374 pPaat Tsore, "beg©^/, and. TsLjric/', 



(a translation of the Latin Hei'ba Benedida, of which Herb Bennett 

 is simply a corruption). This last name was given to it from an 

 ancient belief that when the root is in the house, the Devil is power- 

 less and flies from it ; wherefore it was considered blessed above 

 all herbs. Herb Bennett was also reported to be hostile to all 

 venomous beasts : if grown in a garden, no such creature would 

 approach within scent of it, and the root carried about the person 

 of any man ensured his immunity from the attacks of monsters or 



reptiles. Formerly, the appellation Herha BenediCla, was applied 



not only to the Avens, but also to the Hemlock and the Valerian. 

 Dr. Prior remarks that " in point of facSl the proper name of these 

 plants was not Herha Benedida, but Sti. Bencdidi herha, St. Benedict's 

 herb (German, Sand Benediden-kraut), and was assigned to such as 

 were supposed to be antidotes, in allusion to a legend of St. Bene- 

 didt, which represents that, upon his blessing a cup of poisoned 

 wine which a monk had given to destroy him, the glass was shivered 

 to pieces." By astrologers, Avens is deemed a herb of Jupiter. 



HERB CARPENTER.— The Pninella vulgaris, from its 

 efficacy in healing wounds inflicted by chisels, sickles, and other 

 sharp instruments used by working-men, was formerly known as 

 Herb Carpenter, Sickle-wood, and Hook-weed, as well as by the 

 name it is still called by — Self-heal. It is a herb of Venus. 



HERB CHRISTOPHER.— The name of Herb Christopher 

 is applied by Gerarde to a species of Aconite, and to the Osmund 

 Fern. Parkinson gives the Baneberry the same title. 



HERB GERARD.— Aishweed, Gout-wort, or Herb Gerard 

 {^gopodium Podagraria), was named after St. Gerard, who used to 

 be invoked against the gout, a disease for which this plant was 

 highly esteemed as a remedy. 



Herb Impious. — See Everlasting Flower. 

 HERB MARGARET.— The Daisy (Bellis perennis) was 

 also formerly called Herha Margarita, Herb Margaret, or Mar- 

 guerite (French). The flower is erroneously supposed to have been 

 named after the virtuous St. Margaret of Antioch, " Maid Mar- 

 garete, that was so meeke and milde " — who was invoked because 

 in her martyrdom she prayed for lying-in women ; whereas it de- 

 rives its name from St. Margaret of Cortona. (See Marguerite). 

 Herb of Grace. — See Rue. 



HERB OF THE CROSS.— In Brittany, the Vervain 

 (Verheiia officinalis) is called the Herb of the Cross, and is supposed 

 to be endowed with remarkable healing qualities. J. White (1624) 

 writes thus of it : — 



" Hallow'd be thou, Vervain, as thou growest in the ground, 



For on the Mount of Calvary thou first was found. 



Thou healedst our Saviour Jesus Christ, 



And staunchedst liis bleeding wound. 



In the name of Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, I take thee from the ground." 



