2l6 
PLANT-LORE OF SHAKESPEARE 
probably introduced into England, being frequently met with 
in the Anglo-Saxon Leech-books. It is mentioned by 
Chaucer— 
“ And in an erthen pot how put is all, 
And salt y-put in and also Paupere.” 
Prologue of the Chanounes Yeman. 
It was apparently, like Ginger, a very common condiment 
in Shakespeare’s time, and its early introduction into England 
as an article of commerce is shown by passages in our old law 
writers, who speak of the reservation of rent, not only in money, 
but in “pepper, cummim, and wheat;” whence arose the 
familiar reservation of a single peppercorn as a rent so nominal 
as to have no appreciable pecuniary value. 1 
The red or Cayenne Pepper is made from the ground seeds 
of the Capsicum, but I do not find that it was used or known 
in the sixteenth century. 
I prythee let me bring thee where Crabs grow ; 
And I with my long nails will dig thee Pig-nuts. 
Tempest , ii. 2, 171. 
Pig-nuts or Earth-nuts are the tuberous roots of Conopodium 
denudatum , a common weed in old upland pastures ; it is found 
also in woods. This root is really of a pleasant flavour when 
first eaten, but leaves an unpleasant taste in the mouth. It is 
said to be much improved by roasting, and to be then quite 
equal to Chestnuts. Yet it is not much prized in England 
except by pigs amd children, who do not mind the trouble of 
digging for it. But the root lies deep, and the stalk above it 
is very brittle, and “when the little ‘howker’ breaks the white 
1 Littleton does not mention Pepper when speaking of rents reserved 
otherwise than in money, but specifies as instances, “un chival, ou un 
esperon dor, ou un clovegylofer ”—a horse, a golden spur, or a clove 
gilliflower. 
