The Description.

1. Sundew is a little herb, and groweth very low, it hath a few leaves standing upon slender stems, very small, something round, a little hollow, and like an ear picker, hairy and reddish as be also the stems, having dew and moisture upon them at the driest time of the year, and when the sun shineth hottest even at high noon; and a month after there spring up little stalks, a hand-breadth high, on which stand small whitish flowers: the roots are very slender, and like unto hairs.

2. The second kind is like unto the former, in stalks and flowers, but larger, and the leaves are longer, and not so round, wherein consisteth the difference.

The Place.

They grow in desert, sandy and sunny places, but yet watery, and seldom other-where than among the white marsh moss which groweth on the ground and also upon bogs.

The Time.

Sundew flourisheth in summer, it flowereth in May or June: it is to be gathered when the weather is most dry and calm. The distilled water hereof that is drawn forth with a glass still, is of a glittering yellow colour like gold, and coloureth silver put therein like gold.

The Names.

It is called in Latin, Ros solis: of divers, Rosella: it is named of others, Salsi rosa, of the dew which hangeth upon it, when the sun is at the hottest: it is called in High Dutch, Sondaw, and Suidaw, in Low Dutch, Loopichecruit, which in English signifieth Lustwort, because sheep and other cattle, if they do but only taste of it, are provoked to lust. It is called in English, Sundew, Ros Solis, Youth-wort: in the Northern parts, Red Rot, because it rotteth sheep; and in Yorkshire, Moor Grass.

The Temperature.

It is a searing or caustic herb, and very much biting, being hot and dry in the fourth degree.

The Virtues.

A. The leaves being stamped with salt do exulcerate and raise blisters, to what part of the body soever they be applied.

B. The later pysicians have thought this herb to be a rare and singular remedy for all those that be in a consumption of the lungs, and especially the distilled water thereof: for as the herb doth keep and hold fast the moisture and dew, and so fast, that the extreme drying heat of the sun cannot consume and waste away the same: so likewise men thought that herewith the natural and radical humidity in men's bodies is preserved and cherished. But the use thereof doth otherwise teach, and reason showeth the contrary: for seeing it is an extreme biting herb, and that the distilled water is not altogether without this biting quality, it cannot be taken with safety: for it hath also been observed, that they have sooner perished that used the distilled water hereof, than those that abstained from it, and have followed the right and ordinary course of diet.

C. Cattle of the female kind are stirred up to lust by eating even of a small quantity: which thing hath greatly increased their vain opinion, without sense or reason; for it doth not move nor provoke cattle to lust, for that it increaseth the substance of the seed, but because through his sharp and biting quality it stirreth up a desire to lust, which before was dulled, and as it were asleep.

D. It strengtheneth and nourisheth the body, especially if it be distilled with wine, and that liquor made thereof which the common people do call Rosa Solis.

E. If any be desirous to have the said drink effectual for the purposes aforesaid, let them lay the leaves of Rosa Solis in the spirit of wine, aiding thereto cinnamon, cloves, mace, ginger, nutmegs, sugar, and a few grains of musk suffering it so to stand in a glass close stopped from the air, and set in the sun by the space of ten days, then strain the same, and keep it for your use.