Of wilde Time.

| 1 Serpillum vulgare. | 2 Serpillum vulgare flore albo. | | :--- | :--- | | Wilde Time. | White wilde Time. |

The description.

Both Dioscorides and Plinie make two kindes of Serpillum, that is, of creeping or wilde Time, whereof the first is our common creeping Time, which is so well knowen, that it needeth no description; yet this ye shall vnderstand, that it beareth flowers of a purple colour, as euerie bodie knoweth. Of which kinde I found another sort, with flowers as white as snowe, and haue planted it in my garden, where it becommeth an herbe of great beautie. This wilde Time that bringeth foorth white flowers, differeth not from the other, but onely in the colour of the flowers. There is another kinde of Serpillum, which groweth in gardens, in smell and sauour resembling Marierom. It hath leaues like Organie, or wilde Marierome, but somewhat whiter, putting foorth many small stalkes, set full of leaues like Rue, but longer, narrower, and harder. The flowers are of a biting taste, and pleasant smell. The whole plant groweth vpright, whereas the other creepeth along vpon the earth, catching hold where it groweth, and spreading it selfe far abroad. 3 Serpillum maius flore purpureo Clusij & L'Obelij. Great purple wilde Time. 4 Serpillum maius flore albo. Great white wilde Time. 5 Serpillum folijs amaraci. Time Marierom. 6 Serpillum Creticum. Wilde Time of Candie. 3 This great wilde Time creepeth not as the others do, but standeth vpright, and bringeth forth little slender branches full of leaues like those of Rue; yet narrower, longer, and harder. The flowers be of a purple colour, and of a twinging biting taste: it groweth vpon rocks, and is hotter than any of the others. 4 This other great one with white flowers differeth not from the precedent, hauing many knaps or heads, of a milke white colour, which setteth foorth the difference. 5 This wilde Time creepeth vpon the ground, set with many leaues by couples like those of Marjerom, but lesser, of the same smell: the flowers are of a reddish colour. The roote is very threddie. 6 Wilde Time of Candie is like vnto the other wilde Times, sauing that his leaues are narrower and longer. The smell is more aromaticall than any of the others, wherein is the difference. There is a kinde of wilde Time growing vpon the mountaines of Italie called Serpillum Citratum, that is, hauing the smell of a Pome Citron, or a Limon, which giueth it the difference from the other wilde Times.

The place.

The first groweth vpon barren hils, and vntoiled soules, the second groweth in gardens. The white kinde I found at Southfleete in Kent, in a barren field belonging to one Master William Swan.

The time.

They flower from May to the end of sommer.

The names.

Wilde Time is called in Latine Serpillum, à serpendo, of creeping: in high and lowe Dutch Quendel, and wilden Thymus, and also Onser Vrouwen bedstroo; in Spanish Serpol: in Italian Serpillo: in French Pillolet: in English wilde Time, Puliall Mountaine, Pella mountaine, running Time, creeping Time, Mother of Time, and our Ladies Bedstrawe. Yet there is another herbe hauing the same name, called also Gallium: it is doubtles Serpillum veterum: of some Apothecaries named Pulegium montanum; notwithstanding it answereth not so well to the wilde Times, as to Dioscorides his Saxifranga: for if it be diligently compared with the description of Time and Saxifranga, it shall be found to be little like the wilde Times, but very much like to Saxifranga, being none of the kindes of the olde phisitions wilde Time, but Saxifranga Dioscoridis: for faith he, Saxifranga is an herbe like Time, growing on rocks where our common wilde Time is oftentimes found. Aelianus in his ninth booke of his sundrie histories, seemeth to number wilde Time among the flowers. Dionysius Iunior saith he, comming into the citie Locris in Italie, possessed most of the houses of the citie, and did strewe them with roses, wilde Time, and other such kindes of flowers. Yet Virgil in the second Eglog of his Bucolicks, doth most manifestly testifie, that wilde Time is an herbe, and not a shrubbie plant, in these wordes, > Thestylis & rapido fessis messoribus astu > Allea serpillumque herbas contundit olentes. > Thestylis, to ease men wearied with parching heate; > Garlick, wild Time and holsome herbes prouides to eate. Out of which place it may be gathered, that common wilde Time is the true and right Serpillum, or wilde Time, which the Grecians call ἕρπυλλος. Marcellus an olde ancient author among the French men, saith it is called Gilarum, as Plinius Valerianus saith it is called of the same Laurio.

The temperature.

Wilde Time is of temperature hot and drie in the third degree: it is of thinne and subtill partes, cutting, and much biting.

The vertues.

It bringeth downe the desired sicknes, prouoketh vrine, applied in bathes and fomentations it procureth sweate: being boiled in wine, it helpeth the ague, it easeth the strangurie, it staieth the hicket, it breaketh the stones in the bladder, it helpeth the Lythargie, frensie, and madnes, and staieth the vomiting of blood. Wilde Time boiled in wine and drunke, is good against the wambling and gripings of the bellie, ruptures, conuulsions, and inflammations of the liuer. It helpeth against the bitings of any venemous beast, either taken in drinke, or outwardly applied. AEtius D AEtius writeth, that Serpillum infused well in vineger, and then sodden and mingled with rose water, is a right singular remedie to cure them that haue had a long phrensie or lythargie. E Galen prescribeth one dram of the iuice to be giuen in vineger against the vomiting of bloud, and helpeth such as are greeued with the spleene.