156 THE OLD ENGLISH HERBALS 



many other herbs to promote happiness. Of borage ^ he tells 

 us : '' The leaves floures and seedes are very cordiall and helpe 

 to expell pensivenesse and melancholie that ariseth without 

 manifest cause " ; and of a confection made from oak galls,^ 

 that it is " dayly commended and used with good effect against 

 Melancholy passions and sorrow proceeding of no evident cause." 

 Water yarrow " is taken with vinegar to helpe casuall sighings 

 also the Toothache." ^ Under viper 's-grass * we find " the 

 water distilled in glasses or the roote itself taken is good against 

 the passions and tremblings of the heart as also against swoon- 

 ings sadnes and melancholy," and under bugloss,^ that " the 

 rootes or seedes are effectuall to comfort the'^heart and to expell 

 sadnesse and causelesse melancholy." In common with other 

 herbaUsts he beheved also that herbs could be used to strengthen 

 the memory, to help weak brains, to quicken the senses and even 

 to soothe " frenzied " people. Of eyebright,^ used for so many 

 centuries, and even until recent times, to help dull sight, he 

 says : "it helpeth a weake braine or memory and restoreth 

 them being decayed in a short time." Fleabane " bound to 

 the forehead is a great helpe to cure one of the frensie," 

 while " the distilled water of thyme apply ed with vinegar of 

 Roses to the forehead easeth the rage of Frensye." '^ Lavender 

 is of " especiall good use for all grief es and paines of the head 

 and brain," ^ and sage ^ is of " excellent good use to helpe the 

 memory by warming and quickening the senses." 



Parkinson gives more beauty recipes than any other 

 herbalist. For those who wish to darken their hair he recom- 



« mends washing it with a decoction of bramble leaves.^*^ The 

 golden flowers of mullein ^^ '* boyled in lye dyeth the haires of 

 the head yellow and maketh them faire and smooth." The 



^ ashes of southernwood ^^ mixed with old salad oil will cause a 



