tQQ FLORA HISTORICA. 



Ely Minster and the walls adjoining. We have 

 likewise seen it growing most abundantly on the 

 ancient boundary walls of the gardens belonging 

 to the episcopal palace at Chichester, in Sussex. 

 The old English name of Setewale for this 

 plant is derived from the Saxon. Chaucer writes 

 of it under this appellation as long back as the 

 time of Edward the Third. 



«* Ther springen herbes ^rete and smale, 

 The Licoris and the Setewale." 



Dr. Turner, who compiled his Herbal during 

 the reign of Queen Mary, calls it Setwall, and 

 he observes that it is the pla^t which is named 

 Valeriana Major by the common herbarists. 



Gerard, who wrote in the succeeding reign, tells 

 us that it was called '* Holie Herbe, Juno's 

 Teares, Mercurie's Moist Bloude, and Pigeon's 

 Grasse, or Columbine, bicause Pigeons are de- 

 lighted to be amongst it, as also to eate thereof." 



The Latins are thought to have called this 

 plant Valeriana, from its powers in medicine, or 

 as some suppose after Vedius Valens, a favourite 

 physician of the Empress MessaHna, wife to 

 Claudius Caesar, as it appears to have been 

 called Phit previous to his time. 



The Red Valerian grows naturally on the rocks 

 of the Alps, and from the facility with which it 



