CHAPTER III 



OF SUNDRY HERBS 



" Lerne the hygh and mervelous vertue of herbes. Know 

 how inestimable a preservative to the helth of man God hath 

 provyded growying every daye at our handes, use the effects 

 with reverence and give thanks to the maker celestyall. 

 Behold how much it excedeth to use medecyne of eficacye 

 naturall, by God ordeyned, than wicked wordes or charmes 

 of eficacye unnaturall by the divyll invented." The 

 virtuose boke of Distyllacion of the Waters of all maner Herbes 

 ... by Master Jherom Brunswyke, 1527. 



" Who would looke dangerously up at Planets that might 

 safely loke downe at Plants ? " John Gerard, The Herball t 

 1597- 



" There is no question but that very wonderful effects 

 may be wrought by the Vertues which are enveloped within 

 the compasse of the Green Mantles wherewith Many Plants 

 are adorned." W. Coles, The Art of Simpling, 1656. 



AGRIMONY 



IN many herbals Agrimony is spelt Argemoney, and the 

 name is derived from the Greek " argemos," a white speck 

 on the eye which this plant was supposed to cure. English 

 country folk used to call it " church-steeples," and the 

 plant with its exquisitely delicate spike of yellow flowers 

 is certainly suggestive of a steeple From the days of our 

 Saxon ancestors Agrimony has enjoyed a high repute. 



As it is a very common perennial in waste places, any 

 one wishing to include it in their herb garden can obtain 

 the roots in spring or autumn. 



AGRIMONY TEA. One pint of boiling water poured on to 

 a handful of the plant-stems, flowers and leaves. Leave 



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