LONDON
SAMPSON LOW, MARSTON AND CO. LTD.
100, SOUTHWARK STREET, S.E.
[Illustration: Colophon]
CHISWICK PRESS: CHARLES WHITTINGHAM AND CO.
TOOKS COURT, CHANCERY LANE, LONDON.
_INTRODUCTION_
_The original of this little book was found in the library of a
distinguished Essex antiquary: the document has unfortunately no
history, but from its appearance and comprehensive character it must
have been the still-room book of some manor house or homestead of
standing._
_The manuscript is a folio composed entirely of vellum, bound in
green, with a conventional design in gold: the binding of this book
is a reduced facsimile of the original. The writing is in the hand
of several persons: the spelling and absence of punctuation are
here reproduced in all their original quaintness. The book has been
submitted to experts, who are of opinion that it covers a period of
some fifty years, terminating about the middle of the eighteenth
century._
_The condition of many of the rural districts of England in the
eighteenth century and the almost impassable state of the roads are
brought home to us by a writer in “The Gentleman’s Magazine” (1757),
in the following description: “It took my horse up to the belly the
second step he took on the road, and had I not dismounted and clambered
up some bushes I had been lodged there for a season.” The isolation of
the country in those days is almost inconceivable; the difficulties
of travel were immense, and a survival of feudal legislation tied the
labourer to the soil. Thus we may look upon the manor or farmhouse,
with its retainers, as a detached social unit, and, in a sparsely
populated country, almost a state in itself._
_It is not difficult to form a picture of the lady of the house: amid
her other duties she dispensed doles and charity to the poor around
her. Through her knowledge of simples she was also “simpler” of all the
ills that flesh is heir to, not only in the case of man, but also of
beast. The wisdom and observation of a long procession of forebears are
summed up in the recipes gathered in this book._
Herbs, too, she knew, and well of each could speak,
That in her garden sip’d the silvery dew;
Where no vain flower disclos’d a gaudy streak;
But herbs for use, and physic, not a few,
Of grey renown within those borders grew;
The tufted basil, pun-provoking thyme,
Fresh balm, and mary-gold of cheerful hue;
The lowly gill, that never dares to climb;
* * * * *
And lavender, whose spikes of azure bloom
Shall be ere-while in arid bundles bound
To lurk amidst the labours of her loom,
And crown her kerchiefs clean, with mickle rare perfume.
_In these days, when the good manager is scarce, it is perhaps
difficult to realize or appreciate that domestic œconomy was once
practised as a science, founded upon the older herbalists, housewives’
tales and oral tradition, the whole administered by rule of thumb. As
will be seen, the domestic pharmacopoeia had not yet emerged from the
seventeenth century. The astrological atmosphere of Culpepper, who
warns us that he “who would know the operation of the herbs must look
up to the stars astrologically,” and the writings of Parkinson, clearly
show the influence of that period. The predominance of the healing
properties of herbs is still more apparent in this book; there is not a
single remedy or simple in which their virtues are not set forth._
_In my lady’s garden, set within its red-brick walls, grew Camomile,
Basil, Cardons, Angelica, Sweet Chevril, Tansy, Saffron, Elecampane,
Hyssop, Thyme, Marjoram, Purslane, Sage, Rosemary, Rue, Pennyroyal,
Borage, Liquorice, Horehound and many other plants. With these herbs
were cultivated Gillyflower, Pansy, Pinks, Bergamot, Southernwood, Bay,
Roses, Jasmine, Lavender and divers sweet-scented plants for the making
of simples, perfumes, and “sweete waters.”_
_The housewife, before entering on her duties, must have served an
apprenticeship; doubtless it formed the serious business of her life.
How many women nowadays follow the example of their ancestors? The
easy access of the doctor, the facilities of communication, the quack
remedies obtained from the neighbouring chymist, have superseded the
old-fashioned simples._
_The old herb garden is a wilderness, and even the names of its
occupants have almost passed away. Perchance this little book may help
us to picture it at its prime, with all its old-world atmosphere, and
haunting memories of much that is still precious. It may also bring
back the sweet mingled scent of the herb garden, the “murmuring of
innumerable bees,” the shimmering of the sun on sheltered pleasaunce
and well-trimmed hedge of yew, creating an image delightful to recall._
_Although many herbals and culinary manuscripts and books date back
to a much earlier period, as may be seen in the bibliography, yet
they are now scarce and difficult to obtain. This particular example
is interesting because of the magic of its herb-lore and the added
charm of the making of conserves and perfumes and the preserving of
viands. Moreover, it has that personal touch wanting in so many books
of a similar nature. One may note the words at the end of some of the
simples, “Probatum,” or “Probatum est.” What a world of meaning and
satisfaction they imply!_
_I am indebted to Miss I. L. Gould and Miss B. M. Gould for the long
labour and perseverance they have bestowed in decyphering the faded
script, and to Mr. J. Manning Watts for his researches into the
virtues and properties formerly attributed to these herbs, and for his
investigation into the proper spelling of their names, which appear in
the manuscript according to the light of nature._
_It will be observed that the items in the Index are not always in
strict alphabetical order. This will not, however, seriously interfere
with reference to any recipe, and it has therefore been thought better
to retain them as originally compiled._
_H. W. LEWER._
_11th August, 1908._