2o8 pfaat bofe, "begelTb/, orii. "bijric/. 



AGNUS CASTUS.— The "Chaste Tree" (Vitex Agnus 

 Casttis), a species of Willow, derives its name from the Greek hagnos, 

 and Latin castus, both meaning chaste. The name was given to 

 it, according to Pliny, from the custom of the Athenian matrons to 

 strew their beds with it during the festival of the Thesmophora, 

 held in honour of Ceres, when the strictest chastity was enjoined. 

 At the same festival young girls adorned themselves with blossoms 

 of the shrub and slept on its leaves in order to guard their innocence 



and purity. Agnus Castus was consecrated to ^Esculapius, and 



also, in the isle of Samos, to Juno. Prometheus was crowned with 

 it. At Grecian weddings, the bride and groom carried crowns of 



it. It was also employed as a preservative against poisoning. 



The seed of this shrub in later years acquired the name of Piper 

 Monachorum, and in explanation it is said that, following the example 

 of the matrons of Athens, who had discovered that the odour of 

 branches of Agnus Castus combatted unchaste thoughts and desires, 

 certain Christian monks made themselves girdles of the flexible 

 boughs of the tree, by wearing which they professed to expel from 



their hearts all passions that love could excite. Some of the old 



herbalists affirm that the seeds of Agnus Castus had a very power- 

 ful effect in arresting generation. Gerarde says " Agnus Castus is 

 a singular medicine and remedy for such as would willingly live 

 chaste, for it withstandeth all uncleanness or desire to the flesh, 

 consuming and drying up the seed of generation, in what sort 

 soever it bee taken, whether in ponder onely, or the decodtion 

 drunke, or whether the leaves be carried about the body ; for which 

 cause it was called castus, that is to say, chaste, cleane, and pure." 

 The leaves, burnt or strewn about, were reputed to drive away 

 serpents; and, according to Dioscorides, a branch of the shrub, 



carried in the hand, would keep wayfarers from weariness. 



Agnus Castus is held to be under the dominion of Mars in Capricorn. 



Albespyne. — See Hawthorn. 



AGRIMONY. — The Agrimony or Egrimony {Agvimonia Eupa- 

 toria) was a herb much in vogue among the old herbalists, who 

 attributed extraordinary virtues to it. Dioscorides prescribes it as 

 a cure for the bitings and stingings of serpents. Gerarde says it 

 is " good for them that have naughty livers," and in fact it was at 

 one time known as Liver-wort. Culpeper tells us that it will 

 draw forth " thorns and splinters of wood, nails, or any other 

 such thing gotten into the flesh," and recommends it further as " a 

 most admirable remedy for such whose lives are annoyed either by 

 heat or cold." Sore throat, gout, ague, colic, ear-ache, cancers, and 

 ulcers are among the numerous complaints the herbalists professed 

 to cure by means of syrups and salves made of Agrimony, a plant 

 which has formed an ingredient in most of the herb teas which 



have been from time to time introduced. The astrological 



government and virtues of Agrimony appear to the uninitiated 



