60 S Y L V A 



BOOK I 



which transmutes the leaves of this tree into brass, 

 and iron into copper. Of the galls is made trial of 

 spaw-water, and the ground and basis of several dies, 

 especially sadder colours, and are a great revenue to 

 those who have quantities of them : Nor must I 

 forget ink, compos'd of galls Jiiij, coppras ^ij, gum- 

 arabic ?i : Beat the galls grossly, and put them into 

 a quart of claret, or French-wine, and let them soak 

 for eight or nine days, setting the vessel (an earthen 

 glaz'd pitcher is best) in the hot sun, if made in 

 summer ; in winter near the fire, stirring it frequently 

 with a wooden spatula : Then add the coppras and 

 gum, and after it has stood a day or two, it will be 

 fit to use. There are a world of receipts more, of 

 which see Caneparius de Atramentis. Of the very 

 moss of the oak, that which is white, composes the 

 choicest cypress-powder, which is esteemed good for 

 the head ; but impostors familiarly vend other mosses 

 under that name, as they do the fungi (excellent in 

 hemorages and fluxes) for the true agaric, to the great 

 scandal of physick. Young red oaken leaves decocted 

 in wine, make an excellent gargle for a sore mouth ; 

 and almost every part of this tree is soveraign against 

 fluxes in general, and where astringents are proper. 

 The dew that impearls the leaves in May, insolated, 

 meteorizes and sends up a liquor, which is of admi- 

 rable effect in ruptures : The liquor issuing out 

 between the bark, (which looks like treakle) has 

 many soveraign vertues ; and some affirm, the water 

 stagnate in the hollow stump of a newly fell'd oak, 

 is as effectual as lignum sanctum in the foul disease, 

 and also stops a diarrhea : And a water distill'd from 

 the acorns is good against the pthisick, stitch in the 

 side, and heals inward ulcers, breaks the stone, and 



