Nothing quite brings a castle to life like seeing re-enactors, properly costumed, demonstrating the contemporary way of life and of warfare, and so it was that I timed my visit to Goodrich Castle in Herefordshire, England, to coincide with a small re-enactment display.

Herbs are versatile plants, and this is an introductory guide to the range of uses for them in the seventeenth century (Tudor and Stuart times), with some hints for re-enactors.