Chapter XXVI: Front Matter (26)

This Pomegranet tree groweth not very high in his naturall places, and with vs somtimes it shooteth forth from the roote many brownish twigges or branches, or if it bee pruned from them, and suffered to grow vp, it riseth to bee seuen or eight foote high, spreading into many small and slender branches, here and there set with thornes, and with many very faire greene shining leaues, like in forme and bignesse vnto the leaues of the larger Myrtle before described, euery one hauing a small reddish foote-stalke vpon these branches: among the leaues come forth here and there, long, hard, and hollow reddish cups, diuided at the brimmes, wherein doe stand large single flowers, euery one consisting of one whole leafe, smaller at the bottome then at the brimme, like bels, diuided as it were at the edges into fiue or six parts, of an orient red or crimson colour in the hotter Countries; but in this it is much more delayed, and tendeth neare vnto a blush, with diuers threads in the middle. The fruit is great and round, hauing as it were a crowne on the head of it, with a thicke tough hard skinne or rinde, of a brownish red colour on the outside, and yellow within, stuffed or packt full of small graines, euery one encompast with a thin skin, wherein is contained a clear red iuyce or liquor, either of a sweet (as said before) or sower taste, or betweene them both of a winie taste: the roote disperseth it selfe very much vnder ground.

2. _Balaustium maius siue Malus Punica siluestris maior._ The greater wilde or double blossomd Pomegranet tree.

The wilde Pomegranet is like vnto the tame in the number of purplish branches, hauing thornes, and shining faire greene leaues, somewhat larger then the former: from the branches likewise shoote forth flowers, farre more beautifull then those of the same or manured sort, because they are double, and as large as a double Prouince Rose, or rather more double, of an excellent bright crimson colour, tending to a silken carnation, standing in brownish cups or huskes, diuided at the brims vsually into foure or fiue seuerall points, like vnto the former, but that in this kinde there neuer followeth any fruit, no not in the Country, where it is naturally wilde.

3. _Balaustium minus._ The smaller wilde Pomegranet tree.

This smaller kinde differeth from the former in his leaues, being of a darker greene colour, but not in the height of the stemme, or purplishnesse of his branches, or thorns vpon them; for this doth shew it selfe more like vnto a wilde kind then it: the flowers hereof are much smaller, and not so thicke and double, of a deeper or sadder red Orenge tawny colour, set also in such like cups or huskes.

The Place.

The tame or manured kinde groweth plentifully in Spaine,
Portugall, and Italy, and other in other warme and hot
countries. Wee (as I said before) preserue it with great care.
The wilde I thinke was neuer seene in England, before Iohn
Tradescante my very louing good friend brought it from the
parts beyond the Seas, and planted it in his Lords Garden at
Canterbury.

The Time.

They flower very late with vs, that is, not vntill the middle
or end of August, and the cold euenings or frosts comming so
soone vpon it, doth not onely hinder it from bearing, but many
times the sharpe winters so pinch it, that it withereth it
downe to the ground, so that oftentimes it hardly springeth
againe.

The Names.

The name _Malus Punica_ for the tree, and _Malum Punicum_ for
the fruit, or _Malus Granata_, and _Malum Granatum_, is the
common name giuen vnto this tree, which is called in English
the Pomegarnet or Pomegranet tree. The flowers of the tame
kinde are called _Cytini_, as Dioscorides saith, although
Plinie seemeth either to make _Cytinus_ to be the flower of
the wilde kinde, or _Balaustium_ to be the flower of both
tame and wilde kinde: but properly, as I take it, _Cytinus_
is the cup wherein the flower as well of the tame as wilde
kinde doth stand; for vnto the similitude of them, both the
flowers of _Asarum_, and the seede vessels of _Hyosciamus_ are
compared and resembled, and not vnto the whole flower: the
barke or rinde of the fruit is called of diuers _Sidion_, and
in the Apothecaries shops _Psidium_, and _cortex Granatorum_.
The wilde kinde is called _Malus Punica siluestris_: In
English, The wilde Pomegranet tree; the flower thereof is
properly called _Balaustium_. The lesser kind is vsually called
_Balaustium Romanum_, as the greater is called _Creticum_ and
_Cyprium_, because they growe in Candy and Cyprus.

The Vertues.

The vse of all these Pomegranets is very much in Physicke, to
coole and binde all fluxibility both of body and humours: they
are also of singular effect in all vlcers of the mouth, and
other parts of the body, both of man and woman. There is no
part of them but is applyed for some of these respects. The
rinde also of the Pomegranet is vsed of diuers in stead of
Gaules, to make the best sort of writing Inke, which is durable
to the worlds end.

CHAP. CXV.

_Amomum Plinij seu Pseudocapsicum._ Tree Night shade or the Winter Cherry tree.

I haue adioyned this plant, for the pleasurable beauty of the greene leaues, and red berries. It groweth vp to be a yard or foure foote high at the most, hauing a small wooddy stemme or stocke, as bigge as ones finger or thumbe, couered with a whitish greene barke, set full of greene branches, and faire greene leaues, somewhat vneuen sometimes on the edges, narrower then any Night shade leaues, and very neare resembling the leaues of the _Capsicum_, or Ginny pepper, but smaller and narrower, falling away in the Winter, and shooting fresh in the Spring of the yeare: the flowers growe often two or three together, at the ioynts of the branches with the leaues, being white, opening starre-fashion, and sometimes turning themselues backe, with a yellow pointell in the middle, very like vnto the flowers of Night shade: after the flowers are past, come forth in their stead small greene buttons, which after turne to be pleasant round red berries, of the bignesse of small Cherries when they are ripe, which with vs vsually ripen not vntill the Winter, or about Christmas, wherein are contained many small whitish seede that are flat: all the whole plant, as well leaues and flowers as seede, are without either smell or taste: the roote hath many yellowish strings and fibres annexed vnto it.

The Place.

The originall place hereof is not well knowne, but is thought
to bee the West Indies. It hath been planted of long time in
most of these Countries, where it abideth reasonable well, so
that some care bee had thereof in the extreamity of the Winter.

The Time.

It flowreth sometimes it Iune but vsually in Iuly and August,
and the fruit is not ripe (as is said) vntill the Winter.

The Names.

This plant hath diuers names; for it is thought to be that
kinde of _Amomum_ that Plinie setteth downe. Dodonæus calleth
it _Pseudocapsicum_, for some likenesse in the leafe and
fruit vnto the small _Capsicum_ or Ginnie Pepper, although
much vnlike in the taste and property. Others doe call it
_Strichnodendron_, that is, _Solanum arborescens_, and wee
in English according thereunto, Tree Night shade. But some
Latin asses corrupting the Latine word _Amomum_, doe call it
the Mumme tree. Dalechampius calleth it _Solanum Americum,
seu Indicum_, and saith the Spaniards call it in their
tongue, _Guindas de las Indias_, that is, _Cerasa Indiana_,
Indian Cherries, which if any would follow, I would not bee
much against it: but many Gentlewomen, doe call them Winter
Cherries, because the fruit is not throughly ripe vntill Winter.

The Vertues.

I finde no physicall property allotted vnto it, more then that
by reason of the insipidity, it is held to be cooling.

CHAP. CXVI.

_Ficus Indica minor._ The smaller Indian Figge tree.

This Indian Figge tree, if you will call it a tree (because in our Country it is not so, although it groweth in the naturall hot Countries from a wooddy stemme or body into leaues) is a plant consisting only of leaues, one springing out of another, into many branches of leaues, and all of them growing out of one leafe, put into the ground halfe way, which taking roote, all the rest rise out thereof, those belowe for the most part being larger then those aboue; yet all of them somewhat long, flat, and round pointed, of the thicknesse of a finger vsually, and smallest at the lower end, where they are ioyned or spring out of the other leaues, hauing at their first breaking out a shew of small, red, or browne prickes, thicke set ouer all the vpper side of the leaues, but with vs falling away quickly, leauing onely the markes where they stood: but they haue besides this shew of great prickes, a few very fine, and small, hard, white, and sharpe, almost insensible prickes, being not so bigge as haires on the vnderside, which will often sticke in their fingers that handle them vnaduisedly, neither are they to be discerned vnlesse one look precisely for them: the leaues on the vnderside hauing none of those other great pricks or marks at all, being of a faire fresh pale green colour: out of the vppermost leaues breake forth certaine greene heads, very like vnto leaues (so that many are deceiued, thinking them to be leaues, vntill they marke them better, and be better experienced in them) but that they growe round and not flat, and are broad at the toppe; for that out of the tops of euery of them shooteth out a pale yellow flower, consisting of two rowes of leaues, each containing fiue leaues a peece, laid open with certaine yellow threads, tipt with red in the middle: this greene head, vntill the flower be past, is not of halfe that bignesse that it attaineth vnto after, yet seldome or neuer commeth vnto perfection with vs, being long and round, like vnto a Figge, small belowe, and greater aboue, bearing vpon the flat or broad head the marke of the flower; some holding still on them the dryed leaues, and others hauing lost them shew the hollownesse which they haue in the toppe or middle of the head, the sides round about being raised or standing vp higher: this head or figge in our Country abideth greene on the outside, and little or nothing reddish within (although it abide all the Winter, and the Summer following, as sometimes it doth) for want of that heate and comfort of the Sunne it hath in his naturall place, where it groweth reddish on the outside, and containing within it a bloudy red clammy iuyce, making the vrine of them that eate of them as red as bloud, which many seeing, were in doubt of themselues, lest their vrine were not very bloud; of what sweetnesse, like a figge, in the naturall places, I am not well assured, yet affirmed: but those that haue beene brought vnto me, whose colour on the outside was greenish, were of a reddish purple within, and contained within them round, small, hard seede, the taste was flat, waterish, or insipide: the roote is neither great, nor disperseth it selfe very deepe or farre, but shooteth many small rootes vnder the vpper crust of the earth.

There is a greater kinde hereof, whose leaues are twice or thrice as bigge, which hauing been often brought vs, will seldome abide more then one Summer with vs, our Winters alwaies rotting the leaues, that it could not be longer kept.

The Place.

This Indian Figge tree groweth dispersedly in many places of
America, generally called the West Indies: The greater kinde in
the more remote and hot Countries, as Mexico, Florida, &c. and
in the Bermudas or Summer Islands, from whence wee haue often
had it. The lesser in Virginia, and those other Countries that
are nearer vnto vs, which better endureth with vs.

The Time.

It flowreth with vs sometimes in May, or Iune; but (as I said)
the fruit neuer commeth to perfection in this Country.

The Names.

Diuers doe take it to bee _Opuntia Plinij_, whereof hee
speaketh in the 21. Booke and 17. Chapter of his Naturall
History: but he there saith, _Opuntia_ is an herbe, sweete
and pleasant to be eaten, and that it is a wonder that the
roote should come from the leafe, and so to growe; which words
although they descipher out the manner of the growing of this
plant, yet because this is a kinde of tree, and not an herbe,
nor to be eaten, it cannot bee the same: but especially because
there is an herbe which groweth in the same manner, or very
neare vnto it, one leafe standing on the toppe or side of
another, being a Sea plant, fit to be eaten with vinegar and
oyle (as many other herbes are that growe in the salt marshes,
or neare the Sea, whereof Sea Purslane is one) which Clusius
calleth _Lychen Marinus_, and (as Clusius saith) Cortusus very
fitly called _Opuntia marina_, and out of doubt is the verie
same _Opuntia_ that Theophrastus maketh mention of, and Plinie
out of him. Our English people in Virginia, and the Bermuda
Island, where it groweth plentifully, because of the form of
the fruit, which is somewhat like to a Peare, & not being so
familiarly acquainted with the growing of Figs, sent it vnto
vs by the name of the prickly Peare, from which name many haue
supposed it to be a Peare indeede, but were therein deceiued.

The Vertues.

There is no other especiall property giuen hereunto, by any
that haue written of the West Indies, then of the colouring of
the vrine, as is before said.

CHAP. CXVII.

_Yuca siue Iucca._ The supposed Indian Iucca.

This rare Indian plant hath a great thicke tuberous roote (spreading in time into many tuberous heads) from the head whereof shooteth forth many long, hard, and guttured leaues, very sharpe pointed, compassing as it were one another at the bottome, of a grayish greene colour, which doe not fall away, but abide euer greene on the plant; from the middle whereof springeth forth (now and then, but not euery yeare) a strong round stalke, diuided into diuers branches, whereon stand diuers white, and somewhat large flowers, hanging downe their heads, consisting of six leaues, with diuers veines, of a weake reddish or blush colour, spread on the backe of the three outer leaues, especially from the middle of the leaues to the bottome, and not rising to the edge of the leafe of any flower, which fall away without bearing any seede in our Country, as farre as euer could be obserued either in the plant that Master Gerard kept a long time by him, or by Robinus at Paris his plant, which Master Gerard sent vnto him, or yet by that plant, that Vespasian Robin the sonne of old Robin sent vnto Master Iohn de Franqueuille, and now abideth and flourisheth in my Garden.

The Place.

It was first brought into England (as Master Gerard saith)
from the West Indies, by a seruant of Master Thomas Edwards,
an Apothecary of Exeter, and imparted to him, who kept it vnto
his death: but perished with him that got it from his widow,
intending to send it to his Country house.

The Time.

It flowreth not vntill Iuly, and the flowers fall away
sodainely, after they haue beene blowne open a while.

The Names.

Master Gerard first as I thinke called it _Iucca_, supposing it
to bee the true _Yuca_ of _Theuet_, wherewith the Indians make
bread, called _Cassaua_: but the true _Iucca_ is described to
haue a leafe diuided into seuen or nine parts, which this hath
not: Yet not knowing by what better name to call it, let it
hold still his first imposition, vntill a fitter may be giuen
it.

The Vertues.

Wee haue not heard of any, that hath either read, heard, or
experimented the faculties hereof, nor yet whether it hath good
or euill taste; for being rare, and possessed but by a few,
they that haue it are loth to cut any thereof, for feare of
spoiling and losing the whole roote.

Some haue affirmed, that in some parts of Turkie, where as they
say this plant groweth, they make a kinde of cloth from the
threads are found running through the leaues; but I finde the
threads are so strong and hard, that this cannot be that plant
the relators meane is vsed in that manner.

1 _Yuca siue Iucca._ The Indian Iucca.
2 _Arbor vitæ._ The tree of life.
3 _Arbor Iudæ._ Iudas tree.
4 _Laburnum._ Beane Trefoile.
5 _Cytisus._ Tree Trefoile.
]

CHAP. CXVIII.

_Arbor vitæ._ The tree of life.

The tree of life riseth vp in some places where it hath stood long, to be a tree of a reasonable great bignesse and height, couered with a redder barke then any other tree in our Country that I know, the wood whereof is firme and hard, and spreadeth abroad many armes and branches, which againe send forth many smaller twigges, bending downewards; from which twiggy or slender branches, being flat themselues like the leaues, come forth on both sides many flat winged leaues, somewhat like vnto Sauine, being short and small, but not pricking, seeming as if they were brayded or folded like vnto a lace or point, of a darke yellowish greene colour, abiding greene on the branches Winter and Summer, of a strong resinous taste, not pleasing to most, but in some ready to procure casting, yet very cordiall and pectorall also to them that can endure it: at the toppes of the branches stand small yellowish dounie flowers, set in small scaly heads, wherein lye small, long, brownish seede, which ripen well in many places, and being sowne, doe spring and bring forth plants, which with some small care will abide the extreamest Winters we haue.

The Place.

The first or originall place where it naturally groweth, as
farre as I can learne or vnderstand, is that part of America
which the French doe inhabite, about the riuer of Canada, which
is at the backe of Virginia Northward, and as it seemeth, first
brought by them from thence into Europe, in the time of Francis
the first French King, where it hath so plentifully encreased,
and so largely beene distributed, that now few Gardens of
respect, either in France, Germany, the Lowe Countries, or
England, are without it.

The Time.

It flowreth in the end of May, and in Iune; the fruit is ripe
in the end of August and September.

The Names.

All the Writers that haue written of it, since it was first
knowne, haue made it to be _Thuyæ genus_, a kinde of Thuya,
which Theophrastus compareth vnto a Cypresse tree, in his fifth
Book and fifth Chapter: but _Omne simile non est idem_, and
although it haue some likenesse, yet I verily beleeue it is
_proprium sui genus_, a proper kinde of it owne, not to bee
paralleld with any other. For wee finde but very few trees,
herbes, or plants in America, like vnto those that growe in
Europe, the hither part of Africa, or in the lesser Asia, as
experience testifieth. Some would make it to be _Cedrus Lycia_,
but so it cannot be. The French that first brought it, called
it _Arbor vitæ_, with what reason or vpon what ground I know
not; but euer since it hath continued vnder the title of the
Tree of life.

The Vertues.

It hath beene found by often experience, that the leaues hereof
chewed in the morning fasting, for some few dayes together,
haue done much good to diuers, that haue beene troubled with
shortnesse of breath, and to helpe to expectorate thinne
purulentous matter stuffing the lungs. Other properties I haue
not heard that it hath; but doubtlesse, the hot resinous smell
and taste it hath, both while it is fresh, and after it hath
beene long kept dry, doth euidently declare his tenuity of
parts, a digesting and cleansing quality it is possessed with,
which if any industrious would make tryall, hee should finde
the effects.

CHAP. CXIX.

_Arbor Iudæ._ Iudas tree.

Iudas tree riseth vp in some places, where it standeth open from a wall, and alone free from other trees (as in a Garden at Batthersey, which sometimes agoe belonged to Master Morgan, Apothecary to the late Queene Elizabeth of famous memory) to be a very great and tall tree, exceeding any Apple tree in height, and equall in bignesse of body thereunto (as my selfe can testifie, being an eye witnesse thereof) when as it had many stalkes of flowers, being in the bud, breaking out of the body of the tree through the barke in diuers places, when as there was no bough or branch near them by a yard at the least, or yet any leafe vpon the tree, (which they gathered to put among other flowers, for Nosegayes) and in other places it groweth to bee but an hedge bush, or plant, with many suckers and shootes from belowe, couered with a darke reddish barke, the young branches being more red or purplish: the flowers on the branches come forth before any shew or budding of leaues, three or foure standing together vpon a small foote-stalke, which are in fashion like vnto Pease blossomes, but of an excellent deepe purplish crimson colour: after which come in their places so many long, flat, large, and thinne cods, of a brownish colour, wherein are contained small, blackish browne, flat, and hard seede: the roote is great, and runneth both deepe, and farre spreading in the earth: the leaues come forth by themselues, euery one standing on a long stalke, being hard & very round, like vnto the leafe of the largest _Asarum_, but not so thick, of a whitish green on the vpper side, and grayish vnderneath, which fall away euery yeare, and spring a fresh after the Spring is well come in, and the buds of flowers are sprung.

[Sidenote: _Flore albo._]

There is another of this kinde, growing in some places very high, somewhat like the former, and in other places also full of twiggy branches, which are greener then the former, as the leaues are likewise: the flowers of this kinde are wholly white, and the cods nothing so red or browne, in all other things agreeing together.

The Place.

The former groweth plentifully in many places of Spaine, Italy,
Prouence in France, and in many other places. The other hath
beene sent vs out of Italy many times, and the seede hath
sprung very well with vs, but it is somewhat tender to keepe in
the Winter.

The Time.

The flowers (as I said) appeare before the leaues, and come
forth in Aprill and May, and often sooner also, the leaues
following shortly after; but neither of them beareth perfect
seede in our Country, that euer I could learne, or know by mine
owne or others experience.

The Names.

Some would referre this to _Cercis_, whereof Theophrastus
maketh mention in his first Booke and eighteenth Chapter, among
those trees that beare their fruit in cods, like as Pulse doe:
and hee remembreth it againe in the fourteenth Chapter of his
third Booke, and maketh it not vnlike the white Poplar tree,
both in greatnesse and whitenesse of the branches, with the
leafe of an Iuie, without corners on the one part, cornered
on the other, and sharpe pointed, greene on both sides almost
alike, hauing so slender long footestalkes that the leaues
cannot stand forthright, but bend downwards, with a more rugged
barke then the white Poplar tree. Clusius thinketh this large
description is but an ample description of the third kinde of
Poplar, called _Lybica_, the Aspen tree, which Gaza translateth
_Alpina_: but who so will well consider it, shall finde it
neyther answerable to any Poplar tree, in that it beareth not
cods as _Cercis_ doth; nor vnto this _Arbor Iudæ_, because
it beareth not white branches. Clusius saith also, that the
learned of Mompelier in his time, referred it to _Colytea_
of Theophrastus in his third booke and seuenteenth chapter,
where he doth liken it to the leaues of the broadest leafed
Bay tree, but larger and rounder, green on the vpperside, and
whitish vnderneath, and whereunto (as he saith) Theophrastus
giueth cods in the fourteenth chapter of the same third booke:
and by the contracting of their descriptions both together,
saith, they agree vnto this Iudas tree. But I find some doubts
and differences in these places: for the _Colutæa_ that
Theophrastus mentioneth in the said fourteenth chapter of his
third booke, hath (as he saith there) a leafe like vnto the
Willow, and therefore cannot bee the same _Colutæa_ mentioned
in the seuenteenth chapter of the same third book, which hath
a broade Bay leafe: indeede hee giueth seede in cods: but that
with broade Bay leaues is (as he saith) without eyther flower
or fruite; and besides all this, he saith the rootes are very
yellow, which is not to bee found in this _Arbor Iudæ_, or
Iudas tree: let others now iudge if these things can bee well
reconciled together. Some haue for the likenesse of the cods
vnto Beane cods, called it _Fabago_. And Clusius called it
_Siliqua siluestris_. It is generally in these dayes called
_Arbor Iudæ_, and in English after the Latine name, vntill a
fitter may be had, Iudas tree.

The Vertues.

There is nothing extant in any Author of any Physicall vse it
hath, neyther hath any later experience found out any.

CHAP. CXX.

_Laburnum._ Beane Trefoile.

There be three sorts of these codded trees or plants, one neere resembling another, whereof _Anagyris_ of Dioscorides is one. The other two are called _Laburnum_; the larger whereof Matthiolus calleth _Anagyris altera_, and so doe some others also: the third is of the same kinde with the second, but smaller. I shall not for this our Garden trouble you or my selfe with any more of them then one, which is the lesser of the two _Laburnum_, in that it is more frequent, and that it will far better abide then the _Anagyris_, which is so tender, that it will hardly endure the winters of our Countrey: and the greater _Laburnum_ is not so easily to be had.

_Laburnum._ Beane Trefoile.

This codded tree riseth vp with vs like vnto a tall tree, with a reasonable great body, if it abide any long time in a place, couered with a smooth greene barke; the branches are very long, greene, pliant, and bending any way, whereon are set here and there diuers leaues, three alwaies standing together vpon a long stalk, being somewhat long, and not very narrow, pointed at the ends, greene on the vpperside, and of a siluer shining colour vnderneath, without any smell at all: at the ioynts of these branches, where the leaues stand, come forth many flowers, much like vnto broome flowers, but not so large or open, growing about a very long branch or stalke, sometimes a good span or more in length, and of a faire yellow colour, but not very deepe; after which come flat thin cods, not very long or broade, but as tough and hard as the cods of Broome; wherein are contained blackish seede, like, but much lesse then the seede of _Anagyris vera_ (which are as big as a kidney beane, purplish and spotted): the roote thrusteth down deepe into the ground, spreading also farre, and is of a yellowish colour.

The Place.

This tree groweth naturally in many of the woods of Italie, and
vpon the Alpes also, and is therefore still accounted to be
that _Laburnum_ that Plinie calleth _Arbor Alpina_. It groweth
in many gardens with vs.

The Time.

It flowreth in May, the fruit or cods, and the seedes therein
are ripe in the end of August, or in September.

The Names.

This tree (as I said before) is called of Matthiolus _Anagyris
altera_, _siue secunda_, of Cordus, Gesner and others,
especially of most now adayes, _Laburnum_. It is probable in my
opinion, that this should bee that _Colutæa_ of Theophrastus,
mentioned in the fourteenth Chapter of his third book with the
leafe of a Willow; for if you take any one leafe by it selfe,
it may well resemble a Willow leafe both for forme and colour,
and beareth small seed in cods like vnto pulse as that doth.
Of some it hath beene taken for a kinde of _Cytisus_, but not
truely. We call it in English, Beane Trefoile, in regard of his
cods and seede therein, somewhat like vnto Kidney Beanes, and
of the leaues, three alwayes standing together, vntill a more
proper name may bee giuen it.

The Vertues.

There is no vse hereof in Physicke with vs, nor in the naturall
place of the growing, saue only to prouoke a vomit, which it
will doe very strongly.

CHAP. CXXI.

_Cytisus._ Tree Trefoile.

There are so many sorts of _Cytisus_ or Tree trefoiles, that if I should relate them all, I should weary the Reader to ouerlooke them, whereof the most part pertaine rather to a generall worke then to this abstract. I shall not therefore trouble you with any superfluous, but only with two, which we haue noursed vp to furnish waste places in a garden.

_Cytisus Maranthe._ Horned Tree Trefoile.

This Tree Trefoile which is held of most Herbarists to bee the true _Cytisus_ of Dioscorides, riseth vp to the height of a man at the most, with a body of the bignesse of a mans thumbe, couered with a whitish bark, breaking forth into many whitish branches spreading farre, beset in many places with small leaues, three alwayes set together vpon a small short footestalke, which are rounder, and whiter then the leaues of Beane Trefoile: at the ends of the branches for the most part, come forth the flowers three or foure together, of a fine gold colour, and of the fashion of Broome flowers, but not so large: after the flowers are past, there come in their places crooked flat thinne cods, of the fashion of a halfe moone, or crooked horne, whitish when they are ripe, wherein are contained blackish seede: the roote is hard and woody, spreading diuers wayes vnder the ground: the whole plant hath a pretty small hot sent.

_Cytisus vulgatior._ The common Tree Trefoile.

This _Cytisus_ is the most common in this Land, of any the other sorts of tree trefoiles, hauing a blackish coloured barke, the stemme or body whereof is larger then the former, both for height and spreading, bearing also three leaues together, but smaller and greener then the former: the flowers are smaller, but of the same fashion and colour: the cods blackish and thin, and not very long, or great, but lesser then Broome cods, wherein there lyeth small blackish hard seede: the roote is diuersly dispersed in the ground.

The Place.

The first groweth in the kingdome of Naples, and no doubt in
many other places of Italie, as Matthiolus saith. The other
groweth in diuers places of France.

The Time.

They flower for the most part in May or Iune: the seede is ripe
in August or September.

The Names.

The first (as I said) is thought of most to be the true
_Cytisus_ of Dioscorides, and as is thought, was in these later
dayes first found by Bartholomæus Maranta of Naples, who sent
it first to Matthiolus, and thereupon hath euer since beene
called after his name, _Cytisus Maranthæ_. Some doe call it
_Cytisus Lunatus_, because the cods are made somewhat like vnto
an halfe Moone. We call it in English, Horned Tree Trefoile.
The other is called _Cytisus vulgaris_ or _vulgatior_; in
English, The common Tree Trefoile, because we haue not any
other so common.

The Vertues.

The chiefest vertues that are appropriate to these plants, are
to procure milke in womens breasts, to fatten pullen, sheep &c.
and to be good for bees.

CHAP. CXXII.

_Colutæa._ The Bastard Sena Tree.

Wee haue in our Gardens two or three sorts of the Bastard Sena tree; a greater as I may so call it, and two lesser: the one with round thin transparent skins like bladders, wherein are the seede: the other with long round cods, the one bunched out or swelling in diuers places, like vnto a Scorpions tale, wherein is the seede, and the other very like vnto it, but smaller.

1. _Colutæa Vesicaria._ The greater Bastard Sena with bladders.

This shrub or tree, or shrubby tree, which you please to call it, riseth vp to the height of a pretty tree, the stemme or stock being sometimes of the bignesse of a mans arme, couered with a blackish greene rugged barke, the wood whereof is harder then of an Elder, but with an hollownesse like a pith in the heart or middle of the branches, which are diuided many wayes, and whereon are set at seuerall distances, diuers winged leaues, composed of many small round pointed, or rather flat pointed leaues, one set against another, like vnto Licoris, or the Hatchet Fitch; among these leaues come forth the flowers, in fashion like vnto Broome flowers, and as large, of a very yellow colour: after which appeare cleare thinne swelling cods like vnto thinne transparent bladders, wherein are contained blacke seede, set vpon a middle ribbe or sinew in the middle of the bladder, which if it be a little crushed betweene the fingers, will giue a cracke, like as a bladder full of winde. The roote groweth branched and woody.

2. _Colutæa Scorpioides maior._ The greater Scorpion podded Bastard Sena.

This Bastard Sena groweth nothing so great or tall, but shooteth out diuersly, like vnto a shrub, with many shoots springing from the root: the branches are greener, but more rugged, hauing a white barke on the best part of the elder growne branches; for the young are greene, and haue such like winged leaues set on them as are to be seen in the former, but smaller, greener, and more pointed: the flowers are yellow, but much smaller, fashioned somewhat like vnto the former, with a reddish stripe downe the backe of the vppermost leafe: the long cods that follow are small, long and round, distinguished into many diuisions or dents, like vnto a Scorpions tayle, from whence hath risen the name: in these seuerall diuisions lye seuerall blacke seede, like vnto the seede of Fenigrecke: the roote is white and long, but not so woody as the former.

3. _Colutæa Scorpioides minor._ The lesser Scorpion Bastard Sena.

This lesser Bastard Sena is in all things like the former, but somewhat lower, and smaller both in leafe, flower, and cods of seede, which haue not such eminent bunches on the cods to be seene as the former.

The Place.

They grow as Matthiolus saith about Trent in Italie, and in
other places: the former is frequent enough through all our
Countrey, but the others are more rare.

The Time.

They flower about the middle or end of May, and their seede is
ripe in August. The bladders of the first will abide a great
while on the tree, if they be suffered, and vntill the winde
cause them to rattle, and afterwards the skins opening, the
seede will fall away.

The Names.

The name _Colutæa_ is imposed on them, and by the iudgement
of most writers, the first is taken to bee that _Colutæa_
of _Lipara_ that Theophrastus maketh mention of, in the
seuenteenth chapter of his third booke. But I should rather
thinke that the _Scorpioides_ were the truer _Colutæa_ of
Theophrastus, because the long pods thereof are more properly
to bee accounted _filiquæ_, then the former which are _vesicæ
tumentes_, windy bladders, and not _filiquæ_: and no doubt
but Theophrastus would haue giuen some peculiar note of
difference if he had meant those bladders, and not these cods.
Let others of iudgement be vmpeeres in this case; although I
know the currant of writers since Matthiolus, doe all hold the
former _Colutæa vesicaria_ to be the true _Colutæa Liparæ_
of Theophrastus. Wee call it in English, Bastard Sena, from
Ruellius, who as I thinke first called it Sena, from the forme
of the leaues. The second and third (as I said before) from
the forme of the cods receiued their names, as it is in the
titles and descriptions; yet they may as properly be called
_Siliquosæ_, for that their fruite are long cods.

The Vertues.

Theophrastus saith it doth wonderfully helpe to fatten sheepe:
But sure it is found by experience, that if it be giuen to man
it causeth strong purgings both vpwards and downwards; and
therefore let euery one beware that they vse not this in steede
of good Sena, lest they feele to their cost the force thereof.

CHAP. CXXIII.

_Spartum Hispanicum frutex._ Spanish Broome.

Although Clusius and others haue found diuers sorts of this shrubby Spartum or Spanish Broome, yet because our Climate will nourse vp none of them, and euen this very hardly, I shall leaue all others, and describe vnto you this one only in this manner: Spanish Broome groweth to bee fiue or sixe foote high, with a woody stemme below, couered with a darke gray, or ash-coloured barke, and hauing aboue many pliant, long and slender greene twigs, whereon in the beginning of the yeare are set many small long greene leaues, which fall away quickly, not abiding long on; towards the tops of these branches grow the flowers, fashioned like vnto Broom flowers, but larger, as yellow as they, and smelling very well; after which come small long cods, crested at the backe, wherein is contained blackish flat seede, fashioned very like vnto the Kidney beanes: the roote is woody, dispersing it selfe diuers waies.

The Place.

This groweth naturally in many places of France, Spaine and
Italie, wee haue it as an ornament in our Gardens, among other
delightfull plants, to please the senses of sight and smelling.

The Time.

It flowreth in the end of May, or beginning of Iune, and
beareth seede, which ripeneth not with vs vntill it be late.

The Names.

It is called _Spartium Græcorum_, and _Spartum frutex_, to
distinguish it from the sedge or rush, that is so called also.
Of some it is called _Genista_, and thought not to differ from
the other _Genista_, but they are much deceiued; for euen in
Spaine and Italie, the ordinary _Genista_ or Broome groweth
with it, which is not pliant, and fit to binde Vines, or such
like things withall as this is.

The Vertues.

There is little vse hereof in Physicke, by reason of the
dangerous qualitie of vomiting, which it doth procure to them
that take it inwardly: but being applyed outwardly, it is found
to helpe the _Sciaticæ_ or paine of the hippes.

1 _Colutæa vulgaris._ Ordinary bastard Sene.
2 _Periploca recta Virginiana._ Virginian Silke.
3 _Colutæa Scorpioides._ Scorpion bastard Sene.
4 _Spartum Hispanicum._ Spanish Broome.
5 _Ligustrum._ Priuet.
6 _Saluia variegata._ Party coloured Sage.
7 _Maiorana aurea._ Guilded Marierome.
]

CHAP. CXXIIII.

_Periploca recta Virginiana._ Virginian Silke.

Lest this stranger should find no hospitality with vs, being so beautifull a plant, or not finde place in this Garden, let him be here receiued, although with the last, rather then not at all. It riseth vp with one or more strong and round stalkes, three or foure foote high, whereon are set at the seuerall ioynts thereof two faire, long, and broad leaues, round pointed, with many veines therein, growing close to the stemme, without any foote-stalke: at the tops of the stalkes, and some times at the ioynts of the leaues, groweth forth a great bush of flowers out of a thinne skinne, to the number of twenty, and sometimes thirty or forty, euery one with a long foote-stalke, hanging downe their heads for the most part, especially those that are outermost, euery one standing within a small huske of greene leaues, turned to the stalkeward, like vnto the Lysimachia flower of Virginia before described, and each of them consisting of fiue small leaues a peece, of a pale-purplish colour on the vpperside, and of a pale yellowish purple vnderneath, both sides of each leafe being as it were folded together, making them seeme hollow and pointed, with a few short chiues in the middle: after which come long and crooked pointed cods standing vpright, wherein are contained flat brownish seede, dispersedly lying within a great deale of fine, soft, and whitish browne silke, very like vnto the cods, seede, and silke of _Asclepias_, or Swallow-wort, but that the cods are greater and more crooked, and harder also in the outer shell: the roote is long and white, of the bignesse of a mans thumbe, running vnder ground very far, and shooting vp in diuers places, the heads being set full of small white grumes or knots, yeelding forth many branches, if it stand any time in a place: the whole plant, as well leaues as stalkes, being broken, yeeld a pale milke.

The Place.

It came to me from Virginia, where it groweth aboundantly,
being raised vp from the seede I receiued.

The Time.

It flowreth in Iuly, and the seede is ripe in August.

The Names.

It may seeme very probable to many, that this plant is the same
that Prosper Alpinus in the twenty fift Chapter of his Booke
of Egyptian plants, nameth _Beidelsar_; and Honorius Bellus
in his third and fourth Epistles vnto Clusius (which are at
the end of his History of plants) calleth _Ossar frutex_: And
Clusius himselfe in the same Booke calleth _Apocynum Syriacum_,
_Palæstinum_, and _Ægyptiacum_, because this agreeth with
theirs in very many and notable parts; yet verily I thinke this
plant is not the same, but rather another kinde of it selfe:
First, because it is not _frutex_, a shrub or wooddy plant,
nor keepeth his leaues all the yeare, but loseth both leaues
and stalks, dying down to the ground euery yeare: Secondly,
the milke is not causticke or violent, as Alpinus and Bellus
say _Ossar_ is: Thirdly, the cods are more crooked then those
of Clusius, or of Alpinus, which Honorius Bellus acknowledgeth
to be right, although greater then those he had out of Egypt:
And lastly, the rootes of these doe runne, whereof none of them
make any mention. Gerard in his herball giueth a rude figure of
the plant, but a very true figure of the cods with seede, and
saith the Virginians call it _Wisanck_, and referreth it to the
_Asclepias_, for the likenesse of the cods stuffed with silken
doune. But what reason Caspar Bauhinus in his _Pinax Theatri
Botanici_ had, to call it (for it is Clusius his _Apocynum
Syriacum_) by the name of _Lapathum Ægyptiacum lactescens
siliqua Asclepiadis_, I know none in the world: for but that he
would shew an extreame singularity in giuing names to plants,
contrary to all others (which is very frequent with him) how
could he thinke, that this plant could haue any likenesse or
correspondencie, with any of the kindes of Dockes, that euer
he had seene, read, or heard of, in face, or shew of leaues,
flowers, or seede; but especially in giuing milke. I haue you
see (and that not without iust and euident cause) giuen it a
differing Latine name from Gerard, because the _Asclepias_
giueth no milke, but the _Periploca_ or _Apocymum_ doth; and
therefore fitter to be referred to this then to that. And
because it should not want an English name answerable to some
peculiar property thereof, I haue from the silken doune called
it Virginian Silke: but I know there is another plant growing
in Virginia, called Silke Grasse, which is much differing from
this.

The Vertues.

I know not of any in our Land hath made any tryall of the
properties hereof. Captaine Iohn Smith in his booke of the
discouery and description of Virginia, saith, that the
Virginians vse the rootes hereof (if his be the same with this)
being bruised and applyed to cure their hurts & diseases.

CHAP. CXXV.

_Ligustrum._ Primme or Priuet.

Because the vse of this plant is so much, and so frequent throughout all this Land, although for no other purpose but to make hedges or arbours in Gardens, &c. whereunto it is so apt, that no other can be like vnto it, to bee cut, lead, and drawne into what forme one will, either of beasts, birds, or men armed, or otherwise: I could not forget it, although it be so well knowne vnto all, to be an hedge bush growing from a wooddy white roote, spreading much within the ground, and bearing manie long, tough, and plyant sprigs and branches, whereon are set long, narrow, and pointed sad greene leaues by couples at euery ioynt: at the tops whereof breake forth great tufts of sweete smelling white flowers, which when they are fallen, turne into small blacke berries, hauing a purple iuyce within them, and small seede, flat on the one side, with an hole or dent therein: this is seene in those branches that are not cut, but suffered to beare out their flowers and fruit.

The Place.

This bush groweth as plentifully in the Woods of our owne
Countrey, as in any other beyond the Seas.

The Time.

It flowreth sometimes in Iune,and in Iuly; the fruit is ripe in
August and September.

The Names.

There is great controuersie among the moderne Writers
concerning this plant, some taking it to be κύπρος of
Dioscorides, other to be _Phillyrea_ of Dioscorides, which
followeth next after _Cyprus_. Plinie maketh mention of
_Cyprus_ in two places; in the one he saith _Cyprus_ hath
the leafe of _Ziziphus_, or the Iuiube tree: in the other
he saith, that certain do affirme, that the _Cyprus_ of the
East Country, and the _Ligustrum_ of Italy is one and the same
plant: whereby you may plainly see, that our Priuet which is
_Ligustrum_, cannot be that _Cyprus_ of Plinie with Iuiube
leaues: Besides, both Dioscorides & Plinie say, that _Cyprus_
is a tree; but all know that _Ligustrum_, Priuet, is but an
hedge bush: Againe, Dioscorides saith, that the leaues of
_Cyprus_ giue a red colour, but Priuet giueth none. Bellonius
and Prosper Alpinus haue both recorded, that the true _Cyprus_
of Dioscorides groweth plentifully in Egypt, Syria, and those
Easterne Countries, and noursed vp also in Constantinople,
and other parts of Greece, being a merchandise of much worth,
in that they transport the leaues, and young branches dryed,
which laid in water giue a yellow colour, wherewith the Turkish
women colour the nailes of their hands, and some other parts
of their bodies likewise, delighting much therein: and that it
is not our _Ligustrum_, or Priuet, because _Cyprus_ beareth
round white seede, like Coriander seede, and the leaues abide
greene alwaies vpon the tree, which groweth (if it bee not
cut or pruined) to the height of the Pomegranet tree. I haue
(I confesse) beyond the limits I set for this worke spoken
concerning our Priuet, because I haue had the seede of the true
_Cyprus_ of Dioscorides sent mee, which was much differing from
our Priuet, and although it sprang vp, yet would not abide any
time, whereas if it had beene our Priuet, it would haue beene
familiar enough to our Countrey.

The Vertues.

It is of small vse in physicke, yet some doe vse the leaues in
Lotions, that serue to coole and dry fluxes or sores in diuers
parts.

CHAP. CXXVI.

_Saluia variegata._ Party coloured Sage. And _Maiorana versicolor siue aurea._ Yellow or golden Marierome.

Vnto all these flowers of beauty and rarity, I must adioyne two other plants, whose beauty consisteth in their leaues, and not in their flowers: as also to separate them from the others of their tribe, to place them here in one Chapter, before the sweete herbes that shall follow, as is fittest to furnish this our Garden of pleasure. This kinde of Sage groweth with branches and leaues, very like the ordinary Sage, but somewhat smaller, the chiefest difference consisteth in the colour of the leaues, being diuersly marked and spotted with white and red among the greene: for vpon one branch you shall haue the leaues seuerally marked one from another, as the one halfe of the leafe white, and the other halfe greene, with red shadowed ouer them both, or more white then greene, with some red in it, either parted or shadowed, or dasht here and there, or more greene then white, and red therein eyther in the middle or end of the leafe, or more or lesse parted or striped with white and red in the greene, or else sometimes wholly greene the whole branch together, as nature listeth to play with such varieties: which manner of growing rising from one and the same plant, because it is the more variable, is the more delightfull and much respected.

There is another speckled Sage parted with white and greene, but it is nothing of that beauty to this, because this hath three colours euidently to bee discerned in euery leafe almost, the red adding a superaboundant grace to the rest.

_Maiorana aurea siue versicolor._ Yellow or golden Marierome.

This kinde of Marierome belongeth to that sort is called in Latine _Maiorana latifolia_, which Lobel setteth forth for _Hyssopus Græcorum genuina_: In English Winter Marierome, or pot Marierome: for it hath broader and greater leaues then the sweete Marierome, and a different vmbell or tuft of flowers. The difference of this from that set forth in the Kitchin Garden, consisteth chiefly in the leaues, which are in Summer wholly yellow in some, or but a little greene, or parted with yellow and greene more or lesse, as nature listeth to play: but in Winter they are of a darke or dead greene colour, yet recouering it selfe againe: the sent hereof is all one with the pot Marierome.

Wee haue another parted with white and greene, much after the manner with the former.

The Place, Time, Names, and Vertues of both these plants,
shall be declared where the others of their kindes are
specified hereafter, and in the Kitchen Garden; for they differ
not in properties.

CHAP. CXXVII.

_Lauendula._ Lauender Spike.

After all these faire and sweete flowers before specified, I must needes adde a few sweete herbes, both to accomplish this Garden, and to please your senses, by placing them in your Nosegays, or else where, as you list. And although I bring them in the end or last place, yet are they not of the least account.

1. _Lauendula maior._ Garden Lauender.

Our ordinary Garden Lauender riseth vp with a hard wooddy stemme aboue the ground, parted into many small branches, whereon are set whitish, long, and narrow leaues, by couples one against another; from among which riseth vp naked square stalkes, with two leaues at a ioynt, and at the toppe diuers small huskes standing round about them, formed in long and round heads or spikes, with purple gaping flowers springing out of each of them: the roote is wooddy, and spreadeth in the ground: The whole plant is of a strong sweete sent, but the heads of flowers much more, and more piercing the senses, which are much vsed to bee put among linnen and apparrell.

[Sidenote: _Flore albo._]

There is a kinde hereof that beareth white flowers, and somewhat broader leaues, but it is very rare, and seene but in few places with vs, because it is more tender, and will not so well endure our cold Winters.

2. _Lauendula minor seu Spica._ Small Lauender or Spike.

The Spike or small Lauender is very like vnto the former, but groweth not so high, neither is the head or spike so great and long, but shorter and smaller, and of a more purplish colour in the flower: the leaues also are a little harder, whiter, and shorter then the former; the sent also is somewhat sharper and stronger. This is not so frequent as the first, and is nourished but in some places that are warme, and where they delight in rare herbes and plants.

The Place.

Lauender groweth in Spaine aboundantly, in many places so
wilde, and little regarded, that many haue gone, and abiden
there to distill the oyle thereof whereof great quantity now
commeth ouer from thence vnto vs: and also in Lanquedocke, and
Prouence in France.

The Time.

It flowreth early in those hot Countries, but with vs not
vntill Iune and Iuly.

The Names.

It is called of some _Nardus Italica_, and _Lauendula_, the
greater is called _Fæmina_, and the lesser _Mas_. We doe call
them generally Lauender, or Lauender Spike, and the lesser
Spike, without any other addition.

The Vertues.

Lauender is little vsed in inward physicke, but outwardly; the
oyle for cold and benummed parts, and is almost wholly spent
with vs, for to perfume linnen, apparrell, gloues, leather, &c.,
and the dryed flowers to comfort and dry vp the moisture of a
cold braine.

CHAP. CXXVIII.

_Stœchas._ Sticadoue, Cassidony, or French Lauender.