Among the numerous epistles, etc., laudatory of Gerard, prefixed to the Herbal are some exceedingly quaint verses dedicated by “Thomas Thorney[353] Master in Chirurgerie, to his learned friend and loving brother in Art, M. John Gerard.” There is also an epistle by “George Baker, one of hir Maiesties chiefe Chirurgions in ordinarie, and M. of the Chirurgions of the Citie of London.” Besides his garden in Holborn, Gerard seems also to have had one in the Strand by Somerset House, and to have held the appointment of “Herbarist” to James I, for among the Domestic State papers at the Record Office, is a grant dated 10th October, 1603, by Anne, Queen of James I to Sir Robert Cecil, Lord Cecil of Essingdon, of the Keepership of Somerset House with all the orchards, walks, gardens, &c., thereto belonging “except and alwaies reserved to John Gerrard of London Surgeon and herbarist to his Matie all that garden plott or peece of ground wth all and singular pˀfittꝭ comodities and other the app̃tencꝭ therewth graunted and demised unto him by one lease given under or hand and seale at”[354] . . .
In 1639 the Company purchased a copy of Gerard’s work for the Library. “Paid for Mr John Gerrardꝭ herball for the library for Claspes & settinge on the chaine . . . . . xxvs vjd.”
John Gerard died in February, 1612, and was buried at St. Andrew’s, Holborn, on the 18th of that month. There is a fine portrait of Gerard facing page 1 of the Herbal, in which he is represented holding a potato plant in his hand; below are the arms of the Barber-Surgeons and his own coat, viz., quarterly 1st and 4th ar. a lyon rampant erm. crowned or, a crescent for difference (Gerard), 2nd and 3rd ar. three torteaux in bend between two bendlets sa. (Ince). Crest, A lyon’s jamb era. inverted holding a hawk’s lure. Motto, D’assenti buone.
The best account of Gerard may be seen in a privately-printed “Catalogue of Plants cultivated in the Garden of John Gerard and a life of the Author,” by Benjamin D. Jackson, F.L.S. London, 1876.
SIR THOMAS BLUDDER.
Sir Thomas was the son of Sir Thomas Bludder, of Flanchford, in the parish of Reigate (who died 1st November, 1618). He was knighted at Whitehall, 22nd April, 1618, and married three times, his third wife being Elizabeth, daughter of Robert Brett, of Rotherby, Lancashire.
9th August, 1621. At this Court upon the request of Sir Thomas Bludder Knyght who was desierous to be made a freman of this Company It was ordered he shold be made free & so tooke his oath accordingly.
Sir Thomas, who was a Justice of the Peace for Surrey, represented Reigate in the several Parliaments of 21 James I, and 1, 3 and 16 Charles I. He was a Royalist and imprisoned for his adherence to that cause, and died on 29th September, 1655.