122 THE BOOK OF HERBS 



Then hot muscado oil, with milder maudlin cast, 

 Stroing tansey, fennel cool, they prodigally waste. 



Polyolhion, Song XV. 



Costmary or Alecost, and Maudeline {BaUamita 

 Vulgaris), have so close a semblance that they may be 

 taken together. The German name for Costmary, 

 Frauen m'unze, supports the natural idea that it was 

 dedicated to the Virgin, but Dr Prior says that the 

 Latin name used to be Costus amarus, not Costus Marie, 

 and that it was really appropriated to St Mary Magda- 

 leine, as its English name Maudeline declares. Both 

 plants were much used to make " sweete washing water ; 

 the flowers are tyed up with small bundles of lavender 

 toppes ; these they put in the middle of them, to lye 

 upon the toppes of beds, presses, etc., for the sweet 

 sent and savour it casteth." i They were also used for 

 strewing. In France Costmary is sometimes used in 

 salads, and it was formerly put into beer and negus ; 

 " hence the name Alecost." 



Germander (Teucnum Chamxdrys). 



Clear hysop and there^with the comfortable thyme. 

 Germander with the rest, each thing then in her prime. 



Polyolhion, Song XV. 



Germander, marjoram and thyme. 



Which used are for strewing, 

 "With hisop as an herb most prime. 



Herein my wreath bestowing. 



JS^uses^ Elysium. 



Germander was grown as a border to garden "knots," 

 "though being more used as a strewing herbe for the 

 house than for any other use." ^ Culpepper says it is " a 

 most prevalent herb of Mercury, and strengthens the 

 brain and apprehension exceedingly ; " and Tusser in- 

 cludes it amongst his "strewing herbs"; from which 

 statements it may be gathered that the scent was pungent 



^ Parkinson. 



