AND ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED. 71 
tinued use of the decoction for fifteen days, 
taken fasting, and next to bedward, doth 
help the stranguary, the difficulty and stop- 
page of urine, and the stone, as well as all 
defects of the reins and kidneys; and if 
the said drink be continued longer, it is said 
that it cures the stone; it is found good 
against the French pox. The roots bruised 
and applied outwardly, help the kernels of 
the throat, commonly called the king’s evil; 
or taken inwardly, and applied to the place 
stung or bitten by any serpent, heal it 
speedily. If the roots be bruised, and 
boiled in old hog’s grease, or salted lard, 
and broken bones, thorns, &c. remaining 
in the flesh, they do not only draw them 
forth, but heal up the place again, gathering 
new flesh where it was consumed. The 
juice of the leaves dropped into the ear, 
helps imposthumes therein. The distilled 
water of the whole herb, when the leaves 
and stalks are young, is profitably drank 
for all the purposes aforesaid; and helps 
the melancholy of the heart, and is avail- 
able in quartan and quotidian agues; as 
also for them that have their necks drawn 
away, and cannot turn them without turn- 
ing their whole body. 
EYEBRIGHT. 
Descript.] Common Eyebright is a 
small low herb, rising up usually but with 
one blackish green stalk a span high, or 
not much more, spread from the bottom 
into sundry branches, whereon are small 
and almost round yet pointed dark green 
leaves, finely snipped about the edges, two 
always set together, and very thick; At the 
joints with the leaves, from the middle up- 
ward, come forth small white flowers, 
Steeped with purple and yellow spots, or 
Stripes; after which follow small round 
heads, with very small seed therein. The 
Toot is long, small and thready at the end. 
Place.} It grows in meadows, and grassy : 
ees 
Government and virtues.| It is under the 
sign of the Lion, and Sol claims dominion 
over it. If the herb was but as much used 
as it is neglected, it would half spoil the 
spectacle maker’s trade; and a man would 
think, that reason should teach people to 
prefer the preservation of their natural 
before artificial spectacles; which that they 
may be instructed how to do, take the vir- 
tues of Eyebright as follows. 
The juice or distilled water of Eyebright, 
taken ‘nwardly in white wine or broth, or 
dropped into the eyes for divers days 
together, helps all infirmities of the eyes 
that cause dimness of sight. Some make 
conserve of the flowers to the same effect. 
Being used any of the ways, it also helps 
a weak brain, or memory. This tunned up 
with strong beer that it may work together, 
and drank, or the powder of the dried herb 
mixed with sugar, a little mace, and Fennel 
seed, and drank, or eaten in broth; or the 
said powder made into an electuary with 
sugar, and taken, has the same powerful 
effect to help and restore the sight decayed 
through age; and Arnoldus de Villa Nova 
saith, it hath restored sight to them that 
have been blind a long time before. 
FERN. 
Descript.]| Or this there are two kinds 
principally to be treated of, viz. the Male - 
and Female. The Female grows higher 
than the Male, but the leaves thereof are 
smaller, and more divided and dented, and 
of as strong a smell as the male; the vir- 
tue of them are both alike, and therefore 
I shall not trouble you with any descrip- 
tion or distinction of them. A 
Place.] They grow both in heaths and 
in shady places near the hedge-sides in all _ 
counties of this land. 
Time.] They flower and give their seed — 
at Midsummer. ae 
Ths Neaisle Peon in. thot pleat which ta 
is Recesecealled Deohes, thetoed 0¢ hicks 
