THE ANGLO-SAXON HERBALS 27 



It is noteworthy that not only human beings, but cattle 

 and swine were smoked with the fumes of herbs. In the 

 Lacnunga, for sick cattle we find " Take the wort, put it upon 

 gledes and fennel and hassuck and ' cotton ' and incense. Burn 

 all together on the side on which the wind is. Make it reek 

 upon the cattle. Make five crosses of hassuck grass, set them 

 on four sides of the cattle and one in the middle. Sing about 

 the cattle the Benedicite and some litanies and the Pater Noster. 

 Sprinkle holy water upon them, burn about them incense and 

 cotton and let someone set a value on the cattle, let the owner 

 give the tenth penny in the Church for God, after that leave 

 them to amend; do this thrice." Lacnunga, 79. 



" To preserve swine from sudden death sing over them four 

 masses, drive the swine to the fold, hang the worts upon the four 

 sides and upon the door, also burn them, adding incense and make 

 the reek stream over the swine." Lacnunga, 82. 



Herbs used as amulets have always played a conspicuous 

 part in folk medicine, and our Saxon ancestors used them, as 

 all ancient races have used them, not merely to cure definite 

 diseases but also as protection against the unseen powers of 

 evil, 1 to preserve the eyesight, to cure lunacy, against weariness 



1 It is interesting to find the same beliefs amongst the ancient Babylonians. 



" Fleabane on the lintel of the door I have hung 

 S. John's wort, caper and wheatears 

 With a halter as a roving ass 

 Thy body I restrain. 

 O evil spirit get thee hence 

 Depart O evil Demon. 



In the precincts of the house stand not nor circle round 



' In the house will I stand/ say thou not, 



' In the neighbourhood will I stand,' say thou not. 



O evil spirit get thee forth to distant places 



O evil Demon hie thee unto the ruins 



Where thou standest is forbidden ground 



A ruined desolate house is thy home 



Be thou removed from before me, By Heaven be thou exorcised 



By Earth be thou exorcised." 



Trans, of Utukke Limnute Tablet " B." R. C. Thompson, 



Devils and Evil Spirits of Babylonia. 



