They are all much of the same kind, and
illustrated in the same way as this one of Parkinson's,
leading one to conjecture that the medical science
throughout Europe at this time was about on a
level.
1633. 'The Herbal or General Historic of Plants
gathered by John Gerarde, of London, Master in Chirur-
gerie.' This edition of Gerarde's Herbal appeared between
the publication of Parkinson's two books just described,
but it is a reprint of an earlier edition, very much enlarged
and amended by Thomas Johnson, citizen and apothecary.
The frontispiece is stately and serious. The title is on a
MARCH 57
shield in the middle, with a column on each side dividing
it from two draped figures, Theophrastus on the left and
Dioscorides on the right. Above these two figures, but
divided from them by a line, are Ceres and Pomona, both
fully draped. Ceres has a sheaf of wheat in her arms, and
behind her grows the Indian corn. A ploughed field is
spread out in the distance on her left. In the middle,
between these figures, are growing plants and flowers and
an orchard. At the bottom of the page is a fine portrait
of Gerarde, holding a flower I do not recognise. He is
dressed in the correct costume and ruffle of Charles I.
On each side of him the spaces are filled by two vases
of different shape and design, in which are various
flowers arranged in a stiff and formal manner, typical of
flower arrangements in that time and long after, as we
see depicted by art in this and other countries. Nowhere
on the page does there appear any representation of the
Vegetable Lamb, nor can I find any reference to it in the
text. On the other hand, however, there is an elaborate
allusion to what Mr. Lee describes in his book on the
Vegetable Lamb, before mentioned, as the companion
superstition of the Barnacle Geese. Gerarde gives a most
interesting and detailed account — too long, alas ! for me to
quote — of having seen the barnacles and watched their
development into tree-geese. He corroborates his own
observation by quoting the like experience of others. He
also states in all gravity that ' the shells wherein is bred
the barnacle are taken up in a small island adjoining to
Lancashire, half a mile from the mainland, called the
Pile of Foulders.' Mr. Lee says : — ' The growth and
development of the story of " the Scythian Lamb " from
the similarity of appearance of two really different objects
may be best explained by comparing it with another
natural-history myth which ran curiously parallel to it.
I allude to the fable that Sir John Mandeville tells us he
58 POT-POURRI FROM A SURREY GARDEN
related to his Tartar acquaintances, viz., that of the
" Barnacle Geese," which has never been surpassed as a
specimen of ignorant credulity and persistent error.
Page 34
Presented as published in 1898. Historical recipes may not meet modern food-safety standards. Cook from the modern interpretation, not the original instructions.
AI-modernized reading of the original text
A modernized reading is not available for this page yet. You are seeing the original text.
They are all much of the same kind, and
illustrated in the same way as this one of Parkinson's,
leading one to conjecture that the medical science
throughout Europe at this time was about on a
level.
1633. 'The Herbal or General Historic of Plants
gathered by John Gerarde, of London, Master in Chirur-
gerie.' This edition of Gerarde's Herbal appeared between
the publication of Parkinson's two books just described,
but it is a reprint of an earlier edition, very much enlarged
and amended by Thomas Johnson, citizen and apothecary.
The frontispiece is stately and serious. The title is on a
MARCH 57
shield in the middle, with a column on each side dividing
it from two draped figures, Theophrastus on the left and
Dioscorides on the right. Above these two figures, but
divided from them by a line, are Ceres and Pomona, both
fully draped. Ceres has a sheaf of wheat in her arms, and
behind her grows the Indian corn. A ploughed field is
spread out in the distance on her left. In the middle,
between these figures, are growing plants and flowers and
an orchard. At the bottom of the page is a fine portrait
of Gerarde, holding a flower I do not recognise. He is
dressed in the correct costume and ruffle of Charles I.
On each side of him the spaces are filled by two vases
of different shape and design, in which are various
flowers arranged in a stiff and formal manner, typical of
flower arrangements in that time and long after, as we
see depicted by art in this and other countries. Nowhere
on the page does there appear any representation of the
Vegetable Lamb, nor can I find any reference to it in the
text. On the other hand, however, there is an elaborate
allusion to what Mr. Lee describes in his book on the
Vegetable Lamb, before mentioned, as the companion
superstition of the Barnacle Geese. Gerarde gives a most
interesting and detailed account — too long, alas ! for me to
quote — of having seen the barnacles and watched their
development into tree-geese. He corroborates his own
observation by quoting the like experience of others. He
also states in all gravity that ' the shells wherein is bred
the barnacle are taken up in a small island adjoining to
Lancashire, half a mile from the mainland, called the
Pile of Foulders.' Mr. Lee says : — ' The growth and
development of the story of " the Scythian Lamb " from
the similarity of appearance of two really different objects
may be best explained by comparing it with another
natural-history myth which ran curiously parallel to it.
I allude to the fable that Sir John Mandeville tells us he
58 POT-POURRI FROM A SURREY GARDEN
related to his Tartar acquaintances, viz., that of the
" Barnacle Geese," which has never been surpassed as a
specimen of ignorant credulity and persistent error.