_Sir Gilbert Gerard_ (Vol. v., pp. 511. 571.).--In addition to the information I formerly sent you in answer to MR. SPEDDING'S inquiry, I am now enabled to state two facts, which greatly reduce the period within which the date of Sir Gilbert Gerard's death may be fixed. Among the records in Carlton Ride, is an enrolment of his account as _Custos Domûs Conversorum_ from January 29, 34 Eliz. (1592) to January 29, 35 Eliz. (1593). And a search in Doctors' Commons has resulted in the discovery, that Sir Gilbert's will was proved, not, as Dugdale states, in April, 1592, but on April 6, 1593. He died therefore between January 29 and April 6, 1593.
Dugdale mentions that there is no epitaph on his monument.
_Mistletoe_ (Vol. vii., p. 270.).--I wish to mention that the mistletoe has been tried at the Botanic Gardens belonging to Trinity College, Dublin; and, after flourishing for some years, it died away. Indeed, I think it has been repeatedly tried there, but without eventual success.
_Wild Plants and their Names_ (Vol. vii., p. 233.).--_Cowslip_, "Palsy Wort." Culpepper says:
"Because they strengthen the brain and nerves, and remedy palsies, the Greeks gave them the name _paralysis_." "The flowers preserved, or conserved, and the quantity of a nutmeg taken every morning, is a sufficient dose for inward disorders."
For the ointment he gives the following receipt:
"Bruise the _flowers_; and to two handfuls of these, add a pound of hog's grease dried. Put it in a stone pot, covered with paper, and set it in the sun or a warm place three or four days to melt. Take it out and boil it a little; strain it out when hot; pressing it out very hard in a press. To this grease add as many herbs as before, and repeat the whole process, if you wish the ointment strong.--Yet this I tell you, the fuller of juice the herbs are, the sooner will your ointment be strong; the last time you boil it, boil it so long till your herbs be crisp, and the juice consumed; then strain it, pressing it hard in a press; and to every pound of ointment, add two ounces of turpentine, and as much wax."
_Coninger or Coningry, Coneygar or Conygre_ (Vol. vii., pp. 182. 241. 368.).--There are many fields in the midland counties which bear the name of _conigree_. In some instances they are in the vicinity of manor-houses. The British name of a rabbit is _cwningen_, plural _cwning_. That of a rabbit warren is _cwning-gaer_, that is, literally, rabbits' camp. The term _coneygar_ is so like this, that it may be supposed to have been derived from it.