THE DEVONSHIRE ASH-TREE CHARM. 
153 
seuen well enough in fiue cyaths, and drink the infusion. But 
before I do leaue this tree, it would not be forgotten that the 
small chips and shauings, yea, and the saw-dust or filed powder of 
this wood, are thought to be hurtful vnto some, and they are 
forbidden to meddle withall." 
Mr. Evelyn (op. cit, p. 15), says, "There is extracted an oil 
from the Ash . . . which is excellent to recover the hearing, some 
drops of it being distilled warm into the ears ; and for the caries 
or rot of the bones, tooth-ache, pains in the kidneys and spleen, 
the anointing therewith is most sovereign. Some have used the 
saw-dust of this wood instead of guaiacum with success. The 
chymists exceedingly commend the seed of Ash to be an admirable 
remedy for the stone ; but whether by the power of magic or nature 
I determine not." 
Dr. Hunter, Evelyn's editor, makes the following remark on this 
passage : — " I shall only remark that the boasted properties of the 
oil obtained from the Ash are not to be depended on, being only 
in common with oil obtained from any other tree." 
In the Flora Scotica. By John Lightfoot, a.m., 1777, vol. ii., 
pp. 641-2, the author, speaking of the Ash-tree, says, " Horses and 
sheep are fond of the leaves. The bark and seeds are reckoned a 
diuretic. 
" In warm climates a kind of sweet gum, called manna, distils 
from this tree, two ounces of which is a gentle cathartic. 
>> 
5. A Royalty on the Ash : — " It is said at the present day " 
(says " Sp.," writing to Notes and Queries, 4th s., i. 225) ? 
" amongst the peasantry of Ireland, that there is ' a royalty on the 
ash,' and that, by the old law at any rate, no subject had a right 
to cut one down, even on his own property. As in England, where 
'bows' were much used, the yew was the subject of special legisla- 
tion ; so, possibly, where the ' spear ' was the prevailing weapon, 
the ash may have been 'protected.' Thus we may at any rate 
(apart from the mystic bearing of these superstitions) attribute the 
fame of the ash to use in arms and in medicine — two of the 
radical sources of traditions and superstitions in the youth of all 
nations. ..." 
