44 A GARDEN OF HERBS 



spring water are still used for burns, and when the leaves 

 are applied this charm is said : 



" There came three Angels out of the East, 

 One brought fire and two brought frost ; 

 Out fire and in frost ; 

 In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost." 



BLACKBERRY WINE. Bruise the berries, and to every 

 gallon of fruit add a quart of boiling water. Let the mixture 

 stand for twenty-four hours, stirring it occasionally; then 

 strain off the liquid, adding to every gallon a couple of 

 pounds of refined sugar, and keep it in a cask tightly corked 

 until the following October, when it will be ripe and rich. 

 Dr. Fernie, Herbal Simples, 1897. 



BROOM 



" If you sweep the house with blossomed broom in May 

 You are sure to sweep the head of the house away." 



Old Sussex Proverb. 



Broom has always been the emblem of humility. On his 

 wedding day, St. Louis of France established the order of 

 Knighthood called FOrdre du Genest. The knights of this 

 order wore a chain of golden broom flowers and white 

 enamelled fleur-de-lis placed alternately, and from this chain 

 hung a cross on which was inscribed, " Deus exaltat humiles." 

 Only one hundred knights belonged to it at a time ; they 

 formed the King's bodyguard, and in later days it was an 

 order Richard II was proud to wear. 



Broom the " gen " of the Celts has from time immemo- 

 rial been the badge of Brittany, but it is more popularly 

 associated with the Plantagenets of Anjou. It is said that 

 Fulk, the founder of the house, went on a pilgrimage to 

 Jerusalem to atone for having murdered his brother, and 

 after having been scourged with broom he took the plant 

 for his crest and surname. It was first used officially on 

 the Great Seal of Richard I. According to the old herbalists 

 broom cured many disorders, and Gerard tells us : " That 

 worthy Prince of famous memory, Henry VIII. of England, 

 was wont to drink the distilled water of Broom-flowers 



