GERARD'S HERBAL 113 



stalke one floure like the other marigolds, from which start 

 forth sundry other smal floures, yellow likewise and of the same 

 fashion as the first, which if I be not deceived commeth to pass 

 per accidens, or by chance, as Nature often times liketh to play 

 with other floures; or as children are borne with two thumbes 

 on one hand or such like, which living to be men do get children 

 like unto others : even so is the seed of this marigold, which 

 if it be sowen it brings forth not one floure in a thousand like 

 the plant from whence it was taken." Goat's-beard still retains 

 its old name of * go-to-bed-at-noon,' "for it shutteth itselfe at 

 twelve of the clocke, and sheweth not his face open untill the 

 next dayes Sun doth make it flower anew, whereupon it was 

 called go-to-bed-at-noone : when these floures be come to their 

 full maturitie and ripenesse they grow into a downy Blow-ball 

 like those of dandelion, which is carried away with the winde." 

 Of the wild scabious (still called devil's-bit by country folk) he 

 tells us : " It is called Devil's bit of the root (as it seemeth) 

 that is bitten off. Old fantasticke charmers report that the 

 Devil did bite it for envie because it is an herbe that hath so 

 many good vertues and is so beneficent to mankind." Gerard's, 

 again, is the only herbal in which we find one of the old names for 

 vervain : '* Of some it is called pigeons grasse because Pigeons 

 are delighted to be amongst it as also to eat thereof." Golden 

 moth-wort, he tells us, is called God's flower *' because the 

 images and carved gods were wont to wear garlands thereof : for 

 which purpose Ptolomy King of Egypt did most diligently 

 observe them as Pliny writeth. The floures . . . glittering 

 like gold, in forme resembling the scaly floures of tansy or the 

 middle button of the floures of camomil, which, being gathered 

 before they be ripe or withered, remaine beautiful long after, as 

 myself did see in the hands of Mr. Wade, one of the Clerks of 

 her Majesties Counsell, which were sent him among other things 

 from Padua in Italy." The variety of daisy which children now 

 call " Hen and Chickens " was known as the " childing daisy " 

 in Gerard's time. " Furthermore, there is another pretty 

 I 



