278 Notes and Illustrations. 
specific against poison, the bites of venomous creatures, etc.; but 
probably it was so called because “rue” means “repent.” Cf. 
also Richard II. Act iii. sc. 4. 105: 
‘* Here in this place 
I'll set a bank of vwe, sour herb of grace.” 
45. 22. ‘‘ Bots.” ‘* Pease an beanes are as danke here as a dog, 
and this is the next way to give poor jades the doftes.”—Shakspere 
King Henry IY. Act ii. sc. 1. ‘‘ Begnawne with Jdo/s.”—Taming 
of Shrew, Act ili. sc. 2. 
“Sauin.” ‘It is often put into horses’ drenches, to helpe to cure 
them of the bots, and other diseases.” —Parkinson, Paradisus, p. 607. 
45. 23. ‘“‘Stitchwort,” spelt S/ch-wurt in Mayer and Wright, Nat. 
Antiquities, 1857, and given from a thirteenth century MS. as the 
translation of ‘‘ Valeriane.” Supposed to possess the power of 
curing a pain or sfzfch in the sides.—See Gerard’s Herbal, 1597, 
p- 43. Stedlaria Holostea, Linn. 
45. 25. “Woodbine,” not a dine that grows im woods, but a creeper 
that binds or entwines trees, the honeysuckle. A.S. wudu-winde 
and wudu-bind, from wudu=a tree, and windan, bindan=to entwine. 
In Shakspere (Mids. Night Dr. Act iv. sc. 1) it seems to mean the 
bittersweet : 
“So doth the woodbine the sweet honeysuckle 
Gently entwist.” 
46. 2. “Gregorie.” ‘This day (12th March) seems to have 
been much used as a date for agricultural observances: cf. 37. 3. 
In connexion with this it is worth while to note the Suabian saying, 
‘Sie Erbsen Gregori’ (sow cabbage on St. Gregory’s Day). See 
Swainson’s Weather Folklore, p. 168.”—Note by Mr. J. Britten. 
46. 3. ‘“‘ Mastiues and Mungrels.” Although the influence of a 
very patriotic sumptuary tax has diminished the number of dogs, 
we have still ‘thousands too manie.’ [This may with truth be said 
even still.] However, as Lent now makes little difference in the 
mode of living, which it certainly did in the earlier period of the 
Reformation, our dogs are not driven by our meagre fare to prey - 
on the lambs ; and therefore need not be particularly watched on 
this account.— M. Mastif is derived from O. Fr. mestifm=a 
mongrel (Cotgrave). In the Craven dialect a great dog is still 
called a masty. See note to Io. 19. 
By “‘hooke or by crooke” occurs in Spenser, Faery Queene, Bk. 
v. Canto 2, stanza 27 ; also in Heywood’s Works, 1562, reprint 1867, 
P- 35- 
46. 8. No trees appear preferable to willows for fencing hop 
grounds; and none are said to be worse than elms, as they attract 
mildews.—M. 
46. 12. “What better to skilfull,” etc., that is, what can be more 
profitable to the experienced farmer than to know when to be bold, 
that is, to venture the early sowing of barley ? 
