TURNER'S HERBAL 97 



by the poorer sort, my endevor herein hath bin chiefly to make 

 the benefit of so good, necessary and profitable a worke to be 

 brought within the reach and compasse as well of you my poore 

 countrymen and women whose lives, healths, ease and welfare 

 is to be regarded with the rest, at a smaller price than the great 

 volume is. My onely and greatest care hath byn of long tyme 

 to knowe or thinke how and upon whome to bestow the dedica- 

 tion of this my small labour. And in the penning of this my 

 letter my Affections are satisfied with the dedication thereof to 

 these my poore and loving countrymen whosoever and to 

 whose hands soever it may come. For whose sake I have 

 desired publicatio of the same, beseeching Almighty God to 

 blesse us all." 



The book is curiously arranged, for on one page we have 

 " the practice of Dodoen," and on the opposite " the practises 

 of others for the same Phisike helpes, collected and presented 

 to the Author of this Treatise." There are directions for each 

 month, and each is headed by a motto. The twelve mottoes, 

 when read together, form the following quaint rhyme : 



" January. With this fyre I warme my hand 

 February. With this spade I digge my land 

 March. Here I cut my Vine spring 

 April. Here I hear the birds sing 

 May. I am as fresh as bird on bough 

 June. Corn is weeded well enough 

 July. With this sithe my grasse I mowe 

 August. Here I cut my corne full lowe 

 September. With this flaile I earne my bread 

 October. Here I sowe my wheats so red 

 November. With this axe I kill my swine 

 December. And here I brew both ale and wine." 



There are some things in this little handbook worthy of remem- 

 brance, notably an imaginative passage in which the author 

 tells us that " herbs that grow in the fields are better than 

 those which grow in gardens, and of those herbs which grow in 

 the fieldes, such as grow on hilles are best." 



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