Papaver erraticum [which some call Oxytonum, ye Romans Papaveralis, ye Egyptians Nanti] is so called because it quickly casteth away ye flower; it grows in fields in ye spring, at what time also it is gathered. Ye leaves are like to Origanum, or to Eruca, or to Cichory, or Thyme, jagged, but longer, and rough; but a downy stalk, straight, rough, as of a cubits height: ye flower purple, & sometimes also white, like to that of Anemone ye wild: ye head somewhat long, yet somewhat less than that of Anemone: ye seed red: ye root somewhat long, whitish, having ye thickness of a little finger & bitter. Having sod 5 or 6 little heads of this with three Cyathi of wine, to bring it as to two, give it to drink to such as you would make sleep. As much as an acetabulum of ye seed being drank with Melicrate, doth soften ye belly gently. It is mixed also with honeyed confections & cakes for ye same purpose. But ye leaves being laid on together with ye heads doe heal inflammations. But ye decoction of them being fomented, or sprinkled on, is soporiferous.
[the Romans call it Eruca, ye Aegyptians Ethrekicen, the Africans Asuric] This being eaten raw in any great quantitie doth provoke Venery, and the seed of it also doth work ye like effect, being vreticall and digestiue, & good for ye belly. They doe also vse the seed of it in making of sawces, which that it may endure the longer, hauing macerated it first in vinegar, or milke, making it into Trochiscks, they afterward lay it vp in store.
There also grows a wild Eruca, especially in Iberia towards ye west, whose seed the men there doe vse instead of Mustard. It is more diureticall, & farre sharper then the Satiue.
