20 THE WILD-FLOWERS OF SELBORNE 



frequently found by the side of streams, are the sign 

 or signature that the plant is a sovereign remedy for 

 scrofulous or knotty glands; and the hard seeds or 

 stony nutlets of the Lithospermum, or gromwell, pro- 

 claim it to be efficacious in cases of calculus or gravel. 

 The scaly pappus of the common scabious again is the 

 indication stamped upon it by God that the plant is 

 valuable for leprous diseases ; and the red hue of the 

 stem and leaves of herb Robert (Geranium Robertia- 

 num^ L.), so abundant in our hedgerows, is a certain 

 sign that the plant is powerful as a "stancher of 

 blood." In many of our Hampshire woods the 

 elegant plant known as Solomon's seal is found. If 

 the rootstock be cut transversely across, some marks 

 like unto a seal will be noticed. This was sufficient 

 to show the old herbalists that the plant was specially 

 created for the express purpose of " sealing " or heal- 

 ing wounds. "The root of Solomon's seal," says 

 Gerarde, "taketh away in one night, or two at the 

 most, any bruise, black or blue spots, gotten by falls, 

 or women's wilfulness in stumbling upon their hasty 

 husbands' fists." 



In spite, however, of the quackery which was in- 

 separably bound up with the profession of the herbalist, 

 there can be no doubt that a belief in the virtue of 

 simples was very general among all classes in the 

 olden times. There is a curious passage in George 

 Herbert's Country Parson, in which the saintly poet 

 of Bemerton insists on a " knowledge of simples" as 

 part of the necessary equipment of a parish priest. 

 The parson, except in "ticklish cases," is to be the 

 physician of his flock. He is to keep by him "one 

 book of physic, one anatomy, and one herbal." He 

 is to make the vicarage garden his shop, " for home- 



