106 THE OLD ENGLISH HERBALS 



comforts the heart and driveth away all melancholy and sadnesse : 

 it makes the heart merry and joy full and strengtheneth the 

 vitall spirits." " Chervil root boiled and after dressed as the 

 cunning Cook knoweth how better than myself is very good for 

 old people that are dull and without courage." Of the despised 

 dead-nettle he tells us that " the flowers baked with sugar, as 

 roses are, maketh the vitall spirits more fresh and lively." In 

 connection with borage he quotes the well-known old couplet : 



" I Borage 

 Bring alwaies Courage." 



" Those of our time," he continues, " do use the floures in 

 sallads to exhilerate the mind and make the mind glad. There 

 be also many things made of them, used everywhere for the 

 comfort of the heart, for the driving away of sorrow and encreas- 

 ing the joy of the minde. . . . The leaves and floures put into 

 wine make men and women glad and merry and drive away all 

 sadnesse, dulnesse and melancholy." 



Of bugloss he says : " The physitions use the leaves, floures 

 and rootes and put them into all kindes of medecines indifferently, 

 which are of force and vertue to drive away sorrow and pensive- 

 ness of the minde, and to comfort and strengthen the heart." 



Rosemary was held of such sovereign virtue in this respect 

 that even the wearing of it was believed to be remedial. " If a 

 garland thereof be put about the head, it comforteth the brain, 

 the memorie, the inward senses and comforteth the heart and 

 maketh it merry." Certain herbs strewed about the room were 

 supposed to promote happiness and content. Meadowsweet, 

 water-mint and vervain (one of the three herbs held most 

 sacred by the Druids) were those most frequently used for this 

 purpose. 



" The savor or smell of the water-mint rejoyceth the heart 

 of man, for which cause they use to strew it in chambers and 

 places of recreation, pleasure and repose, where feasts and 

 banquets are made." 



" The leaves and floures of meadowsweet farre excelle all 



