Historical Herbal & Culinary Resources

Historical Herbal & Culinary Resources

This page is a growing list of primary and historical sources that inform our articles on medieval and early modern herb use, flower cookery, and historical gardening.

• Paradisi in Sole Paradisus Terrestris (1629) – John Parkinson’s influential English gardening book, filled with information on the virtues and uses of flowers and herbs.
• A Book of Fruits and Flowers (1653) – A 17th-century manual of recipes and remedies using edible and medicinal flowers and fruits.
• MedievalCookery.com – A searchable collection of transcribed medieval and Renaissance cookbooks, including the Harleian manuscripts.
• A Nievve Herball (1554) – A detailed English herbal translated by Henry Lyte, rich in descriptions and historical plant lore.
• Prepositas His Practise (1588) – A household medical manual including recipes for oils and syrups made from flowers like violets.
• Culpeper's School of Physick (1659) – Includes culinary and medicinal uses of violets, roses, and almond preparations.
• An English Herbal (1690) – A late 17th-century text aligning planetary rulership with herbal virtues.
• A Closet for Ladies and Gentlewomen (1608) – A collection of recipes and household remedies, including floral syrups and conserves.

⚠️ Note: These works are referenced in the original spelling and language of their period. For ease of use, where available, Project Gutenberg and Early English Books Online links are provided.