GLOW-WORM.] NATURAL HISTORY. 127 



" I spent eleven pence [for ale], beside three races of Ginger. 

 Tapster, ho ! for the king a cup of ale and a fresh toast ; 

 here's two races more." Race was probably a definite quantity, 

 as the Clown says (" Winter's Tale," he. cit.}, " a race or two of 

 ginger "; so also in i.- '" King Henry IV.," ii. I, 26, "two razes 

 of ginger"; and in "The Life and Death of Thomas Lord 

 Cromwell " (1602 or 1613) the phrase occurs.] 



THAT cinnamon, Ginger, clove, mace, and nutmeg are but 

 the several parts and fruits of the same tree, is the common 

 belief of those which daily use them. 



Sir Thos. Browne, " Vulgar Errors," bk. ii. ch. vi. 



Glow-worm. 



HAMLET, i. 5, 89, 90. 



THE Glow-worm is a little beast, with feet and with 

 wings, and is therefore sometime accounted among volatiles, 

 and he shineth in darkness as a candle, and namely about 

 the hinder parts, and is foul and dark in full light. And 

 infecteth and smiteth his hand that him toucheth. And 

 though he be unseen in light, yet he fleeth light, and hateth 

 it, and goeth only by night. 



Bartholomew (Bertkelet), bk. xviii. 77. 



CERTAIN worms that, shine in the night called Glow- 

 worms, being well stopped in a glass, and covered within 

 hot horse-dung, standing there a certain time, will be re- 

 solved into a liquor, which being mixed with like propor- 

 tion of quicksilver, first cleansed and purged : which will be 

 within half-a-dozen times washing in pure vinegar, mixed 

 with bay-salt, which after every washing and rubbing must 

 be cast away, and then hot water put to the quicksilver, 

 and therewith washed, and then put and closed in a fair, 

 bright and pure glass, and so hanged up in the midst of a 

 house, or other place or room : will give such a light in 

 the dark, as the moon doth, when she shines in a bright 

 night. Lupton, "A Thousand Notable Things," bk. iv. 40. 



To make a light that never shall fail. Take the worms 

 that shine in the night called Glow-worms, stamp them, and 

 let them stand till the shining matter be above, then with 

 a feather take of the same shining matter, and mingle it 



