142 
THE COMPLETE HERBAL 
and frantic persons very much; as also the 
biting of serpents, or a mad dog. The same 
also is profitably applied to all hot gouts 
in the feet or hands, especially in the be- 
ginning. It is also good to be applied where 
any bone is out of joint, to hinder inflam- 
mations, swellings, and pains that presently 
rise thereupon. The powder of the dried 
leaves taken in drink, kills worms of the 
belly ; and boiled in wine, kills worms that 
breed in old and foul ulcers. One part of 
Plantain water, and two parts of the brine 
of powdered beef, boiled together and clari- 
fied, is a most sure remedy to heal all 
spreading scabs or itch in the head and 
body, all manner of tetters, ringworms, the 
shingles, and all other running and fretting 
_ sores. Briefly, the Plantains are singularly 
_good wound herbs, to heal fresh or old 
wounds or sores, either inward or outward. 
PLUMS. 
Are so well known that they need no 
description. 
Government and virtues.| All Plums are 
under Venus, and are like women, some 
better, and some worse. As there is great 
diversity of kinds, so there is in the opera- 
tion of Plums, for some that are sweet 
moisten the stomach, and make the belly 
soluble; those that are sour quench thirst 
more, and bind the belly; the moist and 
waterish do sooner corrupt in the stomach, 
but the firm do nourish more, and offend 
less. The dried fruit sold by the grocers 
under the name of Damask Prunes, do 
somewhat loosen the belly, and being 
stewed, are often used, both in health and 
_ sickness, to relish the mouth and stomach, 
to procure appetite, and a little to open 
_ the body, allay choler, and cool the 
_ stomach. Plum-tree leaves boiled in wine, 
_ are good to wash and gargle the mouth and 
_ throat, to dry the flux of rheum coming to 
the palate, gums, or almonds of the ear. 
stone. The gum or leaves boiled in vinegar, 
and applied, kills tetters and ringworms, 
Matthiolus saith, The oil preserved out of 
the kernels of the stones, as oil of almonds 
is made, is good against the inflamed piles, 
the tumours or swellings of ulcers, hoarse- 
ness of the voice, roughness of the tongue 
and throat, and likewise the pains in the 
ears. And that five ounces of the said oil 
taken with one ounce of muskadel, drives 
forth the stone, and helps the cholic. 
POLYPODY OF THE OAK. 
Descript.] Tutus is a small herb consist- 
ing of nothing but roots and leaves, bearing 
neither stalk, flower, nor seed, as it is 
thought. It hath three or four leaves rising 
from the root, every one single by itself, of 
about a hand length, are winged, consisting 
of many small narrow leaves cut into the 
middle rib, standing on each side of the 
stalk, large below, and smaller up to the 
top, not dented nor notched at the edges 
at all, as the male fern hath, of sad green 
colour, and smooth on the upper side, but 
on the other side somewhat rough by reason 
of some yellowish flowers set thereon. The 
root is smaller than one’s little finger, lying 
aslope, or creeping along under the uppét 
crust of the earth, brownish on the outside 
and greenish within, of a sweetish harsh- 
ness in taste, set with certain rough knags 
on each side thereof, having also much 
mossiness or yellow hairiness upon it, and 
some fibres underneath it, whereby it is 
nourished. 
Place.| It grows as well upon old rotte® 
stumps, or trunks of trees, as oak, beech, 
bazel, willow, or any other, as in the woods 
under them, and upon old mud walls, 4§ 
also in-mossy, stony, and gravelly places — 
near unto wood. That which grows aye 
oak is accounted the best; but the quantity 
thereof is scarce sufficient for the commo? 
