is assuredly first naturall of our owne Countrey for Mr. Gerrard first discouered it to the world finding it in a poore womans Garden in the West parts of England where it grew before the woman came to dwell there and as I haue heard since is naturall of the Isle of Wight The Time They doe all flower much about one time that is from the middle or end of March as the yeare is forward vnto the middle of Aprill The Names Vpon the three first I haue imposed the names in Latine as they are expressed in their titles and for the English names if you please you may let them passe likewise as they are expressed there also that thereby euery one may be truely distinguished and not confounded The fourth besides the name in the title is called of some Narcissus Germanicus which whether it be of Germany or no I know not but that the name should import so much The last doth vsually carry Mr. Gerrards name and called Gerrards double Daffodill 1. Pseudonarcissus augustifolius flore flauescente tubo quasi abscisso The narrow leafed bastard Daffodill with the clipt trunke This kinde of Daffodill hath long and narrow grayish greene leaues bearing one single flower at the toppe of his stalke like vnto the former single bastard kindes before specified hauing his outer leaues of a pale yellow colour and his trunke of a deeper yellow the chiefe differences in this from the former is in the leaues being narrow and then in the trunke of the flower which is not crumpled or turned vp as most of the other are and that the brimmes or edges of the flower is as if it had beene clipt off or cut euen 2. Pseudonarcissus Hispanicus medius minor luteus The two lesser Spanish yellow bastard Daffodils These two lesser kindes of Spanish Daffodils doe but differ in greatnesse the one from the other and not in any thing else so that in declaring the one you may vnderstand the other to bee a little greater The lesser then hath three or foure narrow short whitish greene leaues from among which commeth forth a short stalke not aboue an hand breadth or halfe a foote high bearing one single flower not fully standing outright but a little bending downe consisting of six small leaues standing as wings about a small but long trunke a little crumpled at the brimmes the whole flower as well leaues as trunke are of one deepe yellow colour like vnto the great Spanish kinde the roote is but small and couered with a darkish coate The other is in all parts greater and as I said differeth not else 3. Pseudonarcissus Hispanicus luteus minimus The least Spanish yellow bastard Daffodill The leaues of this small kinde are smaller and shorter then the former seldome exceeding the length of three inches and very narrow withall but of the same grayish greene colour with the former euery flower standeth vpon a small and short footestalke scarce rising aboue the ground so that his nose for the most part doth lye or touch the ground and is made after the same fashion and of the same colour with the former but much smaller as his roote is so likewise 4. Pseudonarcissus Gallicus minor flore pleno The lesser French double bastard Daffodill The rootes of this lesser French kinde if I may lawfully call it or the greater kinde before specified a bastard Daffodill for I somewhat doubt thereof in that the flower of either is not made after the fashion of any of the other bastard Daffodils but doth more nearely resemble the forme of the double white Daffodill expressed before among the true Daffodils are like vnto the double English kinde as also to the former double greater French kinde and the leaues are of the same whitish greene colour also but narrower and not longer the stalke riseth a little higher then the English and not fully so high as the greater French bearing one faire double flower thereon of a pale yellow or Lemon colour consisting of six rowes of leaues euery rowe growing smaller then other vnto the middle and so set and placed that euery leafe of the flower doth stand directly almost in all one vpon or before another vnto the middle where the leaues are smallest the outermost being the greatest which maketh the flower seeme the more beautifull this and the greater kinde hath no trunke or shew of any other thing in the middle as all or most of the other former double bastard Daffodils haue but are flowers wholly composed of leaues standing double euen to the middle The Place The first is vndoubtedly a naturall of the Pyrenaean Mountaines The Spanish kindes grew in Spaine and The French double kinde about Orleance in France where it is said to grow plentifully The Time The first flowreth at the end of March. The Spanish kindes are the most early flowring betimes in March The French double doth flower presently after The Names More cannot bee said or added concerning the names of any of these Daffodils then hath been set downe in their titles onely the French kinde is most vsually called Robinus his Daffodill Pseudonarcissus Iuncifolius albus The white bastard Rush Daffodill or Iunquilia This bastard Rush Daffodill hath two or three long and very greene leaues very like vnto the small yellow Rush Daffodill formerly described but not altogether so round among which riseth vp a short stalke seldome halfe a foote high bearing at the toppe out of a small skinnie huske one small white flower sometime declining to a pale colour hauing six small and short leaues standing about the middle of the trunke which is long and much wider open at the mouth then at the bottome the small outer leaues or wings are a little tending to greene and the trunke as I said is either white or whitish hauing the brimmes a little vneuen the seede is small blacke and round like vnto other Rush Daffodils but smaller Pseudonarcissus Iuncifolius luteus maior The greater yellow Iunquilia or bastard Daffodill The leaues of this greater kinde are longer greater and a little broader then the former the stalke also is higher and the flower larger more open at the mouth and crumpled then the white but wholly of a yellow colour the seede and the roots are bigger according to the proportion of the plant Pseudonarcissus Iuncifolius luteus minor The lesser yellow bastard Iunquilia This is so like vnto the last in all things that I shall not neede to trouble you with repetitions of the same things formerly spoken the chiefest difference is the smalnesse of the plant in all parts Pseudonarcissus Iuncifolius luteus serotinus The late yellow bastard Iunquilia There is likewise a third kinde as great as the greater yellow and in all his parts expressing and equalling it but is accounted the fairer and flowreth somewhat later The Place The Pyrenaean Hils haue afforded vs all these varieties and wee preserue them carefully for they are all tender The Time All these flower
like dust vpon any thing that toucheth them the heads or seede vessels are small and round with small edges about them wherein is contained flat browne seede like other Lillies but lesser The root is very apt to encrease or set of as we call it wherby the plant seldome commeth to so great a head of flowers but riseth vp with many stalkes and then carry fewer flowers Of this kinde there is sometimes one found that beareth flowers without any spots Martagon Imperiale flore non punctato the leaues whereof and stalke likewise are paler but not else differing Martagon flore albo The White Martagon We haue also some other of this kind the first wherof hath his stalke leafe greener than the former the stalke is a little higher but not bearing so thicke a head of flowers although much more plentifull than the lesser Mountaine Lilly being altogether of a fine white colour without any spots or but very few and that but sometimes also the pendents in the middle of this flower are not red as the former but yellow the roote of this and of the other two that follow are of a pale yellow colour the cloues or scales of them being brittle and not closely compact yet so as if two and sometimes three scales or cloues grew one vpon the head or vpper part of another which difference is a speciall note to know these three kindes from any other kinde of Mountaine Lilly as in all old rootes that I haue seene I haue obserued as also in them that are reasonably well growne but in the young rootes it is not yet so manifest Martagon flore albo maculato The White spotted Martagon The second is like vnto the first in all things saue in this that the flowers hereof are not altogether so white and besides hath many reddish spots on the inside of the leaues of the flower and the stalke also is not so greene but brownish Martagon flore carneo The blush Martagon A third sort there is of this kinde whose flowers are wholly of a delayed flesh colour with many spots on the flowers and this is the difference hereof from the former Lilium Montanum siue siluestre minus The lesser Mountaine Lilly The lesser Mountaine Lilly is so like in root vnto the greater that is first described that it is hard to distinguish them asunder but when this is sprung vp out of the ground which is a moneth after the first it also carrieth his leaues in rondles about the stalke although not altogether so great nor so many The flowers are more thinly set on the stalkes one aboue another with more distance betweene each flower than the former and are of a little deeper flesh colour or purple spotted in the same manner The buds 1 Martagon flore albo The white Martagon 2 Martagon sine Lilium Canadense maculatum The spotted Martagon or Lilly of Canada 3 Martagon Pomponeum The Martagon Pompony or early red Martagon or heads of flowers in some of these before they be blowne are hoary white or hairie whereas in others there is no hoarinesse at all but the buddes are smooth and purplish in others things this differeth not from the former Of this sort also there is one that hath but few spots on the flowers Lilium Montanum non maculatum whose colour is somewhat paler than the other Martagon Canadense maculatum The spotted Martagon of Canada Although this strange Lilly hath not his flowers hanging downe and turning vp again as the former kinds set forth in this Chapter yet because the green leaues stand at seuerall ioynts as they do I must needs insert it here not knowing where more fitly to place it It hath a small scaly roote with many small long fibres thereat from whence riseth vp a reasonable great stalke almost as high as any of the former bearing at three or foure distances many long and narrow greene leaues but not so many or so broad as the former with diuers ribbes in them from among the vppermost rundle of leaues breake forth foure or fiue flowers together euery one standing on a long slender foote stalke being almost as large as a red Lilly but a little bending downewards and of a faire yellow colour spotted on the inside with diuers blackish purple spots or strakes hauing a middle pointell and sixe chiues with pendents on them The Place All these Lillies haue been found in the diuers Countries of Germany as Austria Hungaria Pannonia Stiria c. and are all made Denisons in our London Gardens where they flourish as in their owne naturall places The last was was brought into France from Canada by the French Colonie and from thence vnto vs. The Time They flower about the later end of Iune for the most part yet the first springeth out of the ground a moneth at the least before the other which are most vsually in flower before it like vnto the Serotine Tulipas all of them being early vp and neuer the neere The Names The first is vsually called Martagon Imperiale the Imperiall Martagon and is Lilium Montanum maius the greatest Mountaine Lilly for so it deserueth the name because of the number of flowers vpon a head or stalke Some haue called it Lilium Sarasenicum and some Hemerocallis but neither of them doth so fitly agree vnto it The second is Lilium Montanum maius flore albo and of some Martagon Imperiale flore albo but most vsually Martagon flore albo the white Martagon The second sort of this second kinde is called Martagon flore albo maculato the spotted white Martagon And the third Martagon flore carneo the blush Martagon The third kinde is called Lilium Montanum the Mountaine Lilly and some adde the title â—inus the lesser to know it more distinctly from the other Some also Lilium Siluestre as Clusius and some others and of Matthiolus Martagon Of diuers women here in England from the Dutch name Lilly of Nazareth The last hath his title Americanum Canadense and in English accordingly CHAP. IV. 1. Martagon Pomponeum sine Lilium rubrum praecox vel Lilium Macedonicum The early red Martagon or Martagon Pompony AS in the former Chapter we described vnto you such Lillies whose flowers being pendulous turne their leaues backe againe and haue their greene leaues set by spaces about the stalke so in this wee will set downe those sorts which carry their greene leaues more sparsedly and all along the stalke their flowers hanging downe and turning vp againe as the former and begin with that which is of greatest beauty or at least of most rarity 1. Martagon Pomponeum angusti folium praecox 1. This rare Martagon hath a scaly root closely compact with broader and thinner scales than others in time growing very great and of a more deepe yellow colour then the former from whence doth spring vp a round greene stalke in some plants and flat in others two or three foote high bearing a
coloris The other is called also Hyacinthus Mauritanicus And the last Hyacinthus Aethiopicus obsoletus In English The Spanish Barbary or Ethiopian Iacinth of a dunne or duskie colour Hyacinthus Anglicus Belgicus vel Hispanicus English Hares-bels or Spanish Iacinth Our English Iacinth or Hares-bels is so common euery where that it scarce needeth any description It beareth diuers long and narrow greene leaues not standing vpright nor yet fully lying vpon the ground among which springeth vp the stalke bearing at the toppe many long and hollow flowers hanging downe their heads all forwards for the most part parted at the brimmes into six parts turning vp their points a little againe of a sweetish but heady sent somewhat like vnto the Grape-flower the heads for seede are long and square wherein is much blacke seede the colour of the flowers are in some of a deeper blew tending to a purple in others of a paler blew or of a bleake blew tending to an ash colour Some are pure white and some are party coloured blew and white and some are of a fine delayed purplish red or blush colour which some call a peach colour The rootes of all sorts agree and are alike being white and very slimie some whereof will be great and round others long and slender and those that lye neare the toppe of the earth bare will be greene Hyacinthus Hispanicus maior flore campanulae instar The greater Spanish bell-flowred Iacinth This Spanish bell-flowred Iacinth is very like the former English or Spanish Iacinth but greater in all parts as well of leaues as flowers many growing together at the toppe of the stalke with many short greene leaues among them hanging downe their heads with larger greater and wider open mouths like vnto bels of a darke blew colour and no good sent The Place The first groweth in many places of England the Lowe-Countries as we call them and Spaine but the last chiefly in Spaine The Time They flower in Aprill for the most part and sometimes in May. The Names Because the first is more frequent in England then in Spain or the Lowe-Countries it is called with vs Hyacinthus Anglicus The English Iacinth but it is also called as well Belgicus as Hispanicus yet Dodonaeus calleth it Hyacinthus non scriptus because it was not written of by any Authour before himselfe It is generally knowne in England by the name of Hare-bels The other Spanish Iacinth beareth his name in his title Hyacinthus Eriophorus The Woolly Iacinth This Woolly Iacinth hath many broad long and faire greene leaues very like vnto some of the Iacinths but stiffer or standing more vpright which being broken doe yeeld many threeds as if a little fine cotton wooll were drawne out among these leaues riseth vp a long greene round stalke a foote and a halfe high or more whereon is set a great long bush of flowers which blowing open by degrees first below and so vpwards are very long in flowring the toppe of the stalke with the flowers and their little footstalkes are all blew euery flower standing outright with his stalke and spreading like a starre diuided into six leaues hauing many small blew threeds standing about the middle head which neuer gaue ripe seede as farre as I can heare of the root is white somewhat like the root of a Muscari but as full of wooll or threeds or rather more then the leaues or any other part of it The Place This hath been sent diuers times out of Turkie into England where it continued a long time as well in my Garden as in others but some hard frosty Winters caused it to perish with me and diuers others yet I haue had it againe from a friend and doth abide fresh and greene euery yeare in my Garden The Time This flowred in the Garden of Mr. Richard Barnesley at Lambeth onely once in the moneth of May in the yeare 1606. after hee had there preserued it a long time but neither he nor any else in England that I know but those that saw it at that time euer saw it beare flower either before or since The Names It is called by diuers Bulbus Eriophorus or Laniferus that is Woolly Bulbous but because it is a Iacinth both in roote leafe and flower and not a Narcissus or Daffodill it is called Hyacinthus Eriophorus or Laniferus The Woolly Iacinth It is very likely that Theophrastus in his seuenth Book thirteenth Chapter did meane this plant where hee declareth that garments were made of the woolly substance of a bulbous roote that was taken from between the core or heart of the roote which as hee saith was vsed to be eaten and the outermost shels or peelings yet Clusius seemeth to fasten this woolly bulbous of Theophrastus vpon the next Iacinth of Spaine Hyacinthus Stellatus Baeticus maior vulgò Perûanus The great Spanish Starry Iacinth or of Peru. This Iacinth the greatest of those whose flowers are spread like a starre except the two first Indians hath fiue or six or more very broad and long greene leaues spread vpon the ground round about the roote which being broken are woolly or full of threeds like the former in the middle of these leaues riseth vp a round short stalke in comparison of the greatnesse of the plant for the stalke of the Orientall Iacinth is sometimes twice so high whose roote is not so great bearing at the toppe a great head or bush of flowers fashioned in the beginning before they bee blowne or separated very like to a Cone or Pineapple and begin to flower belowe and so vpwards by degrees euery flower standing vpon a long blackish blew foote-stalke which when they are blowne open are of a perfect blew colour tending to a Violet and made of six small leaues laid open like a starre the threeds likewise are blewish tipt with yellow pendents standing about the middle head which is of a deeper blew not hauing any good sent to be perceiued in it but commendable only for the beauty of the flowers after the flowers are past there come three square heads containing round blacke seede the roote is great and somewhat yellowish on the outside with a knobbe or bunch at the lower end of the roote which is called the seate of the roote like vnto the Muscari Scylla and many other bulbous rootes at which hang diuers white thicke and long fibres whereby it is fastened in the ground which perish not euery yeare but abide continually and therefore doth not desire much remouing Hyacinthus Stellatus Baticus siue Perûanus flore albo The great white Spanish starry Iacinth This other Spanish Iacinth is in most parts like vnto the former but that his leaues are not so large nor so deep a greene the stalks of flowers likewise hath not so thicke a head or bush on it but fewer and thinner set the flowers themselues also are whitish yet hauing a small dash of blush in them the threeds are whitish tipt with yellow pendents the seede and rootes
like to the flowers of Buglosse for the forme and Borage for the colour the rootes are blacke thicker then either of them somewhat more spreading and not perishing hauing greene leaues all the Winter long and thereupon tooke his name 4. Anchusa Sea Buglosse or Alkanet The Sea Buglosse or Alkanet hath many long rough narrow and dark greene leaues spread vpon the ground yet some that growe by the Sea side are rather hoarie and whitish among these leaues riseth vp a stalke spread at the toppe into many branches whereon stand the flowers in tufts like vnto the Garden Buglosse or rather Comfrey but lesser in some plants of a reddish blew colour and in others more red or purplish and in others of a yellowish colour after which come the seedes very like vnto Buglosse but somewhat longer and paler the roote of most of them being transplanted are somewhat blackish on the outside vntill the later end of Summer and then become more red for those that grow wilde will be then so red that they will giue a very deepe red colour to those that handle them which being dryed keepe that red colour which is vsed to many purposes the roote within being white and hauing no red colour at all 5. Limonium Rauwolfij Marsh Buglosse This Limonium which I referre here to the kindes of Buglosse as presuming it is the fittest place where to insert it hath many long narrow and somewhat rough leaues lying vpon the ground waued or cut in on both sides like an Indenture somewhat like the leaues of Ceterach or Miltwast among which rise vp two or three stalkes somewhat rough also and with thin skinnes like wings indented on both sides thereof also like the leaues hauing three small long rough and three square leaues at euery ioynt where it brancheth forth at the toppe whereof stand many flowers vpon their foote stalkes in such a manner as is not seene in any other plant that I know for although that some of the small winged foot stalkes are shorter and some longer standing as it were flatwise or all on one side and not round like an vmbell yet are they euen at the toppe and not one higher than another each of which small foote stalkes doe beare foure or fiue greenish heads or huskes ioyned together out of each of which doe arise other pale or bleake blew stiffe huskes as if they were flowers made as it were of parchment which hold their colour after they are dry a long time and out of these huskes likewise doe come at seuerall times one after another and not all at one time or together white flowers consisting of fiue small round leaues with some white threds in the middle after these flowers are past there come in their places small long seede inclosed in many huskes many of those heads being idle not yeelding any good seede but chaffe especially in our Countrey for the want of sufficient heate of the Sunne as I take it the roote is small long and blackish on the outside and perisheth at the first approach of Winter The Place Borage and Buglosse grow onely in Gardens with vs and so doth the Semper virens his originall being vnknowne vnto vs. Alkanet or Sea Buglosse groweth neare the Sea in many places of France and Spaine and some of the kindes also in England But the Limonium or Marshe Buglosse groweth in Cales and Malacca in Spaine and is found also in Syria as Rauwolfius relateth and in other places also no doubt for it hath beene sent vs out of Italie many yeares before eyther Guillaume Boel found it in Cales or Clusius in Malacca The Time Borage and Buglosse doe flower in Iune and Iuly and sometimes sooner and so doth the euer-liuing or neuer dying Borage but not as Gerrard saith flowring Winter and Summer whereupon it should take his name but leaueth flowring in Autumne and abideth greene with his leaues all the Winter 1 Pulmonaria latifolia maculosa Cowslips of Ierusalem 2 Pulmonaria angustifolia Narrow leafed Cowslips of Ierusalem 3 Borrago Borage 4 Borrago semper virens Euerliuing Borage 5 Anchusa Sea Buglosse or Alkanet 6 Limonium Rauwolfij Marsh Buglosse flowring the next Spring following The other flower not vntill Iuly and so continue especially the Marshe Buglosse vntill September bee well spent and then giueth seede if early frosts ouertake it not for it seldome commeth to be ripe The Names Our ordinary Borage by the consent of all the best moderne Writers is the true Buglossum of Dioscorides and that our Buglosse was vnknowne to the ancients The Borago semper virens Lobel calleth Buglossum semper virens that is Euer-liuing or greene Buglosse but it more resembleth Borage then Buglosse yet because Buglosse abideth greene to auoyde that there should not be two Buglossa semper virentia I had rather call it Borage then Buglosse Anchusa hath diuers names as Dioscorides setteth downe And some doe call it Fucus herba from the Greeke word because the roote giuing so deepe a colour was vsed to dye or paint the skinne Others call it Buglossum Hispanicum in English Alkanet and of some Orchanet after the French Limonium was found by Leonhartus Rauwolfius neere vnto Ioppa which he setteth downe in the second Chapter of the third booke of his trauayles and from him first knowne to these parts I haue as you see referred it to the kindes of Buglosse for that the flowers haue some resemblance vnto them although I know that Limonium genuinum is referred to the Beetes Let it therefore here finde a place of residence vntill you or I can finde a fitter and call it as you thinke best eyther Limonium as Rauwolfius doth or Marshe Buglosse as I doe or if you can adde a more proper name I shall not be offended The Vertues Borage and Buglosse are held to bee both temperate herbes beeing vsed both in the pot and in drinkes that are cordiall especially the flowers which of Gentlewomen are candid for comfitts The Alkanet is drying and held to be good for wounds and if a peece of the roote be put into a little oyle of Peter or Petroleum it giueth as deepe a colour to the oyle as the Hypericon doth or can to his oyle and accounted to be singular good for a cut or greene wound The Limonium hath no vse that wee know more then for a Garden yet as Rauwolfius saith the Syrians vse the leaues as sallats at the Table CHAP. XXXVIII Lychnis Campions THere bee diuers sorts of Campions as well tame as wilde and although some of them that I shall here entreate of may peraduenture be found wilde in our owne Countrey yet in regard of their beautifull flowers they are to bee respected and noursed vp with the rest to furnish a garden of pleasure as for the wilde kindes I will leaue them for another discourse 1. Lychnis Coronaria rubra simplex The single red Rose Campion The single red Rose Campion hath diuers thicke hoary
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
inhabitants where it naturally groweth against the shrinking of sinewes crampes or other such like diseases wherof their daily experience makes it familiar being vsed in bathing or otherwise CHAP. CXII Rosmarinum Rosemary THere hath beene vsually knowne but one sort of Rosemary which is frequent through all this Country but there are some other sorts not so well known the one is called Gilded Rosemary the other broadeleafed Rosemary a third I will adioyne as more rare then all the other called Double flowred Rosmary because few haue heard thereof much lesse seene it and my selfe am not well acquainted with it but am bold to deliuer it vpon credit 1. Libanotis Coronaria siue Rosmarinum vulgare Our Common Rosmary This common Rosemary is so well knowne through all our Land being in euery womans garden that it were sufficient but to name it as an ornament among other sweete herbes and flowers in our Garden seeing euery one can describe it but that I may say something of it It is well obserued as well in this our Land where it hath been planted in Noblemens and great mens gardens against bricke wals and there continued long as beyond the Seas in the naturall places where it groweth that it riseth vp in time vnto a very great height with a great and woody stemme of that compasse that being clouen out into thin boards it hath serued to make lutes or such like instruments and here with vs Carpenters rules and to diuers other purposes branching out into diuers and sundry armes that extend a great way and from them againe into many other smaller branches wheron are set at seueral distances at the ioynts many very narrow long leaues greene aboue and whitish vnderneath among which come forth towards the toppes of the stalkes diuers sweet gaping flowers of a pale or bleake blewish colour many set together standing in whitish huskes the seed is small and red but thereof seldome doth any plants arise that will abide without extraordinary care for although it will spring of the seede reasonable well yet it is so small and tender the first yeare that a sharpe winter killeth it quickly vnlesse it be very well defended the whole plant as well leaues as flowers smelleth exceeding sweete 2. Rosmarinum striatum siue aureum Gilded Rosemary This Rosemary differeth not from the former in forme or manner of growing nor in the forme or colour of the flower but only in the leaues which are edged or striped or pointed with a faire gold yellow colour which so continueth all the yeare throughout yet fresher and fairer in Summer then in Winter for then it will looke of a deader colour yet so that it may be discerned to be of two colours green yellow 3. Rosmarinum latifolium Broade leafed Rosemary This broad leafed Rosemary groweth in the same manner that the former doth but that we haue not seene it in our Countrey since we had it to grow so great or with such woody stemmes the leaues stand together vpon the long branches after the same fashion but larger broader and greener then the other and little or nothing whitish vnderneath the flowers likewise are of the same forme and colour with the ordinary but larger and herein consisteth the difference 4. Rosmarinum flore duplici Double flowred Rosmary The double flowred Rosmary thus far differeth from the former that it hath stronger stalkes not so easie to breake fairer bigger and larger leaues of a faire greene colour and the flowers are double as the Larkes heele or spurre This I haue onely by relation which I pray you accept vntill I may by sight better enforme you The Place Our ordinary Rosmary groweth in Spaine and Prouence of France and in others of those hot Countryes neere the Sea side It will not abide vnlesse kept in stoues in many places of Germany Denmarke and those colder Countries And in some extreame hard winters it hath well neere perished here in England with vs at the least in many places but by slipping it is vsually and yearly encreased to replenish any garden The Time It flowreth oftentimes twice in the yeare in the Spring first from April vntill the end of May or Iune and in August and September after if the yeare before haue been temperate The Names Rosmary is called of the ancient Writers Libanotis but with this distinction Stephanomatica that is Coronaria because there were other plants called Libanotis that were for other vses as this for garlands where flowers and sweete herbes were put together The Latines call it Rosmarinum Some would make it to be Cneorum nigrum of Theophrastus as they would make Lauander to bee his Cneorum album but Matthiolus hath sufficiently confuted that errour The Vertues Rosmary is almost of as great vse as Bayes or any other herbe both for inward and outward remedies and as well for ciuill as physicall purposes Inwardly for the head and heart outwardly for the sinewes and ioynts for ciuill vses as all doe know at weddings funerals c. to bestow among friends and the physicall are so many that you might bee as well tyred in the reading as I in the writing if I should set down all that might be said of it I will therefore onely giue you a taste of some desiring you will be content therewith There is an excellent oyle drawne from the flowers alone by the heate of the Sunne auaileable for many diseases both inward and outward and accounted a soueraigne Balsame it is also good to helpe dimnesse of sight and to take away spots markes and scarres from the skin and is made in this manner Take a quantitie of the flowers of Rosemary according to your owne will eyther more or lesse put them into a strong glasse close stopped set them in hot horse dung to digest for fourteene dayes which then being taken forth of the dung and vnstopped tye a fine linnen cloth ouer the mouth and turne downe the mouth thereof into the mouth of another strong glasse which being set in the hot Sun an oyle will distill downe into the lower glasse which preserue as precious for the vses before recited and many more as experience by practice may enforme diuers There is another oyle Chymically drawne auaileable in the like manner for many the same inward and outward diseases viz. for the heart rheumaticke braines and to strengthen the memory outwardly to warme and comfort cold benummed sinewes whereof many of good iudgement haue had much experience CHAP. CXIII Myrtus The Mirtle tree or bush IN the hot Countreyes there haue been many sorts of Mirtles found out naturally growing there which will not fructifie in this of ours nor yet abide without extraordinary care and conueniencie withall to preserue them from the sharpenesse of our winters I shall only bring you to view three sorts in this my Garden the one with a greater the other two with lesser leaues as the remainder of others which wee haue had and which are
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
them much and often and keepe them lowe in comparison of the other way fastening them to pearches or poles to hold them vp And according to that fashion many haue aduentured to make Vineyards in England not onely in these later daies but in ancient times as may wel witnesse the sundrie places in this Land entituled by the name of Vineyards and I haue read that manie Monasteries in this Kingdome hauing Vineyards had as much wine made therefrom as sufficed their couents yeare by yeare but long since they haue been destroyed and the knowledge how to order a Vineyard is also vtterly perished with them For although diuers both Nobles and Gentlemen haue in these later times endeauoured to plant and make Vineyards and to that purpose haue caused French men being skilfull in keeping and dressing of Vines to be brought ouer to performe it yet either their skill failed them or their Vines were not good or the most likely the soile was not fitting for they could neuer make anie wine that was worth the drinking being so small and heartlesse that they soone gaue ouer their practice And indeede the soile is a maine matter to bee chiefly considered to seate a Vineyard vpon for euen in France and other hot countries according to the nature of the soile so is the rellish strength and durabilitie of the wine Now although I think it a fruitlesse labour for any man to striue in these daies to make a good Vineyard in England in regard not only of the want of knowledge to make choise of the fittest ground for such Vines as you would plant therupon but also of the true maner of ordering them in our country but most chiefly aboue all others that our years in these times do not fal out to be so kindly and hot to ripen the grapes to make anie good wine as formerly they haue done yet I thinke it not amisse to giue you instructions how to order such Vines as you may nourse vp for the pleasure of the fruit to eate the grapes being ripe or to preserue and keepe them to bee eaten almost all the winter following And this may be done without any great or extraordinarie paines Some doe make a lowe wall and plant their Vines against it and keepe them much about the height thereof not suffering them to rise much higher but if the high bricke or stone wals of your Garden or Orchard haue buttresses thereat or if you cause such to bee made that they bee somewhat broade forwards you may the more conueniently plant Vines of diuers sorts at them and by sticking down a couple of good stakes at euery buttresse of eight or ten foot high aboue ground tacking a few lathes acrosse vpon those stakes you may therunto tye your Vines carry them theron at your pleasure but you must be carefull to cut them euery year but not too late and so keepe them downe and from farre spreading that they neuer runne much beyond the frame which you set at the buttresses as also in your cutting you neuer leaue too many ioynts nor yet too few but at the third or fourth ioint at the most cut them off I doe aduise you to these frames made with stakes and lathes for the better ripening of your grapes for in the blooming time if the branches of your vines bee too neare the wall the reflection of the Sunne in the day time and the colde in the night doe oftentimes spoile a great deale of fruit by piercing and withering the tender foot-stalkes of the grapes before they are formed whereas when the blossomes are past and the fruit growing of some bignesse then all the heate and reflection you can giue them is fit and therefore cut away some of the branches with the leaues to admit the more Sunne to ripen the fruit For the diuers sorts of grapes I haue set them downe in the Booke following with briefe notes vpon euerie of them whether white or blacke small or great early or late ripe so that I neede not here make the same relation again There doth happen some diseases to Vines sometimes which that you may helpe I thinke it conuenient to informe you what they are and how to remedy them when you shall be troubled with any such The first is a luxurious spreading of branches and but little or no fruit for remedie whereof cut the branches somewhat more neere then vsuall and bare the roote but take heed of wounding or hurting it and in the hole put either some good old rotten stable dung of Horses of else some Oxe blood new taken from the beasts and that in the middle of Ianuarie or beginning of Februarie which being well tempered and turned in with the earth let it so abide which no doubt when the comfort of the blood or dung is well soaked to the bottome by the raines that fall thereon will cause your Vine to fructifie againe Another fault is when a Vine doth not bring the fruit to ripenesse but either it withereth before it be growne of any bignesse or presently after the blooming the place or the earth where such a Vine standeth assuredly is too cold and therefore if the fault bee not in the place which cannot bee helped without remouing to a better digge out a good quantity of that earth and put into the place thereof some good fresh ground well heartned with dung and some sand mixed therewith but not salt or salt water as some doe aduise nor yet vrine as others would haue and this will hearten and strengthen your Vine to beare out the frut vnto maturitie When the leaues of a Vine in the end of Summer or in Autumne vntimely doe turne either yellow or red it is a great signe the earth is too hot and drie you must therefore in stead of dung and sand as in the former defect is said put in some fresh loame or short clay well mixed together with some of the earth and so let them abide that the frosts may mellow them And lastly a Vine sometimes beareth some store of grapes but they are too many for it to bring to ripenesse you shall therefore helpe such a Vine which no doubt is of some excellent kinde for they are most vsually subiect to this fault by nipping away the blossomes from the branches and leauing but one or two bunches at the most vpon a branch vntill the Vine be growne older and thereby stronger and by this meane inured to beare out all the grapes to ripenesse These be all the diseases I know doe happen to Vines for the bleeding of a Vine it seldome happeneth of it selfe but commeth either by cutting it vntimely that is too late in the yeare for after Ianuarie if you will be well aduised cut not any Vine or by some casuall or wilfull breaking of an arme or a branch This bleeding in some is vnto death in others it stayeth after a certaine space of it selfe To helpe this inconuenience some haue