241 



every Gentlewomans Houfe, for he knew no better cure for an 



Afthma, then this. * * * The flowers and leaves are of more ufe 



then the feed, yet they alfo help the fhortneffe and difficulty of 

 breathing, and cure the Hicket. 



CHAP. CXV. 

 Of Polypodie. 



The Forme. 



COmmon Polypody of the Oak is a fmall Herb, confifting of 

 nothing but Roots and Leaves, bearing neither Flower nor 

 Seed. It hath three or four Leaves rifing from a Root, every 

 one fingly by themfelves, of about an hand breadth, which are winged, 

 confifting of many fmall narrow Leaves, cut into the middle Rib, 

 ftanding on each fide of the ftalk, large below, and fmaller and 

 f mailer up to the top; not dented or notched on the edges at all, (as 

 the Male Fern is) of a fad green color, and fmooth on the upper 

 fide; but on the under fide, fomewhat rough, by reafon of fome 

 yellowifh fpots fet thereon. * * * 



The Places and Time. 



There hath been of late dayes, fuch a flaughter of Oaks, and other 

 Trees, all over this Land, that fhould I nominate any particular 

 place, I might thereby feem to be a deceiver. I fhall therefore tell 

 you in generall, that it groweth as well upon old rotten Trunks or 

 ftumps of Trees, be it Oak, Beech, Hazel, Willow, or any other, 

 as in the Woods under them, and fometimes upon flated Houfes and 

 old Walls, as upon a Wall and fide of an House, in Adderbury 

 Churchyard, and many other places. * * * 



The Signatures and Vertues. 



The rough fpots that are on the under fides of the leaves of 

 Polypody, * * * is a fign that it is good for the Lungs * * * . 

 The Herb * * * is good for thofe that are troubled with melancholy, 

 or Quartan Agues, efpecially if it be taken in Whey, or honeyed 

 water, or in Barley water, or in the Broth of a Chicken * * * . The 

 frefh Roots beaten fmall, or the Powder of the dryed Root, mixed 

 with Honey, and applyed to any Member that hath been out of joynt, 

 and is newly fet again, doth much help to ftrengthen it. Applyed 

 also to the Nose, it cureth the Difeafe called Polypus, which is a 

 piece of flefh growing therein. * * * Crolius faith, that becaufe it 

 hath fuch rough spots on the leaves, it healeth all forts of fcabs what- 

 foever by fignature. * * * 



