Holly, Rochester Bestiary, c.1230
Holly trees can grow up to fifteen metres in height with a lifespan of up three hundred years. The wood of the holly is white, hard and fine grained, and can be stained and polished. It is used to make furniture, and more commonly, walking sticks.
Holly is a valuable resource for wildlife, providing nesting for birds, and dry leaves can be used by hedgehogs and other small mammals for hibernation. The flowers are a source of pollen and nectar for bees and other pollinating insects, and the berries are a vital food source for birds and small mammals in winter.
In western herbalism, the soothing medicinal qualities of holly have been used to reduce fever, swelling and arthritis. The berries, however are poisonous to humans, and although rarely fatal, may cause vomiting and diarrhea.
The holly tree is sacred in Celtic mythology, symbolising peace and goodwill. It is known to be resistant to lightning strikes, and so was planted near dwellings to protect people. In Christian symbology, the spiky holly leaves represent the crown of thorns worn by Christ , and the red berries drops of His blood. The evergreen of the leaves symbolise eternal life.
Transcription
Translation
illius fructum primum homines sibi in victum elege-
runt. Unde et poeta. Mortales primi ructabuant
gutture glandem. Quercus sive querinum dicitur
quod sub ea soliti erant dii gentium querentibus res-
The holly, as Ysidorus says, is called by the chosen one, because men first chose its fruit for their food. Hence the poet. The first mortals belched the bullet in their throats. It is called the oak or the plain because under it the gods of the nations used to give answers to their complainers.
legitur de quercu in ambre. sub qua habitav(dot under v)
abraham. que fertur usque ad constantini re-
gis imperium per multa secula perdurasse. Fructus
huius; galla dicitur. sicut dicit ysidorus. Ex quibus
unus agrestis. parva forma. sed pirmo corpore atque
nodoso. que medicaminibus et incaustis adhi-
betur. Altera levis ac lenis. et nimium perforata.
Lucernarum tantum usibus necessaria. Glandes
modo sunt cibus porcorum. et galle medicina
hominum. Glandes quoque in medicinam sumuntur
et sunt frigide et sicce. et ideo difficiles ad dige-
rendum. et constipant et urinam provocant.
et corporis sunt nutritive. quasi quedam grana
tarde de stomaco descendunt. propter fumum
spissum; dolorem capiti faciunt. Superficies earum
multum est. stiptica. Valent autem ad multas
infirmitates mulierum. Valent et ad sangui-
nis fluxum. Galla quoque est frigida et sicca. Alia
nondum matura et miper forata; pusilla est. alia
to judge A very old tree; as we read of the oak in amber, under which Abraham dwelt, which is said to have lasted for many centuries until the reign of King Constantine. The fruit of this; It is called galla, as Ysidorus says. One of them was a peasant, small in form, but with a smooth and gnarled body. which is used in cosmetics and incaustics. The other light and smooth, and too many holes. The lamps are only necessary for the uses. Bullets are but food for pigs, and cockles are medicine for men. Glands also are taken in medicine, and are cold and dry, and therefore difficult to digest, and constipate and provoke urination, and are nutritious for the body, like certain grains pertaining to redness and swelling; it is ripe.
fluxum sanguinis valet galla. et mulierum
multas infirmitates curat. Pulverizata et in
naribus insufflata; sanguinem inde fluentem sistit;
Terebintus est. arbor brevis; ut quidam dicunt.
Hec arbor generat resinam omnium refinarum
prestantiorem. Afferunt autem ex arabia. parthia.
Gall is effective against the flow of blood, and cures many infirmities of women. Powdered and blown into the nostrils; it stops the blood flowing from it. It is a gnarled, short tree; as some say. This tree produces a resin superior to all the refined ones. But they bring from Arabia, the Parthians.