OF SUNDRY HERBS 85 



your Bottles with Papers prick'd full of Holes, and let 

 them stand a Day or two ; then pour your first Bottle into 

 a large earthen glaz'd Pan ; and to that the second, and then 

 the third, and the fourth, and so on, till by mixing they 

 all become of a sufficient strength ; then put them in Bottles 

 with a knob or two of double refin'd Loaf-Sugar, and cork 

 them close. This is an incomparable pleasant Dram, 

 tasting like Ice, or Snow in the mouth, but creates a fine 

 warmth in the stomach, and yields a most refreshing flavour. 

 This sort of Mint is hard to be met with ; but is lately 

 cultivated in some Physick Gardens at Mitcham; it must 

 be kept well weeded, and the Top of the bed where it grows 

 must, when we cut it, be pricked up a little, with a small 

 Fork, or the earth made fine with a Trowel, because the 

 Runners of this sort of Mint, shoot along the surface of the 

 ground, and so at the joints, strike root, which is contrary 

 to other sorts of Mint, which shoot their Runners under 

 ground. R. Bradley, The Country Housewife's and Lady's 

 Director, 1732. 



CAT-MINT TEA. A pint of boiling water poured on the 

 young leaves and flowering tops. 



MUGWORT 



" Eldest of worts 

 Thou hast might for three 

 And against thirty. 

 For venom availest 

 For flying vile things, 

 Mighty gainst loathed ones 

 That through the land rove." 



Saxon MS. Herbal (Harleian), 1585. 



" If they would drink nettles in March 



And eat mugwort in May, 

 So many fine maidens 



Wouldn't go to the clay." 



Old Proverb. 



" Yf this herbe be within a house there shall no wycked 

 spyryte abyde." A Crete Hevball, 1539. 



" If a Footman take mugwort and put it into his shoes 

 in the morning, he may goe forty miles before Noon and 

 not be weary." William Coles, The Art of Simpling, 1656. 



