HERBS CHIEFLY USED IN THE PAST ^s 



de la creche ; little earthen figures representing the Holy 

 Family, and the Three Kings with their camels, and the 

 Shepherds with their flocks, the sheep being disposed 

 among the miniature rocks and bushes. On Christmas 

 eve, or else sometimes on Twelfth Night, I think, these 

 are saluted with the music of pipes and carol singing. 

 De Gubernatis says that the children of Sicily always 

 put pennyroyal amongst the green things in their creches, 

 and believe that exactly at midnight it bursts into flower 

 for Christmas Day. 



Other names for it are PulioU Royal and Pudding- 

 grasse, " and in the west parts, as about Exeter, 

 Organs." It is still called organs in the " West parts," 

 and organ-tea used to be a favourite drink to take out to 

 the harvesters. (^In Italy pennyroyal is a protection 

 against the Evil Eye, and in Sicily, they tie it to the 

 branches of the fig-tree, thinking that this will prevent 

 the figs falling before they are ripe. It is there also 

 offered to husbands and wives who are in the habit of 

 " falling out " with each other. \ " The Ancients said that 

 it causeth Sheepe and Goates-'to bleate when they are 

 eating of it." To produce all those wonderful effects, 

 it must have a great deal of magic about it. Gerarde 

 says it grows "in the Common neare London, called 

 Miles End, about the holes and ponds thereof in sundry 

 places, from whence poore women bring plentie to sell 

 in London markets." Would that it could be found at 

 " Miles End " now ! He gives in passing a sidelight on 

 the comfort in travelling, in the good old days : " If 

 you have when you are at the sea Penny Royal in great 

 quantitie, drie and cast it into corrupt water, it helpeth 

 it much, neither will it hurt them that drinke thereof." 

 This inevitable state of things, in making a voyage, is 

 faced with philosophic calm. " A Garland of Pennie 

 Royal made and worne on the head is good against 

 headache and giddiness." 



