CHAPTER V 
THE CHELSEA “‘ PHYSICKE GARDEN ” 
N 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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