198 citlpipeb's completb hchbal. 



a fever or head-ache, aa this lynip being hurtful to th« 

 head, would rather increase than alleviate those disorders. 

 It is of a softening and dissolving nature, therefore 

 the meal thereof being boiled in mead, or honey-water, 

 consumes, softens, and dissolves hard swellings and 

 imposthumes : also a paste thereof, with saltpetre and 

 vinegar, softens and wastes the hardness and swellings 

 of the spleen. It is good for women who are afflicted 

 with an imposthume, ulcer, or stoppage in the matrix, 

 to bathe and sit in a decoction thereof ; also a suppository 

 made of the juice of this plant, and conveyed to the 

 neck of the matrix, wUl mollify and soften all hardness 

 thereof. 



FERN (BRAKE or BRACKEN).— CP^tfrii Aquilina,) 



Detcrip, — Of 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 lesser, 

 and more divided or dented, and of as strong a smell aa 

 the Male : the virtues of them are both alike. 



Place. — They grow but too frequently upon commons 

 and heaths. 



Time.— They flower and seed at Midsummer. 



Government and Virtues. — They are under the dominion 

 of Mercury, both Male and Female. The roots of both those 

 sorts of Fern being bruised and boiled in moad, or honeyed 

 water, and drunk, kills both the broad and long worms in 

 the body, and abates the swelling and hardness of the 

 spleen. The green leave}> eaten, purge the belly, and ex- 

 pel choleric 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 

 boiled in oil, or ho^s grease, make a very profitable oint- 

 ment to heal wounds, or pricks gotten in the flesh. The 

 powder of them used in foul ulcers, dries up their malig- 

 nant moisture, and causes their speedier healing. 



FERN (OSMOND ROYAL, or WATER.}-^ Otmunda 

 Eegdlis.) 



JDescrip. — This is the biggest of our English Ferns, 

 ■ending forth several large branched leaves, whose long 

 broad pinuulie are not at all indented about the edges 

 like the other Ferns ; they are of a light yellow colour ; 

 among these arise several stalks, which have the like leaves 



