Natural history in Shakespeare's time : being extracts illustrative of the subject as he knew it / Made by H. W. Seager, M. B., &c. Also pictures thereunto belonging.

  • Seager, H. W. (Herbert West), 1848-
Date:
1896
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Natural history in Shakespeare's time : being extracts illustrative of the subject as he knew it / Made by H. W. Seager, M. B., &c. Also pictures thereunto belonging. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Harvey Cushing/John Hay Whitney Medical Library at Yale University, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the Harvey Cushing/John Hay Whitney Medical Library at Yale University.

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    [Rosemary was used both at weddings and funerals. There will be charges saved too ; the same Rosemary that serves for the funeral will serve for the wedding {Middieton, The Old Law, iv. I, 36). So also Merrick's Hesperides, The Rose- mary Branch : Grow for two ends, it matters not at all Be 't for my bridal, or my burial. From the same author we learn that the Rosemary was. gilded: My wooing's ended ; now my wedding's near, When gloves are given, gilded be you there. ( To Rosemary and Bays.)] The last of the flowers is the Rosemary (^Rosmarinus, the Roseniary is for married men), the which by name, nature, and continued use, man challengeth as properly belonging to himself It over-toppeth all the flowers in the garden, boasting man's rule. It helpeth the brain, strengtheneth the memory, and is very medicinable for the head. Another property of the Rosemary is, it affects the heart. Let this Rosmarinus, this flower of men, ensign of your wisdom, love and loyalty, be carried not only in your hands, but in your heads and' hearts. Rf.ger Hackett, A Wedding Present, quoted in Brand's Popular Antiquities, vol. ii. 49. The Rosemary that was washed in sweet water to set out the bridal is now wet in tears to furnish her burial. Ti.os. Dekker, The Wonderful Year 1603. The price of flowers, herbs and garlands rose wonder- fully [during the plague-time], insomuch that Rosemary which had wont to be sold for 12 pence an armful went now for six shillings a handful. .... And stuck her with Rosemary to sweeten her ; she was tainted ere she came to my hands. Middleton, The Old Law, iv. i, 12.