182 DIVI BOTANICI. 



make a round circle about it with a sword or knife, before they go 

 in hand to take it forth of the ground : then the party who is to 

 cut or dig it vp turneth his face into the east, with an humble 

 prayer vnto the gods, That they mould vouchsafe to give hhn leaue, 

 with their fauor, to do the deed ; and with that he markes and ob- 

 serueth the flight of the Egle ; for lightly while they be cutting vp 

 of this root, ye shall see an Egle soring in the aii-e : now in case 

 the said Egle flie neere vnto him or her that is cutting vp EUe- 

 bore, it is a certain presage and foretoken that he or she shall surely 

 die before that yeare go about. It is wel known that Carneades 

 the philosopher, purposing to answer the bookes of Zeno, prepared 

 his wits and quickened his spirits by pui-ging his head with EUe- 

 bore ; and Drusus, one of the most famous and renowned tribunes 

 of the commons that were ever knowne at Rome, was perfectly 

 cured of the falling sickness by this only medicine. It is good for 

 the palsie, for those that be lunatick and bestraught of their wits, 

 for such as be in a dropsie so they be cleare of a feuer, for inueterat 

 gouts, as well of feet and hands as other joints. Physitians forbid 

 the giuing of EUebore vnto old folk and yong children, to such as 

 be of a foeminine bodie ; as also to those that be in mind eflbeminate ; 

 likewise to those who are thin and slender, soft and tender ; least of 

 all vnto those that spit or reach up blood ; no more than to sickly 



tion and amends for the wrong and violence done in depriuing her of so wor- 

 tliie an hearbe. They inioine them also who are to dig it vi), for to make a 

 circle round about the place with some instrument of j'ron, and then to draw 

 and pluck it vp with the left hand in any wise, and so to fling it aloft ouer 

 their heads vp into the aire : which done, they appoint precisely that it be 

 dried in the shade, leaues, stalkes, and roots, euerie one apart by themselues. 

 They add, moreouer, that if the halle or dining-chamber be sprinckled with 

 the water wherein Veruaine lay steeped, all that sit at the table shall be 

 very pleasant, and make merrie more jocundlie. Of all other hearbes, there 

 is none more honoured among the llomans than Hierobotane (the sacred 

 plant. Vervain), called in Greek Peristerion, but which in Latin we name 

 Verbenaca : it is that hearbe which our Embassadors vse to carry with them 

 when they go to denounce war, and to giue defiance vnto our enemies. 

 With this hearbe the feastivall table of Jupiter is wont to be swept and 

 clensed with great sole mnitie; our houses also be rubbed and hallowed for to 

 driue away ill spirits. Concerning the Misselto ( Viscum Album, missel, all- 

 heal), the priiicipall and best is found upon the Oke ; it will work the better 

 and with more efiicacie in case it be gathered from the Oke the first day of 

 tlie new moon ; also if it be not cut downe with any bill, hooke, knife, or 

 edged yron toole. Moreover they do hold that, if it touch not the ground 



it curcth those who are troubled with the tailing sickness." Nalvrul HistO' 



tic, ii, 178, 193, 22o. 



