OF SUNDRY HERBS 59 



hot, which will make them ready to use the sooner. From 

 The Receipt Book of Joseph Cooper, Cook to Charles I, 1640. 



DILL AND COLLY-FLOWER PICKLE. Boil the Colly- 

 flowers till they fall in Pieces ; then with some of the Stalk 

 and worst of the Flower, boil it in a part of the Liquor till 

 pretty strong. Then being taken off, strain it ; and when 

 settled, clean it from the Bottom. Then with Dill, gross 

 pepper, a pretty quantity of Salt, when cold add as much 

 vinegar as will make it sharp, and pour all upon the Colly- 

 flower. John Evelyn, Acetaria, 1699. 



ELDER 



" The common people formerly gathered the Leaves of 

 Elder upon the last day of Aprill, which to disappoint the 

 charmes of Witches they had affixed to their Doores and 

 Windowes. I doe not desire any to pin their Faiths upon 

 these reports, but only let them know there are such which 

 they may believe as they please." William Coles, The Art 

 of Simpling, 1656. 



However tiny the herb garden, there should be at least 

 one Elder in it, for all herbs are under the protection of 

 the spirit of the Elder. She is the Elder Mother, or elder 

 woman, who never fails to avenge any injury done to the 

 tree, and when elder is picked or cut, she must first be asked 

 to give her permission. " Lady Elder, give me some of thy 

 wood, and then will I also give thee some of mine when it 

 grows in the forest." The Elder plays a conspicuous part 

 in all the mythology and folklore of the Scandinavian 

 nations, and every child loves Hans Andersen's beautiful 

 story of Mother Elder. The Russian peasants say that 

 the spirit of the elder is full of compassion for human beings, 

 and drives away all evil spirits from them, and gives long 

 life also. The Danes believe it is the height of ill-luck to 

 have furniture made of elder, or to board the floors with its 

 wood, and if a cradle is made of the wood, the Elder Mother 

 will come and pull the child out of it. The pith of the tree 

 has wonderful powers, for, if cut in round, flat shapes, and 

 dipped in oil, lighted, and then put to float in a glass of 

 water, its light on Christmas Eve will reveal to the owner 



