•Tries io. 
ThsTheater of Plants. 
Chap. 5, 1041 
The Vertues. 
Pollypodie is generally ufcd with other opening and mollifying things, to purge the body, for it, is held, fay 
moft of our later Phyfitionstobc very weakeof itlelfe. Mefttcsviho is called the Phifitions Evangeiifl for the 
certaintieofhis Medicines and the truth of his opinions faith, that it dryeth up thinne humours, digefieth the 
thicke and tough,and purgeth blacke or burnt choller, and efpecially tough and thicke flegme, and thinneflegane 
alfo,even from the joynts( which the inhabitants about the Rivers of Rheine and Mo/ad oefinde to be true, as Da~ 
don<tm relatcth it, who by tiling the decoiftion of Polypody a good while together are freed from thofe- tumors 
in thcii hands, feete, knees and joynts wherewith they are much troubled ) and is therefore good for thofe are 
troubled with Melancholy or Quavtaine Agues, efpecially if it be taken in Whey or Mcde, that is honied wa¬ 
ter, or in Barly water, or the broth of a Chicken with Epithymxm or with Beetesand Mallowes, it is alfo good 
for the hardndfe of the Spleene, and for thofe prickings or Hitches that happen in the (ides, as alfo for the chole 
Uchc taken any manner ofwaycs.fome ufe alfo to put to it fome feedes qf Fennell,and Anife or Ginger, to correft 
that or loathing that he faith it bringeth to the (lomacke.and to Ifrengthen it the better,yet fome hold it is 
fo free of danger that it bringeth no trouble to the flomackc, but is a fafe and gentle medicine, fit for allfeafonc 
andpetfons, which daily expeciencc confirmeth, and yet a greater quantitiemay be given in a decoiftion then 
he appointeth.even an ounce or more,if there be not Sene or fome other (Irong purger put with it: a dramtnc or 
twoifneedebeof the powder of the dryed rootes taken faffing in a cup full of honyed water, workerh gently 
and for the fame purpofesaforefaid. The diddled water both of rootes and leaves is much commended for 
the quartaine Ague, to be taken many dayes together, as alfo againll Melancholy, andfcarefull or croublefome 
fleepesand dreames; and with fome Sugar Candy diffolvcd therein againll all the ill afftdfsof the Lungs, as the 
Cough, Ihortneffc of breath and wheelings, and thofe thinne diftillations of rheume upon the Lungs, which of¬ 
ten turneth intfaConfumption or Tificke : Some commend the lair made thereof to ue mixed with the water; 
2 rngtu faith that a decoiftion of the Pollypody made with wine, or the rootes themfelvesrather as I thinke given 
unto Hogges preferveth them from the Plague or Peflilence, whereunto they are (ubjctft by purging them there¬ 
with, which thing without doubt is effefled as hee faith, by the purging of flegme, wherewith they are moft 
troubled ■'thefrefh rootes beaten fmalbor fome intheflead thereof take them dry in powder, mixed with 
bony and applyed to the joynts of any member or part outof his place doth much hclpe it: applyed alfo to the 
nofe curech the difeafe called Polypus, which is a peece of fleflj "rowing therein, that by rime and fufferance 
ftoppeth the paifage ofbreath through that noftrill: ithelpeth alfo thofe cli ' 
beeweenethe fingers of the hands or toes of the feete. 
: clefts or chappes,that happen to come 
Dryofterjt. Oake Feme. 
!F the Oake Ferres there are two forts, onefet forth by Label, the other by 'DosUnew, whireofi 
I mcanc to entreate in this Chapter, 
1. ‘DryopterU repens. Creeping Oake Feme. 
This fmall Feme fendeth forth divers (lender blackifh If alkcs little more then halfe a footc high; 
bearing many (mail w inged leaves each againft che other, fomew hat (ike unto thole of the female 
Feme but much (mailer and finer, and of a darkifh gre'ene colour, the backefide ofwhonj have not brawne tee 
whit- fpots on them let in a double row, as Label faith which 
others mention not: the rootc is fmall and blackifh creeping 
under the upper cruft of the earth, with divers fmall blacke fi¬ 
bres giowing from them,and are fomewhat like unto the rootes 
of Polly pody but much fmaller and flcnderer, of a more auftere 
harfh and ftiptickc taltethen Pollypody. 
a. 'Dryefteris alba. White Oake Feme, 
This other Feme groweth not much higher then the former.but 
the leaves are broader (horter & more deepely cut in on the ed- J 
ges,and of a paler greene colour,fpotted alfo on the backfide of*, 
them like unto the male Feme s tbe roote is compofed of many ' 
blackifh threads or fibres iffuing from a thicke roote. 
The TUce. 
Both thefe forts grow in the fhadowey thicke woods on the 
mountaines,and fometimes in the open valleyes neare them,and 
fometimes allooutof the mofleofoldbulhes and other trees. 
DryofttrU five Tilix qutrna repins. Creeping Oake Feme, 
m. 
mm- 
