¶ The Names.
The Violet is called in Greeke 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉: of Theophrastus, both 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉: in Latine, Nigraviola, or blacke Violet, of the blackish purple colour of the floures. The Apothecharies keepe the La∣tine name Viola; but they call it Herba Violaria, and Mater Violarum: in high-Dutch, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉: in low-Dutch, 〈◊〉〈◊〉: in French, Violette de Mars: in Italian, Violamammola: in Spanish, Viole∣ta: in English, Violet. Nicander in his Geoponickes beleeueth, (as Hermolaus sheweth) that the Grecians did call it 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, because certaine Nymphs of Ionia gaue that floure first to Iupiter. Others say it was called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, because when Iupiter had turned the young Damosell Io, whom he tenderly lo∣ued, into a Cow, the earth brought forth this floure for her food: which being made for her sake, receiued the name from her; and thereupon it is thought that the Latines also called it Viola, as though they should say Vitula, by blotting out the letter t. Seruius reporteth, That for the same cause the Latines also name it Vaccinium, alledging the place of Virgil in his Bucolicks:
Alba ligustra cadunt, vaccinia nigra leguntur.
Notwithstanding Virgil in his tenth Eclog sheweth, that Vaccinium and Viola do differ.
Ei nigrae violae sunt, & vaccinia nigra.
† Vitruvius also in his seuenth booke of Architecture or Building doth distinguish Viola from Vaccinium: for he sheweth that the colour called Sile Atticum, or the Azure of Athens, is made ex Viola; and the gallant purple, ex Vaccinio. The Dyers, saith he, when they would counterfeit Sile, or Azure of Athens, put the dried Violets into a fat, kettle, or caldron, and boyle them with water; afterwards when it is tempered they poure it into a linnen strainer, and wringing it with their hands, receiue into a mortar the liquor coloured with the Violets; and steeping earth of Erethria in it, and grinding the same, they make the Azure colour of Athens. After the same manner they temper Vaccinium, and putting milke vnto it, do make a gallant purple colour. But what Vaccinia are we will elsewhere declare.