The Old English Herbals

by Eleanour Sinclair Rohde

Expl. “It dryveth away all foul moysteris
And distroyeth venym and wykyd humours
It distroyeth the morfew
And dispoyling to the leper.”

Dd. X. 44 (VIII). Cambridge University Library.

15th century. An Herbary þe whiche ys draw out of Circa Instans and hyt towcherþ schortlyche þ^e principal vertuys and þ^e special effectes of herbis and droggis þ^t be þ^e most comyne in use, and her dyvers grees of qualites or yher complexions and her propur and most special kynd of worcheyng.

(At the end of every alphabetical division of this work is left a page or more, blank, for the purpose of inserting additional matter. There are several additions by old hands. Some additions on the margins have been torn off.)

Ashmole 1443 (IV).

15th century. Treatise on herbs. 169 chapters, with table of Contents prefixed.

Inc. “Agnus castus is a herbe that men clep Tutsayne or Park levis.”

Arundel 272 (II). British Museum.

15th century. An Herbal. Arranged alphabetically to the letter P.

Inc. “Agnus castus is an herbe,” etc. Breaks off in “pulegium rurale.” (Other copies—both ending with S—are in Addit. 4698, f. 16b, and Arundel 272, f. 36.)