"The forest of Savernake is of great note for plenty of game, and for
a kind of ferne there that yieldeth a most pleasant savour".-(Fuller's
Worthies: Wilts, Hen. Sturmy.)
This ferne is mentioned by Dr. Peter Heylin in his Church History, in
the Pedegre of Seymour. The vicar of Great Bedwin told me that he hath
seen and smelt the ferne, and that it is like other ferne, but not so
big. He knowes not where it growes, but promised to make enquirie. Now
Mr. Perkins sayes that this is sweet cis, and that it is also found in
the New Forest; but me thinkes the word Savernake seems to be a sweet-
oke-ferne: - oke, is oake; verne is ferne; perhaps sa, or sav, is sweet
or savorous. - (Vide Phytologia Britannic., where this fern is taken
notice of. Sweet fern is the vulgar name, for sweet chervill or
cicely; but I never found that plant wild in England.-J. RAY.)
Danes-blood (ebulis) about Slaughtonford is plenty. There was
heretofore (vide J. Milton) a great fight with the Danes, which made
the inhabitants give it that name.
Wormewood exceedingly plentifull in all the wast grounds in and about
Kington St. Michael, Hullavington, and so to Colerne, and great part
of the hundred of Malmesbury.
Horse-taile (equisetum). Watchmakers and fine workers in brasse use it
after smooth filing. They have it from Holland; but about Dracot Cerne
and Kington St. Michael, in the minchin-meadow of Priory St. Maries,
is great quantity of the same.
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