CHAPTER I

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THE ANGLO-SAXON HERBALS 1

Evidence of the existence of books on herbs in the eighth century--Tenth-century manuscripts--Their importance as the first records of Anglo-Saxon plant lore and of folk medicine of a still earlier age--Preliminary survey of the more important manuscripts--_Leech Book of Bald_--Authorship and origin--Oldest Leech Book written in the vernacular in Europe--Saxon translation of the _Herbarium Apuleii Platonici_--Illustrations--Saxon translation of the +Peri Didaxeôn+--The _Lacnunga_--Importance of these manuscripts to the student of folk lore--Folk lore of the origin of disease--Doctrine of the "elf-shot"--"Flying venom"--Doctrine of the worm as the ultimate source of disease--Demoniac possession--Herbal remedies--Picturesqueness of Saxon methods of treating diseases--Smoking patient with fumes of herbs--Cattle similarly treated--Use of herbs as amulets--Binding on with red wool--Specially sacred herbs--Charms and incantations to be used in picking and administering herbs--Transference of disease--Predominance of the number nine--Ceremonies to be observed in the picking of herbs--Nature-worship in these ceremonies--Eostra--Prayer to Earth.