REV. HENRY N. ELLACOMBE, M.A., OF ORIEL COLLEGE, OXFORD, VICAR OF BITTON, GLOUCESTERSHIRE, AND HON. CANON OF BRISTOL. SECOND EDITION. PRINTED FOR W. SATCHELL AND CO., AND SOLD BY, SIMPKIN, MARSHALL, AND CO., LONDON. 1884. "My Herbale booke in Folio I unfold. I pipe of plants, I sing of somer flowers." CUTWODE, _Caltha Poetarum_, st. 1. TO THE READER. "Faultes escaped in the Printing, correcte with your pennes; omitted by my neglygence, overslippe with patience; committed by ignorance, remit with favour." LILY, _Euphues and his England_, Address to the gentlemen Readers. CONTENTS. INTRODUCTION 1 PLANT-LORE OF SHAKESPEARE 7 GARDEN-CRAFT OF SHAKESPEARE 333 APPENDIX-- I. THE DAISY 359 II. THE SEASONS OF SHAKESPEARE'S PLAYS 379 III. NAMES OF PLANTS 391 INDEX OF PLAYS 421 GENERAL INDEX 431 PREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION. Since the publication of the First Edition I have received many kind criticisms both from the public critics and from private friends. For these criticisms I am very thankful, and they have enabled me to correct some errors and to make some additions, which I hope will make the book more acceptable and useful. For convenience of reference I have added the line numbers to the passages quoted, taking both the quotations and the line numbers from the Globe Shakespeare. In a few instances I have not kept exactly to the text of the Globe Edition, but these are noted; and I have added the "Two Noble Kinsmen," which is not in that Edition. In other respects this Second Edition is substantially the same as the First. H. N. E. BITTON VICARAGE, GLOUCESTERSHIRE, _February, 1884_. PREFACE TO FIRST EDITION. The following Notes on the "Plant-lore and Garden-craft of Shakespeare" were published in "The Garden" from March to September, 1877. They are now republished with additions and with such corrections as the altered form of publication required or allowed. As the Papers appeared from week to week, I had to thank many correspondents (mostly complete strangers to myself) for useful suggestions and inquiries; and I would again invite any further suggestions or remarks, especially in the way of correction of any mistakes or omissions that I may have made, and I should feel thankful to any one that would kindly do me this favour.