The only superstition that I have ever heard in any way connected with the plant is, that in Dorsetshire it is thought unlucky, and that if it be kept in a house an illness will be the consequence.
Coole violets and orpine growing still, Enbathed balme and cheerfull galingale, Fresh costmarie and healthfull camomile.
Then balm and mint help to make up My chaplet and for trial Costmary that so likes the cup, And next it penny-royal.
Then hot muscado oil, with milder maudlin cast, Strong tansey, fennel cool, they prodigally waste.
Costmary or Alecost, and Maudeline (_Balsamita Vulgaris_), have so close a semblance that they may be taken together. The German name for Costmary, _Frauen münze_, supports the natural idea that it was dedicated to the Virgin, but Dr Prior says that the Latin name used to be _Costus amarus_, not _Costus Marie_, and that it was really appropriated to St Mary Magdaleine, as its English name Maudeline declares. Both plants were much used to make “sweete washing water; the flowers are tyed up with small bundles of lavender toppes; these they put in the middle of them, to lye upon the toppes of beds, presses, etc., for the sweet sent and savour it casteth.”[72] They were also used for strewing. In France Costmary is sometimes used in salads, and it was formerly put into beer and negus; “hence the name _Alecost_.”
Clear hysop and therewith the comfortable thyme, Germander with the rest, each thing then in her prime.
Germander, marjoram and thyme, Which used are for strewing, With hisop as an herb most prime, Herein my wreath bestowing.
Germander was grown as a border to garden “knots,” “though being more used as a strewing herbe for the house than for any other use.”[73] Culpepper says it is “a most prevalent herb of Mercury, and strengthens the brain and apprehension exceedingly;” and Tusser includes it amongst his “strewing herbs”; from which statements it may be gathered that the scent was pungent but agreeable. It is more often mentioned by old herbalists as “bordering knots” than in any other capacity, in spite of Parkinson’s remark, and now is very seldom seen at all. It may, very rarely, be found growing wild. Harrison, when he is declaiming against the over-praising of foreigners, says: “Our common Germander, or thistle benet, is found and knowne to bee so wholesome and of so great power in medicine as any other hearbe,” but it is not clear whether he really means Germander, or is not rather thinking of _Carduus Benedictus_.