274 JOHNSON AND WOTTON 



being no less eminent in the garrison for his valour and conduct as 

 a soldier than famous through the kingdom for his excellency as an 

 herbarist and physician.' 



Johnson had a wide circle of friends and helpers in addition to 

 the socii itinerantes who took part in his botanical excursions. 

 Among others he mentions GEORGE BOWLES of Chiselhurst in 

 Kent ; Sir John Tunstal, gentleman usher to the Queen, owner 

 of a garden at Edgcomb, Surrey ; HUGH MORGAN, apothecary to 

 the Queen; Robert Abbot of Hatfield, a learned preacher; 

 John Redman, 'a skilful herbarist ' of the north of England. The 

 manner in which his friends used to make use of his services is 

 shown by a letter that is still extant from the Provost of Eton, 

 Sir Henry Wotton.^ 



To my very loving and learned friend Mr. Johnson, apothecary, at his house 

 on Snowe Hill, London. 



2nd of July 1637. 

 My Good Friend Mr. Johnson, 



I have addressed this my servant unto you at the present with two or 

 three requests. First, that you would direct him where he may buy one of your 

 Gerrards, well and strongly bound ; next, where I may have for my money all 

 kinds of coloured pinks to set in a quarter of my garden, or any such flowers as 

 perfume the air. Thirdly, I pray let me consult you whether you know any sick 

 of that fastidious infirmity, which they call melancholia hyPochondriacay where- 

 with I have been troubled of late, but more with a symptom very frequent in that 

 passion (as the great Fernelius describes it) . . . 



Henry Wotton. 



Johnson's early death was a great blow to Goodyer. In his will 

 (P. C. C. ii4Twisse) dated 11 May 1635 he described himself as Citizen and 

 Barber surgeon of London. He left legacies to his aunt, Mary Cave, 5s., to 

 William Parker 40s., to Eliz. Parker 50s., to Richard Parker, son of Wm. P., ^5 

 to set him forth to prentice, and to his wife Alice Johnson, his sole exor., the 

 residue of his estate. The will, witnessed by W. Parker and Mary Vudell, was 

 proved in July 1647. 



^ Sir Henry Wotton (156S-1639) of New College, Queen's, and Eton, 



diplomatist and poet, is best remembered by his exquisite poem The Character 



of a Hcippy Life. His letters allude to contributions to English horticulture 



during the second tenure of his office as Ambassador at Venice. They mention : 



' Seeds and roots and slips of rare flowers and plants' to Sir R. Winwood. 



Oct. 1616. 

 'The most excellent choice of those seeds which his Majesty desireth'to 



James L Dec. 162 1. 

 ' More melon seeds of all sorts ' to James L Dec. 1622. 



' Finocchio' or Italian Fennell (with full directions for cooking and eating) to 



Tradescant. Probably about the same time, but not recorded until 1656. 



Parkinson, Paradisits. 



To James he wrote that he intended to examine some of the best hortoliuii oi 



Chioggia and other places about the manner of cultivation. He was in close 



corrcsponilencc with Lord Zouch, and may have also sent plants to the Hackney 



garden. I'carsal! Smith, JfWAw. 



