12 THE BOOK OF HERBS 



to procure a cheerfull and merry hearte, whereunto 

 the seede is chiefly used in powder." With such 

 " physical! properties " Basil is too much neglected 

 nowadays. He also refers to the extraordinary but 

 very general idea that it bred scorpions. " Let me, before 

 I leave, relate unto you a pleasant passage between 

 Francisius Marchio, as Advocate of the State of Genoa 

 sent in embassage to the Duke of Milan, and the said 

 Duke, who, refusing to heare his message or to agree 

 unto the conditions proposed, brought an handfull of 

 Basill and offered it to him, who, demanding of him 

 what he meant thereby, answered him, that the pro- 

 perties of that hearbe was, that being gently handled, it 

 gave a pleasant smell, but being hardly wrung and 

 bruised, would breed scorpions, with which witty 

 answer the Duke was so pleased that he confirmed the 

 conditions, and sent him honourably home. It is also 

 observed that scorpions doe much rest and abide under 

 these pots and vessells wherein Basill is planted." Cul- 

 pepper,! too, had suspicions about it. " This is the herb 

 which all authors are together by the ears about and rail 

 at one another (like lawyers). Galen and Dioscorides 

 hold it not fitting to be taken inwardly, and Chrysippus 

 rails at it with downright Billingsgate rhetoric ; PUny 

 and the Arabians defend it. Something is the matter, 

 this herb and rue will not grow together, no, nor near 

 one another, and we know rue is as great an enemy to 

 poison as any that grows." Tusser ^ puts both Basils in 

 his list of " strewing herbs," and also says : — 



Fine basil desireth it may be her lot, 

 To grow as the gilliflower, trim in a pot ; 

 That ladies and gentles, to whom ye do serve, 

 May help her, as needeth, poor life to preserve. 



iWfiy'j Husbandry, 



To which (in Mavor's edition, 1812) is appended this 



' English Physitian, popularly linown as Culpepper's Herbal, 1652. 

 2 " Five Hundred Points of Good Husbandry " 



