-known little plant has the curious botanic history
that no one can tell what is its native country. In 1548 Turner said,
"Perseley groweth nowhere that I knowe, but only in gardens."[198:1] It
is found in many countries, but is always considered an escape from
cultivation. Probably the plant has been so altered by cultivation as to
have lost all likeness to its original self.

Our forefathers seem to have eaten the parsley _root_ as well as the
leaves--

"Quinces and Peris ciryppe with Parcely rotes
Right so bygyn your mele."

RUSSELL'S _Boke of Nurture_, 826.

"Peres and Quynces in syrupe with Percely rotes."

WYNKYN DE WORDE'S _Boke of Kervynge_.

FOOTNOTES:

[198:1] "Names of Herbes," s.v. Apium.

PEACH

(1) _Prince Henry._

To take note how many pair of silk stockings thou hast, viz.,
these, and those that were thy Peach-coloured ones!

_2nd Henry IV_, act ii, sc. 2 (17).

(2) _Pompey._

Then there is here one Master Caper, at the suit of Master
Threepile the mercer, for some four suits of Peach-coloured
satin, which now peaches him a beggar.

_Measure for Measure_, act iv, sc. 3 (10).

The references here are only to the colour of the Peach blossom, yet the
Peach tree was a well-known tree in Shakespeare's time, and the fruit
was esteemed a great delicacy, and many different varieties were
cultivated. Botanically the Peach is closely allied to the Almond, and
still more closely to the Apricot and Nectarine; indeed, many writers
consider both the Apricot and Nectarine to be only varieties of the
Peach.

The native country of the Peach is now ascertained to be China, and
not Persia, as the name would imply. It probably came to the Romans
through Persia, and was by them introduced into England. It occurs in
Archbishop's AElfric's "Vocabulary" in the tenth century, "Persicarius,
Perseoctreow;" and John de Garlande grew it in the thirteenth century,
"In virgulto Magistri Johannis, pessicus fert pessica." It is named in
the "Promptorium Parvulorum" as "Peche, or Peske, frute--Pesca Pomum
Persicum;" and in a note the Editor says: "In a role of purchases for
the Palace of Westminster preserved amongst the miscellaneous record of
the Queen's remembrance, a payment occurs, Will le Gardener, pro iij
koygnere, ij pichere i