THE PEAK. 135 



valuable in its fresh state, as well as for baking and pre- 

 serving. Many sorts were well known to the Greeks and 

 Romans ; Pliny enumerates thirty-two. It was cultivated 

 in England at a very early period. Chaucer makes mention 

 of it ; and in an account-book of Henry VIII. there are 

 the following charges, among others : 



: For medlars and wardens ' 



Item, to a woman who gaff the Kyng peres 



s. d. 

 034 

 2." 



FLOVF.A OF PK.VR-TREE. 



In Gerard's time, " threescore sundrie sorts of pears, and 

 those exceeding good," were growing in one garden; and 

 of late years so much attention has been paid to the 



*" Wardens" were so called f r. m fheir property of keeping: 

 " peres" were probably some common kind of pear. 



