126 THE ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED. 



"Ways, it also helpeth a weak brain or memory. This 

 tunned up with stroiit; brer that it may work together, 

 and drank, or the powder of the dried herb mixed 

 with sui^ar, a little mace and Fennel-seed, and drank, 

 or eaten in broth ; or the said powder made into an 

 electuary with sugar, and taken, hath the same powerful 

 effect, to help a,nd restore the sight decayed through age; 

 and Arnoldas de Villa Nova saith, it hath restored sight 

 to them that have been blind a long time before. 



Fern. ^. (k. d 2 J 



Or this tfiere are two kinds principally to be treated of^ 

 ■viz. the Male and Female. 



Dcscript.'] The Female groweth higher than the Male, 

 but tlie leaves thereof are lesser, and more divided or 

 dented, and of as strong a smell as the Male ; the virtue 

 of them are both alike, and therefore 1 shall not troubl* 

 you with any description or distinction of them. 



PhceJ They grow Loth in heaths and shady places 

 near the hedge-sides in all counties of this land. 



Timc.^ They flower and give their seed at Midsummer. 



The Female Fern is that plant which is in Sussex called 

 Brakes, the seed of which some authors hold to be so rare. 

 Such a thing there is I know, and may be easily had upon 

 Midsummer Eve, and for ought 1 know, two or three days 

 after it, if not more. 



Government and Virtues.'] It is under the dominion of 

 Mercury, both ]\Iale and Female. The roots of both 

 those sorts of Fern being bruised and boiled in mead, 

 or honeyed water, antl drank, killeth both the broad and 

 Jong worms in the body, and abateth the swelling and 

 hardness of the spleen. The green leaves eaten, purge 

 the belly and cholcrick and waterish humours that trouble 

 the stomach. They are dangerous for women with child 

 to meddle with, by reason they cause abortions. The 

 roots bruised and boikd in oil, or hog's grease, make a 

 Yery profitable ointment to heal wounds, or pricks gotten 

 in the flesh. The powder of them used in foul ulcers, 

 drieth up their malignant moisture and causeth their 

 speedier healing. Fern being burned, the smoak thereof 

 drivcth away serpents, gnats, and other noisome creaturCwS 



