WORMWOOD.] NATURAL HISTORY. 353 



of them, that they be destroyed and slain by them when 

 they travel any journey ; and therefore there they ordi- 

 narily use to carry besoms with them to sweep the plain 

 ways for fear of further hurt. 



Topsell, "History of Serpents," pp. 811-13. 



IF you stamp earth-worms, and then strain them through 

 cloth, and then put to the same as much of the oil of 

 radish-roots, and between the beating or framing of swords, 

 knives, or daggers, when they be hot, you do quench them 

 twice or thrice therein, the same shall cut iron after, as 

 though it were lead. Lupton, "Notable Things," bk. ii. 43. 



IF Worms gnaw upon or hurt the mouth of the stomach, 

 put honey-combs into the mouth fasting, and hold them 

 there, and the Worms will draw into the honey, and so 

 void by the mouth. It hath been proved. 



Ibid., bk. iv. 56. 



WORMS and other venomous beasts are driven away from 

 any place with the smoke or fume of other beasts of the 

 same kind. ibid., bk. x. 67. 



V. Vermin. 



Wormwood. 



HAMLET, iii. 2, 191. 



WORMWOOD is a full sharp herb, and is gathered in the 

 end of springing-time, and dried in shadow. And syrup 

 made of Wormwood exciteth appetite and withstandeth 

 drunkenness. Wormwood with powder of cummin and 

 honey doth away moles and speckles, and ache that cometh 

 of smiting. And W r ormwood keepeth and saveth books 

 and clothes from fretting of mice and of worms, if it be 

 laid therewith in chests or coffers. And helpeth against 

 biting of weasels and of dragons, and healeth it, if it be 

 drunk. Wormwood exciteth sleep, if it be laid unwittingly 

 under the head ; and maketh black hair, if the hair be 

 anointed with ointment made of the juice thereof and oil 

 of rose. Bartholomew (Berthelet), bk. xvii. 12. 



LET a man or woman use to drink Wormwood, they 

 shall not be sea-sick. If writing-ink be tempered with the 

 infusion of Wormwood, it preserveth letters and books 

 written therewith from being gnawn by mice. 



Holland's Pliny, bk. xxvii. ch. vii. 



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