"HERBS OF GRACE" 233 



to place bags of dried lavender among the household 

 linen. 



MINTS (Mentha). Mints occur in Perdita's 

 list with "hot lavender, thyme and savory." Al- 

 though many kinds of mint were cultivated in gar- 

 dens, Parkinson mentions only three : 



"The Red Mint, or Brown Mint, with dark green 

 nicked leaves, reddish flowers and of a reasonable 

 good scent; Speare Mint, greener and paler leaves, 

 with flowers growing in long ears, or spikes, of a 

 pale red, or blush, color; and Parti-colored, or 

 White Mint, with leaves more nicked, half white 

 and half green, and flowers in long heads, close set 

 together of a bluish color. 



"Mints are oftentimes used in baths with Balm 

 and other herbs as a help to comfort and strengthen 

 the nerves and sinews, either outwardly applied or 

 inwardly drunk. Applied with salt, it is a good 

 help for the biting of a mad dog. It is used to be 

 boiled with mackerel and other fish. Being dried, 

 it is often and much used with pennyroyal to put 

 into puddings, as also among pease that are boiled 

 for pottage." 



In Elizabethan days it was the custom to strew 

 churches with mint. In an Elizabethan play, 

 "Appius and Virginia," these lines occur: 



