Chap, 5yi» EngUfh Herbs, 
zoitb certain rough Knags or Excrefcencies on j XI. T he Preparations. The Root is only or 
each fide thereof , having alfo much moffmefs. , or chiefly in Ufe ; and you may make therefrom i 
yellow hairtnefs upon it, and fome fibres under- A Simple Decotfion in Wine or Water . 2. A Com - 
neath it , by which i* - vr '- 7 r ‘ * J ' ,,T " 
neath it , Ay which it is nourished. It is a fma'll 
Herb, and confifls of nothing but 'Roots and Leave 's , 
having neither Stalk , nor flowers, nor Seed, as 
it is thought. It bra three or four Leaves rifing 
from the Root , every one fingly by it felf of about 
an Hand length, which are winged, confifting of 
many J. mall narrow Leaves, cut in, to the very 
middle Rib > jiandingon each fide the Stalk , each be- 
ing larger below, and f mailer up to the top, very 
like unto the Ofmand Fern, not having any dents 
or notches on the edges, as the Male Fern has, of 
a fad green color on the upper fide, and fmooth 
but fomewhat rough on the under fide, by reafon of 
certain yellowifi fpots, which are thereon. 
V. This Polypody of the Oak, Gerard thus 
defcnbes. The Root has many Strings fanned to it, 
one folded within another, of a mean bignefs, and 
fwcet in Tafie -, which fends forth here and there 
new Sprouts or Springs, thereby it incr Cafes, This 
Polypody is much like that of the Wall (before de- 
ferred ) yet the Leaves of it are more finely cut, 
fmooth on the upper fide, of a pale green color, to- 
gether with their Stalks and middle Ribs : but on 
the nether fide , it is ?-ough like thofe of Fern. 
This Fern grows alfo without Stalks, and continues 
always without Seed 
VI. The third, or Smaller Polypody. This dif- 
fers not from either of the former before deferi- 
bed, neither in its Root , or Leaf, or Marks on the un- 
derfide of the Leaves, but only that the Root is 
fmaller, and Jlenderer, and the Leaves alfo not fo 
long and large. This fmallnefs, as I fuppofe, may 
rife more from the place where it grows , than from 
the diverfity of Kind : for altho*, in fome places , 
the Leaves may feem to be a little waved on the 
edges , yet in refped to the general growth of the 
Plant, it is but accidental. 
VII. The Places . The firft grows iipori old 
Mud Walls, as alfo in Molly, Stony, and Gravelly 
places, near unto Woods, and where it has molt 
mellow and moift Earth to fpring and live in: 
pound Decoflion in Wine or Water. 3. A Ponder 
thereof. 4. A Catap/a/m. 5. A Dfii/led Water, 
not only from the Roots but from the Leaver alfo. 
The Virtues. 
Mini iu <auu. uve in: 
alfo upon old Stone Walls, and the tops of Houfes : 
it is likewife found in the borders of Fields, efpeci- 
ally under Trees and Thorns, and now and then in 
Woods : in fome places it grows rank, and with a 
broader Leaf; in others not fo rank, and with a 
narrower Leaf The fecond grows upon old rotten 
Trunks or Stumps of Trees , as of Oak, Beech , 
Hafle , Willow , and feveral other forts of Wood' 
and in the Woods under them ; that which grows 
upon the Bodies of old Oaks , is preferred before 
the reft ; but inftead of this , molt do ufe that 
which grows under the Oak , and for all that I 
know, it may do neatly as well. The third or 
Smaller Polypody grows where the place is hard and 
dry, or in barren places , where fcarcely any other 
thing will grow or thrive. 
VIII. The Times. By reafon it is green all the 
Year, and bearing neither Flower, nor Seed as it is 
thought, it may be gathered for ufe at any time ; 
yet it lends forth young green Leaves only in the 
Spring. 
IX. The Qualities. It is hot 3nd dry in the 
firft Degree, and as Galen fays, without any biting 
property: Aperitive, Abfterfive, Anodyn, Splene- 
tick, Arthritick, and Cathartick. 
X. the Specification. It purges Melancholy , 
Cholet, and tough Flegm : is good again!! Agues ; 
Gout in Hands or Feet ; hardnefs, pain and tumor 
of the Spleen, Colick, Stitches in the Sides, 
Wind, Coughs, (liortnefs of Breath, Wheezing, 
Hoarfnefs, &e. 
XII. The Simple Decoflion in Wine or Water 
or in Early Broth , or Chicken Broth , or in Whey 
or Mead, or Honyci Water. If it is made with 
other opening and mollifying things, it is of good 
ufe to purge the Belly, to Digeli tough and thick 
Humors, and purge Phlegm, whether thick or thin, 
even front the Joints : and by ufing this Decoflion 
lot a confiderable time, fome who have been trou- 
bled with Pains and Tumors in their Hands, Knees 
reet and Joints, have been wholly cured of the 
fame. It purges off alfo, Colerick and Melancho- 
ly Humors, is good againft Pains and Tumors of 
the Spleen, and profitable for fuch as have been 
long troubled with Quartan Agues, efpecially if 
the Decoflion is made in W bey, Mead or Chicken 
Broth, with Epithymum, Beets, Mallows and Par- 
fly Boots. It is profitable alfo againft Prickings and 
Stitches in the Side, as alfo againft the Colick 
tho inveterate, but then it ought to be taken for a 
pretty long time , and Seed of Anfie, Coriander 
Carawaies,acAPennel, with Ginger ought to bead^ 
ded. It is a fafe and gentle Medicine, free from 
danger, and that brings no trouble to the Stomach 
fit tor all Seafons and Perfons, which daily Expe- 
rience has confirmed. It may be given from an 
Dunce to an Ounce and half, or two Ounces in a 
Decothon, for one Dole ; which may be given in 
the Morning Falling , with due Obfervation as in 
other gentle Purges. 
XIII. The Compound Decoflion in Wine Water 
Early Broth, Cbtkeil Broth, Whey, Meitd , 0 i 
Homed Water. Take Polypody cleanfed and Brut- 
Jed, from half an Ounce to an Ounce or Something 
more: Alexandrian Sena from a Dram to 2 Drams- 
Amfeeds, Caramaies, Coriander Seed, Sweet Pennil 
Seed, Ginger, all bruifed, of each a Dram • Cloves 
flit a Scruple: Wine, Water , or Broth, 8tc. a 
Sufficient quantity Boil gently with a fmmering 
Heat , for almoji half an Hour, then firain out 
thro a plannel Bag, which Du/cifie with Syrup of 
I tolets , or of Citron Peels, for one Dofe. It admi- 
rably Purges Melancholy, opens the Spleen and 
expels the malign Hypochondriack Humor: it pre- 
vails againft Frenfies, and radically cures the molt 
profound Madnefs, whether it be raging or other- 
wife, provided it be ufed alternately with Opiates 
as with my Laudanum Volatile , Laudanum Specfil 
cum, or my Giuu Vitae, &c. But the purging 
with this Decoflion ought to be repeated 6 8 or 
10 times, or more, as the exigency, or neceffiryof 
the Difeafe may require. It carries off the Caufe 
or the Colick, as alfo of the Gout, gives relief in 
Obftruflions of the Spleen, Aithmas,Coughs Colds 
Hoarfnefs , fhortnefs of Breath , Wheezing , i flei 
And being continued for fome time, is an excellent 
thmg for the fpeedy proffigating of Agues : and had 
all the V irtues of the pimple Decoflion with great 
advantage, becaufe it more powerfully caftitS off 
the Morbifack Matter, or offending Humor. 
- a,. The P ?“i sr ,he R ° ot - Being taken 
in the Morning Faffing, from a Dram to 2 Drams 
m a Glafs of Mead, or Honyed Water, it moves 
the Beily and Works gently, and is profitable 
againft all the Difeafes, for which 1 the Simple or 
5 ^ 2 Compound 
