CHAPTER V 

 THE CHELSEA " PHYSICKE GARDEN " 



IN the opening chapter of this book reference is made to the 

 universal cultivation of simples, or medicinal herbs, by 

 the English country dames and damsels of old, and also to 

 the fact that in many a convent garden in this country the plants 

 used in the healing art were grown by the monks, who largely 

 helped to keep alive the science of horticulture during the dark 

 ages. 



By degrees, in the sixteenth century, books on the subject began 

 to appear. As already stated, the first Englishman to compile 

 a herbal was William Turner, M.D., Fellow of Pembroke Hall, 

 Cambridge, Dean of Wells, botanist and physician to Edward VI. 

 and the Protector Somerset. 



Learning Greek as he did from Nicholas Ridley, and hearing 

 Hugh Latimer preach, it is not surprising that Turner should have 

 so soon identified himself with the reforming party in the Church. 

 For preaching without a licence he was for a time imprisoned, and 

 when released, travelled on the Continent, interesting himself 

 deeply in the study of botany, and writing religious works, that 

 were forbidden by proclamation to appear in England. He came 

 into favour at court on the accession of Edward VI., and though 

 deprived of his office during Mary's reign, so that he again sought 

 refuge abroad, he was for some years Dean of Wells, till finally, 

 he was suspended for nonconformity in 1564. 



" Being," he tells us, " so much vexed and occupied with preach- 

 ing and the study of divinity, he had but small leisure to write 

 herballes." Yet," said his contemporary, Dr. Bullen, " his book 



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