"HERBS OF GRACE" 229 



sharpen the wit, to cure madness, and to cause the 

 dumb to speak. It was also an excellent antidote 

 against poison and the very smell of it insured 

 preservation against the plague. Rue was, there- 

 fore, very popular and was much used as a disin- 

 fectant. 



Parkinson tells us : 



Garden Rue (Ruta), or Herbe Grace, groweth 

 up with hard whitish woody stalks whereon are set 

 divers branches of leaves being divided into many 

 small ones, which are somewhat thick and round 

 pointed, of a bluish-green color. The flowers stand 

 at the tops of the stalks, consisting of four small 

 yellow leaves, with a green button in the middle, 

 and divers small yellow threads about it, which 

 growing ripe, contain within them small black seeds. 



"The many good properties whereunto Rue 

 serveth hath, I think, in former times caused the 

 English name of Herbe Grace to be given unto it. 

 For without doubt it is a most wholesome herb, al- 

 though bitter and strong. Some do wrap up a bead 

 roll of the virtues of Rue, as Macer the poet and 

 others, in whom you shall find them set down to be 

 good for the head, eyes, breast, liver, heart, spleen, 



etc." 



Gerard quaintly said: 



