MEDICAL REFERENCES IN THE DRAMAS OF JOHN LYLY

By ALICE WILLCOX

NEW YORK

MONG the members of Lyly’s must be stopt, or puld out.”1 Most /yk dramatis personae there is often it was “puld out.” The third func­ yyk only one practitioner of tion of a barber, the one which added ™ medicine. This is Motto, the “surgeon” to his title, was to let blood barber-surgeon in “Midas.” Lyly rep­ and dress wounds. Lyly does not repre­ resents him primarily as a comic char­ sent Motto as performing these duties acter. He is, moreover, a stupid man, but Dello declares that his master is a easily outwitted by two court pages and “Barber and a Surgeon.”2 not beneath deliberately lying about his Lyly also makes a thrust at the ethics abilities in order to gain his ends. of the trade. Motto demands of Dello, The comic relief in “Midas” centers in return for all he has taught him, only in Motto’s struggle with Licio and Pe­ that he keep secret the plot to regain tulus, court pages, for possession of the the beard. Dello replies, “O sir, you golden beard which the barber shaved know I am a Barber, and cannot tittle from Midas’ chin. Petulus stole it. tattle, I am one of those whose tongues Motto, naturally, wants it back. He are swelde with silence.”3 But Licio hears Petulus complaining of the tooth­ knows better. He declares that “it is as ache to his friend Licio. When he is hard for a barber to keepe a secrete in certain Petulus can overhear him he his mouthe, as a burning coale in his discusses with his apprentice, Dello, a hand.”4 It is this very loquacity that remarkable cure he has performed on brings about Motto’s downfall. In spite an imaginary patient by merely rub­ of Dello’s warning that he “will blab al bing his gums with an ointment. At anone”5 he keeps on until he has con­ once Petulus is interested. Motto’s price fessed that Midas has asses’ ears. is the golden beard. It is finally ac­ It is always dangerous to assume a cepted, but Petulus has had an idea. dramatist’s opinions from the words of Once the tooth is taken care of, he trips his characters. In the case of Motto we Motto into admitting that Midas has cannot say that Lyly thought barber­ grown asses’ ears, a treasonous state­ surgeons inferior socially just because ment, and demands the beard back as the pages considered him so far be­ his price for silence. neath them. But that the pages did con­ In Lyly’s portrayal the barber-sur­ sider him inferior they make very plain. geon is represented as performing two They do not even permit him to speak of the functions of his trade. He is a their language. Motto uses the word barber, as we know one today, and a “rewme,” and Licio exclaims, “Deus dentist, as the Elizabethans knew them. bone, is that word come into the Bar­ Dentistry was definitely limited. As bers bason?”6 Bond says in a note on Licio said, “If your tooth be hollow it this passage: “probably it is the fre­ quent or special application of the term writes that “mans bodie is made of that was new in fashion,” hence Licio’s foure Elements, that is to wit, of Earth, surprise. It seems to me rather that Water, Fire, and Aire.”11 Each of these Licio is upbraiding Motto for using a elements has a first or principal quality. word which he considers suitable only The principal quality of fire is heat; of for courtiers and physicians. Dello’s water, moisture; of air, coldness; and reply seems to bear out this interpreta­ of earth, dryness. These four elements, tion. He says, “I sir and why not? My by means of their qualities, produce in Master is a barber and a Surgeon.”7 the human body the four humours. As Again Motto says, “I am as melancholy he puts it, “euery of the humours com- as a cat.”8 Licio immediately takes of­ meth of the qualytie of the Elements.”12 fence. The process takes place in the liver Melancholy? Marie gup, is melancholy a where: word for a barbers mouth? thou shouldst . . . heate turneth what is colde and say, heauie, dull and doltish. Melancholy moyst into ye kind of fleme, and then is the creast of Courtiers armes, and now what is hot and moyst, into the kind of euery base companion, being in his muble blood: and then what is hot and drye into fubles, says he is melancholy.9 the kinde of Choler: and then what is Petulus continues the lecture: cold and drye into the kinde of melan­ cholia.13 Motto, thou shouldst say thou art lump­ ish. If thou encroach upon our courtly In the “Woman in the Moon” Lyly tearmes, weele trounce thee: belike if represents nature as creating a woman. thou shouldst spit often, thou wouldst As she does this she says: call it the rewme. Motto, in men of repu­ Now fire be turned to choler, ayre to bloud, tation and credit it is the rewme; in such Water to humor purer then it selfe, mechanicall mushrumpes, it is a catarre, And earth to flesh more cleare then Christall a pose, the water euill.10 rock.14 In the character of the barber-sur­ In this passage Lyly has done just what geon as Lyly draws it we probably have one would expect of a layman writing a fair representation of that group as it on scientific matters. Part of it is cor­ was at the time. With abilities definitely rect, judged by the standards of his limited, and morals not above reproach, time. The rest of it sounds just as cor­ we could hardly expect to find them a rect but is apparently invention. The class of highly respected citizens. four elements are correct as stated by The fundamental principle of Eliza­ Bartholomaeus. It appears that he must bethan medicine is the classical and me­ have thought of man’s body as consist­ dieval idea of elements and humours. ing only of humours, for though he ex­ These beliefs are expounded at great plains the creation of each humour in length in Bartholomaeus Anglicus’ en­ great detail, he says nothing about flesh cyclopedia of medieval knowledge, “De or bones. Lyly goes half way with the proprietatibus rerum.” In quoting from physiologists. He gives his woman two this work I have used the popular six­ humours, choler and blood, then, de­ teenth century version known as “Bat­ parting from orthodoxy, he has her man vppon Bartholome” because I feel flesh created out of earth. Just what he that the average Elizabethan knew it means by having water changed to better than the original. Bartholomaeus “humor” is doubtful. Moisture, accord­ ing to Bartholomaeus, is changed to As for the cause and effects, Lyly puts it “fleme.” As for the creation of the hu­ very well. mours themselves, Lyly is very unscien­ I shall instill such melancholy moode, tific. Bartholomaeus says that what is As by corrupting of her purest blood, hot is turned to blood, and air, whose Shall first with sullen sorrows clowde her principal element is coldness, when braine, combined with moisture, produces And then surround her heart with froward care, “fleme,” when combined with dryness, She shall be sick with passions of the hart, melancholy. If Lyly had turned the Selfwild, and toungtide, but full frought words around to read “Now ayre be with tears.19 turned to choler, fire to bloud,” he Again in Endymion he says, “That mel­ would have been more nearly correct. ancholy blood must be purged, which This process of the creation of the draweth you to a dotage no less miser­ humours was believed to take place in able than monstrous.”20 the liver. Perhaps because of this, the Bartholomaeus describes melancholy liver was considered the seat of the af­ in great detail. He says the word comes fections. Is it possible that our present from “Melon, that is blacke, and Calor notion that the heart is the seat of love that is humour: whereupon it is called was beginning to come into vogue in Melancholia, as it were a blacke hu­ Lyly’s time? Be that as it may, Lyly ex­ mour.”21 The disease of melancholy is presses doubt of the liver theory in “En­ caused, he says, if this humour has “mas- dymion.” He writes: “I brooke not thys terie in any body.”21 Among the effects idle humor of loue, it tickleth not my he gives the following: “The patient is lyuer, from whence the Louemongers in faint, and fearfull in heart without former age seemed to inferre they cause, ... he dreameth dredfull darke should proceede.”15 In spite of Lyly’s dreames, . . . such have lyking and doubt the liver theory was clung to for laugh alway of sorrowfull things, and some time, a fact to which Shakespeare make sorrow and dolor for joyful bears witness in “Much Ado About things.”22 He holds his “peace” when he Nothing,” for he wrote, “If ever love should speak, and speaks “too much” had interest in his liver.”16 when he should be still. That the dis­ Of the four humours Lyly was most ease could cause madness is attested to interested in melancholy. Apparently in by him for he says that some suffering from it “deeme themselves that they be Lyly’s time melancholy was fashionable. earthen vessels, and feare to be touched, Licio and Petulus consider the word it­ least they break.”22 Surely this dotage self reserved for courtiers.17 Lyly’s de­ would be “no less miserable than mon­ scription of the causes, effects and cures strous.” are in accord with the accepted beliefs. The very close connection between But there is a change. He hints that medicine and magic is suggested by there is a type of melancholy which has Lyly. Petulus complains to Licio “thou emerged from a disease and become a knowest I have tried all old womens state of mind, to be assumed or dis­ medicines, and cunning mens charms, carded as one pleased. We find him say­ but interim my teeth ache.”23 Several ing: charms for the toothache may be found That’s but your melancholike old disease, in John of Gaddesden’s “Rosa Anglica,” That never are disposed but when ye please.18 one of which is as follows: “Write these words on the jaw of the patient: In the Apollo “pure simples for his physick.”32 name of the Father, the Son, and the In this instance the word could mean Holy Ghost, Amen. Rex Pax Nax in either an herb or a medicine. Its use to Christo Filio, and the pain will cease signify a medicine of two or three in­ at once as I have often seen.”24 Charms gredients, in contrast to compound de­ and incantations were resorted to for coctions composed of many, is also com­ good and evil. It is not my purpose to mon. go into that phase of Elizabethan med­ Of the many metals that were used in ical practice, but rather to suggest that medicine only gold is mentioned by it is sometimes difficult to tell where Lyly. In “Midas,” “golde boyled” is medicine ended and witchery began. recommended “for a consuming This is true especially in the case of me­ bodie.”33 By gold boiled, Lyly means dicinal herbs. Lyly points it out in “En­ aurum potabile, which technically is dymion.” Tellus asks Dipsas25 the witch, gold held in a state of minute subdivi­ if it is “possible by hearbes, stones, sion in some volatile oil. This aurum spels, incantations, enchantments, ex- potabile was one of the sovereign elixirs corcismes, fire, mettals, plannets, or any of the alchemists. In an anonymous frag­ practice, to plant affection where it is ment in the Ashmole mss the author not and to supplant it where it is.”26 promises the reader: Dipsas replies that she cannot rule For in this Booke I will thee plainly excite, hearts. But whatever power Dipsas How thou shalt make the Philosophers Lead, lacked in this direction was certainly That is Elixir to the White and the Redd. not lacking to Middleton’s Hecuba and And then to the Golden Oyle called Aurum Shakespeare’s Puck. potabile Lyly’s use of medical terms reveals A medicine most marvelous to preserve Man’s the fact that his knowledge was exten­ health.34 sive. He speaks of Endymion as suffering Sir George Ripley, in the “Compound from the “rume of love,”27 and he used of Alchemy,” says that Raymond made the word in “Midas” where he suggests aurum potabile from fine red lead several common synonyms.28 This pas­ which, “whan he was for age nygh dede, sage alone would seem to indicate a . . . hym revyvye as men myght see.”35 rather wide knowledge of the medicine Just what Lyly means by “a consum­ of his time. In the same passage he uses ing body” is doubtful. He could mean melancholy in its medical sense. In almost anything for gold was considered “Campaspe” colices are recommended practically a cure-all. Bartholomaeus for one who “meltith in a consump­ lists many uses, among them in cases of tion.”29 A colice is a strong restorative leprosy, sore eyes, spleen and “Carde- broth, so Lyly’s use of the word in this acle passion.”36 He does not, however, instance is in accord with traditions. mention the use of gold in the form of His use of the term “simples” is also aurum potabile. Culpeper recommends traditional. Twice in “Endymion” it gold as a wonderful strengthener of the has the connotation of a magical rec­ heart and vital spirits, especially in cor­ ipe.30 In another place a hermit is men­ dials to “resist melancholy, faintings, tioned who “in the woods doth roots swoonings, fevers, falling-sickness and and simples gather.”31 This is the usual all such like infirmities.”37 But neither meaning, as a synonym for herbs. In does he say anything about aurum pota­ “Midas” we find the king offering bile. Many references to gold as an in­ gredient for a cordial, or caudle, appear walking in the sunne, I was stung with in the dramas of the period. A few of the flye Tarantula, whose venom noth­ them are listed below. In some cases ing can expell but the sweete consent of aurum potabile is specified, in others musicke.”46 This cure arose from the just gold. It appears to have been used belief that the bites of certain venomous most often with pearls and amber. creatures caused melancholy. Bartholo­ There are four other miscellaneous maeus lists several causes of melancholy, medical references in Lyly’s dramas among them “the biting of a woode which I have grouped together. One is hounde, or of some other venimous to a fish which he calls “garus.” “There beast,” and recommends that the pa­ is a fish called Garus,” he writes, “that tient “be gladded with instruments of healeth al sicknesse so as whilest it is musicke.”47 This particular cure devel­ applyed one name not Garus.”38 I have oped in the seventeenth century into been unable to find Lyly’s source for one of the most extraordinary cults in this statement. Pliny mentions a fish medical history. Dr. Haggard calls it which he says the Greeks called “garos” the dancing mania. A discussion of it is but he does not attribute to it this re­ to be found in his book “The Lame, markable quality.39 This fish has not The Halt, and The Blind.”48 been identified. In “Midas” Lyly refers By far the greatest number of medical to the well-known belief that eggs are references in Lyly’s dramas are those a provocative. “An egge (as Physicians connected with herbs. I have listed say) will make one lustie.”40 He also these in alphabetical order, and trees recommends “egges potcht” for a have been included, as was the custom “weake stomach.”41 Pliny says nothing in Lyly’s time. about the former belief but he does say One of the most interesting of these that “eggs are the only diet which, while references is to be found in “Cam- it affords nutriment in sickness, does paspe.” Diogenes, speaking to the not load the stomach.”42 Bartholomaeus Athenians, accuses them of having writes, “egs be good, not only to meat, “caused Alexander to dry up springs but they be needfull in many manner and plant Vines: to sow roket and medicines; for they . . . comfort ye weede endiffe.”49 Turner gives “lac- members . . . and help ye vertue of tuca” as the Latin name for white en­ generation.”43 Lyly says a curious thing dive.50 Of lactuca Bartholomaeus says: about honey: “There is no surfeit so “the sede . . . chasteth in sleepe, dangerous as that of honney,” and adds dreames of lecherie, and suffereth not that in such cases “phisicke cannot pre- the body to be polluted neither defiled, vaile.”44 The curious thing about this if it be oft taken in meat. ... It cool- statement is that honey elsewhere is eth heat and boyling of bloud.”51 considered very beneficial and was used Rocket was believed to produce the in medicines for all sorts of diseases. opposite effect. Pliny says that “its prop­ Perhaps the belief arose from the state­ erties are quite different from those of ment in Pliny that “honey increases the the lettuce, as it is a great provocative bilious secretions” and “has a tendency of lust.”52 He adds that rocket and let­ to inflate the stomach.”45 tuce are served together as a dish the In “Sapho and Phao” Lyly refers to one to counteract the other. Bartholo­ the superstition concerning the taran­ maeus mentions rocket but he does not tula bite and its cure: “Me thought that say that it is a provocative. The notion apparently persisted, however, for Cul­ tains these ingredients. Sometimes a peper warns “hot and choleric persons” sponge was soaked in the decoction against its use “for fear of inflaming from which the patient inhaled to pro­ their blood” and declared that it is duce the desired effect. Ben Jonson re­ “strong and effectual to increase sperm fers to this in “Sejanus.” He writes: and venerous qualities.”53 There can be no doubt that Lyly had these qualities “snuft up hemlocke, or tane down The iuice of poppies, and of mandrakes.”60 in mind when he wrote the passage, for in “Euphues” he mentions “the seedes There are to be found in Lyly two of Rockette, which breede incontinen- very curious references to holly. In cies.”54 “Loue’s Metamorphosis” Nisa presents Lyly refers to the famous story about a garland of holly to Ceres for the har­ fennel which is found in Pliny and vest festival. She uses holly “because it which appears to be responsible for the is most holy.”61 This might be merely a medicinal properties that were attrib­ play on words. It is also possible that uted to that plant. He says, “fancy is Lyly has in mind the belief which Cul­ a worm, that feedeth first upon fenell.”55 peper states as coming from Pliny, that The story, as told by Pliny, is that a “the branches of the holly tree defend snake uses the juices of the fennel to houses from lightning, and men from aid it to cast off its old skin “and thus witchcraft.”62 In “Mother Bombie,” becomes sleek and youthfull in appear­ Dromio suggests as a medicine for a ance.”56 The belief that fennel was very “curst wife, a holly wand to brush beneficial to the eyes also arose from this choler”63 from her tongue. It would same story, for the snake was supposed seem, in this instance, as if any kind of to revive its sight by rubbing its eyes on a wand would do as well. the plant. There are several references in Lyly In spite of the fact that poisoning was to lunary, an herb which was thought very common during Lyly’s time, only to be possessed of most extraordinary one poisonous herb is mentioned by virtues. I have come across an anony­ him and that is hemlock. In “Sapho and mous poem about the herb which I am Phao” he calls it “a ranck poison.”57 In quoting in its entirety, because it shows “Endymion,” Dipsas,instructing her as­ so well the fusion of practical and mag­ sistant in how to put Endymion to sleep, ical qualities attributed to many plants. says: The poem is probably of the fifteenth Fanne with this hemlocke ouer his century. face, and sing the inchantment for sleepe Her ys an Erbe men call Lunayrie . . . take heede yee touch not his face, Iblesset mowte hys maker bee. for the Fanne is so seasoned that who so Asterion he ys, leaflet alle so, it toucheth with a leafe shall presently And other namys many and mo; dye, and ouer whom the wind of it He ys an Erbe of grete myghte, breatheth, hee shall sleepe for euer.58 Of Sol the Sunne he taketh hys lyght, He ys the Fader, to Croppe and Rote; The soporific qualities of hemlock were Wyth fragrant Flowris that ben sote, well known. It was most often mixed Flowrys to bere in that stede, with opium and the mandrake. Hens- Swm ben Whyte, and swm ben Red: Hys Lewys growyth, both day and nyght, low gives a recipe for a “drynke that Lyke to the Ferment that ys so bright: men call Dwale, to make a man sleepen I shall declare, thys Erbe so lyght, whyles men kerve hym”59 which con­ To many a man hyt ys a fayre seyght; First at the Rote I wolle be gynne, tick. Petulus, suffering from the tooth­ That cawsyth alle thing for to sprynge: ache, sings: A growyth a pon a mowntayne brym, Where Febris hath grete dominacion: O my teeth, deare Barber ease me, The Sune by day, the Mone by nyght, Tongue tell me, why my teeth disease me, That maketh hym both fayre and bryght, O! what will rid me of this paine? The Rote growyth on stonns clere, Whyte and Rede, that ys so peyre,64 Motto recommends: “Some Pellitory The Rote ys blacke, the Stalke ys red: fetcht from Spaine.” Licio suggests: The wyche schall ther never be dede, “Take Masticke else.” Petulus, having The Lewis ben rownd, as a Nowbel son, in mind mastick’s use as a cosmetic, And wexsyth and waynth as the Mon: spurns it with: In the meddes a marke the brede of a peni, Lo thys is lyke to owre sweght Lunayre: Mastick’s a patch. Hys Flowrys schynith, fayre and cler, Masticke does many a fooles face catch.39 In alle the Worlde thaye have non pere, The identification of pellitory of He ys not fownde in no maner wyse, But of a Schepeherd in Godis servyse: Spain is rather doubtful. Turner lists The good Schepeherd that I her mene, it under the heading of laserpitium gal- Ys he that keepeth hys Sowle clene: licum. The only laserpitium in Pliny Hys Flowrys ben gret and sum ben small, has been identified as asafetida, Lyke to hem that growyth in Dale, where, however, among its many vir­ With many a vertu both fayre and cler, tues is given its use for easing the tooth­ As ther ben days in alle the yere, ache.70 Turner gives masterwurt as the Fro fallyng Ewil and alle Sekeneys, From Sorowe he brengyth man to Bles: common name for pellitory of Spain. Unto that blese that wee maye come, Both appear in Culpeper but as two Byth the help of Marys Sonne: different plants. Masterwurt he does not And of hys Moder that ys so fre, recommend for toothache, but he says Amen good Lord for cherite.65 of pellitory of Spain, “either the herb or Lyly mentions two of lunary’s virtues. the root dried and chewed in the In “Sapho and Phao” he says: “I have mouth, purges the brain of phlegmatic heard of an hearbe called Lunary, that humours, thereby . . . easing pains in being bound to the pulses of the sick, head and teeth.”71 The use of mastick for the teeth is found in Pliny: “The causeth nothing but dreames of wed­ teeth are rubbed with a decoction of dings and daunces.”88 the leaves when loose.”72 Bartholo­ Perhaps this is bringing man “from maeus describes mastick as the resin sorowe ... to bles.” In “Endymion” from the bark of the “lentiscus” tree. Lyly gives one well-known use of the He says that this gum when chewed be­ herb. Corsites, who has been pinched comes hard and “so chewed, it clenseth black and blue by the fairies while at­ and purgeth the gumes of rottid hu­ tempting to remove Endymion’s body mours, and fasteneth wagging and rock­ from the lunary bank where he was ing teeth.”73 charmed to sleep, is advised to rub his The many medicinal qualities at­ wounds “over with this lunarie.”67 Cul­ tributed to tobacco are quite astound­ peper recommends lunary as excellently ing to us today. Great was the contro­ good “to heal fresh or green wounds.”88 versy concerning its efficacy. Lyly was In the barber’s song of “Midas” two on the side of those who believed in its herbs are recommended for toothache. virtues, for he calls it “our holly hearbe They are pellitory of Spain, and mas- Nicotian,” and recommends its use in a salve with “cooling violets and honey” by the discussion of the yew tree in to heal a wound.74 This particular use “Sapho and Phao.” Sapho asks: of tobacco comes from Jean Nicot, after But what do you think best for your sigh­ whom the plant was named. Nicot was ing to take it away? the French ambassador to Portugal Phao. Yew Madame. during the years 1559, ’60, and ’61. One Sapho. Mee? day, while he was visiting a prison, the Phao. No Madame, yewe of the tree. keeper gave him a strange plant which Sapho. Then will I love yewe the better.77 was said to have come from Florida. One might be led to believe by this Nicot had it planted in his garden. that there were some marvelous cura­ Some time later, the news was brought tive qualities attributed to the yew tree. to him that a friend of one of his pages, However, the exact opposite is true. It who was suffering from a bad ulcer would, indeed, have stopped Phao’s upon his cheek, had rubbed it with sighing, for it was considered a very the leaf of this plant and squeezed some poisonous tree. Bartholomaeus says, “an of the juice upon it. Almost immedi­ ewe tree ... is a tree with venime and ately the pain was eased and after a few poyson . . . the shadowe therof is more applications the ulcer was com­ grieuous, and slayeth such as sleepe pletely healed. Thereafter the treat­ thereunder.”78 ment was used in other cases with the At first glance Lyly’s medical allu­ same gratifying results. Nicot reported sions do not seem impressive. Perhaps this discovery to his king, and the plant, this is due, in part, to the fact that in which was tobacco, was named Nico- all his plays there is only one “medical” tiana. This account of the curative qual­ character. But a study of the references ities of tobacco appears in “Joyfull found there alters this first opinion. newes oute of the newe founde worlde,” The fact that several of the references by John Frampton, which is probably appear only once; that he could give the earliest detailed account of tobacco three common synonyms for the polite in English. It was first published in word “rewme,” which, by the way, are 1577. Most of Frampton’s book is a rarer than the word itself; and, more­ translation of a Spanish book by a Dr. over, that when he wished, he could be Nicholas Monardes of Seville.75 But Ni- scientifically accurate judged by the cot’s contributions to the virtues of to­ knowledge of his time; tend to one of two conclusions. Either Lyly was widely bacco Frampton got from Charles Es- read in the medical beliefs of his period, tienne’s “L’Agriculture, et Maison since he knew more medicine than Rustique,” edited by John Liebaut, in would be expected of a dramatist today, which is to be found Nicot’s own ac­ or else those medical beliefs were com­ count. Lyly’s use of “cooling violets” in mon property, part of the fund of this healing salve is quite in accord with knowledge of all classes. A study of the the beliefs of his time. Violets were val­ medical references in the drama of ued chiefly for their cooling qualities, Lyly’s time leads one to believe that the and Culpeper recommends the “green medical knowledge was more wide­ leaves . . . with other herbs to make spread than ours is today. However, in plaisters and poltices ... to ease all spite of this fact, I feel that Lyly’s med­ paine whatsoever.”76 ical knowledge went beyond that which Lyly’s habit of punning is illustrated was common property. Lyly has a faculty for adapting these time? His doubt of the liver theory at current beliefs to suit his own needs. least justifies the question. This is shown especially in his treat­ Moreover, Lyly was witty, as some of ment of the elements. Perhaps further the medical references show. The yew research will disclose his source for the discussion takes on a new light when entire passage, but I should prefer to one realizes the qualities attributed to believe that Lyly saw the shortcomings that tree. of the scientists and supplied the need I feel that a study of the medical ref­ for something more from his own im­ erences in Lyly’s dramas gives one a agination. new insight into both the character of Was Lyly perhaps even ahead of his the man, and the art of the writer.

References 1. Lyly, J. Complete Works. Ed. by R. 23. Lyly, J. Op. cit., vol. 3, Midas, iii, ii, 11. Warwick Bond, Oxford, Clarendon 7, 8. Press, 1902, Vol. 3, Midas, Act 111, Sc. 24. Cholmeley, H. P. John of Gaddesden ii, line 106. and the Rosa Medicinae. Oxford, Clar­ 2. Ibid., in, ii, 1. 59. endon Press, 1912, p. 49. 3. Ibid., hi, ii, 11. 49, 50. 25. It is interesting to note that “dipsas” is 4. Ibid., v, ii, 11. 130, 131. the Latin name of a snake whose bite 5. Ibid., n, ii, 1. 138. caused its victim to die of thirst. The 6. Ibid., hi, ii, 1. 58. sixteenth century humanist Nicholaus 7. Ibid., hi, ii, 1. 59. Leonicenus described this snake and its 8. Ibid., v, ii, 1. 100. habits in a tract entitled “de dipsade 9. Ibid., v, ii, 11. 101-104. et pluribus aliis serpentibus,” 1518. 10. Ibid., n, ii, 11. 105-109. 26. Lyly, J. Op. cit., vol. 3, Endymion, 1, iv, 11. Batman vppon Bartholome, his booke 11. 14-17. De proprietatibus rerum, newly cor­ 27. Lyly, J. Op. cit., vol. 3, Endymion, iv, ii, rected enlarged and amended vnto 1. 71. euery seuerall booke: taken foorth of 28. See p. 3. the most approued authors, the like 29. Lyly, J. Op. cit., vol. 2, Campaspe, iii, v, heretofore not translated in English, 11- 5O-51- London: Imprinted by Thomas East, 30. Lyly, J. Op. cit., vol. 3, Endymion, 11, ii, dwelling by Paules wharfe, 1582, Bk. 1. 39; v, iii 1. 23. iv, ch. I, p. 24 r, col. I. 31. Lyly, J. Op. cit., vol. 3, Maydes Meta­ 12. Ibid., Bk. iv, ch. vi, p. 29 r, col. 2. morphosis, 11, i, 1. 193. 13. Ibid., Bk. iv, ch. vi, p. 29 v, col. 1. 32. Lyly, J. Op. cit., vol. 3, Midas, v, i, 1. 34. 33. Ibid., 11, ii, 11. 37, 38. 14. Lyly, J. Op. cit., vol. 3, Woman in the 34. Ashmole, E. Theatrum Chemicum Bri- Moon. 1, i, 11. 70-72. tannicum. Lond., 1652, p. 421. 15. Lyly, J. Op. cit., vol. 3, Endymion, 1, iii, 35. Ibid.,p. 126. 11. 7-9. 36. Bartholomaeus. Op. cit., Bk. xvi, ch. iv, 16. Shakespeare, W. Much Ado About No­ p. 254 r, cols. 1, 2. thing, iv, i. 37. Culpeper, N. Complete Herbal. Lond., 17. See p. 118. 1814, p. 254. 18. Lyly, J. Op. cit., vol. 3, Maydes Meta­ Middletion, T. A Mad World My Mas­ morphosis, 1, i, 11. 23, 24. ters. iii, ii, and 11, vi. 19. Lyly, J. Op. cit., vol. 3, Woman in the Middleton, T. Your Five Gallants, iv, Moon, 1, i, 11. 144-149. viii. 20. Lyly, J. Op. cit., vol. 3, Endymion. 1, i, 11. Jonson, B. Volpone. 1, i. 24. 25. Jonson, B. Every Man Out Of His Hu­ 21. Bartholomaeus. Op. cit., Bk. iv, ch. xi, mour. 11, ii. p. 32, col. 2. 38. Lyly, J. Op. cit., vol. 2, Sapho and Phao. 22. Ibid., p. 33 r, col. 2. hi, iii, 11. 37, 38. 39. Pliny. Natural History. Trans, and ed. 58. Lyly, J. Op. cit., vol. 3, Endymion, 1, i, Bostock and Riley, Lond., 1855, Bk. 11- 39-44- xxxi, ch. 43. 59. Henslow, Rev. G. Medical Works of 40. Lyly, J. Op. cit., vol. 3, Midas, 11, ii, 1. 31. the Fourteenth Century. Lond., Chap­ 41. Ob id, 11, ii, 1. 37. man and Hall, 1899, p. 90. 42. Pliny. Op. cit., Bk. xxn, ch. 11. 60. Jonson, B. Sejanus. 111, 11. 595-598. yly 43. Bartholomaeus. Op. cit., Bk. xix, ch. 79, 61. L , J. Op. cit., vol. 3, Loue’s Metamor­ phosis, 1, ii, 1. 7. p. 410 r, col. 2. 62. Culpeper, N. Op. cit., p. 99. 44. Lyly, J. Op. cit., vol. 2, Campaspe, n, 63. Lyly, J. Op cit., vol. 3, Mother Bombie, 11,11. 74, 75. I, i, 1. 6. 45. Pliny. Op. cit., Bk. xxn, ch. 51. 64. I am indebted to Mr. Elliot Dobbie for 46. Lyly, J. Op. cit., vol. 2, Sapho and Phao, the suggestion that this is probably iv, iii, 67-69. the Welsh adjective per meaning 47. Bartholomaeus. Op. cit., Bk. vn, ch. 6, sweet, delicious. p. 89 r, col. 1. 65. Ashmole, E. Op. cit., pp. 248-9. 48. Haggard, H. W. The Lame, the Halt, 66. Lyly, J. Op. cit., vol. 2, Sapho and Phao, and the Blind. N. Y., Harper, 1932, hi, iii, 11. 43-45 pp. 206-215. 67. Lyly, J. Op. cit., vol. 3, Endymion, iv, 49. Lyly, J. Op. cit., vol. 2, Campaspe, iv, iii, 11. 28-30. i, 11. 39, 40. 68. Culpeper, N. Op. cit., p. 135. 50. Turner, W. The Names of Herbs. 1548, 69. Lyly, J. Op. cit., vol. 3, Midas, iii, ii, Lond. English Dialect Soc., 1881, Ed. II. 138-144. James Britten, p. 45. 70. Pliny. Op. cit., Bk. xxn, ch. 49. 51. Bartholomaeus. Op. cit., Bk. xvn, ch. 71. Culpeper, N. Op. cit., p. 135. xcii, p. 30 r, col. 2. 72. Pliny. Op. cit., Bk. xxiv, ch. 28. artholomaeus 52. Pliny. Op. cit., Bk. xix, ch. 44. 73. B . Op. cit., Bk. xvn, ch. xc, p. 300 r, col. 1. 53. Culpeper, N. Op. cit., p. 151. 74. Lyly, J. Op. cit., vol. 3, Woman in the 54. Lyly, J. Op. cit., vol. 1, Euphues, 1, p. Moon, iii, i, 11. 66, 67. 222, 1. 25. 75. De las Cosas que traen de neustras Indias 55. Lyly, J. Op. cit., vol. 2, Sapho and Phao, Occidentales que Siruen en medicina. 11, iv, 1. 61. 76. Culpeper, N. Op. cit., p. 189. 56. Pliny. Op. cit., Bk. vm, ch. 41; Bk. xx, 77. Lyly, J. Op. cit., vol. 2, Sapho and Phao, ch. 95. iii, iv, 11. 75-80. 57. Lyly, J. Op. cit., vol. 2, Sapho and Phao, 78. Bartholomaeus. Op. cit., Bk. xvii, ch. prologue, p. 372. clxi, p. 322 v, col. 2.