30 THE OLD ENGLISH HERBALS 



it is difficult to understand. It is one of the nine sacred 

 herbs in the alliterative lay in the Lacnunga, and the epithets 

 "mother of worts" and "open from eastwards" are applied 

 to it. The latter curious epithet is also applied to it in 

 Lacnunga 46, " which spreadeth open towards the East." 

 Waybroad has certainly wonderfully curative powers, especially 

 for bee-stings, but otherwise it has long since fallen from its 

 high estate. Peony throughout the Middle Ages was held in 

 high repute for its protective powers, and even during the closing 

 years of the last century country folk hung beads made of its 

 roots round children's necks. 1 Yarrow is one of the aboriginal 

 English plants, and from time immemorial it has been used in 

 incantations and by witches. Country folk still regard it as one 

 of our most valuable herbs, especially for rheumatism. Mug- 

 wort, which was held in repute throughout the Middle Ages 

 for its efficacy against unseen powers of evil, is one of the nine 

 sacred herbs in the alliterative lay in the Lacnunga, where it is 

 described thus : 



" Eldest of worts 

 Thou hast might for three 

 And against thirty 

 For venom availest 

 For flying vile things, 

 Mighty against loathed ones 

 That through the land rove." 



Harleian MS. 585. 



With the notable exception of vervain, it is curious how little 

 prominence is given in Saxon plant lore to the herbs which were 

 held most sacred by the Druids, and yet it is scarcely credible 

 that some of their wonderful lore should not have been 

 assimilated. But in these manuscripts little or no importance 

 attaches to mistletoe, holly, birch or ivy. There is no mention of 

 mistletoe as a sacred herb. 2 We find some mention of selago, 



1 See W. G. Black, Folk Medicine. 



a Even modern science has not yet succeeded in solving some of the 

 mysteries connected with this remarkable plant. For instance, although the 



