ELDER 175 



artillery — " If he give not back his crown again, upon 

 the report of an elder-gun I haue no augury." It was 

 an old belief that it was an elder-tree Judas selected 

 to hang himself upon.' Spenser speaks of it as " the bitter 

 elder," and we find many uncanny beliefs centring around 

 the tree. 



The elder may often be seen growing vigorously on 

 old walls - as it seems to have a great power of adaptability, 

 and to need little root-hold for its nourishment and 

 support, and we need scarcely remind our readers anew 

 that it may often be encountered as a hedgerow plant. 

 It cannot, however, under these circumstances be considered 

 a very great success, as its long, pliant branches and 

 generally open growth offer too little resistance to 

 marauders. 



The elder is indigenous and is found in the earliest 

 plant lists as the ellen, ellarn, ellam, or eller. In France 

 it is the Siireau^ while its Italian title, Sambuco ; the Spanish, 

 Sauco ; and the Portuguese, Sabugueiro, are all evidently 

 derived from the old Latin name, Sambucus. Some would 

 tell us that this Latin word is derived from Sambyx, the 

 reputed first finder of the plant, but, without undue 



' Look you, he shall be your Judas, and you shall be his elder-tree 

 to hang on. — Ben Jonson, "Every man out of his humour." 



* The Ancients have affirmed that there are some Herbs that grow 

 out of Stone ; Which may be, for that it is certaine that Toads have 

 bin found in the Middle of a Free-Stone. We see also that Flints, lying 

 upon the Ground, gather Mosse : And Wall-Flowers, and some other 

 Flowers, grow vpon Walls : But whether vpon the Maine Bricke, or 

 Stone, or whether out of the Lime or Chinkes, is not well obserued : For 

 Elders and Ashes have beene scene to grow out of Steeples : But they 

 manifestly grow out of Cleftes. And besides it is doubtfuU, whether the 

 Mortar it selfe putteth it forth, or whether some Seeds be not let fall by 

 Birds. — Bacon, Sylva Sylvarum, 1629. 



