574 pPanC Tsore, 'beger^t)/, aael Tsijric/. 



were used for the bites of serpents infused in wine." Another 

 account states that the Druidesses held Vervain in as great venera- 

 tion as the Druids did the Mistletoe. They were never permitted 

 to touch it. It was to be gathered at midnight, at the full of the 

 moon, in this manner : — A long string with a loop in it was thrown 

 over the Vervain-plant, and the other end fastened to the left great 

 toe of a young virgin, who was then to drag at it till she had up- 

 rooted it. The eldest Druidess then received it in a cloth, and 

 carried it home, to use it for medicinal purposes and offerings to 

 their gods. In the Druidic procession, to the gathering of the 

 Mistletoe, the white-clad herald carried a branch of Vervain in 

 his hand, encircled by two serpents. The priests, when performing 

 their daily fundtions of feeding the never-dying fires in the Druidic 

 temples, prayed for the space of an hour, holding branches of 

 Vervain in their hands. Pliny tells us that the Druids made use 

 of it in casting lots, as well as in drawing omens and in other 

 pretended magical arts ; he also says that if the hall or dining 

 chamber be sprinkled with the water wherein Vervain lay steeped, 

 all that sat at the table should be " very pleasant and make merry 

 more jocundly." * 



" Lift up your boughs of Vervain blue, 

 Dipt in cold September dew ; 

 And dash the moisture, chaste and clear, 

 O'er the ground and through the air." — Mason. 



In mediaeval days, the sacred charac5\er of Vervain was still main- 

 tained, and the plant was greatly prized, and used in compounding 

 charms and love-philtres. Known in our country as Holy Herb 

 and Simpler's Joy, it was credited with great medicinal virtues, 



" Black melancholy rusts, that fed despair 

 Through wounds' long rage, with sprinkled Vervain cleared." — Davenant. 



Its juice was given as a cure for the plague, and the plant was 

 prescribed as a remedy in some thirty different maladies, and was 

 suspended round the neck as an amulet. Gerarde, however, tells 

 us that " the devil did reveal it as a secret and divine medicine;" 

 and R. Turner writes (1687) : — " It is said to be used by witches to 

 do mischief, and so may all other herbs if by wicked astrologers 

 used to accomphsh their wretched ends." But notwithstanding 

 that it was used by witches and wizards in their incantations and 

 spells, and was in facT: called the Enchanter's Plant, Vervain was 

 considered to possess the power of combating witches: thus 

 Aubrey says : — 



" Vervain and Dill 

 Hinder witches from their will." 



and Michael Drayton writes : — 



" Here holy Vervayne, and here Dill, 

 'Gainst witchcraft much avayling." 



and again — 



*' The Nightshade strews to work him ill, 

 Therewith the Vervain and the Dill 

 That hindreth witches of their will." 



