154 PLANTS AND PLANETS. [CHAP. 



thing to connect it with the gods and goddesses 

 whose names the planets bear. Thus the Lady-fern 

 would naturally be under the dominion of Venus, and 

 all other plants would be equally under the care and 

 protection of other planets. 



The perusal of one of the old " Herbals," which 

 set forth the supposed virtues of plants, and from 

 which our ancestors prepared their " simples," affords 

 considerable amusement to the modern botanist. 

 One of the best known of these is " The English 

 Physician, by Nicholas Culpepper, Gent., Student in 

 Physic and Astrology," a book which has doubtless 

 been the means of killing many credulous persons in 

 the past. The author classifies his plants in the sim- 

 plest manner possible, alphabetically, and commences 

 with the Woody Nightshade, which he terms Amara 

 dtilcis. '.. 



"It bears many leaves; they grow in no order at 

 all, at least in no regular order. It is under the 

 planet Mercury, and a notable herb of his also, if it 

 be rightly gathered under his influence. It is excel- 

 lent good to remove witchcraft both in man and 

 beasts, as also all sudden diseases whatsoever. Being 

 tied round about the neck, it is one of the admirablest 

 remedies for the vertigo or dizziness in the head that 

 is ; and that is the reason (as Tragus saith) the 

 people in Germany commonly hang it about their 

 cattle's necks, when they fear any such evil hath be- 

 tided them." Then follows a list of other ailments 

 for which the plant is a sovereign remedy, and our 

 astrologer remarks, "And when you find good by 

 this remember me." 



