auce, especially of fish; and the very dry sticks of the tree, strew'd
over with a little powder or dust of sulphur, and vehemently rub'd
against one another, will immediately take fire; as will likewise the
wood of an old ivy; nay, without any intentive addition, by friction
only.

21. Amongst other things, it has of old been observ'd that the bay is
ominous of some funest accident, if that be so accounted which Suetonius
(in _Galba_) affirms to have happen'd before the death of the monster
Nero, when these trees generally wither'd to the very roots in a very
mild winter: And much later, that in the year 1629, when at Padoa,
preceding a great pestilence, almost all the bay-trees about that famous
University grew sick and perish'd: _Certo quasi praesagio_ (says my
author) _Apollinem musaque subsequenti anno urbe illa bonarum literarum
domicilio excessuras_. --But that this was extraordinary, we are told
the emperor Claudius upon occasion of a raging pestilence, was by his
physicians advis'd to remove his court to Laurentium, the aromatick
emissions of that tree being in such reputation for clearing the air,
and resisting contagion; upon which account I question not but Pliny
(the nephew) was so frequently at his beloved Laurentium, so near the
city. Besides, for their vertue against lightning, which Tiberius so
exceedingly dreaded, that when it came with thunder, he would creep
under his bed to avoid it, and shaded his head with the boughs. The
story of the branch in the bill of the white-hen, let fall into the lap
of Livia Drusilla, being planted, prosper'd so floridly, as made it
reputed so sacred, as to use it for impaling the heads of the triumphing
emperors, and to adorn the _limina_ of the temples and royal palace of
the great Pontiff; and thence call'd _janitrices Caesarum_:

_Cum tandem apposita velantur limina lauro,
Cingit & Augustas arbor opaca fores!
Num quia perpetuos meruerunt ista triumphos?_

As still at present in Rome and other cities, they use to trim up their
churches and monastries on solemn festivals, when there is station and
indulgences granted in honour of the saint or patron; as also on
occasion of signal victories, and other joyful tidings; and those
garlands made up with hobby-horse tinsel, make a glitterring show, and
rattling noise when the air moves them.

With the leaves of laurel, they made up their dispatches and letters,
_laureis involutae_, wrapt in bay-leaves, which t