_The Plant "Hæmony"_ (Vol. ii., p. 88.).--I think MR. BASHAM, who asks
for a reference to the plant "hæmony", referred to by Milton in his
_Comus_, will find the information which he seeks in the following
extract from Henry Lyte's translation of Rembert Dodoen's _Herbal_, at
page 107, of the edition of 1578. The plant is certainly not called by
the name of "hæmony," nor is it described as having prickles on its
leaves; but they are plentifully shown in the engraving which
accompanies the description.
"_Allysson._--The stem of this herbe is right and straight,
parting itself at the top into three or foure small branches.
The leaves be first round, and after long whitish and _rough_,
or somewhat woolly in handling. It bringeth foorth at the top of
the branches little _yellow_ floures, and afterward small rough
whitish and flat huskes, and almost round fashioned like
bucklers, wherein is contained a flat seede almost like to the
seed of castell or stocke gilloflers, but greater.
"Alysson, as Dioscorides writeth, groweth upon rough mountaynes,
and is not found in this countrey but in the gardens of some
herboristes.
"The same hanged in the house, or at the gate or entry, keepeth
man and beast from _enchantments and witching_."