d form of theriake, or
heal-all[103:1]); while, on the other hand, Gerard affirmed "it yieldeth
to the body no nourishment at all; it ingendreth naughty and sharpe
bloud."

Bullein describes it quaintly: "It is a grosse kinde of medicine, verye
unpleasant for fayre Ladies and tender Lilly Rose colloured damsels
which often time profereth sweet breathes before gentle wordes, but both
would do very well" ("Book of Simples"). Yet if we could only divest it
of its evil smell, the wild Wood Garlick would rank among the most
beautiful of our British plants. Its wide leaves are very similar to
those of the Lily of the Valley, and its starry flowers are of the very
purest white. But it defies picking, and where it grows it generally
takes full possession, so that I have known several woods--especially on
the Cotswold Hills--that are to be avoided when the plant is in flower.
The woods are closely carpeted with them, and every step you take brings
out their foetid odour. There are many species grown in the gardens,
some of which are even very sweet smelling (as A. odorum and A.
fragrans); but these are the exceptions, and even these have the Garlick
scent in their leaves and roots. Of the rest many are very pretty and
worth growing, but they are all more or less tainted with the evil
habits of the family.

FOOTNOTES:

[102:1] "You (_i.e._, citizens) are still sending to the apothecaries,
and still crying out to 'fetch Master Doctor to me;' but our (_i.e._,
countrymen's) apothecary's shop is our garden full of pot herbs, and our
doctor is a good clove of Garlic."--_The Great Frost of January, 1608._

[103:1]

"Crist, which that is to every harm triacle."

CHAUCER, _Man of Lawes Tale_.

"Treacle was there anone forthe brought."

_Le Morte Arthur_, 864.

GILLIFLOWERS, _see_ CARNATIONS.

GINGER.

(1) _Clown._

I must have Saffron to colour the Warden pies--Mace--Dates?
none, that's out of my note; Nutmegs, seven--a race or two
of Ginger, but that I may beg.

_Winter's Tale_, act iv, sc. 3 (48).

(2) _Sir Toby._

Dost thou think, because thou art virtuous, there shall be no
more cakes and ale.

_Clown._

Yes, by St. Anne, and Ginger shall be hot i' the mouth too.

_Twelfth Night_, act ii, sc. 3 (12