Ben Jonson (1574-1637) and William
Browne (1590-1645). Jonson, though born in London, and living there the
greatest part of his life, was evidently a real lover of flowers, and
frequently shows a practical knowledge of them. Browne was also a keen
observer of nature, and I have made several quotations from his
"Britannia's Pastorals."

[4:1] Perhaps the most noteworthy plant omitted is Tobacco--Shakespeare
must have been well acquainted with it, not only as every one in his day
knew of it, but as a friend and companion of Ben Jonson, he must often
have been in the company of smokers. Ben Jonson has frequent allusions
to it, and almost all the sixteenth-century writers have something to
say about it; but Shakespeare never names the herb, or alludes to it in
any way whatever.

[4:2] It seems probable that the Lily of the Valley was not recognized
as a British plant in Shakespeare's time, and was very little grown even
in gardens. Turner says, "Ephemer[=u] is called in duch meyblumle, in
french Muguet. It groweth plentuously in Germany, but not in England
that ever I coulde see, savinge in my Lordes gardine at Syon. The
Poticaries in Germany do name it Lilium C[=o]vallium, it may be called
in englishe May Lilies."--_Names of Herbes_, 1548. Coghan in 1596 says
much the same: "I say nothing of them because they are not usuall in
gardens."--_Haven of Health._

[5:1] I may mention the following works as more or less illustrating the
Plant-lore of Shakespeare:--

1.--"Shakspere's Garden," by Sidney Beisly, 1864. I have to
thank this author for information on a few points, but on the
whole it is not a satisfactory account of the plants of
Shakespeare, and I have not found it of much use.

2.--"Flowers from Stratford-on-Avon," and

3.--"Girard's Flowers of Shakespeare and of Milton," 2 vols.
These two works are pretty drawing-room books, and do not
profess to be more.

4.--"Natural History of Shakespeare, being Selections of
Flowers, Fruits, and Animals," arranged by Bessie Mayou, 1877.
This gives the greater number of the passages in which flowers
are named, without any note or comment.

5.--"Shakespeare's Bouquet--the Flowers and Plants of
Shakespeare," Paisley, 1872. This is only a small pamphlet.

6.--"The Rural Life of Shakespeare, as illustrated by his
Works," by J. C. Roach Smith, 8vo, London, 1870. A pleasant
but short pamphl