SIMPLES. Physical herbs; also follies. He must go to
Battersea, to be cut for the simples--Battersea is a place
famous for its garden grounds, some of which were formerly
appropriated to the growing of simples for apothecaries,
who at a certain season used to go down to select their
stock for the ensuing year, at which time the gardeners
were said to cut their simples; whence it became
a popular joke to advise young people to go to Battersea,
at that time, to have their simples cut, or to be cut for
the simples.