giuen to children for the wormes in the stead of wormseed and so is the seede of Maudeline also Maudeline is much vsed with Costmary and other sweet herbes to make sweete washing water the flowers also are tyed vp with small bundels of Lauender toppes these being put in the middle of them to lye vpon the toppes of beds presses c. for the sweete sent and sauour it casteth It is generally accounted of our Apothecaries to be the true Eupatorium of Auicen and the true Ageratum of Dioscorides but Dodonaeus seemeth to contradict both CHAP. XII Tanacetum vulgare crispum Tansie OVr Garden Tansie hath many hard greene leaues or rather wings of leaues for they are many small ones set one against another all along a middle ribbe or stalke and snipt about the edges in some the leaues stand closer and thicker and somewhat crumpled which hath caused it to be called double or curld Tansie in others thinner and more sparsedly It riseth vp with many hard stalks whereon growe at the tops vpon the seuerall small branches gold yellow flowers like buttons which being gathered in their prime will hold the colour fresh a long time the seede is small and as it were chaffie the roote creepeth vnder ground and shooteth vp againe in diuers places the whole herbe both leaues and flowers are of a sharpe strong bitter smell and taste but yet pleasant and well to be endured The Vse of Tansie The leaues of Tansie are vsed while they are young either shred small with other herbes or else the iuyce of it and other herbes fit for the purpose beaten with egges and fryed into cakes in Lent and the Spring of the yeare which are vsually called Tansies and are often eaten being taken to be very good for the stomack to helpe to digest from thence bad humours that cleaue thereunto As also for weak raines and kidneyes when the vrine passeth away by drops This is thought to be of more vse for men then for women The seed is much commended against all sorts of wormes in children CHAP. XIII Pimpinella siue Sanguisorba Burnet BVrnet hath many winged leaues lying vpon the ground made of many small round yet pointed greene leaues finely nicked on the edges one set against another all along a middle ribbe and one at the end thereof from among which rise vp diuers round and sometimes crested browne stalkes with some few such like leaues on them as growe belowe but smaller at the toppes of the stalkes growe small browne heads or knaps which shoote forth small purplish flowers turning into long and brownish but a little cornered seede the roote groweth downe deepe being small and brownish the whole plant is of a stipticke or binding taste or quality but of a fine quicke sent almost like Baulme The Vse of Burnet The greatest vse that Burnet is commonly put vnto is to put a few leaues into a cup with Claret wine which is presently to be drunke and giueth a pleasant quicke taste thereunto very delightfull to the palate and is accounted a helpe to make the heart merrie It is sometimes also while it is young put among other Sallet herbes to giue a finer rellish thereunto It is also vsed in vulnerary drinkes and to stay fluxes and bleedings for which purposes it is much commended It hath beene also much commended in contagious and pestilentiall agues CHAP. XIIII Hippolapathum sativum siue Rhabarbarum Monachorum Monkes Rubarbe or Patience GArden Patience is a kinde of Docke in all the parts thereof but that it is larger and taller then many others with large and long greene leaues a great strong and high stalke with reddish or purplish flowers and three square seede like as all other Dockes haue the roote is great and yellow not hauing any shew of flesh coloured veines therein no more then the other kinde with great round thin leaues commonly called Hippolapathum rotundifolium Bastard Rubarbe or Monkes Rubarbe the properties of both which are of very weake effect but I haue a kinde of round leafed Dock growing in my Garden which was sent me from beyond Sea by a worthy Gentleman Mr. Dr. Matth. Lister one of the Kings Physitians with this title Rhaponticum verum and first grew with me before it was euer seen or known elsewhere in England which by proof I haue found to be so like vnto the true Rubarbe or the Rha of Pontus both for forme and colour that I dare say it is the very true Rubarbe our climate only making it lesse strong in working lesse heauy and lesse bitter in taste For this hath great and thicke rootes as diuersly discoloured with flesh coloured veines as the true Rubarbe as I haue to shew to any that are desirous to see and know it and also other smaller sprayes or branches of rootes spreading from the maine great roote which smaller branches may well be compared to the Rhaponticum which the Merchants haue brought vs which we haue seene to be longer and slenderer then Rubarbe but of the very same colour this beareth so goodly large leaues that it is a great beauty in a garden to behold them for I haue measured the stalke of the leafe at the bottome next the roote to bee of the bignesse of any mans thumbe and from the roote to the leafe it selfe to bee two foote in length and sometimes more and likewise the leafe it selfe from the lower end where it is ioyned to the stalke to the end or point thereof to bee also two foote in length and sometimes more and also in the broadest part of the leafe to be two foote or more ouer in breadth it beareth whitish flowers contrary to all other Dockes and three square brownish seede as other Dockes doe but bigger and therefore assuredly it is a Docke and the true Rubarbe of the Arabians or at the least the true Rhaponticum of the Ancients The figure of the whole plant I haue caused to be cut with a dryed roote as it grew in my garden by it selfe and haue inserted it here both because Matthiolus giueth a false figure of the true Rubarbe and that this hath not been expressed and set forth by any before The Vse of Patience and of the Rubarbe The leaues of Patience are often and of many vsed for a pot-herbe and seldome to any other purpose the roote is often vsed in Diet-beere or ale or in other drinkes made by decoction to helpe to purge the liuer and clense the blood The other Rubarbe or Rhaponticum wherof I make mention and giue you here the figure I haue tryed and found by experience to purge gently without that astriction that is in the true Rubarbe is brought vs from the East Indies or China and is also lesse bitter in taste whereby I coniecture it may bee vsed in hot and feauerish bodies more effectually because it doth not binde after the purging as the East India Rubarbe doth but this must bee giuen in double quantitie to the other and
or Foolish Cowslip in some places is called by Country people Iacke an Apes on horse-backe which is an vsuall name with them giuen to many other plants as Daisies Marigolds c. if they be strange or fantasticall differing in the forme from the ordinary kinde of the single ones The smallest are vsually called through all the North Country Birds eyen because of the small yellow circle in the bottomes of the flowers resembling the eye of a bird The Vertues Primroses and Cowslips are in a manner wholly vsed in Cephalicall diseases either among other herbes or flowers or of themselues alone to ease paines in the head and is accounted next vnto Betony the best for that purpose Experience likewise hath shewed that they are profitable both for the Palsie and paines of the ioynts euen as the Beares eares are which hath caused the names of Arthritica Paralysis and Paralytica to bee giuen them The iuice of the flowers is commended to cleanse the spots or marks of the face whereof some Gentlewomen haue found good experience CHAP. XXXVI Pulmonaria Lungwort or Cowslips of Ierusalem ALthough these plants are generally more vsed as Pot-herbes for the Kitchen then as flowers for delight yet because they are both called Cowslips and are of like forme but of much lesse beauty I haue ioyned them next vnto them in a distinct Chapter by themselues and so may passe at this time 1. Pulmonaria maculosa Common spotted Cowslips of Ierusalem The Cowslip of Ierusalem hath many rough large and round leaues but pointed at the ends standing vpon long foot stalkes spotted with many round white spots on the vppersides of the sad greene or browne leaues and of a grayer greene vnderneath among the leaues spring vp diuers browne stalkes a foote high bearing many flowers at the toppe very neare resembling the flowers of Cowslips being of a purple or reddish colour while they are buds and of a darke blewish colour when they are blowne standing in brownish greene huskes and sometimes it hath beene found with white flowers when the flowers are past there come vp small round heads containing blacke seed the roote is composed of many long and thicke blacke strings 2. Pulmonaria altera non maculosa Vnspotted Cowslips of Ierusalem The leaues of this other kinde are not much vnlike the former being rough as they are but smaller of a fairer greene colour aboue and of a whiter greene vnderneath without any spots at all vpon the leaues the flowers also are like the former and of the same colour but a little more branched vpon the stalkes then the former the rootes also are blacke like vnto them 3. Pulmonaria angustifolia Narrow leafed Cowslips of Ierusalem The leaues hereof are somewhat longer but not so broad and spotted with whitish spots also as the former the stalke hereof is set with the like long hairy leaues but smaller being a foote high or better bearing at the toppe many flowers standing in huskes like the first being somewhat reddish in the bud and of a darke purplish blew colour when they are blowne open the seede is like the former all of them doe well resemble Buglosse and Comfrey in most parts except the roote which is not like them but stringie like vnto Cowslips yet blacke The Place The Cowslips of Ierusalem grow naturally in the Woods of Germany in diuers places and the first kinde in England also found out by Iohn Goodier a great searcher and louer of plants dwelling at Maple-durham in Hampshire The Time They flower for the most part very early that is in the beginning of Aprill The Names They are generally called in Latine Pulmonaria and maculosa or non maculosa is added for distinctions sake Of some it is called Symphitum maculosum that is spotted Comfrey In English it is diuersly called as spotted Cowslips of Ierusalem Sage of Ierusalem Sage of Bethlehem Lungwort and spotted Comfrey and it might bee as fitly called spotted Buglosse whereunto it is as like as vnto Comfrey as I said before The Vertues It is much commended of some to bee singular good for vlcered lungs that are full of rotten matter As also for them that spit bloud being boyled and drunke It is of greatest vse for the pot being generally held to be good both for the lungs and the heart CHAP. XXXVII 1. Buglossum Borrago Buglosse and Borage ALthough Borage and Buglosse might as fitly haue been placed I confesse in the Kitchen Garden in regard they are wholly in a manner spent for Physicall properties or for the Pot yet because anciently they haue been entertained into Gardens of pleasure their flowers hauing been in some respect in that they haue alwaies been enterposed among the flowers of womens needle-worke I am more willing to giue them place here then thrust them into obscurity and take such of their tribe with them also as may fit for this place either for beauty or rarity The Garden Buglosse and Borage are so well knowne vnto all that I shall I doubt but spend time in waste to describe them yet not vsing to passe ouer any thing I name and appropriate to this Garden so sleightly they are thus to bee knowne Buglosse hath many long narrow hairy or rough sad greene leaues among which rise vp two or three very high stalks branched at the top whereon stand many blew flowers consisting of fiue small round pointed leaues with a small pointell in the middle which are very smooth shining and of a reddish purple while they are buds and not blowne open which being fallen there groweth in the greene huske wherein the flower stood three or foure roundish blacke seedes hauing that thread or pointell standing still in the middle of them the roote is blacke without and whitish within long thicke and full of slimie iuice as the leaues are also and perisheth not euery yeare as the roote of Borage doth 2. Borrago Borage Borage hath broader shorter greener and rougher leaues then Buglosse the stalkes hereof are not so high but branched into many parts whereon stand larger flowers and more pointed at the end then Buglosse and of a paler blew colour for the most part yet sometimes the flowers are reddish and sometimes pure white each of the flowers consisting of fiue leaues standing in a round hairy whitish huske diuided into fiue parts and haue a small vmbone of fiue blackish threads in the middle standing out pointed at the end and broad at the bottome the seed is like the other the root is thicker and shorter then the roote of Buglosse somewhat blackish without also and whitish within and perisheth after seede time but riseth of it owne seede fallen and springeth in the beginning of the yeare 3. Borrago semper virens Euerliuing Borage Euerliuing Borage hath many broad greene leaues and somewhat rough more resembling Comfrey then Borage yet not so large as either the stalkes are not so high as Borage and haue many small blew flowers on them very
apple The Geneting apple is a very pleasant and good apple The Worcester apple is a very good apple as bigge as a Pomewater Donime Couadis is a French apple and of a good rellish The French Goodwin is a very good apple The old wife is a very good and well rellished apple The towne Crab is an hard apple not so good to be eaten rawe as roasted but excellent to make Cider The Virgilling apple is a reasonable good apple The Crowes egge is no good rellished fruit but noursed vp in some places of the common people The Sugar apple is so called of the sweetnesse Sops in wine is so named both of the pleasantnesse of the fruit and beautie of the apple The womans breast apple is a great apple The blacke apple or pippin is a very good eating apple and very like a Pearemaine both for forme and bignesse but of a blacke sooty colour Tweenty sorts of Sweetings and none good The Peare apple is a small fruit but well rellished being ripe and is for shape very like vnto a small short Peare and greene The Paradise apple is a faire goodly yellow apple but light and spongy and of a bitterish sweet taste not to be commended The apple without blossome so called because although it haue a small shew of a blossome yet they are but small threds rather than leaues neuer shewing to bee like a flower and therefore termed without blossome the apple is neyther good eating nor baking fruit Wildings and Crabs are without number or vse in our Orchard being to be had out of the woods fields and hedges rather then any where else The Vse of Apples The best sorts of Apples serue at the last course for the table in most mens houses of account where if there grow any rare or excellent fruit it is then set forth to be seene and tasted Diuers other sorts serue to bake either for the Masters Table or the meynes sustenance either in pyes or pans or else stewed in dishes with Rose-water and Sugar and Cinamon or Ginger cast vpon Some kinds are fittest to roast in the winter time to warme a cup of wine ale or beere or to be eaten alone for the nature of some fruit is neuer so good or worth the eating as when they are roasted Some sorts are fittest to scald for Codlins and are taken to coole the stomacke as well as to please the taste hauing Rosewater and Sugar put to them Some sorts are best to make Cider of as in the West Countrey of England great quantities yea many Hogsheads and Tunnes full are made especially to bee carried to the Sea in long voyages and is found by experience to bee of excellent vse to mixe with water for beuerage It is vsually seene that those fruits that are neither fit to eate raw roasted nor baked are fittest for Cider and make the best The iuice of Apples likewise as of pippins and pearemaines is of very good vse in Melancholicke diseases helping to procure mirth and to expell heauinesse The distilled water of the same Apples is of the like effect There is a fine sweet oyntment made of Apples called Pomatum which is much vsed to helpe chapt lips or hands or for the face or any other part of the skinne that is rough with winde or any other accident to supple them and make them smooth CHAP. XX. Cydonia Quinces WEe haue some diuersities of Quinces although not many yet more then our elder times were acquainted with which shall be here expressed The Quince tree groweth oftentimes to the height and bignesse of a good Apple tree but more vsually lower with crooked and spreading armes and branches farre abroad the leaues are somewhat round and like the leaues of the Apple tree but thicker harder fuller of veines and white on the vnderside the blossomes or flowers are white now and then dasht ouer with blush being large and open like vnto a single Rose the fruit followeth which when it is ripe is yellow and couered with a white cotton or freeze which in the younger is thicker and more plentifull but waxeth lesse and lesse as the fruit ripeneth being bunched out many times in seuerall places and round especially about the head some greater others smaller some round like an Apple others long like a Peare of a strong heady sent accounted not wholsome or long to be endured and of no durabilitie to keepe in the middle whereof is a core with many blackish seedes or kernels therein lying close together in cels and compassed with a kinde of clearegelly which is easier seene in the scalded fruit then in the raw The English Quince is the ordinarie Apple Quince set downe before and is of so harsh a taste being greene that no man can endure to eate it rawe but eyther boyled stewed roasted or baked all which waies it is very good The Portingall Apple Quince is a great yellow Quince seldome comming to bee whole and faire without chapping this is so pleasant being fresh gathered that it may be eaten like vnto an Apple without offence The Portingall Peare Quince is not fit to be eaten rawe like the former but must be vsed after some of the waies the English Quince is appointed and so it will make more dainty dishes then the English because it is lesse harsh will bee more tender and take lesse sugar for the ordering then the English kinde The Barbary Quince is like in goodnesse vnto the Portingall Quince last spoken of but lesser in bignesse The Lyons Quince The Brunswicke Quince The Vse of Quinces There is no fruit growing in this Land that is of so many excellent vses as this seruing as well to make many dishes of meate for the table as for banquets and much more for the Physicall vertues whereof to write at large is neither conuenient for mee nor for this worke I will onely briefly recite some as it were to giue you a taste of that plenty remaineth therein to bee conuerted into sundry formes as first for the table while they are fresh and all the yeare long after being pickled vp to be baked as a dainty dish being well and orderly cookt And being preserued whole in Sugar either white or red serue likewise not onely as an after dish to close vp the stomacke but is placed among other Preserues by Ladies and Gentlewomen and bestowed on their friends to entertaine them and among other sorts of Preserues at Banquets Codiniacke also and Marmilade Ielly and Paste are all made of Quinces chiefly for delight and pleasure although they haue also with them some physicall properties We haue for the vse of physicke both Iuyce and Syrupe both Conserue and Condite both binding and loosening medicines both inward and outward and all made of Quinces The Ielly or Muccilage of the seedes is often vsed to be laid vpon womens breasts to heale them being sore or rawe by their childrens default giuing them sucke Athenaeus reciteth in his third booke that one
said before they rather lye vpon the earth than are thrust any way into it All this that I haue here set downe you must vnderstand is proper for the knots alone of a Garden But for to border the whole square or knot about to serue as a hedge thereunto euery one taketh what liketh him best as either Priuet alone or sweete Bryer and white Thorne enterlaced together and Roses of one or two or more sorts placed here and there amongst them Some also take Lauander Rosemary Sage Southernwood Lauander Cotton or some such other thing Some againe plant Cornell Trees and plash them or keepe them lowe to forme them into an hedge And some againe take a lowe prickly shrubbe that abideth alwayes greene described in the end of this Booke called in Latine Pyracantha which in time will make an euer greene hedge or border and when it beareth fruit which are red berries like vnto Hawthorne berries make a glorious shew among the greene leaues in the Winter time when no other shrubbes haue fruit or leaues CHAP. IV. The nature and names of diners Out-landish flowers that for their pride beauty and earlinesse are to be planted in Gardens of pleasure for delight HAuing thus formed out a Garden and diuided it into his fit and due proportion with all the gracefull knots arbours walkes c. likewise what is fit to keepe it in the same comely order is appointed vnto it both for the borders of the squares and for the knots and beds themselues let vs now come and furnish the inward parts and beds with those fine flowers that being strangers vnto vs and giuing the beauty and brauery of their colours so early before many of our owne bred flowers the more to entice vs to their delight are most beseeming it and namely with Daffodils Fritillarias Iacinthes Saffron-flowers Lillies Flowerdeluces Tulipas Anemones French Cowslips or Beares eares and a number of such other flowers very beautifull delightfull and pleasant hereafter described at full whereof although many haue little sweete sent to commend them yet their earlinesse and exceeding great beautie and varietie doth so farre counteruaile that defect and yet I must tell you with all that there is among the many sorts of them some and that not a few that doe excell in sweetnesse being so strong and heady that they rather offend by too much than by too little sent and some againe are of so milde and moderate temper that they scarce come short of your most delicate and dantiest flowers that they are almost in all places with all persons especially with the better sort of the Gentry of the Land as greatly desired and accepted as any other the most choisest and the rather for that the most part of these Out-landish flowers do shew forth their beauty and colours so early in the yeare that they seeme to make a Garden of delight euen in the Winter time and doe so giue their flowers one after another that all their brauery is not fully spent vntil that Gilliflowers the pride of our English Gardens do shew themselues So that whosoeuer would haue of euery sort of these flowers may haue for euery moneth seuerall colours and varieties euen from Christmas vntill Midsommer or after and then after some little respite vntill Christmas againe and that in some plenty with great content and without forcing so that euery man may haue them in euery place if they will take any care of them And because there bee many Gentlewomen and others that would gladly haue some fine flowers to furnish their Gardens but know not what the names of those things are that they desire nor what are the times of their flowring nor the skill and knowledge of their right ordering planting displanting transplanting and replanting I haue here for their sakes set downe the nature names times and manner of ordering in a briefe manner referring the more ample declaration of them to the worke following And first of their names and natures Of Daffodils there are almost an hundred sorts as they are seuerally described hereafter euery one to be distinguished from other both in their times formes and colours some being eyther white or yellow or mixt or else being small or great single or double and some hauing but one flower vpon a stalke others many whereof many are so exceeding sweete that a very few are sufficient to perfume a whole chamber and besides many of them be so faire and double eyther one vpon a stalke or many vpon a stalke that one or two stalkes of flowers are in stead of a whole nose-gay or bundell of flowers tyed together This I doe affirme vpon good knowledge and certaine experience and not as a great many others doe tell of the wonders of another world which themselues neuer saw nor euer heard of except some superficiall relation which themselues haue augmented according to their owne fansie and conceit Againe let me here also by the way tell you that many idle and ignorant Gardiners and others who get names by stealth as they doe many other things doe call some of these Daffodils Narcisses when as all know that know any Latine that Narcissus is the Latine name and Daffodill the English of one and the same thing and therefore alone without any other Epithite cannot properly distinguish seuerall things I would willingly therefore that all would grow iudicious and call euery thing by his proper English name in speaking English or else by such Latine name as euery thing hath that hath not a proper English name that thereby they may distinguish the seuerall varieties of things and not confound them as also to take away all excuses of mistaking as for example The single English bastard Daffodill which groweth wilde in many Woods Groues and Orchards in England The double English bastard Daffodill The French single white Daffodill many vpon a stalke The French double yellow Daffodill The great or the little or the least Spanish yellow bastard Daffodill or the great or little Spanish white Daffodill The Turkie single white Daffodill or The Turkie single or double white Daffodill many vpon a stalke c. Of Fritillaria or the checkerd Daffodill there are halfe a score seuerall sorts both white and red both yellow and blacke which are a wonderfull grace and ornament to a Garden in regard of the Checker like spots are in the flowers Of Iacinthes there are aboue halfe an hundred sorts as they are specified hereafter some like vnto little bells or starres others like vnto little bottles or pearles both white and blew sky-coloured and blush and some starlike of many pretty various formes and all to giue delight to them that will be curious to obserue them Of Crocus or Saffron flowers there are also twenty sorts some of the Spring time others flowring onely in the Autume or Fall earlier or later than another some whereof abide but a while others indure aboue a moneth in their glorious beauty The Colchicum or
flowers bushing bigger below then aboue of a very pale or white blew tending to an ash colour and very sweete in smell the seede is blacke and round like vnto the seede of the English Iacinth and so is the roote being great round and white so like I say that it is hard to know the one from the other The Place The certaine originall places of growing thereof is not knowne to vs. The Time It flowreth in Aprill The Names Some doe call this Hyacinthus Someri Somers Iacinth because as Lobel saith he brought it first into the Lowe-Countries eyther from Constantinople or out of Italy Hyacinthus Stellatus Lilifolio radice caeruleo The blew Lilly leafed Starre Iacinth This Iacinth hath six or seuen broad greene leaues somewhat like vnto Lilly leaues but shorter whereof it tooke his name as well as from the roote spread vpon the ground and lying close and round before the stalke riseth out from the middle of these leaues there doth appeare a deepe hollow place like a hole to bee seene a good while which at length is filled vp with the stalke rising thence vnto a foote or more high bearing many starre-like flowers at the toppe of a perfect blew colour neare vnto a Violet and sometimes of paler or bleake blew colour hauing as it were a small cuppe in the middle diuided into six peeces without any threeds therein the seede is blacke and round but not shining the roote is somewhat long bigge belowe and small aboue like vnto the small roote of a Lilly and composed of yellow scales as a Lilly but the scales are greater and fewer in number Hyacinthus Stellatus Lilifolius albus The white Lilly leafed Starre Iacinth The likenesse of this Iacinth with the former causeth me to be briefe and not to repeate the same things againe that haue already been expressed You may therefore vnderstand that except in the colour of the flower which in this is white there is no difference betweene them Flore â—arneo I heare of one that should beare blush coloured flowers but I haue not yet seene any such The Place These Iacinths haue been gathered on the Pyrenaean Hils in that part of France that is called Aquitaine and in some other places The Time These flower in Aprill and sometimes later The Names Because the roote is so like vnto a Lilly as the leafe is also it hath most properly beene called Hyacinthus Stellatus Lilifolio radice or for breuity Lilifolius that is The Starry Lilly leafed Iacinth It is called Sarahug by the Inhabitants where it groweth as Clusius maketh the report from Venerius who further faith that by experience they haue found the cattell to swell and dye that haue eaten of the leaues thereof 1 Hyacinthus stellatus praecox caruleus The early blew starry Iacinth 2 Hyacinthus stellatus pracox albus The early white starry Iacinth 3 Hyacinthus stellatus Byzantinus nigra radice The Turkie starry Iacinth with a blacke roote 4 Hyacinthus Byzantinus alter siue flore Borâ—ginis The other starry Iacinth of Constantinople 5 Hyacinthus astibus maior The greater Summer starry Iacinth 6 Hyacinthus stellatus flore â—reâ— The ash coloured starry Iacinth 7 Hyacinthus stellatus Lilifolius The Lilly leafed starre Iacinth 8 Hyacinthus Autumnalis The Autumne Iacinth 9 Scilla alba siue Hyacinthus marinus The Sea Onion or Squill Hyacinthus Autumnalis maior The greater Autumne Iacinth The greater Autumne Iacinth hath fiue or six very long and narrow greene leaues lying vpon the ground the stalkes are set at the toppe with many starre-like flowers of a pale blewish purple colour with some pale coloured threeds tipt with blew standing about the head in the middle which in time growing ripe containeth therein small blacke seede and roundish the roote is great and white on the outside Hyacinthus Autumnalis minor The lesser Autumne Iacinth This lesser Iacinth hath such like long and small leaues but narrower then the former the stalke is not full so high but beareth as many flowers on it as the other which are of a pale or bleake purple colour very like vnto it also the roote and seed are like the former but smaller These both for the most part beare their flowers and seede before the greene leaues rise vp much aboue the ground Flore albo There is a kinde hereof found that beareth white flowers not differing in any other thing from the smaller purple kinde last mentioned The Place The first and last are onely kept in Gardens and not knowne to vs where their naturall place of growing wilde may be The second groweth wilde in many places of England I gathered diuers rootes for my Garden from the foote of a high banke by the Thames side at the hither end of Chelsey before you come at the Kings Barge-house The Time The greatest flowreth in the end of Iuly and in August The other in August and September you shall seldome see this plant with flowers and greene leaues at one time together The Names They haue their names giuen them as they are expressed in their titles by all former Writers except Daleschampius or hee that set forth that great worke printed at Lyons for hee contendeth with many words that these plants can bee no Iacinths because their flowers appeare before their leaues in Autumne contrary to the true Iacinth as he saith and therefore he would faine haue it referred to Theophrastus bulbus in libro primo cap. 12. and calleth it his Tiphyum mentioned in that place as also Bulbus aestivus Dalechampij Howsoeuer these things may carry some probability in them yet the likenesse both of rootes and flowers especially hath caused very learned Writers to entitle them as is set downe and therefore I may not but let them passe in the like manner The Vertues Both the rootes and the leaues of the Iacinths are somewhat cold and drying but the seede much more It stayeth the loosnesse of the belly It is likewise said to hinder young persons from growing ripe too soone the roote being drunke in wine It helpeth them also whose vrine is stopt and is auaileable for the yellow Iaundise but as you heare some are deadly to cattell I therefore wish all to bee well aduised which of these they will vse in any inward physicke Scilla alba The Sea Onion or Squill As I ended the discourse of both the true and the bastard Daffodils with the Sea kindes of both sorts so I thinke it not amisse to finish this of the Iacinths with the description of a Sea Iacinth which as you see I take to be the Scilla or Sea Onion all his parts so nearely resembling a Iacinth that I know not where to ranke him better then in this place or rather not any where but here You shall haue the description thereof and then let the iudicious passe their sentence as they thinke meetest The Squill or Sea Onion as many doe call it hath diuers thicke leaues broad long greene and hollowish
some dry but not hot or windy place and then plant it in the ground vnder a South wall or such like defended place which will spring and no doubt prosper well there in regard the greatest and deepest frosts are past after February so that seldome any great frosts come after to pierce so deepe as the roote is to be set or thereby to doe any great harme to it in such a place The Place This hath been often sent out of Turkie and likewise out of Italy I had likewise two rootes sent mee out of Spaine by Guillaume Boel before remembred which as hee said hee gathered there but they prospered not with me for want of the knowledge of the former rule It may be likely that Arabia is the place from whence they of Constantinople receiue it The Time It flowreth in May if it be of the first yeares bringing or in Iune if it haue been ordered after the manner before set downe The Names It hath been sent out of Italy by the name of Lilium Alexandrinum The Lilly of Alexandria but it hath no affinity with any Lilly Others call it Hyacinthus Arabicus and the Italians Iacintho del pater nostro but it is no Iacinth neither although the flowers be like some of them Some also would referre it to a Narcissus or Daffodill and it doth as little agree with it as with a Lilly although his flowers in largenesse and whitenesse resemble a Daffodill Clusius hath most fitly referred it to the stocke or kindred of Ornithogala or Starres of Bethlehem as wee call them in English and from the Turkish name Zumbul Arabi entituled it Ornithogalum Arabicum although Zumbul as I haue before declared is with them a Iacinth wee may call it in English The Arabian Starre-flower or Starre of Bethlehem or the great Starre-flower of Arabia 1. Ornithogalum maximum album The greatest white Starre-flower or Starre of Bethlehem This great Starre-flower hath many faire broad long and very fresh green leaues rising vp very early and are greater longer and greener then the leaues of any Orientall Iacinth which doe abide greene from the beginning or middle of Ianuary or before sometimes vntill the end of May at which time they begin to fade and the stalke with the head of flowers beginneth to rise so that it will haue either few or no leaues at all when the flowers are blowne the stalke is strong round and firme rising two foote high or more bearing at the toppe a great bush of flowers seeming at the first to be a great greene eare of corne for it is made spike-fashion which when the flowers are blowne doth rise to be very high slender or small at the head aboue and broad spread and bushing below so that it is long in flowring for they flower below first and so vpwards by degrees these flowers are snow white without any line on the backside and is therein like vnto the former as also in whitenesse but nothing so large with a white vmbone or head in the middle beset with many white threeds tipt with yellow the seede is blacke and round contained in three square heads the roote is great thicke and short and somewhat yellowish on the outside with a flat bottome both like the former and the next that followeth 2. Ornithogalum maius spicatum album The great white spiked Starre-flower This spiked Starre-flower in his growing is somewhat like vnto the last described but springeth not vp so early nor hath his leaues so greene or large but hath broad long whitish greene hollow leaues pointed at the end among which riseth vp the stalke which is strong and high as the former hauing a great bush of flowers at the toppe standing spike-fashion somewhat like the former flowring in the same maner by degrees first below and so vpwards but it is not so thicke set with flowers nor so farre spread at the bottome as it the flowers also are not so white and each of the leaues of them haue a greene line downe the backe leauing the edges on both sides white after the flowers are past the heads for seede grow three square like the other bearing such like blacke seede therein the roote hereof is vsually bigger then the last and whiter on the outside 3. Ornithogalum Pannonicum The Hungarian Starre-flower This Hungarian Starre-flower shooteth out diuers narrow long whitish greene leaues spread vpon the ground before Winter which are very like vnto the leaues of Gilloflowers and so abide aboue ground hauing a stalke rising in the middle of them the next Spring about halfe a foote high or thereabouts bearing many white flowers at the toppe with greene lines downe the backe of them very like vnto the ordinary Starres of Bethlehem the roote is greater thicker and longer then the ordinary Starres and for the most part two ioyned together somewhat grayish on the outside 4. Ornithogalum vulgare The Starre of Bethlehem The ordinary Starre of Bethlehem is so common and well knowne in all countries and places that it is almost needlesse to describe it hauing many greene leaues with white lines therein and a few white flowers set about the toppe of the stalke with greenish lines downe the backe the roote is whitish and encreaseth aboundantly 5. Asphodelus bulbosus Galeni siue Ornithogalum maius flore subuirescente The bulbous Asphodill or greene Starre-flower Diuers haue referred this plant vnto the Asphodils because as I thinke the flowers hereof are straked on the backe and the leaues long and narrow like vnto the Asphodils but the roote of this being bulbous I rather as some others doe ioyne it with the Ornithogala for they also haue strakes on the backe of the flowers It hath many whitish greene leaues long and narrow spread vpon the ground which spring vp in the beginning of the yeare and abide vntill May and then they withering the stalke springeth vp almost as high as the first hauing many pale yellowish greene flowers but smaller and growing more sparsedly about the stalke vpon short foot-stalkes but in a reasonable long head spike-fashion the seede is like vnto the second kinde but smaller the roote is somewhat yellowish like the first great white kinde The Place The first is onely nursed in Gardens his originall being not well knowne yet some attribute it vnto Pannonia or Hungary The second hath been found neare vnto Barcinone and Toledo in Spaine The third was found in Hungary by Clusius Our ordinary euery where in the fields of Italy and France and as it is said in England also And the last groweth likewise by the corne fields in the vpper Hungary The Time They flower in Aprill and May and sometimes in Iune The Names 1 Ornithogalum Arabicum The great starre-flower of Arabia 2 Ornithogalum maximum album The greatest white starre flower 3 Ornithogalum maius spicatum album The great white spiked starre flower 4 Ornithogalum Pannonicum album The Hungarian starre-flower 5 Asphodalus bulbosus Galeni
Colombine foure or fiue rising from the roote the stalke riseth about a foote and a halfe high somewhat reddish beset here and there with the like leaues at the toppe whereof stand diuers small white flowers made of fiue leaues a peece with some pale white threads in the middle the seede is round and reddish contained in small huskes or hornes the roote is made of a bush or tuft of white strings 7. Ranunculus Thalictrifolio minor Asphodeli radice The small white Colombine leafed Crowfoote This small Crowfoote hath three or foure winged leaues spread vpon the ground standing vpon long stalkes and consisting of many small leaues set together spreading from the middle ribbe euery leafe somewhat resembling both in shape and colour the smallest and youngest leaues of Colombines the flowers are white standing at the toppe of the stalkes made of fiue round leaues the root hath three or foure thick short and round yellowish clogs hanging at the head like vnto the Asphodill roote The great Herball of Lyons that goeth vnder the name of Daleschampius saith that Dr. Myconus found it in Spaine and sent it vnder the name of Oenanthe and therefore Ioannes Molineus who is thought to haue composed that booke set it among the vmbelliferous plants because the Oenanthes beare vmbels of flowers and seede and haue tuberous or cloggy rootes but with what iudgement let others say when they haue compared the vmbels of flowers and seede of the Oenanthes with the flowers and seede of this plant and whether I haue not more properly placed it among the Ranunculi or Crowfeete and giuen it a denomination agreeable to his forme 8. Ranunculus Globosus The Globe Crowfoot This Crowfoote which in the Northerne countries of England where it groweth plentifully is called Locker goulous hath many faire broad darke greene leaues next the ground cut into fiue sixe or seuen diuisions and iagged besides at the edges among which riseth vp a stalke whereon are set such like leaues as are belowe but smaller diuided toward the toppe into some branches on the which stand seuerall large yellow flowers alwayes folded inward or as a close flower neuer blowing open as other flowers doe consisting of eleuen leaues for the most part set or placed in three rowes with many yellow threads in the middle standing about a greene rough head which in time groweth to be small knops wherein are contained blacke seede the roote is composed of many blackish strings 9. Ranunculus protensis flore multiplici The double yellow field Crowfoot There is little or no difference in the leaues of this double Crowfoot from those of the single kindes that growe in euery medowe being large and diuided into foure or fiue parts and indented about the edges but they are somewhat smaller and of a fresher greene the flowers stand on many branches much diuided or separated being not very great but very thicke and double the roote runneth and creepeth vnder ground like as the single doth 10. Ranunculus Anglicus maximus multiplex The Garden double yellow Crowfoot or Batchelours buttons This great double Crowfoote which is common in euery Garden through England hath many great blackish greene leaues iagged and cut into three diuisions each to the middle ribbe the stalkes haue some smaller leaues on them and those next vnder the branches long and narrow the flowers are of a greenish yellow colour very thicke and double of leaues in the middle whereof riseth vp a small stalke bearing another double flower like to the other but smaller the roote is round like vnto a small white Turnep with diuers other fibres annexed vnto it 11. Ranunculus Gramineus Grasse leafed Crowfoot The leaues of this Crowfoote are long and narrow somewhat like vnto Grasse or rather like the leaues of single Gilloflowers or Pinckes being small and sharpe pointed a little hollow and of a whitish greene colour among these leaues rise vp diuers slender stalkes bearing one small flower at the toppe of each consisting of fiue yellow 1 Aconitum Hyemale Winter Wolfesbane 2 Aconitum flore albido siue luteum Ponticum The whitish yellow Wolfesbane 3 Napellus verus Blew Helmets or Monkes hood 4 Anthora The counterpoison Monkes hood 5 Ranunculus humilis albus simplex The single white low Crowfoot 6 Ranunculus humilis albus duplici flore The double lowe white Crowfoot 7 Ranunculus Coriandrifolio The early Coriander leafed Crowfoot 8 Ranunculus montanus elatior albus The great single white mountain Crowfoot 9 Ranunculus montanus albus flore pleno The double white mountain Crowfoot 10 Ranunculus Thalictrifolio minor The lesser Colombine leafed Crowfoot 11 Ranunculus globosus The globe Crowfoot leaues with some threads in the middle the roote is composed of many thicke long round white strings There is another of this kinde that beareth flowers with two rowes of leaues as if it were double differing in nothing else 12. Ranunculus Lusitanicus Autumnalis The Portugall Autumne Crowfoot This Autumne Crowfoote hath diuers broad round leaues lying on the ground set vpon short foote-stalkes of a faire greene colour aboue and grayish vnderneath snipt all about the edges hauing many veines in them and sometimes swelling as with blisters or bladders on them from among which rise vp two or three slender and hairy stalkes bearing but one small yellow flower a peece consisting of fiue and sometimes of six leaues and sometimes of seuen or eight hauing a few threads in the middle set about a small greene head like vnto many of the former Crowfeete which bringeth small blacke seede the roote is made of many thicke short white strings which seeme to be grumous or kernelly rootes but that they are somewhat smaller and longer then any other of that kinde 13. Ranunculus Creticus latifolius The broad leafed Candy Crowfoot This Crowfoote of Candy hath the greatest and broadest leaues of all the sorts of Crowfeete being almost round and without any great diuisions but onely a few notches about the edges here and there as large or larger sometimes then the palme of a mans hand among which riseth vp the stalke not very high when it doth first flower but afterwards as the other flowers doe open themselues the stalke groweth to be a foote and a halfe high or thereabouts hauing some leaues on it deeply cut in or diuided and bearing many faire yellow flowers consisting of fiue leaues a peece being somewhat whitish in the middle when the flower hath stood blowne a little time the roote is composed of a number of small kernelly knobs or long graines set thicke together This flowreth very early being vsually in flower before the end of March and oftentimes about the middle thereof 14. Ranunculus Creticus albus The white Candy Crowfoote The leaues of this Crowfoote are very like vnto the leaues of the red Crowfoote of Tripoli or Asia hereafter set downe being somewhat broad and indented about the edges some of the leaues being also cut in or gashed thereby making
others Geranium caeruleum The blew Cranes bill Lobel calleth it Batrachoides because both leafe and flower are like vnto a Crowfoote and the affinity with the Cranes bils in the seede causeth it rather to be referred to them then to the Crowfeete The stript Cranes bill is called by some Geranium Romanum The last sauing one is called Geranium Haematodes or Sanguineum of Lobel Geranium Gruinalâ— Haematodes supinum radice repente In English it may be called after the Greek and Latine The bloudy Cranes bill but I rather call it The Rose Cranes bill because the flowers are as large as single Roses or as the Rose Campion Some of them are called in many places of England Bassinets The Vertues All the kindes of Cranes bils are accounted great wound herbes and effectuall to stay bleedings yet some more then others The Emperickes of Germanie as Camerarius saith extoll it wonderfully for a singular remedie against the Stone both in the reines and bladder CHAP. XXXI Sanicula guttata maior Spotted Sanicie HAuing long debated with my selfe where to place this the other plants that follow in the two next Chapters I haue thought it not amisse for this worke to set them downe here both before the Beares eares which are kindes of Sanicle as the best Authors doe hold and after the Cranes bils both for some qualities somewhat resembling them and for some affinity of the flowers with the former The spotted Sanicle hath many small round leaues bluntly endented about the edges somewhat like vnto the leaues of our white Saxifrage of a full greene colour aboue and whitish hairy and somewhat reddish withall vnderneath the stalkes are set here and there with the like leaues rising a foote and a halfe high or more very much diuided at the toppe into sundry small branches bearing many very small white flowers consisting of fiue small leaues wherein are many small red spots to be seene as small as pins points of a pretty sweete sent almost like Hawthorne flowers in the middle whereof are many small threads compassing a head which when it is ripe containeth small blacke seede the roote is scaly or couered with a chaffie matter hauing many small white fibres vnderneath whereby it is fastened in the ground There is another of this kinde like both in roote leafe and flower to the former Minor non guttata the onely difference is that this is lesser then the former and hath no spots in the flower as the other hath We haue also another smaller kinde then the last both in leafe and flower Minus guttata the leaues whereof are smaller but rounder and more finely snipt or indented about the edge like the teeth of a fine sawe the stalke is little aboue a span high hauing many small white flowers spotted as the first but with fewer spots The Place These growe in the shadowie Woods of the Alpes in diuers places and with vs they more delight in the shade then the sunne The Time All these Sanicles doe flower in May and continue flowring vntill Iune and the seede soone ripeneth after the rootes abide all the Winter with some leaues on them springing a fresh in the beginning of the yeare The Names The former two are called by Clusius Sanicula montana and by others Sanicula guttata by Lobel Geum Alpinum The third or last hath been sent vs vnder the name of Sanicula montana altera minor The Vertues The name imposed on these plants doe certainly assure vs of their vertues from the first founders that they are great healers and from their taste that they are great binders CHAP. XXXII Cotyledon altera Matthioli Spotted Nauelwort THis spotted Nauelwort as many doe call it hath many thicke small leaues not so broad as long of a whitish greene colour lying on the ground in circles after the manner of the heads of Houseleeke and dented about the edges from the middle whereof sometimes for it doth not flower euery yeare in many places ariseth vp a stalke scarce a foote high beset with such like leaues as are belowe but somewhat longer from the middle of the stalke vp to the top it brancheth forth diuersly with a leafe at euery ioynt bearing three or foure flowers on euery branch consisting of fiue white leaues spotted with small red spots like vnto the spotted Sanicle but with fewer and greater spots hauing a yellowish circle or eye in the bottome of euery flower and many whitish threads with yellowish tips in it the seede is small and blacke contained in small round heads the roote is small long and threadie shooting out such heads of leaues which abide all the Winter those that beare flower perishing Cotyledon altera minor Small dented Nauelwort There is another like vnto that before described in most things the differences be these It hath shorter leaues then the former and dented about the edges in the like manner the flowers hereof are white but greater made of six leaues and most vsually without any spots at all in them some are seene to haue spots also the heads or seede vessels are more cornered then the former Cotyledon altera flore rubro stellato Small red flowred Nauelwort This hath also many heads of leaues but more open which are longer greener and sharper pointed then eyther of the former somewhat reddish also and not dented about the edges but yet a little rough in handling the stalke ariseth from among the leaues being somewhat reddish and the leaues thereon are reddish pointed diuided at the toppe into many branches with diuers flowers thereon made of twelue small long leaues standing like a starre of a reddish purple colour with many threads therein set about the middle head which is diuided at the toppe into many small ends like pods or hornes containing therein very small seede the root is small like the former Sedum serratum flore rubente maculato The Princes Feather This kinde of Sengreene is composed of heads of larger broader and thinner leaues then any of the former of a sadder greene colour somewhat vneuenly endented about the edges and not so close set together but spreading forth into seuerall heads like as the former sorts doe although not so plentifully from the middle of diuers of which heads rise vp brownish or reddish stalkes set with smaller leaues thereon to the middle thereof and then brancheth forth into seuerall sprigs set with diuers small reddish flowers consisting of fiue leaues a peece the innerside of which are of a pale red somewhat whitish spotted with many small bloud red spots as small almost as pins points with some small threads in the middle standing about a small greene head which turneth into the seede vessell parted foure wayes at the head wherein is contained small blackish seede the rootes are small threads which spread vnder the ground and shoote vp seuerall heads round about it The Place All these growe in Germany Hungarie Austria the Alpes and other such like places where
it 6. Keiri siue Leucoium luteum maius flore pleno ferrugineo Double red Wall-flowers We haue also another sort of double Wall-flower whose leaues are as greene and almost as large as the great single yellow kinde or full as bigge as the leaues of the white Wall-flower the flowers hereof are not much larger then the ordinary but are of a darker yellow colour then the great single kinde and of a more brownish or red colour on the vnderside of the leaues and is as it were striped 7. Keiri siue Leucoium maximum luteum flore pleno The greatest double yellow Wall-flower This great double Wall-flower is as yet a stranger in England and therefore what I here write is more vpon relation which yet I beleeue to be most true then vpon sight and speculation The leaues of this Wall-flower are as greene and as large if not larger then the great single kinde the flowers also are of the same deepe gold yellow colour with it but much larger then any of the former double kindes and of as sweet a sent as any which addeth delight vnto beauty The Place The first single kind is often found growing vpon old wals of Churches and other houses in many places of England and also among rubbish and stones The single white and great yellow as well as all the other double kindes are noursed vp in Gardens onely with vs. The Time All the single kindes doe flower many times in the end of Autumne and if the Winter be milde all the Winter long but especially in the moneths of February March and Aprill and vntill the heate of the Spring doe spend them but the other double kindes doe not continue flowring in that manner the yeare throughout although very early sometimes and very late also in some places The Names They are called by diuers names as Viola lutea Leucoium luteum and Keiri or Cheiri by which name it is chiefly knowne in our Apothecaries shops because there is an oyle made thereof called Cheirinum In English they are vsually called in these parts Wall-flowers Others doe call them Bee-flowers others Wall-Gilloflowers Winter-Gilloflowers and yellow Srocke-Gilloflowers but we haue a kinde of Stocke-Gilloflower that more fitly deserueth that name as shall be shewed in the Chapter following The Vertues The sweetnesse of the flowers causeth them to be generally vsed in Nosegayes and to decke vp houses but physically they are vsed in diuers manners As a Conserue made of the flowers is vsed for a remedy both for the Appoplexie and Palsie The distilled water helpeth well in the like manner The oyle made of the flowers is heating and resoluing good to ease paines of strained and pained sinewes CHAP. XL. Leucoium Stocke-Gilloflower THere are very many sorts of Stocke-Gilloflowers both single and double some of the fields and mountaines others of the Sea marshes and medowes and some noursed vp in Gardens and there preserued by seede or slippe as each kinde is aptest to bee ordered But because some of these are fitter for a generall History then for this our Garden of Pleasure both for that diuers haue no good sent others little or no beauty and to be entreated of onely for the variety I shall spare so many of them as are not fit for this worke and onely set downe the rest 1. Leucoium simplex sativum diuersorum colorum Garden Stocke-Gilloflowers single of diuers colours These single Stocke-Gilloflowers although they differ in the colour of their flowers 1 Keiri siue Leucoium luteum vulgare Common Wall-flowers 2 Keiri siue Leucoium luteum maius simplex The great single Wall-flower 3 Keiri siue Leucoium luteum flore pleno vulgare Ordinary double Wall-flowers 4 Keiri maius flore pleno ferruginâ—o The great double red Wall-flower 5 Leucoium sativum simplex Single Stocke-Gilloflowers 6 Leucoium sativum simplex flore striato Single stript Stocke-Gilloflowers yet are in leafe and manner of growing one so like vnto another that vntill they come to flower the one cannot be well knowne that beareth red flowers from another that beareth purple and therfore one description of the plant shall serue with a declaration of the sundry colours of the flowers It riseth vp with round whitish woody stalkes two three or foure foot high whereon are set many long and not very broad sost and whitish or grayish greene leaues somewhat round pointed and parted into diuers branches at the toppes whereof grow many flowers one aboue another smelling very sweet consisting of foure small long and round pointed leaues standing in small long huskes which turne into long and flat pods sometimes halfe a foote long wherein is contained flat round reddish seedes with grayish ringes or circles about them lying flat all along the middle rib of the pod on both sides the roote is long white and woody spreading diuers wayes There is great variety in the colours of the flowers for some are wholly of a pure white colour others of a most excellent crimson red colour others againe of a faire red colour but not so bright or liuely as the other some also of a purplish or violet colour without any spot marke or line in them at all There are againe of all these colours mixed very variably as white mixed with small or great spottes strakes or lines of pure or bright red or darke red and white with purple spots and lines and of eyther of them whose flowers are almost halfe white and halfe red or halfe white and halfe purple The red of both sorts and the purple also in the like manner spotted striped and marked with white differing neyther in forme nor substance in any other point 2. Leucoium satiuum albido luteum simplex The single pale yellow Stocke-Gilloflower There is very little difference in this kind from the former for the manner of growing or forme of leaues or flower Only this hath greener leaues and pale yellow almost white flowers in all other things alike this is of no great regard but only for rarity and diuersity from the rest 3. Leucoium Melancholicum The Melancholick Gentleman This wilde kinde of stocke gilloflower hath larger longer and greener leaues then any of the former kindes vneuenly gashed or sinuated on both edges lying on the ground and a little rough or hairy withall from among which rise vp the stalks a yard high or more and hairy likewise bearing theron here and there some such like leaues as are below but smaller and at the top a great number of flowers as large or larger then any of the former single kindes made of 4. large leaues a peece also standing in such like long huskes but of a darke or sullen yellowish colour after which come long roundish pods wherein lye somewhat long but rounder and greater seede then any stocke gilloflower and nearer both in pod and seede vnto the Hesperis or Dames Violet this perisheth not vsually after seede bearing although sometimes it doth 4. Leucoium marinum Syriacum Leuant stocke gilloflowers
groweth in the salt Marshes at Chattam by Rochester and in many other places in England but the great kinde was gathered in Spaine by Guillaume Boel that painefull searcher of simples and the seede thereof imparted to me from whence I had diuers plants but one yeare after another they all perished The Time Many of these Pinkes both single and double doe flower before any Gilloflower and so continue vntill August and some most of the Summer and Autumne The Names The seuerall titles that are giuen to these Pinkes may suffice for their particular names and for their generall they haue beene expressed in the former Chapter beeing of the same kindred but that they are smaller and more frequently found wilde The two sorts of Thrift are called Caryophyllus Marinus The greater Maior Mediterraneus In English The greater or Leuant Thrift or Sea Gilloflower The lesser Minimus and is accounted of some to be a grasse and therefore called Gramen Marinum Polyanthemum In English Thrift Sea grasse and our Ladies Cushion or Sea Cushion The Vertues It is thought by diuers that their vertues are answerable to the Gilloflowers yet as they are of little vse with vs so I thinke of as small effect CHAP. LXXI Armerius Sweet Iohns and sweet Williams THese kindes of flowers as they come neerest vnto Pinkes and Gilloflowers though manifestly differing so it is fittest to place them next vnto them in a peculiar Chapter 1. Armerius angustifolius rubens simplex Single red sweete Iohns The sweete Iohn hath his leaues broader shorter and greener then any of the former Gilloflowers but narrower then sweete Williams set by couples at the ioynts of the stalkes which are shorter then most of the former and not aboue a foote and a halfe high at the tops whereof stand many small flowers like vnto small Pinkes but standing closer together and in shorter huskes made of fiue leaues smaller then most of them and more deeply iagged then the Williams of a red colour in the middle and white at the edges but of a small or soft sent and not all flowring at once but by degrees the seede is blacke somewhat like vnto the seede of Pinkes the roote is dispersed diuersly with many small fibres annexed vnto it 2. Armerius angustifolius albus simplex Single white sweet Iohns This white Iohn differeth not in any thing from the former but onely that the leafe doth neuer change brownish and that the flower is of a faire white colour without any mixture 3. Armerius angustifolius duplex Double sweet Iohns There is of both those former kindes some whose flowers are once double that is consisting of two or three rowes of leaues and the edges not so deepely iagged not differing in any thing else 4. Armerius latifolius simplex flore rubro Single red sweet Williams The sweet Williams doe all of them spread into many very long trayling branches with leaues lying on the ground in the very like manner that the sweet Iohns doe the chiefe differences betweene them are that these haue broader and darker greene leaues somewhat brownish especially towards the points and that the flowers stand thicker and closer and more in number together in the head or tuft hauing many small pointed leaues among them but harmlesse as all men know the colour of the flower is of a deep red without any mixture or spot at all 5. Armerius latifolius flore rubro multiplici Double red sweete Williams The double kinde differeth not from the single kinde of the same colour but only in the doublenesse of the flowers which are with two rowes of leaues in euery flower 6. Armerius latifolius variegatus siue versicolor Speckled sweete Williams or London pride These spotted Williams are very like the first red Williams in the forme or maner of growing hauing leaues as broade and browne sometimes as they the flowers stand as thicke or thicker clustring together but of very variable colours for some flowers will be of a fine delayed red with few markes or spots vpon them and others will bee full peckled or sprinkled with white or siluer spots circlewise about the middle of the flowers and some will haue many specks or spots vpon them dispersed all these flowers are not blowne at one time but some are flowring when others are decaying so that abiding long in their pride they become of the more respect The seede is blacke as all the rest and not to be distinguished one from another the roots are some long and some small and threddy running vnder the vpper crust of the earth 7. Armerius latifolius flore rubro saturoholosericeâ— Sweet Williams of a deepe red or murrey colour The leaues of this kinde seeme to be a little larger and the ioints a little redder then the former but in the flower consisteth the chiefest difference which is of a deepe red or murrey purple colour like vnto veluet of that colour without any spots but smooth and as it were soft in handling hauing an eye or circle in the middle at the bottome of the leaues 8. Armerius latifolius simplex flore albo Single white sweete Williams The white kinde differeth not in forme but in colour from the former the leaues are not browne at all but of a fresh greene colour and the flowers are wholly white or else they are all one The Place These for the most part grow wilde in Italie and other places we haue them in our Gardens where they are cherished for their beautifull varietie The Time They all generally doe flower before the Gilloflowers or Pinkes or with the first of them their seede is ripe in Iune and Iuly and doe all well abide the extremitie of our coldest winters The Names They all generally are called Armerius or Armeria as some doe write and distinguished as they are in their titles Yet some haue called them Vetonica agrestis and others Herba Tunica Scarlatea Caryophyllus siluestris Wee doe in English in most places call the first or narrower leafed kindes Sweet Iohns and all the rest Sweete Williams yet in some places they call the broader leafed kindes that are not spotted Tolmeiners and London tufts but the speckled kinde is termed by our English Gentlewomen for the most part London pride The Vertues We haue not knowne any of these vsed in Physicke CHAP. LXXII Bellis Daisie THere be diuers sorts of Daisies both great and small both single and double both wilde growing abroade in the fieldes and elsewhere and manured growing only in Gardens of all which I intend not to entreate but of those that are of most beautie and respect and leaue the rest to their proper place 1 Armerius angustifolius simplex Single sweete Ioâ—ns 2 Armerius angustifolius multiplex Double sweet Iohns 3 Armerius latifolius simplex Single sweete Williâ—ms 4 Armerius latifolius versicoloâ— Spâ—tted sweet Williams or pride of London 5 Armerius latifolius multiplex Double sweet Williaâ—s 6 Bâ—llis hoâ—tensis minor muâ—tiplex Double
double white Peony 5 Helleborus vernus atrorubente flore The early â—â—ite Ellebor with a darke red flower 6 Helleborus niger verus The Christmas flower 7 Calceolus Mariae Our Ladies Slipper downe the causes reasons and errours were to spend more time then I intend for this worke Wee call them in English Peonie and distinguish them according to their titles The Vertues The male Peony roote is farre aboue all the rest a most singular approued remedy for all Epilepticall diseases in English The falling sicknesse and more especially the greene roote then the dry if the disease be not too inueterate to be boyled and drunke as also to hang about the neckes of the younger sort that are troubled herewith as I haue found it sufficiently experimented on many by diuers The seede likewise is of especiall vse for women for the rising of the mother The seede of the female kinde as well as the rootes are most vsually sold and may in want of the other be and so are generally vsed CHAP. LXXXI Helleborus niger Beares foote THere are three sorts of blacke Hellebor or Beares foote one that is the true and right kinde whose flowers haue the most beautifull aspect and the time of his flowring most rare that is in the deepe of Winter about Christmas when no other can bee seene vpon the ground and two other that are wilde or bastard kindes brought into many Gardens for their Physicall properties but I will only ioyne one of them with the true kinde in this worke and leaue the other for another 1. Helleborus niger verus The true blacke Hellebor or Christmas flower The true blacke Hellebor or Beare foote as some would call it but that name doth more fitly agree with the other two bastard kindes hath many faire greene leaues rising from the roote each of them standing on a thicke round fleshly stiffe green stalke about an hand breadth high from the ground diuided into seuen eight or nine parts or leaues and each of them nicked or dented from the middle of the leafe to the pointward on both sides abiding all the Winter at which time the flowers rise vp on such short thicke stalkes as the leaues stand on euery one by it selfe without any leafe thereon for the most part or very seldome hauing one small short leafe not much vnder the flower and very little higher then the leaues themselues consisting of fiue broad white leaues like vnto a great white single Rose which sometimes change to be either lesse or more purple about the edges as the weather or time of continuance doth effect with many pale yellow thrummes in the middle standing about a greene head which after groweth to haue diuers cods set together pointed at the ends like hornes somewhat like the seede vessels of the Aconitum hyemale but greater thicker wherein is contained long round and blackish seede like the seede of the bastard kindes the rootes are a number of brownish strings running downe deepe into the ground and fastened to a thicke head of the bignesse of a finger at the toppe manie times and smaller still downewards 2. Helleboraster minor The lesser bastard blacke Hellebor or Beare foote The smaller Beare foote is in most things like vnto the former true blacke Hellebor for it beareth also many leaues vpon short stalkes diuided into many leaues also but each of them are long and narrow of a blacker greene colour snipt or dented on both edges which feele somewhat hard or sharpe like prickes and perish euery yeare but rise againe the next Spring the flowers hereof stand on higher stalkes with some leaues on them also although but very few and are of a pale greene colour like in forme vnto the flowers of the former but smaller hauing also many greenish yellow threads or thrums in the middle and such like heads or seede vessels and blackish seed the rootes are stringie and blackish like the former The Place The first groweth onely in the Gardens of those that are curious and delight in all sorts of beautifull flowers in our Countrey but wilde in many places of Germany Italy Greece c. The other groweth wilde in many places of England as well as the other greater sort which is not here described for besides diuers places within eight or ten miles from London I haue seen it in the Woods of Northamptonshire and in other places The Time The first of these plants doth flower in the end of December and beginning of Ianuary most vsually and the other a moneth or two after and sometime more The Names The first is called Helleborus or Elleborus niger verus and is the fame that both Theophrastus and Dioscorides haue written of and which was called Melampodion of Melampus the Goateheard that purged and cured the mad or melancholicke daughters of Praetus with the rootes thereof Dodonaeus calleth it Veratrum nigrum primum and the other secundum Wee call it in English The true blacke Hellebor or the Christmas flower because as I said it is most commonly in flower at or before Christmas The second is a bastard or wilde kinde thereof it so nearely resembleth the true and is called of most of the later Writers Pseudoelleborus niger minor or Helleboraster minor for a distinction betweene it and the greater which is not here described and is called in English The smaller or lesser Beare foote and most vsed in Physicke because it is more plentifull yet is more churlish and strong in operation then the true or former kinde The Vertues The rootes of both these kindes are safe medecines being rightly prepared to be vsed for all Melancholicke diseases whatsoeuer others may feare or write and may be without danger applied so as care and skill and not temerary rashnesse doe order and dispose of them The powder of the dryed leaues especially of the bastard kinde is a sure remedy to kill the wormes in children moderately taken CHAP. LXXXII Elleborus albus White Ellebor or Neesewort THere are two sorts of great white Ellebors or Neeseworts whereas there was but one kinde knowne to the Ancients the other being found out of later dayes And although neither of both these haue any beauty in their flowers yet because their leaues being faire and large haue a goodly prospect I haue inserted them in this place that this Garden should not be vnfurnished of them and you not vnacquainted with them 1. Elleborus albus vulgaris White Ellebor or Neesing roote The first great white Ellebor riseth at the first out of the ground with a whitish greene great round head which growing vp openeth it selfe into many goodly faire large greene leaues plaited or ribbed with eminent ribbes all along the leaues compassing one another at the bottome in the middle whereof riseth vp a stalke three foot high or better with diuers such like leaues thereon but smaller to the middle thereof from whence to the toppe it is diuided into many branches hauing many small yellowish
feather topt ball as is to be seene in the Trauellers ioy or Viorna as it is called that groweth plentifully in Kent and in other places by the way sides and in the hedges wherein is included such like flat seede These stalkes like as the last dye downe to the ground euery yeare and rise againe in the Spring following shooting out new branches and therby encreaseth in the root 10. Maracoc siue Clematis Virginiana The Virginia Climer Because this braue and too much desired plant doth in some things resemble the former Climers so that vnto what other family or kindred I might better conioyne it I know not let me I pray insert it in the end of their Chapter with this description It riseth out of the ground very late in the yeare about the beginning of May if it be a plant hath risen from the seed of our owne sowing and if it be an old one such as hath been brought to vs from Virginia not till the end thereof with a round stalke not aboue a yard and a halfe high in any that I haue seene but in hotter Countries as some Authors haue set it downe much higher bearing one leafe at euery ioynt which from the ground to the middle thereof hath no claspers but from thence vpwards hath at the same ioynt with the leafe both a small twining clasper like vnto a Vine and a flower also euery leafe is broad at the stalke thereof and diuided about the middle on both sides making it somewhat resemble a Figge leafe ending in three points whereof the middlemost is longest the bud of the flower before it doe open is very like vnto the head or seede vessell of the ordinary single Nigella hauing at the head or top fiue small crooked hornes which when this bud openeth are the ends or points of fiue leaues that are white on the inside and lay themselues flat like vnto an Anemone and are a little hollow like a scoope at the end with fiue other smaller leaues and whiter then they lying betweene them which were hid in the bud before it opened so that this flower being full blowne open consisteth of ten white leaues laide in order round one by another from the bottome of these leaues on the inside rise diuers twined threads which spread and lay themselues all ouer these white leaues reaching beyond the points of them a little and are of a reddish peach colour towards the bottomes likewise of these white leaues there are two red circles about the breadth of an Oten strawe one distant from another and in some flowers there is but one circle seen which adde a great grace vnto the flower for the white leaues shew their colour through the peach coloured threads and these red circles or rings vpon them being also perspicuous make a tripartite shew The Iesuites Figure of the Maracoc GRANADILLVS FRVTEX INDICVS CHRISTI PASSIONIS IMAGO of colours most delightfull the middle part of this flower is hollow and yellowish in the bottome whereof riseth vp an vmbone or round stile somewhat bigge of a whitish greene colour spotted with reddish spots like the stalkes of Dragons with fiue round threads or chiues spotted in the like manner and tipt at the ends with yellow pendents standing about the middle part of the said vmbone and from thence rising higher endeth in three long crooked hornes most vsually but sometimes in foure as hath beene obserued in Rome by Dr. Aldine that set forth some principall things of Cardinall Farnesius his Garden spotted like the rest hauing three round greene buttons at their ends these flowers are of a comfortable sweete sent very acceptable which perish without yeelding fruit with vs because it flowreth so late but in the naturall place and in hot Countries it beareth a small round whitish fruit with a crowne at the toppe thereof wherein is contained while it is fresh and before it be ouer dried a sweet liquor but when it is dry the seede within it which is small flat somewhat rough and blacke will make a ratling noise the rootes are composed of a number of exceeding long and round yellowish browne strings spreading farre abroad vnder the ground I haue seene some rootes that haue beene brought ouer that were as long as any rootes of Sarsa parilla and a great deale bigger which to be handsomely laid into the ground were faine to be coyled like a cable and shooting vp in seuerall places a good distance one from another whereby it may be well encreased The Place The first blew Perwinkle groweth in many Woods and Orchards by the hedge sides in England and so doth the white here and there but the other single and double purple are in our Gardens onely The great Perwinkle groweth in Prouence of France in Spaine and Italy and other hot Countries where also growe all the twining Clamberers as well single as double but both the vpright ones doe growe in Hungary and thereabouts The surpassing delight of all flowers came from Virginia Wee preserue them all in our Gardens The Time The Perwinkles doe flower in March and Aprill The Climers not vntill the end of Iune or in Iuly and sometimes in August The Virginian somewhat later in August yet sometimes I haue knowne the flower to shew it selfe in Iuly The Names The first is out of question the first Clematis of Dioscorides and called of 1 Thalspi Creticum Candy tufts 2 Vinca peruinca flore simplici Single Perwinkle 3 Vinca peruinca flore duplici Double Perwinkle 4 Flammula Matthioli Vpright Virgins Bower 5 Clematis peregrina flore simplici The single Ladies Bower 6 Clematis peregrina flore pleno purpureo Double flowred Ladies Bower 7 Maracoc siue Clematis Virginiana The Virginian Climer many Clematis Daphnoides but not that plant that is simply called Daphnoides for that is Laureola and is vsually called Vinca pervinca but it is not Chamaedaphne for that is another plant as shall be shewed in his place some call it Centunculus In English wee call it Perwinkle The other is Clematis altera of Dioscorides and is called also Clematis peregrina whose distinctions are set downe in their titles In English Ladies Bower or Virgins Bower because they are fit to growe by Arbours to couer them The first vpright Clamberer is called and that rightly of some Clematis erecta or surrecta Of others Flammula frutex and Flammula Iouis or surrecta In English Vpright Virgins Bower The next is called by Clusius Clematis Pannonica caerulea who thought it to be Climeni species by the relation of others at the first but after entituled it Clematis In English the Hungarian Climer The last may be called in Latine Clematis Virginiana In English The Virgin or Virginian Climer of the Virginians Maracoc of the Spaniards in the West Indies Granadillo because the fruit as is before said is in some fashion like a small Pomegranate on the outside yet the seede within is flattish round and blackish Some superstitious
the rest belowe and the end leafe biggest of all this proportion generally it holdeth in euery winged leafe through the whole plant which at the first comming forth are somewhat reddish with the young branch that shooteth out with them but being full growne are of a deepe greene colour and somewhat shining dented about the edges and fall not away from the branches as other Roses doe but abide thereon for the most part all the Winter the flowers stand foure or fiue together at the tops of the branches being single Roses made of fiue leaues a peece of a pure white colour much larger then the ordinary Muske Rose and of a fine sent comming nearest thereunto with many yellow chiues or threads in the middle The Place Some of these Roses had their originall as is thought in England as the first and second for these dryed red Roses that come ouer to vs from beyond the Seas are not of the kinde of our red Rose as may well be perceiued by them that will compare our English dryed leaues with those Some in Germany Spaine and Italy Some againe in Turkie as the double yellow Rose which first was procured to be brought into England by Master Nicholas Lete a worthy Merchant of London and a great louer of flowers from Constantinople which as wee heare was first brought thither from Syria but perished quickly both with him and with all other to whom hee imparted it yet afterwards it was sent to Master Iohn de Franqueuille a Merchant also of London and a great louer of all rare plants as well as flowers from which is sprung the greatest store that is now flourishing in this Kingdome The Time The Cinamon Rose is the earliest for the most part which flowreth with vs about the middle of May and sometimes in the beginning The ordinary Muske Roses both single and double flower latest as is said All the other flower much about one time in the beginning of Iune or there abouts and continue flowring all that moneth and the next throughout for the most part and the red vntill August be halfe past The Names The seuerall names whereby they are most commonly knowne vnto vs in this Countrey are expressed in their titles but they are much differing from what they are called in other Countries neare vnto vs which to compare conferre and agree together were a worke of more paines then vse But to proportion them vnto the names set downe by Theophrastus Pliny and the rest of the ancient Authors were a worke wherein I might be sure not to escape without falling into errour as I verily beleeue many others haue done that haue vndertaken to doe it I will therefore for this worke desire that you will rest contented with so much as hath already been deliuered and expect an exact definition and complete satisfaction by such a methodicall course as a generall History will require to be performed by them that shall publish it The Vertues The Rose is of exceeding great vse with vs for the Damaske Rose besides the superexcellent sweete water it yeeldeth being distilled or the perfume of the leaues being dryed seruing to fill sweete bags serueth to cause solublenesse of the body made into a Syrupe or preserued with Sugar moist or dry candid The Damaske Prouince Rose is not onely for sent nearest of all other Roses vnto the Damaske but in the operation of solubility also The red Rose hath many Physicall vses much more then any other seruing for many sorts of compositions both cordiall and cooling both binding and loosing The white Rose is much vsed for the cooling of heate in the eyes diuers doe make an excellent yellow colour of the iuyce of white Roses wherein some Allome is dissolued to paint or colour flowers or pictures or any other such things There is little vse of any other sort of Roses yet some affirme that the Muske Roses are as strong in operation to open or loosen the belly as the Damaske Rose or Prouince CHAP. CXI Cistus The Holly Rose or Sage Rose THere are three principall kindes of Cistus the male the female and the gumme or sweete smelling Cistus bearing Ladanum called Ledon Of each of these three there are also diuers sorts Of them all to intreate in this worke is not my minde I will onely select out of the multitude some few that are fit for this our Garden and leaue the rest to a greater 1. Cistus mas The male Holly Rose or Sage Rose The male Cistus that is most familiar vnto our Countrey I meane that will best abide is a small shrubby plant growing seldome aboue three or foure foote high with vs hauing many slender brittle wooddy branches couered with a whitish barke whereon are set many whitish greene leaues long and somewhat narrow crumpled or wrinckled as it were with veines and somewhat hard in handling especially the old ones for the young ones are softer somewhat like vnto Sage leaues for the forme and colour but much smaller two alwaies set together at a ioynt the flowers stand at the toppe of the branches three or foure together vpon seuerall slender foot-stalkes consisting of fiue small round leaues a peece somewhat like vnto a small single Rose of a fine reddish purple colour with many yellow threads in the middle without any sent at all and quickly fading or falling away abiding seldome one whole day blowne at the most after the flowers are past there come vp round hard hairie heads in their places containing small brownish seede the roote is wooddy and will abide some yeares with vs if there be some care had to keepe it from the extreamity of our Winters frostes which both this and many of the other sorts and kinds will not abide doe what we can 2. Cistus faemina The female Holly Rose The female Holly Rose groweth lower and smaller then the former male kinde hauing blackish branches lesse woody but not lesse brittle then it the leaues are somewhat rounder and greener but a little hard or rough withall growing in the same manner vpon the branches by couples the flowers grow at the toppes of the branches like vnto the former consisting of fiue leaues but somewhat lesser and wholly white with yellow threds in the middle as quickly fading and of as little sent as the former the heads and seede are somewhat bigger then in the former 3. Chamaecistus Frisicus The dwarfe Holly Rose of Friseland This dwarfe Cistus is a small low plant hauing diuers shootes from the rootes full of leaues that are long and narrow very like vnto the leaues of the French Spikenard or Spica Celtica from among which leaues shoote forth short stalkes not aboue a span high with a few smaller leaues thereon and at the toppes diuers small flowers one aboue another consisting of six small round leaues of a yellow colour hauing two circles of reddish spots round about the bottome of the leaues a little distant one from another which adde much grace to
rich is little enough and therefore you must raise it with meere stable soyle thorough rotten well turned vp that it may be at the least three foote deepe thereof which you must cast also into high beds or balkes with deepe trenches or furrowes betweene so as the ridges may be at the least a foot and a halfe higher then the furrowes for otherwise it is not possible to haue good Melons growe ripe The choise of your seede also is another thing of especiall regard and the best is held to be Spanish and not French which hauing once gained be sure to haue still of the same while they last good that you may haue the seede of your owne ripe Melons from them that haue eaten them or saue some of the best your selfe for the purpose I say while they last good for many are of opinion that no seede of Muske Melons gathered in England will endure good to sowe againe here aboue the third yeare but still they must be renewed from whence you had your choisest before Then hauing prepared a hot bed of dung in Aprill set your seedes therein to raise them vp and couer them and order them with as great care or greater then Cowcumbers c. are vsed that when they are ready they may be transplanted vpon the beds or balkes of that ground you had before prepared for them and set them at the least two yards in sunder euery one as it were in a hole with a circle of dung about them which vpon the setting being watered with water that hath stood in the Sunne a day or two and so as often as neede is to water couer them with strawe some vse great hollow glasses like vnto bell heads or some such other things to defend them both from the cold euenings or dayes and the heate of the Sunne while they are young and new planted There are some that take vpon them great skill that mislike of the raising vp of Melons as they doe also of Cowcumbers on a hot bed of horse dung but will put two or three seedes in a place in the very ground where they shall stand and growe and thinke without that former manner of forcing them forwards that this their manner of planting will bring them on fast and sure enough in that they will plucke away some of the worst and weakest if too many rise vp together in a place but let them know for certaine that howsoeuer for Cowcumbers their purpose and order may doe reasonable well where the ground is rich and good and where they striue not to haue them so early as they that vse the other way for Muske Melons which are a more tender fruit requiring greater care and trouble in the noursing and greater and stronger heate for the ripening they must in our cold climate haue all the art vsed vnto them that may be to bring them on the more early and haue the more comfort of the Sunne to ripen them kindly or else they will not bee worth the labour and ground After you haue planted them as aforesaid some of good skill doe aduise that you be carefull in any dry season to giue them water twice or thrice euery weeke while they are young but more afterward when they are more growne and that in the morning especially yea and when the fruit is growne somewhat great to water the fruit it selfe with a watering pot in the heate of the day is of so good effect that it ripeneth them much faster and will giue them the better taste and smell as they say To take likewise the fruit and gather it at the full time of his ripenesse is no small art for if it be gathered before his due time to be presently eaten it will be hard and greene and not eate kindly and likewise if it be suffered too long the whole goodnesse will be lost You shall therefore know that it is full time to gather them to spend presently when they begin to looke a little yellowish on the outside and doe smell full and strong but if you be to send them farre off or keepe them long vpon any occasion you shall then gather them so much the earlier that according to the time of the carriage and spending they may ripen in the lying being kept dry and couered with woollen clothes When you cut one to eate you shall know it to be ripe and good if the seede and pulpe about them in the middle be very waterish and will easily be separated from the meate and likewise if the meate looke yellow and be mellow and not hard or greene and taste full and pleasant and not waterish The vsuall manner to eate them is with pepper and salt being pared and sliced and to drowne them in wine for feare of doing more harme Cowcumbers and Pompions after they are noursed vp in the bed of hot dung are to be seuerally transplanted each of them on a large plot of ground a good distance in sunder but the Pompions more because their branches take vp a great deale more ground besides will require a great deale more watering because the fruit is greater And thus haue you the ordering of those fruits which are of much esteeme especially the two former with all the better sort of persons and the third kinde is not wholly refused of any although it serueth most vually for the meaner and poorer sort of people after the first early ripe are spent CHAP. V. The ordering of diuers sorts of herbes for the pot for meate and for the table TYme Sauory and Hyssope are vsually sowne in the Spring on beds by themselues euerie one a part but they that make a gaine by selling to others the young rootes to set the knots or borders of Gardens doe for the most part sowe them in Iuly and August that so being sprung vp before Winter they will be the fitter to be taken vp in the Spring following to serue any mans vse that would haue them Sage Lauender and Rosemary are altogether set in the Spring by slipping the old stalkes and taking the youngest and likeliest of them thrusting them either twined or otherwise halfe a foote deepe into the ground and well watered vpon the setting if any seasonable weather doe follow there is no doubt of their well thriuing the hot Sunne and piercing drying Windes are the greatest hinderances to them and therefore I doe aduise none to set too soone in the Spring nor yet in Autumne as many doe practise for I could neuer see such come to good for the extremity of the Winter comming vpon them so soone after their setting will not suffer their young shootes to abide not hauing taken sufficient strength in the ground to maintain themselues against such violence which doth often pierce the strongest plants Marierome and Bassill are sowne in the Spring yet not too early for they are tender plants and doe not spring vntill the weather bee somewhat warme but Bassill would bee sowne
colours in one plant as white yellow red purple or crimson so variably mixed the leaues being curld on the edges like a ruffe band that it is very beautifull to behold There is also another curld Colewort of lesse beauty and respect being but a little curld on the edges whose leaues are white edged with red or green edged with white Two other there are the one of a popingaye greene colour the other of a fine deepe greene like vnto the Sauoyes Then there is the Cole rape which is also a kinde of Coleworte that beareth a white heade or headed stalke aboue the ground as bigge as a reasonable Turnep but longer and from the toppe thereof springeth out diuers great leaues like vnto Colewortes among which rise diuers stalkes that beare yellow flowers and seede in pods almost as small as Mustard seede the roote is somewhat long and very bushie with threds The Vse of Cabbages and Colewortes They are most vsually boyled in poudered beefe broth vntil they be tender and then eaten with much fat put among them The great ribs of the Popingay and deepe greene Colewortes beeing boyled and layde into dishes are serued to the table with oyle and vinegar in the Lent time for very good sallets In the cold Countries of Russia and Muscouia they pouder vp a number of Cabbages which serue them especially the poorer sort for their most ordinary foode in winter and although they stinke most grieuously yet to them they are accounted good meate 1 Brassica capitata Close Cabbage 2 Brassica patula Open Cabbage 3 Brassica Sabaudica crisâ—a Curld Sauoye Colewort 4 Caulis florida Cole flower 5 Caulis crispa Curld Colewort 6 Caulis crispa variata Changeable curld Colewort 7 Rapocaulis Cole rape CHAP. XXXVIII Sisarum Skirrets AFter all the herbes before rehearsed fit for sallets or otherwise to bee eaten there must follow such rootes as are vsed to the same purpose and first Skirrets haue many leaues next the ground composed of many small smooth green leaues set each against other vpon a middle ribbe and euery one snipt about the edges the stalke riseth vp two or three foote high set with the like leaues hauing at the toppe spoakie tufts of white flowers which turne into small seede somewhat bigger and darker then Parsley seede the rootes be many growing together at one head beeing long slender rugged or vneuen of a whitish colour on the outside and more white within hauing in the middle of the roote a long small hard pith or string these heads are vsually taken vp in February and March or sooner if any so please the greater number of them being broken off to bee vsed the rest are planted againe after the heads are separated and hereby they are encreased euery yeare by many but it is now adayes more sowen of the seed which come forwards well enough if the ground be fat and good The Vse of Skirrets The rootes being boyled peeled and pithed are stewed with butter pepper and salt and so eaten or as others vse them to roule them in flower and fry them with butter after they haue beene boyled peeled and pithed each way or any way that men please to vse them they may finde their taste to be very pleasant far beyond any Parsnep as all agree that taste them Some doe vse also to eate them as a sallet colde with vinegar oyle c. being first boyled and dressed as before said They doe helpe to prouoke vrine and as is thought to procure bodily lust in that they are a little windy CHAP. XXXIX Pastinaca satiua latifolia Parsneps THe common garden Parsnep hath diuers large winged leaues lying vpon the ground that is many leaues set one by another on both sides of a middle stalk somewhat like as the Skirret hath but much larger and closer set the stalke riseth vp great and tall fiue or six foot high somtimes with many such leaues thereon at seuerall ioynts the top whereof is spread into diuers branches whereon stand spoakie rundles of yellow flowers which turne into brownish flat seede the root is long great and white very pleasant to bee eaten and the more pleasant if it grow in a fat sandy soyle 1 Sisarum Skirrits 2 Pastinaca latifolia Parsneps 3 Pastinaca tenuifolia Carrets 4 Rapuâ— Turneps 5 Napus saetivus Narewes 6 Raphanus niger Blacke Raddish 7 Raphanus vulgaris Common Raddish Moreouer the wilde kinde which groweth in many places of England and wherof in some places there might be gathered a quarter sacke full of the seede if it be sowen in Gardens and there well ordered will proue as good as the former kinde of Garden Parsneps The Vse of Parsneps The Parsnep root is a great nourisher and is much more vsed in the time of Lent being boyled and stewed with butter then in any othertime of the yeare yet it is very good all the winter long The seede helpeth to dissolue winde and to prouoke vrine CHAP. XL. Pastina satiua tenuifolia Carrots THe Carrot hath many winged leaues rising from the head of the roote which are much cut and diuided into many other leaues and they also cut and diuided into many parts of a deepe greene colour some whereof in Autumne will turne to be of a fine red or purple the beautie whereof allureth many Gentlewomen oftentimes to gather the leaues and sticke them in their hats or heads or pin them on their armes in stead of feathers the stalke riseth vp among the leaues bearing many likewise vpon it but nothing so high as the Parsnep being about three foote high bearing many spoakie tufts of white flowers which turne into small rough seede as if it were hairy smelling reasonable well if it bee rubbed the roote is round and long thicke aboue and small below eyther red or yellow eyther shorter or longer according to his kinde for there is one kinde whose roote is wholly red quite thoroughout another whose roote is red without for a pretty way inward but the middle is yellow Then there is the yellow which is of two sorts both long and short One of the long yellow sorts which is of a pale yellow hath the greatest and longest roote and likewise the greatest head of greene and is for the most part the worst being spongy and not firme The other is of a deepe gold yellow colour and is the best hauing a smaller head or tuft of greene leaues vpon it The shorte rootes are likewise distinguished into pale and deepe yellow colours The Vse of Carrots All these sorts being boyled in the broth of beefe eyther fresh or salt but more vsually of salted beefe are eaten with great pleasure because of the sweetenesse of them but they nourish lesse then Parsneps or Skirrets I haue not often knowne the seede of this Garden kinde to bee vsed in Physicke but the wilde kinde is often and much vsed to expell winde c. CHAP. XLI Rapum hortense Turneps THere are diuers sorts of Turneps as
may be vsed for want of Bramble leaues in gargles and other decoctions that are cooling and drying although not fully to that effect The Conserue or Syrupe made of the berries is effectuall to coole an hot stomacke helping to refresh and quicken vp those that are ouercome with faintnesse The berries are eaten in the Summer time as an afternoones dish to please the taste of the sicke as well as the sound The iuyce and the distilled water of the berries are verie comfortable and cordiall It is generally held of many but how true I know not that the red wine that is vsually sold at the Vintners is made of the berries of Raspis that grow in colder countries which giueth it a kinde of harshnesse And also that of the same berries growing in hotter climates which giueth vnto the wine a more pleasant sweetnesse is made that wine which the Vintners call Alligant but we haue a Vine or Grape come to vs vnder the name of the Alligant Grape as you shall finde it set downe hereafter among the Grapes and therefore it is likely to be but an opinion and no truth in this as it may be also in the other CHAP. II. Ribes rubra alba nigra Currans red white and blacke THe bushes that beare those berries which are vsually called red Currans are not those Currans either blew or red that are sold at the Grocers nor any kind thereof for that they are the grapes of a certaine Vine as shall be shewed by and by but a farre differing kinde of berry whereof there are three sorts red white and blacke The red Curran bush is of two sorts and groweth to the height of a man hauing sometimes a stemme of two inches thicknesse and diuers armes and branches couered with a smooth darke brownish barke without anie pricke or thorne at all vpon anie part thereof whereon doe growe large cornered blackish greene leaues cut in on the edges seeming to be made of fiue parts almost like a Vine leafe the ends a little pointing out and standing one aboue another on both sides of the branches the flowers are little and hollow comming forth at the ioynts of the leaues growing many together on a long stalke hanging downe aboue a fingers length and of an herbie colour after which come small round fruit or berries greene at the first and red as a Cherry when they are ripe of a pleasant and tart taste the other differeth not in anie other thing then in the berries being twice as bigge as the former the roote is wooddy and spreadeth diuersly The white Curran bush riseth vsually both higher then the red and straighter or more vpright bigger also in the stemme and couered with a whiter barke the leaues are cornered somewhat like the former but not so large the flowers are small and hollow like the other hanging downe in the same manner on long stalkes being of a whiter colour the berries likewise growe on the long stalkes somewhat thicker set together and of a cleare white colour with a little blacke head so transparent that the seedes may be easily seene thorough them and of a more pleasant winie taste then the red by much The blacke Curran bush riseth higher then the white with more plentifull branches and more pliant and twiggie the stemme and the elder branches being couered with a brownish barke and the younger with a paler the flowers are also like vnto little bottles as the others be of a greenish purple colour which turne into blacke berries of the bignesse of the smaller red Currans the leaues are somewhat like vnto the leaues of the red Currans but not so large both branches leaues and fruit haue a kind of stinking sent with them yet they are not vnwholsome but the berries are eaten of many without offending either taste or smell The Vse of Currans 1 Rubus Idaeus The Raspis 2 Ribes fructu rubro vel albo White or red Currans 3 Grossularia vulgaris The ordinary Gooseberry 4 Grossularia fructu rubro The great red Gooseberry 5 Grossularia aculeata The prickly Gooseberry 6 Oxyaecantha seu Berberis The Barbary bush 7 Auellana Byzantina The Filberd of Constantinople 8 Auellana rubra nostras The best red Filberd The white Currans by reason of the more pleasant winie taste are more accepted and desired as also because they are more daintie and lesse common Some vse both the leaues and berries of the blacke Currans in sawces and other meates and are well pleased both with the sauour and taste thereof although many mislike it CHAP. III. Vva Crispa siue Grossularia Gooseberries or Feaberries WEe haue diuers sorts of Gooseberries besides the common kinde which is of three sorts small great and long For wee haue three red Gooseberries a blew and a greene The common Gooseberrie or Feaberrie bush as it is called in diuers Countries of England hath oftentimes a great stemme couered with a smooth darke coloured bark without anie thorne thereon but the elder branches haue here and there some on them and the younger are whitish armed with verie sharpe and cruell crooked thorns which no mans hand can well auoide that doth handle them whereon are set verie greene and small cornered leaues cut in of the fashion almost of Smallage or Hawthorne leaues but broad at the stalke the flowers come forth single at euerie ioynt of the leafe one or two of a purplish greene colour hollow and turning vp the brims a little the berries follow bearing the flowers on the heads of them which are of a pale greene at the first and of a greenish yellow colour when they are ripe striped in diuers places and cleare almost transparent in which the seede lyeth In some these berries are small and round in others much greater a third is great but longer then the other all of them haue a pleasant winie taste acceptable to the stomacke of anie but the long kinde hath both the thicker skin and the worser taste of the other and none haue been distempered by the eating of them that euer I could heare of The first of the red Gooseberries is better knowne I thinke then the rest and by reason of the small bearing not much regarded the stemme is somewhat bigge and couered with a smooth darke coloured barke the younger branches are whiter and without anie thorne or pricke at all so long weake small and slender that they lye vpon the ground and will there roote againe the leaues are like vnto the former Gooseberries but larger the flowers and berries stand single and not manie to bee found anie yeare vpon them but are somewhat long and are as great as the ordinarie Gooseberry of a darke brownish red colour almost blackish when they are ripe and of a sweetish taste but without any great delight The second red Gooseberry riseth vp with a more straight stemme couered with a brownish barke the young branches are straight likewise and whitish and grow not so thicke vpon it as
Peach shadowed as it were ouer with deepe red and is ripe at Bartholmew tide of a very pleasant good taste The Romane Peach is a very good Peach and well pullished The Durasme or Spanish Peach is of a darke yellowish red colour on the outside and white within The blacke Peach is a great large Perch of a very darke browne colour on the outside it is of a waterish taste and late ripe The Alberza Peach is late ripe and of a reasonable good taste The Almond Peach so called because the kernell of the stone is sweete like the Almond and the fruit also somewhat pointed like the Almond in the huske it is early ripe and like the Newington Peach but lesser The Man Peach is of two sorts the one longer then the other both of them are good Peaches but the shorter is the better rellished The Cherry Peach is a small Peach but well tasted The Nutmeg Peach is of two sorts one that will be hard when it is ripe and eateth not so pleasantly as the other which will bee soft and mellow they are both small Peaches hauing very little or no resemblance at all to a Nutmeg except in being a little longer then round and are early ripe Many other sorts of Peaches there are whereunto wee can giue no especiall name and therefore I passe them ouer in silence The Vse of Peaches Those Peaches that are very moist and waterish as many of them are and not firme doe soone putrefie in the stomacke causing surfeits oftentimes and therefore euery one had neede bee carefull what and in what manner they eate them yet they are much and often well accepted with all the Gentry of the Kingdome The leaues because of their bitternesse serue well being boyled in Ale or Milke to be giuen vnto children that haue wormes to help to kill them and doe gently open the belly if there be a sufficient quantity vsed The flowers haue the like operation that is to purge the body somewhat more forceably then Damaske Roses a Syrupe therefore made of the flowers is very good The kernels of the Peach stones are oftentimes vsed to be giuen to them that cannot well make water or are trouble d with the stone for it openeth the stoppings of the vritory passages whereby much ease ensueth CHAP. XVI Nucipersica Nectorins I Presume that the name Nucipersica doth most rightly belong vnto that kinde of Peach which we call Nectorins and although they haue beene with vs not many yeares yet haue they beene knowne both in Italy to Matthiolus and others before him who it seemeth knew no other then the yellow Nectorin as Dalechampius also But we at this day doe know fiue seuerall sorts of Nectorins as they shall be presently set downe and as in the former fruits so in this I will giue you the description of one and briefe notes of the rest The Nectorin is a tree of no great bignesse most vsually lesser then the Peach tree his body and elder boughes being whitish the younger branches very red whereon grow narrow long greene leaues so like vnto Peach leaues that none can well distinguish them vnlesse it be in this that they are somewhat lesser the blossomes are all reddish as the Peach but one of a differing fashion from all the other as I shall shew you by and by the fruit that followeth is smaller rounder and smoother then Peaches without any cleft on the side and without any douny cotton or freeze at all and herein is like vnto the outer greene rinde of the Wallnut whereof as I am perswaded it tooke the name of a fast and firme meate and very delicate in taste especially the best kindes with a rugged stone within it and a bitter kernell The Muske Nectorin so called be cause it being a kinde of the best red Nectorins both smelleth and eateth as if the fruit were steeped in Muske some thinke that this and the next Romane Nectorin are all one The Romane red Nectorin or cluster Nectorin hath a large or great purplish blossome like vnto a Peach reddish at the bottome on the outside and greenish within the fruit is of a fine red colour on the outside and groweth in clusters two or three at a ioynt together of an excellent good taste The bastard red Nectorin hath a smaller or pincking blossome more like threads then leaues neither so large nor open as the former and yellowish within at the bottome the fruit is red on the outside and groweth neuer but one at a ioynt it is a good fruit but eateth a little more rawish then the other euen when it is full ripe The yellow Nectorin is of two sorts the one an excellent fruit mellow and of a very good rellish the other hard and no way comparable to it The greene Nectorin great and small for such I haue seene abiding constant although both planted in one ground they are both of one goodnesse and accounted with most to be the bestrellished Nectorin of all others The white Nectorin is said to bee differing from the other in that it will bee more white on the outside when it is ripe then either the yellow or greene but I haue not yet seene it The Vse of Nectorins The fruit is more firme then the Peach and more delectable in taste and is therefore of more esteeme and that worthily CHAP. XVII Amygdala Almonds THe Almond also may be reckoned vnto the stock or kindred of the Peaches it is so like both in leafe and blossome and somewhat also in the fruit for the outward forme although it hath onely a dry skinne and no pulpe or meate to bee eaten but the kernell of the stone or shell which is called the Almond maketh recompense of that defect whereof some are sweete some bitter some great some small some long and some short The Almond tree groweth vpright higher and greater then any Peach and is therefore vsually planted by it selfe and not against a wall whose body sometime exceedeth any mans fadome whereby it sheweth to be of longer continuance bearing large armes and smaller branches also but brittle whereon are set long and narrow leaues like vnto the Peach tree the blossomes are purplish like vnto Peach blosoms but paler the fruit is somewhat like a Peach for the forme of the skinne or outside which is rough but not with any such cleft therein or with any pulpe or meate fit to bee eaten but is a thicke dry skinne when it is ripe couering the stone or shell which is smooth and not rugged and is either long and great or small or thicke and short according as the nut or kernell within it is which is sweete both in the greater and smaller and onely one smaller kinde which is bitter yet this I haue obserued that all the Almond trees that I haue seene growe in England both of the sweete and bitter kindes beare Almonds thicke and short and not long as that sort which is called the Iorden Almond
made for the purpose to this and that vnderneath it vpon the boughes were laid boards to tread vpon which was the goodliest spectacle mine eyes euer beheld for one tree to carry The coles of the wood are the best to make Gunpowder And being kindled and quenched in vinegar are good to dissolue clotted bloud in those that are bruised with a fall The inner barke being steeped in water yeeldeth a slimie iuyce which is found by experience to be very profitable for them that haue been burnt with fire 17. Tamarix Tamariske tree THe Tamariske tree that is common in our country although in some places it doth not grow great yet I haue seene it in some other to be as great as a great apple tree in the body bearing great arms from whose smaller branches spring forth young slender red shootes set with many very fine small and short leaues a little crisped like vnto the leaues of Sauine not hard or rough but soft and greene the flowers be white mossie threads which turne into dounie seede that is carried away with the winde Tamariscus folijs ablidis White Tamariske There is another kinde hereof very beautifull and rare not to be seene in this Land I thinke but with Mr. William Ward the Kings seruant in his Granary before remembred who brought me a small twigge to see from his house at Boram in Essex whose branches are all red while they are young and all the leaues white abiding so all the Summer long without changing into any shew of greene like the other and so abideth constant yeare after yeare yet shedding the leaues in Winter like the other The Vse of Tamariske The greatest vse of Tamariske is for spleneticke diseases either the leaues or the barke made into drinkes or the wood made into small Cans or Cups to drinke in 18. Acer maius latifolium The great Maple or Sycomore tree THe Sycomore tree as we vsually call it and is the greatest kind of Maple cherished in our Land onely in Orchards or elsewhere for shade and walkes both here in England and in some other countries also groweth quickly to bee a faire spreading great tree with many boughes and branches whose barke is somewhat smooth the leaues are very great large and smooth cut into foure or fiue diuisions and ending into so many corners euery one standing on a long reddish stalke the bloomings are of a yellowish greene colour growing many together on each side of a long stalke which afrer turne into long and broad winged seede two alwaies standing together on a stalke and bunched out in the middle where the seed or kernell lyeth very like vnto the common Maple growing wilde abroad but many more together and larger The Vse of the Sycomore tree It is altogether planted for shady walkes and hath no other vse with vs that I know 19. Nux Vesicaria The bladder Nut. THis tree groweth not very high but is of a meane stature when it is preserued and pruined to grow vpright or else it shooteth forth many twigges from the rootes and so is fit to plant in a hedge rowe as it is vsed in some places the body and armes are couered with a whitish greene barke the branches and leaues on them are like vnto the Elder hauing three or fiue leaues set one against another with one of them at the end each whereof is nicked or dented about the edges the flowers are sweete and white many growing together on a long stalke hanging downeward in forme resembling a small Daffodill hauing a small round cup in the middle and leaues about it after which come the fruit inclosed in russetish greene bladders containing one or two brownish nuts lesser then Hasell nuts whose outer shell is not hard and woody like the shell of a nut but tough and hard withall not easie to breake within which is a greene kernell sweetish at the first but lothsome afterwards ready to procure casting and yet liked of some people who can well endure to eate them The Vse of the Bladder Nut. The greatest vse that I know the tree or his fruit is put vnto is that it is receiued into an Orchard either for the rarity of the kinde being suffered to grow into a tree or as I said before to make an hedge being let grow into suckers Some Quacksaluers haue vsed these nuts as a medicine of rare vertue for the stone but what good they haue done I neuer yet could learne 20. Rhus Myrtifolia The Mirtle leafed Sumach THis lowe shrubbe groweth seldome to the height of a man hauing many slender branches and long winged leaues set thereon euery one whereof is of the bignesse of the broad or large Mirtle leafe and set by couples all the length of the ribbe running through the middle of them It beareth diuers flowers at the tops of the branches made of many purple threads which turne into small blacke berries wherein are contained small white and rough seed somewhat like vnto Grape kernels or stones This vseth to dye down to the ground in my Garden euery Winter and rise vp again euery Spring whether the nature thereof were so or the coldnesse of our climate the cause therof I am not well assured It is also rare and to be seen but with a few The Vse of this Sumach It is vsed to thicken or tanne leather or hides in the same manner that the ordinary Sumach doth as also to stay fluxes both in men and women 21. Rhus Virginiana The Virginia Sumach or Buckes horne tree of Virginia THis strange tree becommeth in some places to bee of a reasonable height and bignesse the wood whereof is white soft and pithy in the middle like vnto an Elder couered with a darke coloured barke somewhat smooth the young branches that are of the last yeares growth are somewhat reddish or browne very soft and smooth in handling and so like vnto the Veluet head of a Deere that if one were cut off from the tree and shewed by it selfe it might soone deceiue a right good Woodman and as they grow seeme most like thereunto yeelding a yellowish milke when it is broken which in a small time becommeth thicke like a gumme the leaues grow without order on the branches but are themselues set in a seemly order on each side of a middle ribbe seuen nine ten or more on a side and one at the end each whereof are somewhat broad and long of a darke greene colour on the vpperside and paler greene vnderneath finely snipped or toothed round about the edges at the ends of the branches come forth long and thicke browne tufts very soft and as it were woolly in handling made all of short threads or thrums from among which appeare many small flowers much more red or crimson then the tufts which turne into a very small seede the roote shooteth forth young suckers farre away and round about whereby it is mightily encreased The Vse of this Sumach It is onely kept as a
or whitish greene starre-like flowers all along vpon them which after turne into small long three square whitish seede standing naked without any huske to containe them although some haue written otherwise the roote is thicke and reasonable great at the head hauing a number of great white strings running downe deepe into the ground whereby it is strongly fastened 2. Elleborus albus praecox siue atrorubente flore The early white Ellebor with reddish flowers This other Ellebor is very like the former but that it springeth vp a moneth at the least before it and that the leaues are not fully so thicke or so much plaited but as large or larger and doe sooner perish and fall away from the plant the stalke hereof is as high as the former bearing such like starry flowers but of a darke or blackish red colour the seede is like the other the roote hath no such head as the other so farre as I haue obserued both by mine own and others plants but hath many long white strings fastened to the top which is as it were a long bulbous scaly head out of which spring the leaues The Place The first groweth in many places of Germany as also in some parts of Russia in that aboundance by the relation of that worthy curious and diligent searcher and preseruer of all natures rarities and varieties my very good friend Iohn Tradescante often heretofore remembred that as hee said a good ship might be loaden with the rootes hereof which hee saw in an Island there The other likewise groweth in the vpland wooddy grounds of Germanie and other the parts thereabouts The Time The first springeth vp in the end or middle of March and flowreth in Iune The second springeth in February but flowreth not vntill Iune The Names The first is called Elleborus albus or Helleborus albus the letter H as all Schollers know being but aspirationis nota and Veratrum album flore viridante of some Sanguis Herculis The other is called Elleborus albus praecox and flore atrorubente or atropurpurante We call the first in English White Ellebor Neesewort or Neesing roote because the powder of the roote is vsed to procure neesing and I call it the greater in regard of those in the next Chapter The other hath his name according to the Latine title most proper for it The Vertues The force of purging is farre greater in the roote of this Ellebor then in the former and therefore is not carelesly to bee vsed without extreame danger yet in contumatious and stubborne diseases it may bee vsed with good caution and aduice There is a Syrupe or Oxymel made hereof in the Apothecaries shops which as it is dangerous for gentle and tender bodies so it may be very effectuall in stronger constitutions Pausanias in Phocicis recordeth a notable stratagem that Solon vsed in besieging the Citie of Cirrheus viz. That hauing cut off the riuer Plistus from running into the Citie he caused a great many of these rootes to be put into a quantity thereof which after they had steeped long enough therein and was sufficiently infected therewith he let passe into the Citie againe whereof when they had greedily drunke they grew so weake and feeble by the superpurgation thereof that they were forced to leaue their wals vnmand and not guarded whereby the Amphyctions their enemies became masters of their Citie The like stratagems are set downe by diuers others Authors performed by the helpe of other herbes CHAP. LXXXIII Elleborine Small or wilde white Ellebor THe likenesse of the leaues of these plants rather then any other faculty with the former white Ellebor hath caused them to be called Elleborine as if they were smaller white Ellebors And I for the same cause haue ioyned them next whereof there are found many sorts One which is the greater kinde is of greatest beauty the other which are lesser differ not much one from another more then in the colour of the flowers whereof I will onely take three being of the most beautie and leaue the rest to another worke 1. Helleborine vel Elleborine maior siue Calceolus Mariae Our Ladies Slipper This most beautifull plant of all these kindes riseth vp with diuers stalkes a foote and a halfe high at the most bearing on each side of them broad greene leaues somewhat like in forme vnto the leaues of the white Ellebor but smaller and not so ribbed compassing the stalke at the lower end at the tops of the stalkes come forth one or two or three flowers at the most one aboue another vpon small short foote-stalkes with a small leafe at the foote of euery stalke each of these flowers are of a long ouall forme that is more long then round and hollow withall especially at the vpper part the lower being round and swelling like a belly at the hollow part there are two small peeces like eares or flippers that at the first doe couer the hollow part and after stand apart one from another all which are of a fine pale yellow colour in all that I haue seene yet it is said there are some found that are more browne or tending to purple there are likewise foure long narrow darke coloured leaues the setting on of the flower vnto the stalke wherein as it were the flower at the first standeth the whole flower is of a pretty small sent the seede is very small very like vnto the seede of the Orchides or Satyrions and contained in such like long pods but bigger the roots are composed of a number of strings enterlacing themselues one within another lying within the vpper crust of the earth not spreading deep of a darke brownish colour 2. Elleborine minor flore albo The small or wilde white Ellebor with a white flower This smaller wilde white Ellebor riseth vp in the like manner vnto the former and not much lower bearing such like leaues but smaller and of a whiter greene colour almost of the colour and fashion of the leaues of Lilly Conually the top of the stalke hath many more flowers but lesser growing together spike-fashion with small short leaues at the stalke of euery flower which consisteth of fiue small white leaues with a small close hood in the middle without any sent at all the seede and seede vessels are like vnto the former but smaller the rootes are many small strings dispersing themselues in the ground 3. Elleborine minor flore purpurante The small or wilde white Ellebor with blush flowers The leaues of this kinde are like vnto the last described but somewhat narrower the stalkes and flowers are alike but smaller also and of a pale purplish or blush colour which causeth the difference The Place The first groweth in very many places of Germany and in other Countries also It groweth likewise in Lancashire neare vpon the border of Yorkeshire in a wood or place called the Helkes which is three miles from Ingleborough the highest Hill in England and not farre from Ingleton as I
am enformed by a courteous Gentlewoman a great louer of these delights called Mistris Thomasin Tunstall who dwelleth at Bull-banke neare Hornby Castle in those parts and who hath often sent mee vp the rootes to London which haue borne faire flowers in my Garden The second groweth in many places of England and with the same Gentlewoman also before remembred who sent me one plant of this kinde with the other The last I haue not yet knowne to growe in England but no doubt many things doe lye hid and not obserued which in time may bee discouered if our Country Gentlemen and women and others in their seuerall places where they dwell would be more carefull and diligent and be aduertised either by themselues or by others capable and fit to be imployed as occasion and time might serue to finde out such plants as growe in any the circuits or limits of their habitations or in their trauels as their pleasures or affaires leade them And because ignorance is the chiefe cause of neglect of many rare things which happen to their view at sometimes which are not to be seene againe peraduenture or not in many yeares after I would heartily aduise all men of meanes to be stirred vp to bend their mindes and spend a little more time and trauell in these delights of herbes and flowers then they haue formerly done which are not onely harmlesse but pleasurable in their time and profitable in their vse And if any would be better enformed and certified of such things they know not I would be willing and ready to my best skill to aduertise them that shall send any thing vp to me where I dwell in London Thus farre I haue digressed from the matter in hand and yet not without some good vse I hope that others may make of it The Time The two first flower earlier then the last and both the first about one time that is in the end of Aprill or beginning of May. The last in the end of May or in Iune The Names The first is called Elleborine recentiorum maior and Calceolus Mariae Of some thought to be Cosmosandalos because it is Sandali forma In English we call it our Ladies Slipper after the Dutch name The other two lesser kinâ—â— haue their names in their titles I haue thought it fit to adde the title of small white Ellebors vnto these for the forme sake as is before said The Vertues There is no vse of these in Physicke in our dayes that I know CHAP. LXXXIIII Lilium Conuallium Lilly Conually THe remembrance of the Conuall Lilly spoken of in the precedent Chapter hath caused me to insert these plants among the rest although differing both in face and properties but lest it should lose all place let it keepe this It is of two sorts differing chiefly in the colour of the flowers the one being white and the other reddish as shall be shewed in their descriptions following 1. Lilium Conuallâ—um flore albo The white Lilly Conually The white Conuall or May Lilly hath three or foure leaues rising together from the roote one enclosed within another each whereof when it is open is long and broad of a grayish shining greene colour somewhat resembling the leaues of the former wilde Neesewort at the side whereof and sometime from the middle of them riseth vp a small short naked foote-stalke an hand breadth high or somewhat more bearing at the toppe one aboue another many small white flowers like little hollow bottles with open mouths nicked or cut into fiue or six notches turning all downewards one way or on one side of the stalke of a very strong sweete sent and comfortable for the memory and senses which turne into small red berries like vnto Asparagus wherein is contained hard white seede the rootes runne vnder ground creeping euery way consisting of many small white strings 2. Lilium Conuallium flore rubente May Lillies with red flowers This other May Lilly differeth neither in roote leafe nor forme of flower from that before but onely in the colour of the flower which is of a fine pale red colour being in my iudgement not altogether so sweet as the former The Place The first groweth aboundantly in many places of England The other is a stranger and groweth only in the Gardens of those that are curious louers of rarities The Time They both flower in May and the berries are ripe in August The Names The Latines haue no other name for this plant but Lilium Conuallium although some would haue it to be Lilium vernum of Theophrastus and others Oenanthe of the same Author Gesner thinketh it to be Callionymus Lonicerus to be Cacalia and Fuchsius to be Ephemerum non lethale but they are all for the most part mistaken We call it in English Lilly Conually May Lilly and of some Liriconfancie The Vertues The flowers of the white kinde are often vsed with those things that help to strengthen the memory and to procure ease to Apoplecticke persons Camerarius setteth downe the manner of making an oyle of the flowers hereof which he saith is very effectuall to ease the paines of the Goute and such like diseases to be vsed outwardly which is thus Hauing filled a glasse with the flowers and being well stopped set it for a moneths space in an Ants hill and after being drayned cleare set it by to vse CHAP. LXXXV Gentiana Gentian or Fell-wort THere are diuers sorts of Gentians or Fell-wortes some greater others lesser and some very small many of them haue very beautifull flowers but because some are very suddenly past before one would thinke they were blowne open and others will abide no culture and manuring I will onely set forth vnto you two of the greater sorts and three of the lesser kindes as fittest and more familiarly furnishing our gardens leauing the rest to their wilde habitations and to bee comprehended in a generall Worke. 1. Gentiana maior flore flauo The great Gentian The great Gentian riseth vp at the first with a long round and pointed head of leaues closing one another which after opening themselues lye vpon the ground and are faire long and broad somewhat plaited or ribbed like vnto the leaues of white Ellebor or Neeseworte but not so fairely or eminently plaited neyther so stiffe but rather resembling the leaues of a great Plantane from among which riseth vp a stiffe round stalke three foote high or better full of ioynts hauing two such leaues but narrower and smaller at euery ioynt so compassing about the stalke at the lower end of them that they will almost hold water that falleth into them from the middle of the stalke to the toppe it is garnished with many coronets or rundles of flowers with two such greene leaues likewise at euery ioynt and wherein the flowers doe stand which are yellow layd open like starres and rising out of small greenish huskes with some threds in the middle of them but of no sent at all yet