You could be right about the herbs, the smell coming from the first prepared seasoning could well have been mistaken for a Lincolnshire. I always believed that the Traditional Cumberland sausage was a show case for the import of spices from the far east trade, which were imported to England via the Cumbrian port of Whitehaven. New flavours such as Coriander, Mace and Nutmeg must have blown peoples taste buds away in Elizabethan times!
I think for the next batch I make may use what I have growing in the garden - at least until it dies back for winter !