54 
PLANT-LORE OF SHAKESPEARE 
“ To so we Cock el with the Corn 
So that the tilthe is nigh forlorn, 
Which Crist sew first his owne hond— 
Now stant the Cockel in the lond 
Where stood whilom the gode greine, 
For the prelats now, as men sain, 
For slouthen that they shoulden tille.” 
Confessio A mantis , lib. quintus (2-190, Paulli). 
Latimer has exactly the same idea: “ Oh, that our prelates 
would bee as diligent to sowe the corne of goode doctrine as 
Sathan is to sow Cockel and Darnel.” . „ . “There was 
never such a preacher in England as he (the devil) is. Who 
is able to tel his dylygent preaching? which every daye and 
every houre laboreth to sowe Cockel and Darnel ” (Latimer’s 
Fourth Sermon). And to the same effect Spenser—- 
“ And thus of all my harvest-hope I have 
Nought reaped but a weedie crop of care, 
Which when I thought have thresht in swelling sheave, 
Cockle for corn, and chaff for barley bare.” 
The Cockle or Campion is said to do mischief among the 
Wheat, not only, as the Poppy 
and other weeds, by occupying 
room meant for the better plant, 
but because the seed gets mixed 
with the corn, and then “what 
hurt it doth among corne, the 
spoyle unto bread, as well in 
colour, taste, and unwholsom- 
ness is better known than 
desired.” So says Gerard, but 
I do not know how far modern 
experience confirms him. It is 
a pity the plant has - so bad 
a character, for it is a very 
handsome weed, with a fine 
blue flower, and the seeds are very curious objects under 
