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Introduction
Table of Contents.
Page INTRODUCTION, by Marcus Woodward I. Eulogy of Gerard vii II. Life of Gerard ix III. Sources of the Herball xv IV. The Present Edition xvii THE EPISTLE DEDICATORIE I To the courteous and well willing Readers 4 THE GENERAL HISTORIE OF PLANTS. Book I. 7 Book II. 55 Book III. 269 THE NOTES, by Marcus Woodward 287 ALPHABETICAL TABLE OF PLANTS 301 INTRODUCTION.
I.
Eulogy of Gerard.
JOHN GERARD'S name, his Historie of Plants, its glorious Elizabethan prose, the folk-lore steeping its pages, and all its quaint conceits about the "Vertues" of herbs, are known by reputation the world over. This is partly because no book on flowers or trees can be written without quotations from his glowing pages, but mainly because the work has won an unchallenged place of honour as the most delightful, fragrant, and refreshing of all old-time herbals: as it is by far the most amusing. Among many testimonies which might be gathered (if need be) as to the delight which discerning and sensitive minds have ever found in the "Herball", there comes first to remembrance a passage in the beautiful prose of W. H. Hudson; and it is a pleasure to transcribe this (from Nature in Downland), with its echo of Gerard's own flowing periods: "Next to the delight of flowers themselves is to me that of listening to the old herbalist discoursing of the same; and this would I say of no other work on plant lore, for these are mostly a weariness to read. The old author is simple, not concerning himself over much about the reason of things, or as he would say he loveth not to dance in quagmires. . . . The colour of his style is never overworn, and he is for ever fresh and full of variety and agreeable surprises, like Nature herself, who maketh her plants not for meat and medicine only, but some to be esteemed for beauty alone, and as garlands and crowns for pleasure. Indeed, there is not seldom a lustre in his words that serves to remind one of the red whortle he greatly admired, which is full of juice of so orient and beautiful a colour to limn withal that Indian lacca cannot be compared thereunto. Nor let it be forgot that it was he who invented the name of Traveller's Joy; and by increasing the pleasure which all have in that green and silver adorner of our country ways and hedges, may even be said to have added something to Nature."