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in veterinary practice. The Cowslip is dedicated to St. Peter,
as Herb Peter of the old herbáis, from some resemblance which it
has to his emblem—a bunch of keys. As the patron of fishermen,
Crithmum maritimum, which grows on sea-cliffs, was dedicated to
this saint, and called in Italian San Pietro, in French Saint
Pierre, and m English Samphire. Most of these saintly names
were, however, given to the plants because their day of flowering
is connected with the festival of the saint. Hence Hypericum
quadrangulare is the St. Peter’s Wort of the modern floras, from its
flowering on the 29th of June. The Daisy, as Herb Margaret, is
popularly supposed to be dedicated to “ Margaret that was so
meek and mild;” probably from its blossoming about her day, the
22nd of February; in reality, however, the flower derived its
name from St. Margaret of Cortona. Barbarea vulgaris, growing in
the winter, is St. Barbara’s Cress, her day being the fourth of
December, old style ; and Centaurea solstitialis derives its Latin
specific, and its popular name, St. Barnaby’s Thistle, from its
flourishing on the longest day, the iith of June, old style, which
is now the 22nd. Nigella damascena, whose persistent styles spread
out like the spokes of a wheel, is named Katharine’s flower, after
St. Katharine, who suffered martyrdom on a wheel. The Cranesbill
is called Herb Robert, in honour of St. Robert, Abbot of Molesme
and founder of the Cistercian Order. The Speedwell is St. Paul’s
Betony. Archangel is a name given to one umbelliferous and
three labiate plants. An angel is said to have revealed the virtues
of the plants in a dream. The umbelliferous plant, it has been
supposed, has been named Angelica Archangelica, from its being
in blossom on the 8th of May, old style, the Archangel St. Michael s
Day. Flowering on the fête day of such a powerful angel, the plant
was supposed to be particularly useful as a preservative of men
and women from evil spirits and witches, and of cattle from
elfshot.
Roses are the special flowers of martyrs, and, according
to a tradition, they sprang from the ashes of a saintly maiden of
Bethlehem who perished at the stake. Avens [Ceum urbanum) the
Herba benedicta, or Blessed Herb, is a plant so blessed that no
venomous beast will approach within scent of it ; and, according
to the author of the Ortus sanitatis, “ where the root is in a house,
the devil can do nothing, and flies from it, wherefore it is blessed
above all other herbs.” The common Snowdrops are called Fair
Maids of February. This name also, like the Saints’ names, arises
from an ecclesiastical coincidence ; their white flowers _ blosspm
about the second of February, when maidens, dressed in white,
walked in procession at the Feast of the Purification.
The name of Canterbury Bells was given to the Campanula, m
honour of St. Thomas of England, and in allusion probably to the
horse-bells of the pilgrims to his shrine. Saxifraga umbrosa is both
St. Patrick’s cabbage and St. Anne’s needlework ; Polygonum
Persicaria is the Virgin’s Pinch ; Polytrichum commune, St. Winifred’s
Hair; Myrrhis odorata, Sweet Cicely; Origanum vulgare. Sweet
Margery; Oscinium Basilicum, Sweet Basil. Angelica sylvestris, the
Root of the Holy G h o s t; Hedge Hyssop, Cranesbill, and St.
John’s Wort are all surnamed Grace of God ; the Pansy, having
three colours on one flower, is called Herb T r in ity ; the four-
l.eaved Clover is an emblem of the Cross, and all cruciform flowers
are deemed of good omen, having been marked with the sign of
the Cross. The Hemp Agrimony is the Holy Rope, after the rope
with which Christ was bound ; and the Hollyhock is the Holy
Hock (an old word for Mallow).
The feeling which inspired this identification of flowers and
herbs with holy personages and festivals is gracefully expressed by
a Franciscan in the following passage :—“ Mindful of the Festivals
which our Church prescribes, I have sought to make these objects
of floral nature the timepieces of my religious calendar, and the
mementos of the hastening period of my mortality. Thus I
can light the taper to our Virgin Mother on the blowing of the
white Snowdrop, which opens its flower at the time of Candlemas;
the Lady’s Smock and the Daffodil remind me of the Annunciation ;
the blue Harebell, of the Festival of St. George ; the Ranunculus,
of the Invention of the Cross ; the Scarlet Lychnis, of St. John the
Baptist’s day ; the white L ily, of the Visitation of our Lady ; and
the Virgin’s Bower, of the Assumption ; and Michaelmas, Martinmas,
Holy Rood, and Christmas have all their appropriate
decorations.” In later times we find the Church’s Calendar of
English flowers embodied in the following lines :—•
“ The Snowdrop, in purest white arraie.
First rears her hedde on Candlemass daie:
While the Crocus hastens to the shrine
Of Primrose lone on S. Valentine.
Then comes the Daffodil beside
Our Ladye’s Smock at our Ladye tide,
Aboute S. George, when blue is worn.
The blue Harebells the fields adorn;
Against the daie of the Plolie Cross,
The Crowfoot gilds the flowrie grasse.
When S. Barnabie bright smiles night and daie.
Poor Ragged Robhin blooms in the hay.
The scarlet Lychnis, the garden’s pride,
Flames at S. John the Baptist’s tide ;
From Visitation to S. Swithen’s showers,
The Lillie white reigns queen of the floures
And Poppies a sanguine mantle spread.
For the blood of the dragon S. Margaret shed.
Then under the wanton Rose agen,
That blushes for penitent Magdalen,
Till Lammas Daie, called August’s Wheel,
When the long Corn smells of Cammomile.
When Marie left us here belowe.
The Virgin’s Bower is full in blowe ;
And yet anon the full Sunflower blew.
And became a starre for S. Bartholomew.