Leechdoms, wortcunning, and starcraft of early England. Being a ...

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LEECH BOOK. L 143
Ixvi Book I.
Ch. Ixvi.
Against mental vacancy and against folly; put into
ale bishopwort, lupins, betony, the southern or Italian
fennel, nepte, water agrimony, cockle, marclie, then let
the man drink. For idiotcy and folly, put into ale,
cassia, and lupins, bishopwort, alexanders, githrife, fieldmore,
and holy water ;
then let him drink.
Ixvii.
1. For the better digestion of meat taken ; take lupins,
lay them under the altar, sing over them nine
masses, that shall avail for meat taken; lay it under
the vessel into which thou hast in mind to milk. If
ale be spoilt, then take lupins, lay them on the four
quarters of the dwelling, and over the door, and under
the threshhold, and under the ale vat, put the wort
into the ale with holy water.
2. If meat be spoilt,^ and a good quantity of milken
'
food, or a milking,^ or brewing, hallow the worts,^ put
them into and under the vat, and under the door ; use
lupins, and clifwort, and betony, and bishopwort.
^'^^ m- ^"'
Ixviii.
In case that a hunting spider^ bite a man, that is
the stronger spider, strike three scarifications near, in
a direction from the bite, let the blood run into a
green spoon of hazel wood, then throw it over the road
away; then no harm will come of it. Again, strike a
scarification on the wound; pound leechwort; lay it
on, no harm will happen to the man. Against bite of
a weaving spider,* take the netherward part of seferthe,
'
Cf. Luke xiv. 34. Marshall.
j
for the Aranea taran-
- By one of the henisons in the tula, the habits of which our
ecclesiastical Manuale.
:
had, doubtless, learnt.
^ Salticus scenicus is now de-
'
Aranea viatica,
scribed by this name ; but it is very