_It is not difficult to form a picture of the lady of the house: amid her other duties she dispensed doles and charity to the poor around her. Through her knowledge of simples she was also “simpler” of all the ills that flesh is heir to, not only in the case of man, but also of beast. The wisdom and observation of a long procession of forebears are summed up in the recipes gathered in this book._ Herbs, too, she knew, and well of each could speak, That in her garden sip’d the silvery dew; Where no vain flower disclos’d a gaudy streak; But herbs for use, and physic, not a few, Of grey renown within those borders grew; The tufted basil, pun-provoking thyme, Fresh balm, and mary-gold of cheerful hue; The lowly gill, that never dares to climb; * * * * * And lavender, whose spikes of azure bloom Shall be ere-while in arid bundles bound To lurk amidst the labours of her loom, And crown her kerchiefs clean, with mickle rare perfume. _In these days, when the good manager is scarce, it is perhaps difficult to realize or appreciate that domestic œconomy was once practised as a science, founded upon the older herbalists, housewives’ tales and oral tradition, the whole administered by rule of thumb. As will be seen, the domestic pharmacopoeia had not yet emerged from the seventeenth century. The astrological atmosphere of Culpepper, who warns us that he “who would know the operation of the herbs must look up to the stars astrologically,” and the writings of Parkinson, clearly show the influence of that period. The predominance of the healing properties of herbs is still more apparent in this book; there is not a single remedy or simple in which their virtues are not set forth._ _In my lady’s garden, set within its red-brick walls, grew Camomile, Basil, Cardons, Angelica, Sweet Chevril, Tansy, Saffron, Elecampane, Hyssop, Thyme, Marjoram, Purslane, Sage, Rosemary, Rue, Pennyroyal, Borage, Liquorice, Horehound and many other plants. With these herbs were cultivated Gillyflower, Pansy, Pinks, Bergamot, Southernwood, Bay, Roses, Jasmine, Lavender and divers sweet-scented plants for the making of simples, perfumes, and “sweete waters.”_ _The housewife, before entering on her duties, must have served an apprenticeship; doubtless it formed the serious business of her life. How many women nowadays follow the example of their ancestors? The easy access of the doctor, the facilities of communication, the quack remedies obtained from the neighbouring chymist, have superseded the old-fashioned simples._