Melilot Pena setteth forth for Melilotis germanica: but for certainty no part of the world doth enjoy so great part thereof as England, and especially Essex; for I have seen between Sudbury in Suffolk, and Clare in Essex, and from Clare to Henham, and from thence to Ovington, Bulmer, and Pebmarsh, very many acres of arable pasture overgrown with the same; insomuch that it doth not only spoil their land, but the corn also, as Cockle or Darnel, and as a weed that generally spreadeth over that corner of the Shire.

The Time.

            These herbs do flower in July and August.

The Names.

            Plaster Clover is called by the general name, Melilotus, of some, Trifolium odoratum, yet there is another sweet Trefoil, as hath been declared. Some call it Trefolium equinum, and caballinum, or Horse-Trefoil, by reason it is good fodder for horses, who do greedily feed thereon: likwise Trifolium ursinum, or Bear's Trefoil: of Fuchsius, Saxifraga lutea, and Sertula campana: of Cato, Serta campana, which most do name Corona regia: in High Dutch, Groote Steenclaveren: of the Romans and Etrurians, Tribolo, as Matthiolus writeth: in English, Melilot, and Plaster Clover: in Yorkshire, Hart's Clover.

The Temperature.

            Melilot, saith Galen, hath more plenty of hot substance than cold (that is to say, hot and dry in the first degree) it hath also a certain binding quality, besides a wasting and ripening faculty. Disocorides showeth, that Melilot is of a binding and mollifying quality, but the mollifying quality is not proper unto it, but inasmuch as it wasteth away, and digesteth humours gathered in hot swellings, or otherwise: for so far doth it mollify or supple that thing which is hard, which is not properly called mollifying, but digesting and wasting away by vapors.

The Virtues.

            A. Melilot boiled in sweet wine until it be soft, if you add thereto the yolk of a roasted egg, the meal of Fenugreek and Linseed, the roots of Marsh Mallows and hog's grease stamped together, and used as a poultice or cataplasm, plasterwise, doth assuage and soften all manner of swellings, especially about the matrix, fundament and genitories, being applied unto those places hot.

            B. With the juice hereof, oil, wax, rosin and turpentine, is made a most sovereign healing and drawing emplaster, called Melilot plaster, retaining both the colour and savour of the herb, being artificially made by a skilful surgeon.

            C. The herb boiled in wine and drunk provoketh urine, breaketh the stone, and assuageth the pain of the kidneys, bladder and belly, and ripeneth phlegm, and causeth it to be easily cast forth.

            D. The juice thereof dropped into the eyes cleareth the sight, consumeth, dissolveth, and clean taketh away the web, pearl, and spot in the eyes.

            E. Melilot alone with water healeth recentes melicerides, a kind of wens or rather apostumes containing matter like honey; and also the running ulcers of the head, if it be laid to with chalk, wine and galls.

            F. It likewise mitigateth the pain of the ears, if the juice be dropped therein mixed with a little wine, and taketh away the pain of the head, which the Greeks call kephalalgia, especially if the head be bathed therewith, and a little vinegar and oil of Roses mixed amongst it.