Hatfield’s Herbal
To ensure your partner’s fidelity, ladies, sprinkle over his chest a mixture prepared from butterbur, foxglove, royal fern and an old man’s bones. And, if he tolerates your strange behaviour, then he’s clearly worth keeping. If, on the other hand, he snores through the whole process, I wouldn’t bother if I were you.
This charm is one of many similar treasures to be found in Hatfield’s Herbal, a sort of 21st century Culpepper in which the author, who is a distinguished plant historian, wears her learning lightly. The book is an eclectic and fascinating mix of history, botany and myth, with a few recipes thrown in for good measure. A useful source for anyone writing historical fiction and an absorbing read in its own right. It also has comprehensive source notes for those wishing to take their studies to the next stage.
It will never replace my well-thumbed Culpepper but makes an excellent companion to it.
