The herball or Generall historie of plantes. Gathered by Iohn Gerarde of London Master in Chirurgerie very much enlarged and amended by Thomas Iohnson citizen and apothecarye of London

AN APPENDIX OR ADDITION OF certaine Plants omitted in the former Historie.

The Preface.

HAuing run through the Historie of Plants gathered by M^r. Gerrard, and much enlarged the same both by the addition of many Figures and histories of Plants not formerly contained in it, and by the amending and encreasing the historie of sundry of those which before were therein treated of; I finde that I haue forgotten diuers which I intended to haue added in their fit∣ting places: the occasion hereof hath beene, my many businesses, the troublesomenesse, and a∣boue all, the great expectation and hast of the Worke, whereby I was forced to performe this task within the compasse of a yeare. Now being constant to my first resolution, I here haue, as time would giue me leaue, and my memorie serue, made a 〈◊〉〈◊〉 collection and addition (though with∣out method) of such as offered themselues vnto me; and without doubt there are sundrie others which are as fitting to be added as those; and I should not haue been wanting, if time would haue permitted me to haue entred into further consideration of them. In the meane time take in good part those that I haue here presented to your view.

CHAP. 1. Of the Maracoc or Passion-floure.

¶ The Description.

THis Plant, which the Spaniards in the West Indies call Granadilla, because the fruit somewhat resembles a Pomegranat, which in their tongue they term Gra∣nadas, is the same which the Virginians call Maracoc. The Spanish 〈◊〉〈◊〉 for some imaginarie resemblances in the floure, first called it Flos 〈◊〉〈◊〉, the Pas∣sion floure, and in a counterfeit figure, by adding what was wanting, they made it as it were an Epitome of our Sauiours Passion: thus 〈◊〉〈◊〉 persons semper sibi somnium fingunt. Bauhine desirous to refer it to some stock or kindred of formerly knowne plants, giues it the name of Clematis trifolia: yet the floures and fruit pro∣nounce it not properly belonging to their Tribe; but Clematis being a certaine genericke name to all wooddy winding plants, this as a species may come vnder the denomination, though little in other respects participating with them. The roots of this are long, somewhat like, yet thicker than those of Sarsa parilla, running vp and downe, and putting vp their heads in seuerall places: from these roots rise vp many long winding round stalkes, which grow two, three, soure, or more yards high, according to the heate and seasonablenesse of the yeare and soile whereas they are planted: vpon these stalkes grow many leaues diuided into three parts, sharpe pointed, and snipt about the edges: commonly out of the bosomes of each of the vppermost leaues there groweth a clasping tendrell and a floure: the floure growes vpon a little foot-stalke some two inches long, and is of a longish cornered forme, with fiue little crooked hornes at the top, before such time as it open it selfe, but opened, this longish head diuides it selfe into ten parts, and sustaines the leaues of the 〈◊〉〈◊〉, which are very many, long, sharpe pointed, narrow, and orderly spred open one by another, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 lying straight, others crooked: these leaues are of colour whitish, but thicke spotted with a 〈◊〉〈◊〉 colour, and towards the bottome it hath a ring of a perfect Peach colour, and aboue and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 it a white circle, which giue a great grace to the floure; in the middest whereof rises an 〈◊〉〈◊〉, which parts it selfe into foure or fiue crooked spotted hornes, with broadish heads: from

the midst of these rises another roundish head which carries three nailes or hornes, biggest aboue, and smallest at their lower end: this floure with vs is neuer succeeded by any fruit, but in the West Indies, whereas it naturally growes, it beares a fruit, when it is ripe of the bignesse and colour of Pomegranats, but it wants such a ring or crown about the top as they haue; the rinde also is much thinner and tenderer, the pulpe is whitish, and without taste, but the liquor is somwhat tart: they open them as they do egges, and the liquor is supped off with great delight, both by the Indians and Spaniards, (as Monardus witnesseth) neither if they sup off many of them shall they find their stomack opprest, but rather their bellies are gently loosned. In this fruit are contained many seeds somwhat like Peare kernells, but more cornered and rough.

[illustration]

Clematis trifolia, siue Flos Passionis. The Maracoc or Passion-floure.

This growes wilde in most of the hot countries of America, from whence it hath been brought into our English gardens, where it growes very well, but floures only in some few places, and in hot and seasonable yeares: it is in good plenty growing with Mistresse Tuggy at Westminster, where I haue some yeares seene it beare a great many floures.

CHAP. 2. Of Ribes or red Currans.

¶ The Description.

1 THe plant which carries the fruit which we commonly terme red Currans, is a shrubbie bush of the bignesse of a Gooseberry bush, but without prickles: the wood is soft and white, with a pretty large pith in the middle: it is couered with a double barke, the vndermost, be∣ing the thicker, is greene, and the vppermost, which sometimes chaps and pills off, is of a brownish

colour, and smooth: the barke of the yongest shoots is whitish and rough: the leaues, which grow vpon footstalkes some two inches long, are somewhat like Vine leaues, but smaller by much, and lesse cornered, being cut into three, and sometimes, but seldomer, into fiue parts, somwhat thicke, with many veines running ouer them, greener aboue than they are below: out of the branches in Spring time grow stalkes hanging downe some six inches in length, carrying many little greenish floures, which are succeeded by little red berries, cleare and smooth, of the bignesse of the Whor∣tle berries, of a pleasant tart taste. Of this kinde there is another, onely different from this in the fruit, which is twice so big as that of the common kind.

2 The bush which beares the white Currans is commonly straighter and bigger than the for∣mer: the leaues are lesser, the floures whiter, and so also is the fruit, being cleare and transparent, with a little blackish rough end.

[illustration]

1 Ribes vulgaris fructu rubro. Red Currans.

[illustration]

2 Ribes fructu albo. White Currans.

3 Besides these there is another, which disfers little from the former in shape, yet grows som∣what higher, and hath lesser leaues: the floures are of a purplish green colour, and are succeeded by fruit as big againe as the ordinary red, but of a stinking and somewhat loathing sauour: the leaues also are not without this stinking smell.

¶ The Place, Time, and Names.

None of these grow wild with vs, but they are to be found plentifully growing in many gardens, especially the two former, the red and the white.

The leaues and floures come forth in the Spring, and the fruit is ripe about Midsommer.

This plant is thought to haue been vnknowne to the antient Greekes: some thinke it the Ribes of the Arabian Serapio. Fuchsius, Matthiolus, and some other deny it; notwithstanding Dodonaeus affirmes it: neither is the controuersie easily to be decided, because the Author is briefe in the de∣scription thereof, neither haue we his words but by the hand of a barbarous Translator. Howeuer the shops of late time take it (the faculties consenting thereto) for the true Ribes, and of the fruit hereof prepare their Rob de Ribes. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 calls it Ribesium, grossularia rubra, & Grossularia trans∣marina; and they are distinguished into three sorts, Rubra, Alba, Nigra 〈◊〉〈◊〉, 〈◊〉〈◊〉, white, and blacke Currans: the Germans call them S. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 traubell, or traublin, and S. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉: the Dutch, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ouer Zee: the Italians, Vuetta rossa: the French, Groisseles, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉: the Bohemians, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 S. 〈◊〉〈◊〉: the English, Red Currans: yet must they not be confounded

with those Currans which are brought from Zant, and the continent adioyning thereto, and which are vulgarly sold by our Grocers; for they are the fruit of a small Vine, and differ much from these.

The Temperature and Vertues.

The berries of red Currans, as also of the white, are cold and dry in the end of the second degree, [ A] and haue some astriction, together with tenuitie of parts.

They extinguish and mitigate feuerish heates, represse choler, temper the ouer-hot bloud, resist [ B] putrefaction, quench thirst, helpe the deiection of the appetite, stay cholericke vomitings and scourings, and helpe the Dysenterie proceeding of an hot cause.

The iuice of these boiled to the height of honey, either with or without sugar (which is called [ C] Rob de Ribes) hath the same qualities, and conduces to the same purposes.

CHAP. 3. Of Parsley Breake-stone, and bastard Rupturewort.

[illustration]

1 Percepier Anglorum Lob. Parsley Breake-stone.

[illustration]

2. Polygonū Herniariae facie. Bastard Rupture-wort.

¶ The Description.

1 I Thought it was not altogether inconuenient to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 these two Plants together in one Chapter; first, because they are 〈◊〉〈◊〉 one stature; and secondly, taken 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of one and the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 History of Plants, to wit, the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and Lobel.

The first of these, which the Authors of the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 set sorth by the name of 〈◊〉〈◊〉, (and rather assert, than affirme to be the Scandix of the Antients) is by 〈◊〉〈◊〉 called Scandix minor: and by 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Columna, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 montana minima: it hath a small wooddy yellowish fibrous root, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 which rise vp one, two, or more little stalks, seldome exceeding the height of an handfull, and these are round and hairy, and vpon them grow little roundish leaues, like the tender leaues of Cheruill, but hairy, and of a whitish green co∣lour, fastned to the stalkes with short foot-stalkes, and hauing little eares at their setting on: the floures are small, greene, and fiue cor∣nered, many clustering together at the setting on of the leaues: the seed is small, smooth, and yellowish: the stalks of this plant grow sometimes vpright, and otherwhiles they lean on the ground: it is to be found vpon diuers dry and barren grounds, as in Hide Parke, Tuthill fields, &c. It floures in May, and ripens the feed in Iune and Iuly. It seemes by the Authors of the Aduersaria, that in the West countrey about Bristow they call this Herbe Percepier; but our herbe women in Cheapside know it by the name of Parsley Breake∣stone.

This is hot and dry, and of subtil parts: it vehemently and spee∣dily [ D] moues vrine, and by some is kept in pickle, and eaten as a sal∣lad.

The distilled water is also commended to be effectuall to moue [ E] vrine, and clense the kidnies of grauell.

2 The historie of this, by the forementioned Authors, Aduers. pag. 404. is thus set forth vnder this title, Polygonium Herniariae folijs & facie, perampla radice 〈◊〉〈◊〉: Neither (say they) ought this to be despised by such as are studious of the knowledge of Plants; for it is very little knowne, being a very small herbe lying along vpon the ground, and al∣most ouerwhelmed or couered with the grasse, hauing little branches very full of ioints: the little leaues and seeds are whitish, and very like those of Herniaria or Rupture-wort: the whole plant is white, hauing a very small and mossie floure: the root is larger than the smalnesse of the plant see∣meth to require, hard, branched, diuersly turning and winding, and therefore hard to be plucked vp: the taste is dry and hottish. It growes vpon a large Plaine in Prouince, betweene the cities Arles and Selon. Thus much Pena and Lobel. I am deceiued, if some 〈◊〉〈◊〉 yeares agone I was not shewed this plant, gathered in some part of this kingdome, but where, I am not able to 〈◊〉〈◊〉.

CHAP. 4. Of Heath Spurge and Rocke Rose

¶ The Description.

1 THese Plants by right should haue followed the historie of Thymelaea, for in shape and facultie they are not much vnlike it. The first is a low shrub, sending from one root ma∣ny branches of some cubit long, and these bending, flexible, and couered with an outer blackish barke, which comprehends another within, tough, and which may be diuided into fine threds: the leaues are like those of Chamaelea, yet lesser, shorter and thicker, a little rough also, and growing about the branches in a certaine order: if you chew them they are gummie, bitter at the first, and afterwards hot and biting: the floures grow amongst the leaues, longish, yellowish, and di∣uided at the end into foure little leaues: the fruit is said to be like that of Thymaelea, but of a blac∣kish colour, the root is thicke and wooddie. It growes frequently in the kingdome of Granado and Valentia in Spaine, it floures in March and Aprill. The Herbarists there terme it Sanamunda, and the common people, Mierda-cruz, by reason of the purging facultie.

[illustration]

1 Sanamunda 1. Clus. Heath Spurge.

[illustration]

2 Sanamunda 2. Clus. The second Heath Spurge.

2 The other is a shrub some cubit high, hauing tough flexible branches couered with a dense and thick barke, which, the outward rinde being taken away, ouer all the plant, but chiefely next the root, may be drawn into threds like Flax or Hemp: the vpper branches are set with thick, short, fat, rough sharp pointed leaues, of somwhat a saltish taste at the first, afterwards of a hot & biting taste: the floures are many, little and yellow: the root is thicke and wooddie like as that of the former: this growes vpon the sea coast of Spaine, and on the mountaines nigh Granado, where they call it Sana∣munda, and the common people about Gibraltar call it Burhalaga, and they only vse it to heat their ouens with. It floures in Februarie. Anguillara called this, Empetron: Caesalpinus, 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and in the Historia Lugd, it is the Cneoron nigrum Myconi: Sesamoides minus: Dalcchampij, and Phacoides, Oriba∣sij 〈◊〉〈◊〉.

3 This is bigger than either of the two former, hauing whiter and more flexible branches, whose barke is vnmeasurably tough and hard to breake: the vpper branches are many, and those ve∣ry downie, and hanging downe their heads, set thicke with little leaues like Stone-crop, and of the like hot or burning facultie: the floures are like those of the former; sometimes greenish, other∣whiles yellow: Clusius did not obserue the fruit, but saith, it floured at the same time with the for∣mer, and grew in all the sea coast, from the Straits of Gibralter, to the Pyrenaean mountaines. Al∣fonsus Pantius called this Cneoron: Lobel and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 call it Erica Alexandrina.

[illustration]

3 〈◊〉〈◊〉 3. Clus. The third Heath Spurge.

[illustration]

4 Cneoron 〈◊〉〈◊〉. Rocke Rose.

4 This also may not vnfitly bee ioined to the former, for it hath many tender flexible tough branches commonly leaning or lying along vpon the ground, vpon which without order grow leaues greeene, skinny, and like those of the true Thymelaea; at first of an vngratefull, and afterwards of a bit∣ter taste, yet hauing none or very little acrimony (as far as may be perceiued by their taste:) the floures grow vpon the tops of the branches six seuen or more together, consisting of foure little leaues of a reddish purple colour, very beautifull and well smelling, yet offending the head if they be long smelt vnto: these are succeeded by small berries, of colour white, containing a round seed, couered with an ash coloured skin. The root is long, of the thickenesse of ones little finger, some∣times blackish, yet most commonly yellowish, tough, and smallest at the top where the branches come forth. It floures in Aprill and May, and ripens the fruit in Iune: it floures sometimes thrice in the yeare, and ripens the fruit twise; for Clusius affirmes that twise in one yeare he gathered ripe berries from one and the same plant. It growes plentifully vpon the mountainous places of Austria about Vienna; whither the countrey women bring the floures to the market in great plenty to sell them to deck vp houses: it grows also in the dry medowes by Frankford on the Moene, where there is obserued a variety with white floures. Matthiolus would haue this to be the Cneoron album of Theo∣phrastus: Cordus calls it Thymelaea minor: it is the Cneoron alterum Matthioli, and Oleander syl. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Myconi, in the Hist. Lugd. The Germans call it Stein Roselin: and wee may call it Rocke Rose, or dwarfe Oleander.

5 This plant by Bauhine is called Cneorum album folio oleae argenteo 〈◊〉〈◊〉: and by Dalechampius, Cneorum album, which hath been the reason I haue put it here, although Caesalpinus, Imperatus, and Pla∣teau,

who sent it to Clusius, would haue it to be and cal it Dorycnium: It is a shrubby herb sending from one root many single stalkes some halfe cubit or better high: the leaues which grow vpon the stalkes without order, are like those of the Oliue, but somewhat narrower, and couered ouer with a soft sil∣uer-like downinesse: at the top of the stalks grow many floures clustering together, of the shape of those of the lesser Bindeweed, but white of colour. This growes wilde in some parts of Sicily, whence Caesalpinus calls it Dorychnium ex Sicilia.

[illustration]

5 Cneorum album folijs argenteis. White Rocke Rose.

[illustration]

Chamaebuxus flore Coluteae. Bastard dwarfe box.

¶ The Temperature and Vertues.

The three first are very hot, and two first [ A] haue a strong purging facultie, for taken in the weight of a dram with the decoction of Cicers they mightily purge by stoole, both flegme, choller, and also waterish humours, and they are often vsed for this purpose by the Countrey people in some parts of Spaine.

The faculties of the rest are not knowne, nor written of by any as yet.

CHAP. 5. Of Bastard dwarfe Box.

¶ The Description.

THis which Clusius for want of a name calls Anonymos flore Coluteae Gesner cal∣led Chamaebuxus: to which 〈◊〉〈◊〉 addes flo∣re Coluteae; and Besler in his hortus Eystettensis, agreeable to the name I haue giuen it in En∣glish, calls it Pseudochamaebuxus. It is a small plant hauing many creping wooddy tough roots, here and there sending forth small fi∣bers; from these arise many tough bending branches some span long, hauing thicke sharpe pointed greene leaues, almost like those of Boxe, and these grow vpon the stalks without any order, and when you first chew them they are of an vngratefull taste, afterwards bitter and hot; at the tops of the branches, do come forth amongst the leaues three or foure longish floures, for the most part without smell; yet in some places they smell sweet, like as some of the Narcisses; they consist of three leaues apiece; two whereof are white, and spread abroad as wings, a whitish little hood couering their lower ends: the third is wrapt vp in forme of a pipe, with the end hollow & crooked, and

this is of a yellow colour, which by age oft times becomes wholly red: after those floures succeed cods, broad and flat, little lesse than those of the broad leaued Thlaspi, and greene of colour, rough, and in each of these cods are commonly contained a couple of seeds, of the bignes of little Chich∣lings, of a blackish ash colour, rough, and resembling a little dug.

This is sometimes found to vary, hauing the two winged leaues yellow or red, and the middle one yellow:

¶ The Place.

It floures in Aprill and May, and ripens the seed in Iune; it growes vpon most of the Austrian and Stirian Alpes, and in diuers places of Hungarie. It is neither vsed in Physicke, nor the facul∣ties thereof in medicine knowne.

CHAP. 6. Of Winged Bind weed, or Quamoclit

[illustration]

Quamoclit, sive Conuoluulus Pennatus. Winged Windeweed.

¶ The Description.

THe first that writ of and described this plant was 〈◊〉〈◊〉, & that by the name of Gelsiminum rubrum alterum: after him Ca∣merarius gaue a description and figure therof in his Hortus Medicus, by the name of Quamo∣clit: and after him Fabius Columna both figu∣red and described it more accurately, whose description is put to the figure of it (we here giue) in Clus. his Curaeposteriores. It is so tender a plant that it will not come to any perfecti∣on with vs, vnlesse in extraordinary hot yeres, and by other artificiall helps, wherefore I will borrow the description thereof out of Fabius Columna. This exoticke plant, saith he, cannot more fitly be referred to any kinde, than to the family of the 〈◊〉〈◊〉, or Bindweeds, for in the nature and whole habit it is almost like them, excepting the shape of the winged leaues: it is stored with lesse milk: the flours are long, hollow, but parted into fiue at the top, of a pleasing red colour, with streaked lines or folds, standing vpon long stalkes one or two together comming out of the bosomes of the leaues at each ioint of the branches, and they haue in them fiue yellowish pointalls; then succeeds a longish fruit standing in a sca∣ly cup, ending in a sharp pointall, and co∣uered with a tough skin, as that of the com∣mon Convoluulus, but lesser, hauing within it foure longish blacke hard seedes, of a biting taste. The leaues grow alternately out of the ioints of the purple winding branches, being winged and finely diuided, twise as small as the common Rheseda, of a darke greene colour, but the young ones are yellowish, first hauing a few diuisions, but afterwards more, till they come to haue thirteen on a side, and one at the top: but the lower ones are oft times forked: by reason of the great plenty of leaues and flouring stalks or branches, winding themselues about artificiall hoops, crossings, or other fashioned workes of Reeds, or the like, set for winding herbs to clime vpon, it much delights the eie of the beholder, and is therefore kept in pots in gardens of pleasure. The seed sowne in the beginning of the Spring growes vp in Iune, and the first leaues resemble the winged fruit of the Maple: it floures in the end of August, and ripens the seed in the end of September.

CHAP. 7. Of the sensitiue Herbe.

[illustration]

Herbamimosa. The sensitiue berbe.

[illustration]

〈◊〉〈◊〉 exactior icon. A perfect figure thereof.

¶ The Description.

THis which I here call the sensitiue herbe, is that which Christopher a Costa sets forth by the name of Herba mimosa, or the Mocking herbe, because when one puts his hand thereto it forthwith seemes to wither and hang downe the leaues; but when you take it away againe it re∣couers the pristine greenesse and vigor. I wil here giue you that which Acosta writes thereof, & the figure & historie which Clusius giues in his notes vpon him; and also another figure better expres∣sing the leaues and manner of growing. There is found (saith Acosta) in some Gardens another plant some fiue handfuls long, resting vpon the neighbouring shrubs or walls, hauing a slender stalke of a fresh greene colour, not very round, set at certaine spaces with small and pricking thornes: the leaues are not vnlike the former, [That is, the Herba viua, which in condition is little different from this] being somewhat lesser than those of the female Ferne. It loues to grow in moist and stony places, and is called Herbami∣mosa, for the reason formerly giuen. The nature hereof is much different from that of Arbor tri∣stis for euery night at Sun-set it as it were wi∣thers and dries, so that one would thinke it were dead, but at Sun-rise it recouers the former vigor, and by how much the Sun growes hotter, by so much it becomes the greener, and all the day it turnes the leaues to the Sun.

This plant hath the smell and taste of Li∣quorice, [ A] and the leaues are commonly eaten by the Indians against the cough, to clense the chest, & cleare the voice: it is also thought good against the paines of the kidneies, and to heale greene wounds. Thus much Acosta.

Now, saith Clusius, the leaues of many plants, especially pulses, vse to contract or shrinke vp their leaues in the night time. Now I receiued a dry plant, which was sent to me by the name of Herbamimosa, by Iames Garret in the end of Octo∣ber, 1599, which he writ he had of the right Honourable the Earle of Cumberland, who returning from Saint Iohn de Puerto rico in the West Indies, brought it put in a pot with some earth, but could not preserue it aliue. But I caused the figure of that dried plant to be expressed as well as it might, so to fit it to the description following, made also by the dried plant. This plant which was wholly drie and without leaues had a single root, and that not thick, but hard and wooddy, with few fibres, from whence arose three or foure short stalks, which straight diuided themselues into slender bran∣ches, which spread themselues round about vpon the ground, at each ioint putting forth many long and slender fibres, like as in the branches of the common Woodbinde, which lye vpon the ground: these branches were a cubit long, and sometimes more, round, tough, with some prickles, broader at their setting on, as you may see in the common bramble, yet lesser, fewer, & lesse firme; these againe were diuided into other more slender branches set with many little prickles, out of whose ioints be∣twixt two little leaues grew forth foot-stalks, bedeckt with their little leaues, which were many, set in order, with other to answer to them on the other side, but hauing no single leafe at the end: they were tender & green, not vnlike the little leaues of Acacia, & these (at their first comming out) coue∣red with a thin whitish hairines, as I gathered by a little branch retaining the foot-stalke and leaues thereon (which he sent with the former) and it had also some fibres comming forth thereof. He also added to the former two little heads, which growing vpon the same plant, he writ he receiued of the

forementioned right Honorable Earle, with some branches yet retaining the leaues. These little heads consisted of many slender, narrow, and as it were prickly little leaues; amongst which lay hid round seeds, smooth, blacke, and somewhat swoln in the middle: the floures I saw not, neither know 〈◊〉〈◊〉 whether they were brought with the rest: but whether the leaues of this plant being green, & yet growing on the ground, do wither at the approch of ones hand, as Christopher A Costa writes, and for that cause imposes the name thereon, they best know who haue seene the greene and yet growing plant: for the faculties you may haue recourse to that which A Costa hath set downe. Thus much out of Clusius.

Novemb. 7. 1632. I being with M^r. Iob Best at the Trinity house in Ratcliffe; among other varic∣ties, he shewed me a dry plant hereof, which I heedfully obserued, and carefully opening out some of the fairest leaues, which (as also the whole plant besides) were carelesly dried, I found the leaues grew vsually some dozen or more on a foot-stalke, iust as many on one side as on the other; & they were couered ouer with a little downines, which standing out on their edges made them look as if they had bin snipt about the edges, which they were not: also I found at euery ioint two little hoo∣ked prickles, & not two little leaues or appendices at the setting on of the foot-stalks, but three or foure little leaues, as the rudiment of a yong branch, comming forth at the bosom of each foot∣stalk: the longest branch (as far as I remember) was not aboue a span long; I then drew as perfect a fi∣gure as I could of the perfectest branch therof, drawing as 〈◊〉〈◊〉 as I could the leaues to their ful bignesse, the which I here present you withall. There are two figures formerly extant, the one this of 〈◊〉〈◊〉, which I here giue you, and the other in the 18. booke, & 144 chap. of the Hist. Lug which is out of A Costa, and this seems to be so far different from that of Clusius, that Bauhine in his Pinax saith, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 notis suis in Acostam diuer sam plane figuram proposuit, herbam minosam nominans: but he did not wel consider it, for if he had, he might haue found these so much different, thus far to agree; they both make the branches prickly & weak: the leaues many on one rib, one opposite to another with∣out an odde one at the end: but Clusius figures the leaues so close together, that they seem but one leafe, and Acosta makes them too far a sunder, and both of them make them too sharp pointed; Clus. made his be taken from a dried plant, and Acosta I iudg made his by the Idaea thereof which he had in his memorie, and after this manner, if my iudgement faile me not, are most of the figures in him exprest: but of this enough, if not too much.

CHAP. 8. Of the Staffe tree, and euer-greene Priuet.

[illustration]

1 Celastrus Theophrasti. The staffe tree.

[illustration]

2 Phillyrea 1. Clus. Clusius his 1. Mocke-Priuet.

¶ The Description.

1 THe history and figure of this tree are set forth in Clusius his Curae poster and there it is asserted to be the 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, or 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 of Theophrastus; for by diuers places in Theophrastus there collected, it is euident, that his Celastus was euer greene, grew vpon very high and cold mountaines, yet might be transplanted into plaine and milder places, that it floured ex∣ceeding late and could not perfect the fruit by reason of the nigh approch of winter, and that it was fit for no other vse but to make staues on for old men.

Now this tree growes but to a small height, hauing a firme and hard body, diuiding it selfe at the top into sundry branches, which being yonge are couered with a greene barke, but waxing old with a brownish one; it hath many leaues, growing alwaies one against another, and thicke toge∣ther, of a deepe shining greene aboue, and lighter vnderneath, keeping their verdure both Winter and Sommer: they are of the bignesse of those of 〈◊〉〈◊〉, not snipt about the edges, but onely a little nickt, when they are yet yong; at the top of the tenderest branches among the leaues, vpon footstalkes of some inch long, grow fiue or six little floures consisting commonly of fiue little leaues of a yellowish greene colour, and these shew themselues in the end of Autumne, or the be∣ginning of Winter, and also in the beginning of the Spring; but if the Sommer be cold and moist it shewes the buds of the sloures in October; the fruit growes on a short stalke and is a berry of the bignesse of the Myrtle, sirst green, then red, of the colour of that of Asparagus, and lastly blacke when it is withered: the stone within the berry is little, and as it were three cornered, conteining a kernell couered with a yellow filme. Where this growes wilde I know not, but it was first taken notice of in the publike Garden at the Vniuersitie of Leyden, from whence it was brought into some few gardens of this Kingdome.

2 The first Phyllyria of Clusius, may fitly be refer'd to the rest of the same tribe and name de∣scribed formerly in the 59. chapter of the the third booke. It growes somewhat taller than the Scarlet Oke, and hath branches of the thicknesse of ones thumbe or somewhat more, and those couered with a greene barke marked with whitish spots; the leaues somewhat resemble those of the Scarlet Oke, but greater, greener, thicker, somewhat prickley about the edges, of an astringent taste, but not vngratefull. The floure thereof Clusius did not see, the fruit is a little blacke berry, hanging downe out from the bosome of the leaues, and conteining a kernell or stone therein. It growes wilde in many wilde places of Portugale, where they call it Azebo.

The temperature and vertues are refer'd to those set downe in the formerly mentioned chapter.

CHAP. 9. Of Mocke-Willow.

[illustration]

Speiraea Theophrasti, Clus. Mocke-Willow.

¶ The Description.

THis Willow leaued shrub, which Clusius coniectures may be refer'd to the Speiraea mentioned by Theophrastus, lib. 1. cap. 23. hist∣plant. I haue named in English, Mocke-Wil∣low, how fitly I know not; but if any will im∣pose a fitter name I shall be well pleased there∣with; but to the thing it selfe. It is a shrub, (saith Clusius) some two cubits high, hauing slender branches or twigs couered ouer with a reddish barke, whereon grow many leaues without order, long, narrow, like those of the Willow, snipt about the edges, of a light green aboue, and of a blewish greene vnderneath, of a drying taste conjoyned with some bitternes. The tops of the branches for some fingers length carry thicke spikes of small floures clu∣stering together, and consisting of fiue leaues apiece, out of whose middle come forth many little threds of a whitish red or flesh colour, together with the floure, hauing no 〈◊〉〈◊〉

smell, but such as is in the floure of the Oliue tree; these floures fading there succeed small fiue cornered heads, which comming to full maturitie containe a small and yellowish dusty seed: it floures in Iuly, and ripens the seed in the end of August. Clusius had this plant from Fredericke 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Physition to the Duke of Briga, and that from Briga in Silesia, and he (as I said) refers it to the 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 of Theophrastus, which he reckons amongst the shrubs that carry spike fashioned floures.

This is not vsed in medicine, nor the Temperature and faculties thereof as yet knowne.

CHAP. 10. Of the Strawberry-Bay.

[illustration]

Adrachne Theophrasti. The Strawberry-Bay.

¶ The Description.

THe figure and history of this were sent by Honorius Bellus out of Candy to 〈◊〉〈◊〉, from whom I haue it. It is that which Theo∣phrastus calls Adrachne or (as most of the prin∣ted bookes haue it) Andrachne, but the former seemes the righter, and is the better liked by 〈◊〉〈◊〉, lib. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. cap. 22. At this day in Candy where it 〈◊〉〈◊〉 growes, it is called Adracla. It is rather a shrub than a tree, delighting in rockie and mountanous places, and keeping greene VVinter and Sommer, hauing leaues so like those of Bayes, that they are distinguishable only by the smell, which these are destitute of. The barke of the bole and all the branches is so smooth, red and shining, that they shew like branches of Corall, this barke crackes or breakes off in Sommer, and pills off in thinne fleakes, at which time it is neither red nor shi∣ning but in a meane betweene yellow and ash∣colour. It hath floures twice in a yeere like as the Arbutus, or Strawberry tree, and that so like it, that you can scarse know the one from the other; yet this differs from it in that it growes onely in the mountaines, hath not the leaues jagged, neither a rough barke; the wood hereof is very hard, and so brittle that it will not bend, and they vse it to burne and to make whorles for their womens spindles. Theophra∣stus reckons vp this tree amongst those which die not when their barkes are taken off, and are alwaies greene, and retaine their leaues at their tops all winter long: which to be so Honorius Bellus obserued. Bellonius also obserued this tree in many places of Syria.

The fruit in Temperature, as in shape, is like that of the Stawberry-tree.

CHAP. 11. Of the Cherry-Bay.

¶ The Description.

THe Cherry-bay is one of the euergreen trees: it rises vp 〈◊〉〈◊〉 an indifferent height, and is diuided into sundry branches, couered ouer with a swart green barke: that of the yonger shoots is wholly

green, the leaues alternately ingirt the branches, & they are long, smooth, thick, green, and shining, snipt also lightly about the edges: when the tree is growne to some height, at the tops of the bran∣ches amongst the leaues of the former yeares growth, vpon a sprig of some fingers length, it puts forth a great many little white floures, consisting of fiue leaues a piece, with many little chiues in them: these floures quickly fall away, and the fruit that succeeds them is a berry of an ovall figure, of the bignesse of a large Cherry or Damson, and of the same colour, and of a sweet and pleasant

[illustration]

Laurocerasi flos. The Cherry-bay in floure.

[illustration]

〈◊〉〈◊〉 fructus. The Cherry-bay with the fruit.

taste, with a stone in it like to a Cherry stone. This floures in May, and ripens the fruit in August or September: it was first sent to Clusius from Constantinople, and that by the name of Trabison cur∣masi. 1. Trapezuntina dactylus, the Date of Trapeson; but it hath no affinitie with the Date. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 refers it to the second Lotus mentioned by Theophrastus, hist. plant. lib. 4. cap. 4. but therewith it doth not agree. Clusius and most since, cal it fitly Laurocerasus, or 〈◊〉〈◊〉 folio Laurino. It is now got into many of our choise English gardens, where it is well respected for the beauty of the leaues and their lasting or continuall greenenesse.

The fruit hereof is good to be eaten, but what physicall vertues the tree or leaues thereof haue, it is not yet knowne.

CHAP. 12. Of the Euer-greene Thorne.

THis plant which Lobel and some other late writers haue called by the name of Pyracantha, is the Oxyacantha mentioned by Theophrastus, lib. 1. cap. 15. lib. 3. cap. 4. hist. plant. among the euer green trees, and I thinke rather this than our white Thorn to be the Oxyacantha of 〈◊〉〈◊〉, lib. 1. c. 123. and certainely it was no other than this Thorne which Virgil makes mention of by the name of Acanthus, lib. 2. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. in these words, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 semper frondentis Acanthi. That is, And the berries of the 〈◊〉〈◊〉-greene Thorn.

[illustration]

Oxyacantha Theophrasti. The Euer-greene Thorne.

¶ The Description.

THis growes vp like a bush, vnlesse you keepe it with 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and then it will 〈◊〉〈◊〉 time grow to the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of a smal tree, as the Hawthorne, whereto it is of affinitie, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the wood is white and hard, like it, and couered ouer with the like barke; but the leaues are somwhat like those of the Damson tree, lon∣gish, sharp pointed, and snipt about the ed∣ges: & they grow alongst the branches, with∣out any order, yet sometimes they keep this maner of growing: at each knot, where com∣monly there is a sharpe prickle, growes out one of the larger leaues, which may be some inch and halfe long, and some three quarters of an inch broad: then vpon the prickle, and at the comming out therof are three or soure, more or lesse, much smaller leaues: now these leaues are of a 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and shining green aboue, but paler vnderneath, and they keep on al the yeare: At the ends, and oft times in the mid∣dles of the branches come forth clusters or vmbels of little whitish blush coloured floures, consisting of fiue leaues apiece, with some little chiues in their middles: then follow clusters of berries, in shape, taste, and bignesse like those of the Hawthorne, and of the same, but much more orient and pleasing colour, and containing in 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the like seed: now these berries hang long vpon the tree, & make a gallant shew amongst the greene leaues, and chiefely then, when as the Au∣tumne blasts haue depriued other trees of their wonted verdure. This floures in May and Iune, and ripens the fruit in September and October: it growes wilde in sundry places of Italy, and Prouince in France, but is kept in gardens with vs, where it is held in good esteeme for his euer greenesse and pliablenesse to any worke or forme you desire to impose vpon him.

The fruit haue the same faculties that are formerly attributed to Hawes, in the foregoing booke, pag. 1328. and therefore I will not here repeat them.

CHAP. 13. Of the Aegyptian Nap, or great 〈◊〉〈◊〉 tree.

¶ The Description.

THis tree, which for his leaues and manner of growing I thinke may fitly be referred to the Iu∣iubes tree, is of two sorts; that is, the one prickly, and the other not prickly, in other respects they are both alike, so that one figure and historie may serue for them both; which I will giue you 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of Clusius, who receiued this figure together with a description thereof from Honorius Bellus, and also added therto that which Prosper Alpin. hath written of it in his 5. chap. de Plant. Aegypt. It grows to the height of an indifferent Peare-tree, and the bodie and branches thereof are couered with a whitish ash coloured barke: the leaues are like those of the Iuiubes tree, two inches long, and one broad, with three nerues running alongst them; of a deepe shining greene aboue, and more whitish vnderneath: and they grow alternately vpon the branches: and at their comming forth grow 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of little white floures hanging vpon single long foot-stalks: after these followes the fruit like vnto a small Apple, of the bignesse for the most part of a large Cherry, and sometimes as big as a VVal∣nut, of a sweet taste, containing therein a kernell or stone like that of an Oliue. It beares 〈◊〉〈◊〉 twise a yeare, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 it hath ripe fruit both in the Spring and sall; yet the vernall fruit seldom comes to good,

[illustration]

Oenoplia non spinosa. The great Iuiubes tree.

by reason of the too much moisture of the sea∣son, which causes it to become worme-eaten. The Thorny kinde is described by Alpinus, who rightly iudges it the Connarus of 〈◊〉〈◊〉, but the figure he giues is not very accurate. That which wants prickles growes (as well as the prickly one) in Aegypt and Syria, as also in the city Rhetimo in Candy, whither it was brought out of Syria.

The historie of both these trees is in Sera∣pio by the name of Sadar: but he, according to his custome confounds it with the Lotus of Di∣oscorides, from which it very much differs. Bello∣nius in his second booke, and 79. chap. of his Obseruations, reckons vp Napeca amongst the trees that are alwaies greene: which is true, in those that grow in Egypt and Syria; but false in such as grow in Candy. That tree in Aegypt and Syria is called Nep, or Nap. Alpinus calls it Paliurus Athenaet, or Nab∣ca 〈◊〉〈◊〉, thinking it (as I formerly said) the Connarus mentioned in the 14. booke of Athenaeus his Deipnosophists.

¶ The Vertues out of Alpinus. [ A]

The fruit is of a cold and dry facultie, and the vnripe ones are frequently vsed to streng∣then the stomacke, and stop lasks: the iuice of them being for this purpose either taken by the mouth, or injected by clyster: of the same fruit dried and macerated in water, is made an infusi∣on profitable against the relaxation and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 [ B] of the guts.

The decoction or infusion of the ripe dried fruit, is of a very frequent vse against all pesti∣lent feuers: for 〈◊〉〈◊〉 affirme that this fruit hath a wonderfull efficacie against venenate qualities, and putrifaction, and that it powerfully streng [ C] thens the heart.

Also the iuice of the perfectly ripe fruit is very good to purge choler forth of the stomacke and first veines: and they willingly vse an infusion made of them in all putride feuers to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 their heate or burning.

CHAP. 14. Of the Persian Plum.

¶ The Description.

1 THis tree is thought by Clusius (to whom I am beholden for the historie and figure) to be the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 arbor mentioned by Pliny and 〈◊〉〈◊〉, but he somewhat doubts whither it be that which is mentioned by Theophrastus. Dioscorides also, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and Strabo make mention of the Persea arbor, and they all make it a tree alwaies greene, hauing a longish fruit shut vp in the shell and coat of an Almond: with which how this agrees you may see by this description of Clusius.

This tree (saith he) is like to a Peare tree, spreading it selfe far abroad, and being alwaies green, hauing branches of a yellowish green colour. The leaues are like those of the broadest leaued Bay∣tree, greene aboue, and of a grayish colour vnderneath, firm, hauing some nerues running 〈◊〉〈◊〉, of a good taste and smell, yet biting the tongue with a little astriction. The floures are like those of the Bay, growing many thicke together, and consist of six small whitish yellow leaues. The fruit at the first is like a Plum, and afterwards it becomes Peare fashioned, of a blacke colour, and pleasant taste: it hath in it a heart 〈◊〉〈◊〉 kernell, in taste not vnlike a Chesnut, or sweet Almond. I found it flouring in the Spring, and I vnderstood the fruit was ripe in Autumne, by the relation of 〈◊〉〈◊〉.

[illustration]

Persea arbor. The Persian Plum.

Iohn Placa, Physition and Professor of 〈◊〉〈◊〉, who shewed me the tree growing in the garden of a Monasterie a mile from Valen∣tia, brought thither, as they say, out of Ame∣rica, and he said they called it 〈◊〉〈◊〉: but the Spaniards who haue described America giue this name to another tree. But diuers yeares after, I vnderstood by the most lear∣ned Simon de Tovar, a Physition of Ciuil, who hath the same tree in his garden, with other exoticke plants, that it is not called Mamay, but Aguacate. Thus much out of Clusius; where such as are desirous, may finde more largely handled the question, whither this be the Persea of the Antients or no? Rariorum plan. Hist. l. 1. c. 2.

CHAP. 15. Of Gesners wilde Quince.

¶ The Description.

[illustration]

Cotonaster Gesneri. Gesners wilde Quince

THe shrub which I here figure out of Clu∣sius, is thought both by him and others, to be the Cotonastrum or Cidonago, mentioned by Gesner in his Epistles, lib. 3. pag. 88. It hath branches some cubit long, tough, and bare of leaues in their lower parts, couered with a blacke barke: and towards the tops of the branches grow leaues somewhat like those of Quinces: of a darke greene aboue, and whitish vnderneath, snipt about the ed∣ges: at the tops of the branches grow vsually many floures, consisting of fiue purplish co∣loured leaues a piece, with some threddes in their middles: these decaying, vnder them grow vp red dry berries without any pulp or iuice, each of them containing foure triangu∣lar seeds. Clusius found this flouring in Iune vpon the tops of the Austrian Alpes, and he questions whether it were not this which Bel∣lonius found in the mountains of Candy, and called Agriomaelea, lib. 1. cap. 17. This is not v∣sed in Physicke, nor the faculties thereof knowne.

CHAP. 16. Of Tamarindes.

[illustration]

Tamarindus. The Tamarinde.

[illustration]

Tamarindi siliqua. The cod of the Tamarinde.

¶ The Description.

TAmarinds, which at this day are a medicine frequently vsed, and vulgarly knowne in shops, were not knowne to the antient Greekes, but to some of the later, as Actuarius, and that by the name of Oxyphoenicae, that is, soure Dates, drawne as it may seeme from the Arabicke ap∣pellation, Tamarindi, that is, Indian Date: but this name is vnproper, neither tree nor fruit being of any affinitie with the Date, vnlesse the Arabicke Tamar be a word vsed in composition for fruits of many kindes, as the Greeke 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, the Latine Malum, and Apple with vs in English; for we call the Cone of the Pine, and excrescence of the Oke leafe, by the name of Pine Apple, and Oke Ap∣ple. But how soeuer it be, it is no matter for the name, whether it be proper or no, if so be that it serue to distinguish the thing from others, and we know what is denoted by it. In Malauar they call it Puti: in Guzarat, Ambili, by which name it is knowne in most parts of the East Indies. This tree is thus described by Prosper Alpinus, de Plant. Aegypti, cap. 10. The Tamarind (saith he) is a tree of the bignesse of a Plum tree, with many boughes and leaues like those of the Myrtle, many standing vpon one rib [one against another, with a single one at the end:] it carrieth white floures very like those of the Orange tree: out of whose middle comes forth foure white and very slender threds: after these come thicke and large cods, at first greene, but when they are ripe of an ash colour; and within these are contained thicke, hard, brownish, cornered seeds, and a blacke a∣cide pulpe. These trees grow in some few gardens of Egypt, whither they haue bin brought out of Arabia and Ethiopia. This plant hath this strange qualitie that the leaues alwaies follow the Sun, and when it sets they all contract themselues, and open out themselues againe at the rising there∣of; and there is obserued to be such force in this motion, that they closely shut vp and hold their cods (if any be on the tree) and then at the rising of the Sun they forgoe them againe. But I haue obserued this folding vp of the leaues to be common to diuers other Egyptian plants, as Acatia, 〈◊〉〈◊〉, 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and Sesban. Thus much 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of Alpinus.

The figure I here giue in the first place, out of Lobel, is of a plant some six moneths old, arisen of a seed: and such by sowing of seeds I haue seene growing in the garden of my deceased friend M^r. Tuggy, but they still died at the first approch of Winter. The other figure expresses the cods, and some of the seeds apart, taken forth of the cods: now the cods are neuer brought whole to vs, but the vtter rindes are taken off, and the strings or nerues that runne alongst the cods: the pulpe and seeds in it are close thrust together, and so are brought to vs in pots and such like vessels.

¶ The Temperature and Vertues.

The fruit or pulpe of Tamarindes is cold and dry in the third degree: it is of good vse in cho∣lericke [ A] diseases, as burning Feuers, Tertians, and the like: it is a lenitiue and very gently purging medicine and therefore vsed to be put into medicines seruing to that purpose.

They vse (saith Alpinus) the leaues of Tamarindes to kill wormes in young children; and also [ B] their infusion or decoction to loosen the belly: the leaues are acide, and not vnpleasant vnto the taste.

The Arabians preserue the small and yet greene cods of this tree, as also the ripe ones, either [ C] with sugar, or the honey boiled out of the fruit of the Carob tree: they also mix the pulpe with su∣gar, which trauellers carry with them in their iournies through the desart places of 〈◊〉〈◊〉, where∣with they being dry or ouerheated, may quench their thirst, coole and refresh themselues, and also euacuate many hot humors by stoole.

In pestilent and all other burning putrid feuers they drinke the water with sugar, wherein a good [ D] quantitie of Tamarinds haue been infused; for it is a drinke very pleasant to such as are thirsty by reason of too much heate, for it powerfully cooles and quenches thirst.

They are also vsed in all putrid feuers caused by cholericke and adust humors, and also against [ E] the hot distempers and inflammations of the liuer and reines, and withall against the Gonorrhaea.

Some also commend them against obstructions, the dropsie, iaundice, and the hot distempers [ F] of the Spleene: they conduce also to the cure of the itch, scab, leprosie, tetters, and all such vlce∣rations of the skin which proceed of adust humors.

They are not good for such as haue cold stomacks, vnlesse their coldnesse be corrected by put∣ting [ G] to them Mace, Anise seeds, Squinanth, or such like.

CHAP. 17. Of the Mamoera, the Male and Female.

¶ The Description.

THe historie of these two trees, together with the figures I here giue you, are in the Curae Po∣steriores of Clusius, from whence I will take as much as concernes their history, and briefely here giue it you.

That of the Poet (saith he) is most true, Non omnis fert omnia tellus: for I thinke there is no pro∣uince to be found, which produces not some peculiar plant not growing in other regions, as they can testifie who haue trauelled ouer forrein countries, especially if they haue applied themselues to the obseruation of plants. Amongst such I thinke I may reckon that honest and courteous man Iohn Van Vfele, who returning out of that part of America called Brasile, shewed me in the yeare 1607. a booke, wherein he in liuely colours had exprest some plants and liuing creatures: for as he told me, when he purposed to trauell he learned to paint, that so he might expresse in colours, for his memorie and delight after he was returned home, such singularities as he should 〈◊〉〈◊〉 a∣broad. Now amongst those which hee in that booke had expressed, I obserued two very singular, and of a strange nature, whose figures without any difficultie he bestowed vpon me, as also the fol∣lowing historie.

These two trees, whose figures you see here exprest, are of the same kinde, and differ only in sex; for the one of them, to wit the male, is barren, and only carries floures, without any fruit; but the female onely fruit, and that without floure: yet they say they are so louing, and of such a nature, that if they be set far asunder, and the female haue not a male neere her, shee becomes barren, and beares no fruit: of which nature they also say the Palme is.

Now the bole or trunke of that tree which beares the fruit is about two foot thicke, and it grow∣eth some nine foot high before it begin to beare fruit; but when it hath acquired a iust magnitude, then shall you see the vpper part of the tree laden with fruit, and that it will be as it were thicke

girt about therewith for some nine foot high more: the fruit is round and globe-fashioned, of the shape and magnitude of a small gourd, hauing when it is ripe a yellowish pulpe, which the inha∣bitants vse to eate to loosen their bellies: this fruit contains many kernels of the bignes of a smal pease, blacke and shining, of novse that he could learne, but which were cast away as vnnecessary: the leaues come forth amongst the fruit, growing vpon long foot-stalkes, and they in shape much resemble the Plane tree or great Maple.

[illustration]

Mamoera mas. The male Dug tree.

[illustration]

Mamoera 〈◊〉〈◊〉. The female Dug tree.

What name the Brasilians giue it he could not tell, but of the Portugals that dwelt there it was called Mamoera, and the fruit Mamaon, of the similitude I thinke they haue with dugs, which by the Spaniards are called 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and Tetas.

There is no difference in the forme of the trunke or leaues of the male and female, but the male only carries floures hanging downe, clustering together vpon long stalks like to the floures of El∣der, but of a whitish yellow colour, and these vnprofitable, as they affirme.

Both these trees grow in that part of America wherein is scituate the famous Bay called by the Portugals, Baya de todos los 〈◊〉〈◊〉, lying about thirteene degrees distant from the Equator towards the Antarticke pole.

CHAP. 18. Of the Cloue-Berry Tree.

¶ The Description.

I Must also abstract the historie of this out of the Works of the learned and diligent Clusius, who sets it forth in his Exoticks, lib. 1. cap. 17. in the next chapter after Cloues.

I put (saith he) the description of this fruit next after the historie of Cloues, both for the

[illustration]

Amomum quorundam, fortè Garyophyllon Plinij. The Cloue-berry tree.

affinitie of smell it hath with Cloues, as also for another cause, which I will shew hereafter. Iames Garret in the yeare 1601 sent me from London this round fruit, commonly bigger than Pepper cornes, yet some lesse, wrinkled, of a brownish colour, sufficiently fragile; which opened, I found contained a seed round, black, which might be diuided into two parts, of no lesse aro∣maticke taste and smell than the fruit it selfe, and in some sort resembling that of Cloues: it growes in bunches or clusters, as I coniectured by many berries which yet kept their stalks & two or three which stucke to one little stalke: to these were added leaues of one form, but of much dif∣ferent bignes, for some of them were seuen inches long, and three broad; some onely fiue inches long, and two and a half broad; others did not exceed 3 inches in length, and these were not two inches broad; and some a so were much lesse and narrower than these, especially those that were found mixed with the berries, differing according to the place in the boughes or branches which they possest. I obserued none among them which had snipt leaues, but smooth, with many small veines running obliquely from the middle rib to the sides, with their points now narrower, otherwhiles broader, and roundish: they were of a brownish ash colour, of a sufficient acride taste: the branches which were added to the rest were slender, quadran∣gular, couered with a barke of an ash colour, and those were they of a yeares growth; for those that were of an after growth were brownish, and they had yet remaining the prints where the leaues had growne, which for the most part were one against another, and these also were of an acride taste, as well as the leaues, and of no vngratefull smell.

I receiued the same fruit some yeares before, but without the stalks, and with this question pro∣pounded by him which sent it, An Amomum? And certainly the faculties of this fruit are not very much vnlike those which Dioscorides attributes to his Amomum; for it hath an heating astrictiue and drying facultie, and I thinke it may performe those things whereto Dioscorides, Lib. 1. Cap. 14. saith his is good; yet this wanteth some notes which he giues vnto his, as the leaues of Bryonie, &c.

But I more diligently considering this Exoticke fruit, finde some prime notes which do much moue me (for I will ingenuously professe what I thinke) to iudge it the Garyophyllon of Pliny; for he, Hist. Nat. lib. 12. cap. 7. after he hath treated of Pepper addes these words: [There is besides in the Indies a thing like to the Pepper corne, which is called Garyophyllon, but more great and fragil: they affirme it growes in an Indian groue; it is brought ouer for the smels sake.] Though this de∣scription be briefe and succinct, neither containes any faculties of the fruit it selfe, yet it hath manifest notes, which, compared with those which the fruit I here giue you possesse, you shal find them very like; as comparing them to Pepper cornes, yet bigger and more fragile, as for the most part these berries are: their smell is also very pleasing, and comming very neere to that of Cloues, and for the smells sake only they were brought ouer in Plinies time. I found, this fruit being chew∣ed made the breath to smell well: and it is credible, that it would be good for many other purpo∣ses, if triall were made.

CHAP. 19. Of Guaiacum, or Indian, Pock-wood.

[illustration]

Guaiaci arboris ramulus. A branch of the Guaiacum tree.

¶ The Description.

GVaiacum, which some call Lignum San∣ctum: others, Lignum vitae, is a well kown wood, though of a tree nknown, or at least not certainly knowne; for this fi∣gure which I here giue you out of Clusius, was gotten, and the historie framed as you shall heare by his own words, taken out of his Scho∣lia vpon the 21 Chapter of Monardus. About the beginning (saith he) of the yeare 1601. I receiued from Peter Garret a branch of a foot long, which he writ was giuen him by a cer∣taine Surgeon lately returned from America, for a branch of the tree Guaiacum: which if it be a branch of the true Guaiacum, then hath Nicolas Monardus sleightly enough set downe the historie of this tree. I thus described this branch which was sent me.

This branch was a foot long, very writhen, and distinguished with many knots, scarse at the lower end equalling the thicknesse of a writing pen or goose quil, hauing an hard and yellowish wood, and a wrinkled barke o an ash colour: at the vpper end it was diuided into slender branches, whereof some yet retai∣ned their leaues, and other some the floures and the rudiment of the fruit: the leaues, or more truly the wings or foot-stalkes of the leaues grew vpon slender branches one against another, each winged leafe hauing foure or 〈◊〉〈◊〉 little leaues, alwaies growing by couples one against other, as in the Masticke tree; and these were thickish, round, and distinguished with many veines, which by reason of their drinesse (as I obserued) would easily fall off, leauing the footstalks naked, and onely retaining the markes whereas the leaues had beene. In the knots of the vpper branches there grew as it were swellings, out of which together grew six, eight, ten, or more slender foot-stalkes, some inch long, each carrying a floure not great, consisting of six little leaues (but whether white, yellow, or blew, I could not by reason of the drinesse iudge:) out of the middle of the floure grew many little threds, and in some the rudiment of the fruit began to ap∣peare, hauing two cels, almost shaped like the seed-vessell of the common Shepheards purse.

Thus much Clusius, who afterwards receiued the fruit from two or three, but the most perfect from the learned Apothecarie Iohn Pona of Verona: they are commonly parted into two parts or cels, yet he obserued one with three: he found longish stones in them almost like those of Euonymus, and they consisted of a very hard and hairy substance like to that of the Date stones, containing a smooth kernel of a yellowish colour.

Now will I giue you the descriptions of Monardus: then, what I haue obserued my selfe of this wood, which I must confesse is very little, yet which may giue some light to the ignorant. Of this wood (saith Monardus) many haue written many waies, saying that it is either Ebonie, or a kinde of Box, or calling it by some other names. But as it is a new kinde of tree, not found in these regi∣ons, or any other of the whole world described by the Antients, but only those of late discouered; so this shall be a new tree to vs: howeuer it be, it is a large tree of the bigues of the Ilex, ful of bran∣ches, hauing a great matrix or blackish pith, the substance of the wood being harder than Ebonie: the barke is thicke, gummie or fat, and when the wood is dry falleth easily off: the leaues are smal and hard: the floure yellow: the which is followed by a round follid fruit, containing in it seeds like those of the Medlar.

It growes plentifully in the Isles of Sancto Domingo,

Another kinde of this was afterwards found in the Island of S. Iohn de Puerto rico, neere to the former: it is also like the last described, but altogether lesse, and almost without matrix or pith, smelling stronger, and being bitterer than the former, which being left, this is now in vse, and of the wondrous effects it is called Lignum sanctum; neither without desert, being (experience giuing testimonie) it excells the other: yet both their faculties are admirable in curing the French dis∣ease, and therefore the water or decoction of both of them are drunke, either mixed together, or se∣uerally, both for the cure of the forementioned disease, as also against diuers other affects. Thus much for Monardus his description.

The wood which is now in vse with vs is of a large tree, whose wood is very heauy, sollid, and fit to turne into bowles or the like, and all that I haue yet seene hath been wholly without matrix or pith, and commonly it is of a darke brownish colour, somewhat inclining to yellow, hauing a ring of white ingirting it next to the barke; I haue obserued a tree whose diametre hath been two foot and a quarter, to haue had as little or lesse of this white wood as one whose diameter was thirteene inches; and this which was thirteene inches had only a white circle about it of one inch in bredth: I thinke the yonger the tree is, the bigger the white circle is: the best wood is dense, heauy, brow∣nish, leauing a quicke and biting taste in the decoction, as also his smell and colour. The barke of this wood is also dense and heauy, of a hard substance and yellowish colour within, but rough and greenish, or else grayish without, and of somewhat a bitterish taste. Thus much for the de∣scription of the wood and his barke. Now let me say somewhat briefely of the temperature and qualities.

The Temperature and Vertues.

It is iudged to be hot and dry in the second degree: it hath a drying, attenuating, dissoluing, and [ A] clensing facultie, as also to moue sweat, and resist contagion and putrefaction.

The decoction of the barke or wood of Guajacum, made either alone or with other ingredients, [ B] as shall be thought most fit for the temper and age of the Patient, is of singular vse in the cure of the French Poxes, and it is the most antient and powerfull antidote that is yet known against that disease. I forbeare to specifie any particular medicine made thereof, because they are wel enough knowne to all to whom this knowledge belongs, and they are aboundantly set downe by all those that haue treated of that disease.

It also conduceth to the cure of the dropsie, Asthma, Epilepsie, the diseases of the bladder and [ C] reines, paines of the ioints, flatulences, crudities, and lastly all chronicall diseases proceeding from cold and moist causes: for it oftentimes workes singular effects whereas other medicines lit∣tle preuaile.

It doth also open the obstructions of the liuer and spleene, warmes and comforts the stomacke [ D] and all the intrals, and helps to free them of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 grosse viscous matter which may be apt to breed diseases in them.

CHAP. 20. Of the Guayaua, or Orange-Bay.

¶ The Description.

SImon de Touar sent Clusius a branch of the tree which the Spaniards call Guayauas, from which he drew this figure, and thus describes it. This branch (saith Clusius) whose vpper part together with the fruit I caused to be drawne, was some foot long, foure square, alternately set with leaues growing by couples, being foure inches long, and one and a halfe or two broad, of the forme of Bay leaues, very firme, hauing a swelling rib running alongst the lower side, with veins running obliquely from thence to the sides, of an ash or grayish colour beneath, but smooth aboue, with the veines lesse appearing; which broken, though old, yet retained the smell of Bay leaues, and also after some sort the taste: the fruit was smooth, yet shriueled, because peraduenture it was vnripe, of the bignesse of a small apple, longish, blackish on the out side like a ripe plum, but within full of a reddish pulpe, of an acide taste; and in the middle were many whitish seeds of the bignesse of Miller, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 those that are in Figs.

Nicolas Monardus (as he is turned into Latine by Clusius) thus giues vs the historie of Guayauas, in his sixty sourth Chapter. It is a tree, saith he, of an indifferent bignesse, and hath spreading branches, the leafe of the Bay, and a white floure, like that of the Orange, yet somewhat bigger,

[illustration]

Guayavae arboris ramus. The Orange-Bay.

and well smelling; it easily growes, whereso∣euer it be sowne, and so spreds and creepes that it is accounted as a weed, for it spoiles the grasse of many pastures, with the too much spreading as brambles do; the fruit is like to our apples, of the bignesse of those the Spaniards call Camuesas, green at the first, and of a golden colour when they be ripe, with their inner pulpe white, and sometimes red; diuided: it hath foure cells, wherein lie the seeds, like those of the Medlers, very hard, of a brownish colour, wholly stony, without ker∣nell and taste.

The fruit is vsually eaten, the rinde being [ A] first taken off; it is pleasing to the palate, wholesome and easie of concoction; being greene it is good in fluxes of the belly, for it powerfully bindes; and ouer, or throughly ripe it looseth the belly; but betweene both, that it is neither too greene, nor ouer-ripe, if rosted, it is good both for sound and sicke; for so handled it is wholesommer, and of a more pleasing taste; that also is the better which is gathered from domesticke and hus∣banded trees. The Indians profitably bathe their swolne legges in the decoction of the leaues; and by the same they free the spleene from obstruction. The fruit seemes to be cold, wherefore they giue it rosted to such as are in feuers. It growes commonly in all the VVest Indies. Thus much Monardus.

CHA. 21. Of the Corall tree.

¶ The Description.

THe same last mentioned Simon de Touar a learned and prime Physition of Ciuill sent Clusius three or foure branches of this tree, from whence he framed this history and figure. He writ (saith Clus.) that this tree grew in his garden, sprung vp of seeds sent from America, which had the name of Corall imposed on them, by reason the floures were like Corall, but he did not set downe there shape; writing onely this in his letter: That he had two little shrubs, which had borne floures, and that the greater of them bore also cods full of large beanes, but in the extreme Winter, which they had the yeere before, he lost not onely that tree, and others sprung vp of Indian seed, but also many other plants. Now seeing that this tree carries coddes, I coniecture the floures were in forme not vnlike to those of Pease, or of the tree called Arbor Iudae, but of another colour, to wit, red like Corall, especially seeing that in the catalogue of his garden which hee sent me the yeere before, he had writ thus [Arbor Indica dicta Coral, ob eius florem similem Corallo, &c. that is, An Indian tree called Corrall, by reason of the floure like to Corrall, whose leaues are ve∣ry like those of the Arbor Iudae, but this hath thornes, which that wants.] And verily the bran∣ches which he sent (for he writ he sent the branches with the leaues, but the tree brought 〈◊〉〈◊〉 some twice or thrice as bigge) had leaues not much vnlike those of Arbor Iudae, but fastened to a shorter footstalke and growing one against another, with a single one at the end of the branch, which was here and there set with sharpe and crooked prickles; but whether these branches are onely the stalkes of the leaues, or perfect branches, I doubt, because all that hee sent had three leaues apiece; I could easily persuade my selfe, that they were onely leaues, seeing the vpper part ended in one leafe; and the lower end of one among the rest, yet shewed the place where it seemed it grew to the bough. But I affirme nothing, seeing there was none whereof I could inquire, by

[illustration]

Coral arboris ramus. A branch of the Corall tree.

reason of his death who sent them m e, which hapned shortly after; yet I haue made the forme of the leaues with the manner as I con∣iectured they grow, to be delineated in the fi∣gure which I here giue you. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Matthi∣olus in his last edition of his Commentaries vpon Dioscorides would haue 〈◊〉〈◊〉 this, by the Icon of his first Acacia, which is prickly, and hath leaues resembling those of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉, I know not; but if he would haue expres∣sed this tree, the painter did not well play his part.

After that Clusius had set forth thus much of this tree in his Hist. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉. the lear∣ned D^r. Castaneda a Physition also of Ciuill certified me, saith he, that the floures of this tree grow thicke together at the tops of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 branches, ten, twelue, or more hanging vpon short foot-〈◊〉〈◊〉, growing out of the same place: whose figure he also sent, but so rudely drawne, that I could not thereby haue come to any knowledge of the floures, but that 〈◊〉〈◊〉 therewith sent me two dried floures, by which I partly gathered their form. Now these flours were very narrow, 2. inches long or more, con∣sisting of three leaues, the vppermost of which much exceeded the 2. narrow ones on the sides both in length and breadth, and it was dou∣bled; but before the floure was opened it bet∣ter resembled a horne or cod, than a floure, and the lower end of it stood in a short green cup, in the middest of the floure vnder the vpper leafe that was folded, but open at the top; there came forth a smooth pointall, diuided at the top into nine parts or threds, who se ends of what colour they were, as also the threds, I know not, because I could not gather by the dry floure, whose co∣lour was quite decayed, and the picture it self expressed no separation of the leaues in the floure, no forme of threds, but onely the floures shut, and resembling rather cods than floure, sand those of a deepe red colour. But if I could haue seen them fresher, I should haue been able to haue giuen a more exact description: wherefore let the reader take in good 〈◊〉〈◊〉 that which I haue here 〈◊〉〈◊〉. Thus much Clusius.

CHAP. 22. Of the sea Lentill.

¶ The Description.

SOme call this Vna marina, and others haue thought it the Lenticula marina of Serapio, but they are deceiued, for his Lenticula marina described in his 245. chapter, is nothing else than the Muscus marinus or Bryon thalassion, described by Dioscorides, lib. 4. cap. 99. as any that compares these two places together may plainely see.

1 The former of these hath many winding stalkes, whereon grow short branches set thick with narrow leaues like those of Beluidere, or Besome flax, and among these grow many skinny, hollow, empty round berries of the bignesse and shape of Lentills, whence it takes the name: this growes in diuers places of the Mediterranian and Adriaticke seas.

2 This differs little from the former, but that the leaues are broader, shorter, and snipt about the edges. But this being in probabilitie the Sargazo of Acosta, you shall here what he saies thereof. In that famous and no lesse to be feared nauigation del Sergazo (for so they which saile into the Indies call all that space of the Ocean from the 18. to the 34. degree of Northerly latitude) is seen a deepe and spatious sea couered with an 〈◊〉〈◊〉 called Sarguazo, being a span long, wrapped with the tender branches as it were into balls, hauing narrow and tender leaues some halfe inch long,

[illustration]

1 Lenticula marina angustifolia. Narrow leaued Sea Lentill.

[illustration]

2 Lenticula marina serratis 〈◊〉〈◊〉. Cut leaued Sea Lentill.

much snipt about the edges, of colour reddish, of taste insipide, or without any sensible biting, but what is rather drawne from the salt water, than naturally inherent in the plant. At the setting on of each leafe growes a seed round like a pepper corne, of a whitish colour, and sometimes of white and red mixed, very tender when as it is first drawne forth of the water, but hard when it is dried, but by reason of the thinnesse very fragile, and full of salt water: there is no root to be obserued in this plant, but only the marks of the breaking off appeares; and it is likely it 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in the deepe and sandy bottome of the sea, and hath small roots; yet some are of opinion that this herb is pluc∣ked vp and carried away by the rapide course of waters that fall out 〈◊〉〈◊〉 many Islands into the Oce∣an. Now the Master of the ship wherein I was did stiffely maintaine this opinion; and in the sai∣ling here we were becalmed; but as far as euer wee could see wee saw the sea wholly couered with this plant, and sending down some yong Sailers which should driue the weeds from the ship, and clense the water, we plainly saw round heapes thereof rise vp from the bottom of the sea where by sounding we could finde no bottome.

This plant pickled with salt and vineger hath the same tast as Sampier, and may be vsed in stead [ A] thereof, and also eaten by such as saile, in place of Capers. I willed it should be giuen newly taken forth of the sea, to Goats which we carried in the ship, and they fed vpon it greedily.

I found no faculties thereof; but one of the Sailers troubled with a difficultie of making water, [ B] casting out sand and grosse humors, ate thereof by chance both raw and boiled, onely for that the taste thereof pleased him: 〈◊〉〈◊〉 a few dayes hee told to me that he found great good by the eating thereof, and he tooke some of it with him, that so he might vse it when he came ashore. Hitherto A Costa.

CHAP. 23. Of the Sea Feather.

[illustration]

Myriophyllum marinum. The Sea Feather.

¶ The Description.

THis elegant plant, which Clusius re∣ceiued from Cortusus by the name of Myriophyllum Pelagicum, is thus described by him: As much (saith hee) as I could coniecture by the picture, this was some cubit high, hauing a straight stalke, suffi∣ciently slender, diuided into many bran∣ches, or rather branched leaues, almost like those of Ferne, but far finer, bending their tops like the branches of the Palme, of a yellowish colour: the top of the stalk adorned with lesser leaues, ended in cer∣taine scales or cloues framed into a head; which are found to containe no other seed than tender plants already formed, in shape like to the old one: which falling, sinke to the bottome of the sea, and there take root and grow, and so become of the same magnitude as the old one from whence they came. The stalke is fastned with most slender and more than capilla∣rie fibres, in stead of a root, not vpon rocks and Oister shells, as most other sea plants are, but vpon sand or mud in the bottome of the sea: this stalke when it is drie is no lesse brittle than glasse or Coralline; but greene and yet growing it is as tough and flexible as Spartum or Matweed.

¶ The Place.

It groweth in the deepest streames of the Illyrian sea, whence the Fishermen draw it forth with hooks and other instruments which they call Sperne. The whole plant, though dried, retains the faculties.

¶ The Names.

The Italian Fishermen call it Penachio delle Ninfe, and Palma de Nettuno: some also, Scettro di Net∣tuno.

¶ The Vertues.

They say it is good against the virulent bites of the Sea serpents, and the venomous stings or [ A] prickes of Fishes.

Applied to small greene wounds it cures them in the space of 24 houres. [ B]

Cortusus writ, that he had made triall thereof for the killing and voiding of wormes, and that he [ C] found it to be of no lesse efficacie than any Coralline, and that giuen in lesse quantitie.

CHAP. 24. Of the Sea Fan.

¶ The Description.

THis elegant shrub groweth vpon the rockes of the sea (where it is sometimes couered with the water) in diuers places; for it hath been brought both from the East and West Indies, and as I haue been informed it is to be found in great plenty vpon the rocks at the Burmuda Isles. Clusius

[illustration]

Frutex marinus reticulatus. Sea Fan.

calls it Frutex Marinus elegantissimus, and thinkes it may be referred to the Palma Ma∣rina of Theophrastus. Bauhine hath referred it to the Corallina's, calling it Corallina corti∣ce reticulato maculoso purpurascente. It growes vp somtimes to the height of three foot, ha∣uing a stalke some handfull or two high be∣fore it part into branches: then is it diuided into three, foure, or more branches, which are subdiuided into infinite other lesser strings, which are finely interwouen and ioyned together as if they were netted, yet leauing sometimes bigger, otherwhiles les∣ser holes: and these twiggy branches be∣come smaller and smaller, the farther they are from the root, and end as it were in smal threds: these branches grow not vp on eue∣rie side, as in other plants, but flat one be∣sides another, so that the whole plant re∣sembles a fan, or a cabbage leafe eaten full of holes; yet somtimes vpon the sides come forth other such fanne-like branches, some bigger, some lesse, sometimes one or two, otherwhiles more. The inner substance of this Sea-Fan is a blackish tough, and hard wood, and it is all couered ouer with a rough 〈◊〉〈◊〉-like stony matter, of a reddish or purplish colour, and this you may with your naile or a knife scrape off 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the smooth and blacke wood.

I know no vse of this, but it is kept for the beauty and raritie thereof, by many louers of such curiosities, amongst which for the rarenesse of the structure this may hold a prime place.

CHAP. 25. Of China, and Bastard China.

¶ The Description.

THis root which is brought from the remotest parts of the world, and is in frequent vse with vs, hath not been knowne in Europe little aboue fourescore and ten yeares: for Garcias ab Orta the Portugall Physition writes, That he came to the first knowledge thereof in the East Indies, in the yeare 1535, and that by this meanes, as he relates it: It hapned (saith he) that about that time a merchant in the Isle Diu told the noble gentleman S^r. Mart. Alfonso de 〈◊〉〈◊〉 my Patron, by what meanes he was cured of the French Poxes, which was by a certaine root brought from China; whose faculties he much extolled, because such as vsed it needed not obserue so strict a diet as was requisit in the vse of Guajacum, but should onely abstaine from Beefe, Porke, Fish, and crude fruits; but in China they do not abstaine from fish, for they are there great gluttons. When the report of this root was divulged abroad, euery man wonderfully desired to see and vse it, be∣cause they did not well like of the strict dyet they were forced to obserue in the vse of Guajacum. Besides, the inhabitants of these countries, by reason of their idle life are much giuen to gluttony. About this time the China ships arriue at Malaca, bringing a small quantitie of this root for their owne vse. But this little was sought for with such earnestnesse, that 〈◊〉〈◊〉 gaue an excessiue rate for it; but afterwards the Chinois bringing a greater quantitie, the price fell, and it was sold verie cheape. From this time Guajacum began to be out of vse, and banished the Indies, as a Spaniard that would famish the Natiues. Thus much Garcias concerning the first vse thereof in the East Indies.

1 The China now in vse is a root of the largenesse of that of the ordinarie Flag, or Iris palustris, and not much in shape vnlike thereto, but that it wants the rings or circles that are imprinted in the other: the outer coat or skin of this root is thin, sometimes smooth, otherwhile rugged, of a brownish red colour, and not to be separated from the substance of the root, which is of an indiffe∣rent firmenesse, being not so hard as wood, but more sollid than most roots which are not of shrubs or trees: the colour is sometimes white, with some very small mixture of rednesse; otherwhiles it 〈◊〉〈◊〉 a greater mixture of red, and some are more red than white: it is almost without tast, yet that it hath is dry, without any bitternesse or acrimonie at all. The best is that which is indifferently ponderous, new, firme, not worme-eaten, nor rotten, and which hath a good and fresh colour, and that either white, or much inclining thereto. The plant whose root this is (if we may beleeue Chri∣stopher A Costa) hath many small prickly and flexible branches, not vnlike the Smilax aspera, or the prickly Binde-weed: the biggest of these exceedeth not the thickenesse of ones little finger. The leaues are of the bignesse of those of the broad leaued Plantaine: the roots are as large as ones hand, sometimes lesse, sollid, heauy, white, and also sometimes red, and many oft times growing together.

[illustration]

1 China vulgaris Officinarum. True China.

[illustration]

2 Pseudo-China. Bastard China.

It groweth aboundantly in the territorie of China, and is also found in Malabar, Cochin, Cranganor, Coulan, Tanor, and other places.

The Chinois call it Lampatan: in Decan they call it Lampatos: in Canarin, Bouti: the Arabi∣ans, Persians, and Turks terme it Choph-China.

2 This other root, whose figure you see here exprest, was sent from London to Clusius in the yeare 1591, by Iames Garret, being brought out of Wingandecaow, or Virginia, with this inscrip∣tion, Chinae species, A kinde of China. Clusius caused this figure thereof to be drawne, and thus describeth it. This root (saith hee) was very knotty, and formed with out-growings, or bunches standing out, of a reddish colour, and it yet retained at the top some part of the stalke, being som∣what like vnto that of Smilax aspera, or common rough Binde-weed, hard, wooddy, and full of veines, as the stalks of Smilax aspera: the substance of the root was also reddish, as the root of the common Flagge, at the first of a 〈◊〉〈◊〉 taste, it being old, (for so it was when I receiued it)

and then drying. Now I iudge this the same that the writer of the Virginian Historie mentions in his chapter of roots, and saith, it was broughtinto England for China, though the Natiues knew no vse thereof: but they vse another root very like China, which they call Tsinaw, of which beeing cut, beaten, and pressed out with water, they draw a iuice wherewith they make their bread. Thus much Clusius, to whose words I thinke it not amisse to adde that which M^r. Thomas Hariot (who was the writer of the Virginian historie, here mentioned by Clusius) hath set downe concerning this thing.

Tsinaw (saith he) is a kinde of root much like vnto that which in England is called the China root, brought from the East Indies. And we know not any thing to the contrarie but that it may be of the same kinde. These roots grow many together in great clusters, and doe bring forth a Brier stalk, but the leafe in shape is far vnlike: which being supported by the trees it groweth neeerest vn∣to, wil reach or clime to the top of the highest. From these roots whilest they be new or fresh, being chopt into small pieces and stampt, is strained with water a iuice that maketh bread, and also bee∣ing boiled, a very good spoonemeat in manner of a gelly, and is much better in taste, if it be tempe∣red with oyle. This Tsinaw is not of that sort which by some was caused to be brought into England for the China root; for it was discouered since, and is in vse as is aforesaid; but that which was brought hither is not yet knowne, neither by vs, nor by the inhabitants, to serue for any vse or pur∣pose, although the roots in shape are very like. Thus much Hariot.

¶ The Temperature and Vertues.

China is thought to be moderately hot and drie: the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 thereof made alone or with o∣ther [ A] things, as the disease and Symptomes shal require, is much commended by Garcias, for to cure the French pox, but chiefely that disease which is of some standing: yet by most it is iudged lesse powerfull than 〈◊〉〈◊〉, or Sarsaparilla.

It attennates, moues sweat, and dries, and therefore resists putrifaction: it strengthens the liuer, [ B] helpes the dropsie, cures maligne vlcers, scabbes, and lepry. It is also commended in Consump∣tions.

The decoction of this root, saith Garcias, besides the diseases which haue communitie with the [ C] Poxe, conduces to the cure of the Palsie, Gout, Sciatica, schirrous and oedematous tumours. It al∣so helps the Kings-euill. It cureth the weakenesse of the stomacke, the inueterate head-ache, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 stone and vlceration of the bladder; for many by the vse of the decoction hereof haue beene cure which formerly receiued help by no medicine.

CHAP. 26. Of Costus.

¶ The 〈◊〉〈◊〉.

THis simple medicine was briesely described by Dioscorides, who mentions three indes thereof, but what part of a plant, whether root, wood, or fruit, he hath not exprest: but 〈◊〉〈◊〉 may probable∣ly coniecture it is a root, for that he writes toward the end of the Chapter where 〈◊〉〈◊〉 treats thereof, 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 1. cap. 15. that it is adulterated by mixing therewith the roots of Helenium 〈◊〉〈◊〉; now a root cannot well be adulterated but with another. Also Pliny, lib. 12. cap. 12. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 it a root; but nei∣ther any of the antient or moderne Writers haue deliniated the plant, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 root should be this 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 makes three sorts, as I haue said: the Arabian being the 〈◊〉〈◊〉; which was white, light, strong, and well smelling: the Indian, which was large, light, and 〈◊〉〈◊〉: the Syrian; which was heauie, of the colour of Box, and strong smelling. Now Pliny makes 〈◊〉〈◊〉 kindes, the blacke, and the white, which he saith is the better; so I iudge his blacke to be the Indian of Dioscorides, and his white, the Arabian. Much agreeable to these (but whether the same or no, I do not determine) are the two roots whose figures I here present to your view, and they are called by the names of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 dulcis (I thinke they should haue said odoratus) and Costus amarus.

1 The first of these, which rather from the small, than taste, is called sweet, is a pretty large root, light, white, and well smelling, hauing the smell of Orris, or a violet, but somewhat more quick and 〈◊〉〈◊〉, especially if the root be fresh, and not too old: it is oft times diuided at the top into two, three, or more parts, from whence seuerall stalks haue growne, and you shall somtimes obserue vpon some of them pieces of these stalks some two or three inches long, of the thickenesse of ones

little finger, crested, and filled with a soft pith, like as the stalks of Elder, or more like those of the Bur-docke: the taste of the root is bitter, with some acrimonie, which also Dioscorides requires in his, for he saith, the taste should be biting and hot; thus much for the first, being 〈◊〉〈◊〉 dulcis of the shoppes.

[illustration]

1 Costus Indicus sive odoratus. Indian or sweet smelling Costus.

[illustration]

2 Costus Officinarum Lobelij. Bitter Costus.

2 The second, which is the Costus amarus, and it may be the Indian of Dioscorides, and Niger of Pliny, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 root blacke both within and without, light, yet very dense. It seemes to be of some large root, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 it is brought ouer cut into large pieces, of the bignesse of ones finger, sometimes big∣ger some 〈◊〉〈◊〉 lesse, which it seemes is for the more conuenient drying thereof, for a large root, vn∣lesse it be 〈◊〉〈◊〉 into pieces can scarcely be wel dried: the taste of this is bitter, somewhat clammy and ingrate: 〈◊〉〈◊〉 smell is little or none.

There are 〈◊〉〈◊〉 other roots which haue been set forth by late writers for Costus, but because they are neither in 〈◊〉〈◊〉, knowne here with vs, nor more agreeable to the descriptions of the Antients, I hastening to an 〈◊〉〈◊〉, am willing to passe them ouer in silence.

¶ The Temperature and Vertues out of the Antients.

It hath a heating 〈◊〉〈◊〉 attenuating facultie, and therefore was vsed 〈◊〉〈◊〉 oile to annoint the bodie [ A] against the cold fits of 〈◊〉〈◊〉, the Sciatica, and when it was needfull to draw any thing to the super∣ficies of the body.

It is also conuenient to moue vrine, to procure the termes, to help strains, convulsions, or cramps [ B] and paines in the sides; and by reason of the bitternesse it kills wormes.

It is good to be drunke against the bite of the viper: against paines of the chest, and windinesse [ C] of the stomacke taken in Wine with Worme-wood: and it is vsed to be put into sundrie Anti∣dotes.

CHAP. 27. Of Drakes root, or Contra-yerua.

¶ The Description.

THat root which of late is knowne in some shops by the Spanish name Contra-yerua, is the same which Clusius hath set forth by the title of Drakena radix: wherefore I will giue you the histo∣rie of Clusius, and thereto adde that which Monrdus writes of the Contra-yerua. For though Bauhine, and the Author of the Historia Lugdunensis seeme to make these different, yet I finde that both Clusius his figure and historie exactly agree with the roots sent vs from Spaine by that title, wherefore I shall make them one, till some shall shew me how they differ: and Clusius seemes to be of this minde also, who desired but the degree of heate which Monardus giues these, and that is but the second degree: now these haue no taste at the first, vntill you haue chewed them a pretty while, and then you shall finde a manifest heate and acrimonie in them, which Clusius did also obserue in his.

In the yeare (saith Clusius) 1581. the generous Knight Sir Francis Drake gaue me at London cer∣tain roots, with three or foure Peruvian Beazor stones, which in the Autumne before (hauing finish∣ed his voyage, wherein passing the Straights of Magellan, he had encompassed the World) he had brought with him, affirming them to be of high esteeme amongst the Peruvians: now for his sake that bestowed these roots vpon me, I haue giuen them the title Drakena radix, or Drakes root, and haue made them to be expressed in a table, as you may here see them.

[illustration]

1 〈◊〉〈◊〉. Contra-yerua.

[illustration]

2 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Drakenae affinis. Another sort of Contra-yerua.

These roots were for the most part some halfe inch thick, longish, now and then bunching out into knots and vnequall heads, and their tops looked as if they were composed of thicke scales, al∣most like those of the Dentaria enneaphyllos; blackish without, wrinckled, and hard, because dried: their inner part was white; they had slender fibres here and there growing out of them, and some more thicke and large, hard also and tough, at which hung other knots: I obserued no manifest smel they had, but found them to haue a taste somewhat astringent, & drying the tongue at the first; but being long chewed, they left a quicke and pleasing acrimonie in the mouth.

It seemed to haue great affinitie with the Radix S. 〈◊〉〈◊〉, whereof Nic. Monardus speakes in his booke of the Simple Medicines brought from the West Indies: but seeing N. Eliot (who accompa∣nied

S^r. Fran. Drake in that voyage, said, that the Spaniards in Peru had them in great request; and they could not easily be got of them, and that he had learned by them, that the leaues were present poison, but the root an antidote, and that not only against the same poison, but also against other; and that it strengthned the heart and vitall faculties, if it were beaten to pouder, and taken in the morning in a little wine; and giuen in water, it mitigated the heat of Feuers. By reason of these fa∣culties it should much agree with the Radix Contra-〈◊〉〈◊〉, whereof Monardus writes in the same booke: yet in these I required the aromaticke taste and degree of heate, which he attributes vnto these roots. Thus much Clus.

From Charcis a Prouince of Peru, saith Monard. are brought certaine roots very like the roots of [ A] Iris, but lesse, and hauing the smell of Fig leaues. The Spaniards that liue in the Indies call them Contra-yerua, as if you should say an Antidote against poison; because the pouder of them taken in white Wine is a most present remedy against all poison of what kinde soeuer it be (only sublimate excepted, whose malignitie is onely extinguished by the drinking of milke) it causes them to bee cast vp by vomite, or euacuated by sweat. They also say that Philtres or amorous potions are cast forth by drinking this pouder. It also killeth wormes in the belly. The root chewed hath a certain aromaticke taste ioined with acrimony; wherefore it seemes hot in the second degree. Thus farre Monardus.

2 Clusius Exot. l. 4. c. 11. being the next after Drakena radix, describes this root, whose figure I giue you in the 2. place, & that by the same title as it is here set forth. These roots, saith he, seemed som∣what like the Drakena radix which were found in the great ship which brought backe the Viceroy from the East Indies, and was taken by the English: for they were tuberous, and as much as one may gather by their forme, crept vpon the surface of the earth, hauing vpon them many haires and fibres, and being of a sooty colour, yet somewhat inclining to yellow, dying the spittle in chewing them, and being bitter: they as yet retained foot-stalks of the leaues, but of what fashion they were no man can easily guesse. But it was likely they were of great vse among the Indians, seeing that the Vice-roy brought them together with other precious medicines growing in the East Indies, Iames Garret sent this to Clusius with the little plant dryed, whose figure you see exprest by it.

CHAP. 28. Of Lignum Aloes.

[illustration]

Lignum Aloes vulgare.

¶ The Description.

IT is a question whether the Agallochum descri∣bed in the 21. c. l. 1 of Dioscorides be the same which the later Greeks and shops at this time call Xyloaloe, or Lignum Aloes, many make them the same: others, to whose opinion I adhere, make them differerent, yet haue, not the later, shew what Agallochum should bee, which I not∣withstanding will do; and though I doe not now giue you my arguments, yet I will point at the things, & shew positiuely my opinions of them.

The first and best of these is that which some call Calumbart: others, Calumba, or 〈◊〉〈◊〉: this is of high esteem in the Indies, & seldom found but amongst the Princes, and persons of great qualitie; for it is sold oft times for the weight in gold; I haue not seen any therof but in beads; it seemes to be a whiter wood than the ordina∣ry, of a finer graine, not so subiect to rot, and of a more fragrant smell, and but light.

The second sort, which is vsually brought o∣uer, and called in shops by the name of Lignum Aloes, is also a precious and odoriferous wood, especially burnt: the stickes of this are com∣monly knotty & vnsightly: some parts of them being white, soft, and doted: othersome, dense;

blackish, or rather i ntermixt with blacke and white veines, but much more blacke than white, and this put to the fire will sweat out an oily moisture, and burnt, yeeld a most fragrant odour. This I take to be the true Xyloaloc of the late Greekes; and the Agalugen of Auicen; and that they call Palo d Agula in the Indies.

The third is a wood of much lesse price than the former: and I coniecture it might well be sub∣stituted for Thus: and this I take to be the Agallochum of Dioscorides; the Lignum Aloes 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of Garcias; and Agula braua of Linscoten. It is a firme and sollid wood, somewhat like that of the Cedar, not subiect to rot or decay: the colourthereof is blackish, especially on the out-side; but on the in-side it is oft times brownish and speckled, containing also in it an oilie substance, and yeelding a sweet and pleasing smell when it is burnt, but not like that of the two former: the taste also of this is bitterer than that of the former: and the wood (though dense and sollid) may be easily cleft long-waies; it is also a farre hand somer and more sightly wood than the former, hauing not many knots in it.

Garcias ab Orta thus describes the tree that is the Lignum Aloes (I iudge it's that I haue set forth in the second place:) it is (saith he) like an Oliue tree, sometimes larger: the fruit or floure I could not yet see, by reason of the difficulties and dangers whic ha re to be vndergone in the accurate obser∣uation of this tree (Tigers frequently there seeking their prey.) I had the branches with the leaues brought me from Malaca. Now they say that the wood new cut downe hath no fragrant odour, nor till it be dried: neither the smell to be diffused ouer the whole matter of the wood, but in the heart of the tree; for the barke is thicke, and the matter of the wood without smell. Yet may I not denie, but the barke and wood putrifying that oilie and fat moisture, may betake it selfe to the heart of the tree, and make it the more odoriferous: but there is no need of putrifaction to get a smell to the Lignum Aloes: for there are sundry so expert and skilfull in the knowledge thereof, that they will iudge of that which is new cut downe, whither it will be odoriferous or no. For in all sorts of wood some are better than othersome: thus much out of Garcias; where such as are desirous may see more vpon this subiect.

¶ The Temperature and Vertues.

It is of temperature moderate ly hot and dry, and also of somewhat subtill parts. Chewed it [ A] makes the breath smell sweet, and burnt it is a rich perfume.

Taken inwardly it is good to helpe the stomack that is too cold and moist, as also the weak liuer. [ B]

It is commended likewise in dysenteries and pleurisies: and put also into diuers Cordiall medi∣cines [ C] and Antidotes as a prime ingredient.

CHAP. 29. Of Gedwar.

[illustration]

1 Gedwar aut, Geiduar.

[illustration]

2 Zedoariae exactior icon. A better figure of Zedoary.

¶ The Description.

IN the Chapter of Zedoarie (which I made the 28. of the first booke) I might fitly haue giuen you this historie of 〈◊〉〈◊〉, which is thought to be that described by Auicen, lib. 2. c. 734. and a kinde of Zedoarie: Garcias saith, Gedwar is at a high rate, and not easily to be found, vnlesse with the In∣dian Mountibanks and juglers, which they call Iogues, which goe vp and downe the countrey like Rogues, and of these the Kings and Noblemen buy 〈◊〉〈◊〉: it is good for many things, but chiefely against poisons, and the bites and stings of venomous creatures. Now Clusius in his Auctarium at the end thereof giues this figure, with the following historie.

1 Because Garcias, saith he, cap. 42. l. 1. Aromatum hist. treating of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 writes, that Auicen calls it Gedwar; and saith that it is of the magnitude of an Acorne, and almost of the same shape, I in my notes at the end of that chapter affirmed that it was not knowne in Europe, and hard to be knowne. But in the yeare 1605, Iohn Pona sent me from Verona together with other things two roots written on by the name of Gedwar verum. They were not much vnlike a longish Acorne, or (that I may more truly compare them) the smaller bulbs of an Asphodil, or Anthora: the one of them was whole and not perished: the other rotten and broken, yet both of them very hard and sollid, of an ash colour without, but yellowish within, which tasted, seemed to possesse a heating facultie and acrimonie.

But although I can affirm nothing of certaintie of this root, yet I made the figure of the wholler of them to be exprest in a table, that so the forme might be conceiued in ones minde more easily, than by a naked description. Let the Studious thanke Pona for the knowledge hereof. Thus much Clusius.

2 In the 28 chapter of the first booke I gaue the figure of Zodoarie out of Clusius, hauing not at that time this figure of Lobel, which presents to your view both the long and the round, with the manner how they grow together, being not seuerall roots, but parts of one and the same.

CHAP. 30. Of Rose-wood.

[illustration]

Aspalathus albicans torulo citreo. White Rose-wood.

[illustration]

Aspalathus rubens. Reddish Rose-wood.

¶ The Description.

BOth these as also some other woods are referred to the Aspalathus described by Dioscorides, l. 1. c. 19. But the later of these I take to be the better of the two sorts there mentioned. The first of them is whitish without, hauing a yellowish or citrine coloured round in the middle: the taste is hottish, and smell somewhat like that of a white-Rose.

The other hath also a small ring of white, next the thicke and rugged barke, and the inner wood is of a reddish colour, very dense, sollid and firme, as also indifferent heauy: the smell of this is also like that of a Rose, whence they vulgarly call it Lignum Rhodium, Rose-wood, rather than from Rhodes the place where the later of them is said to grow.

¶ The Faculties out of Dioscorides.

It hath a heating facultie with astriction, whence the decoction thereof made in wine is conue∣nient [ A] to wash the vlcers of the mouth, and the eating vlcers of the priuities and such vnclean sores as the Ozaena (a stinking vlcer in the nose so called.)

Put vp in a pessarie it drawes forth the childe, the decoction thereof stayes the loosenesse of the [ B] belly, and drunke it helpes the casting vp of bloud, the difficultie of making water, and windinesse.

AT the end of this Appendix I haue thought good to giue you diuers descriptions of Plants, which I receiued from my often mentioned friend M^r. Goodyer, which also were omit∣ted in their fitting places, partly through haste, and partly for that I receiued some of them af∣ter the printing of those chapters wherein of right they should haue been inserted. They are most of them of rare and not written of plants, wherefore more gratefull to the curious.

Hicracium stellatum Boelij.

THis plant is in round, hairy, straked, branched stalks, and long, rough, blunt indented leaues like to Hieracium 〈◊〉〈◊〉, but scarce a foot high: the floures are also yellow three times smaller: which past, there succeed long crooked slender sharpe pointed cods or huskes, neere an inch long, spreading abroad, star-fashion, wherein a long seed is contained: this hath no heads or woolly down like any of the rest, but onely the said crooked coddes which doe at the first spread abroad. The root is small, threddie, full of milkie iuice, as is also the whole plant and it perisheth when the seed is ripe.

Hieracium medio nigrum flore maiore Boelij.

This hath at the first spreading vpon the ground many long, narrow, green, smooth leaues blunt∣ly indented about the edges, like those of Hieracium falcatum, but smaller: amongst which rise vp three, foure, or more, small, smooth, straked round stalks, diuided into other branches, which grow longer than the stalks themselues leaning or trayling neere the ground: the floures grow on the tops of the stalks, but one together, composed of many pale yellow leaues, the middle of each floure be∣ing of a blackish purple colour.

Hieracium medio nigrum flore minore Boelij:

This is altogether like the last before described in stalkes and leaues: the floures are also of a blackish purple in the middle, but they are three times smaller.

Hieracium lanosum

There groweth from one root three, foure or more round vpright soft cottonie stalks, of a reaso∣nable bignesse, two foot high, diuided into many branches, especially neere the top, whereon grow∣eth at each diuision one broad sharpe pointed leafe, diuided into corners, and very much crumpled, and also very soft cottonie and woolly, as is the whole plant: the floures are small, double, of a pale yellow colour, very like those of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 repens, growing clustering very many together at the tops of the stalkes and branches, forth of small round soft cottonie heads: these foure plants grew from

seed which I receiued from M^r. Coys, 1620. and I made these descriptions by the Plants the 22. of August, 1621.

Blitum spinosum: est Beta Cretica semine aculeato Baubini Matth. pag. 371.

This sendeth forth from one root many round greene strailing, ioynted, small branches, about a foot long: the leaues are of a light greene colour, and grow at euery ioint one, somewhat like the leaues of great Sorrell, but they are round topped without barbes or eares below, or any mani∣fest taste or smell, very like the leaues of Beets, but much smaller: the floures grow clustering toge∣ther about the ioints, and at the tops of the branches small and greenish, each floure containing fiue or six very small blunt topped leaues, and a few dustie chiues in the middle: which past, there com∣meth great prickly shriuelled seed, growing euen close to the root, and vpwards on the ioints, each seed hauing three sharpe prickes at the top growing side-waies, which indeed may be more proper∣ly called the huske; which huske in the in-side is of a darke reddish colour, and containeth one seed in forme like the seed of Flos Adonis, round at the lower end, and cornered towards the top, and sharp pointed, couered ouer with a darke yellowish skin; which skin pulled away, the kernell appeareth yellow on the outside, and exceeding white within, and will with a light touch fall into very small pouder like 〈◊〉〈◊〉.

Geranij Baeticae species Boelij.

This hath at the beginning many broad leaues, indented about the edges, somwhat diuided, like those of Geranium Creticum, but of a lighter greene colour, and smaller: amongst which grow vp many round hairy kneed trailing branches, diuided into many other branches, bearing leaues like the former, but smaller, and no more diuided. The floures are smal like those of Geranum 〈◊〉〈◊〉, but of a deeper reddish colour, each floure hauing fiue small round topped leaues: after followeth small long hairie seed, growing at the lower end of a sharpe pointed beak like that of Geranium Mos∣chatum: the whole plant perisheth when the seed is ripe.

Boelius a Low-countrey-man gathered the seeds hereof in Baetica a part of Spaine, and imparted them to M^r. William Coys, a man very skilfull in the knowledge of Simples, who hath gotten plants thereof, and of infinite other strange herbes, and friendly gaue me seeds hereof, and of many other, Anno, 1620.

Antirrhinum minus flore Linariae luteum inscriptum.

This hath at the first many very small, round, smooth branches from one root, trayling on the ground, about foure or fiue inches long, set with many small greene short sharp pointed leaues, like those of Serpillum, but that these are longer, smooth, and three or foure growing opposite one a∣gainst another: amongst which rise vp fiue or six, sometimes ten or twelue vpright round smooth little stalks a cubit high, diuided into branches bearing small long smooth greene leaues, growing without order, as narrow as the vpper leaues of Oenanthe Angustifolia: at the toppes of the stalks and branches grow clustering together fiue six or more small yellow floures, flouring vpwards, leauing along spike of very small huskes, each huske hauing a small line or chinke as though two huskes were ioined together, the one side of the huske being a little longer than the other, wherein is con∣tained exceeding small blackish seed. The root is very short, small, and white, with a few threds, and perisheth at winter.

This plant is not written of that I can finde. I receiued seed thereof from M^r. William Coys often remembred.

Linaria minor aestiua.

The stalkes are round, smooth, of a whitish greene colour, a foot high, weake, not able to stand vpright: whereon grow long narrow sharpe pointed leaues, most commonly bending or turning downewards. The floures grow in spikes at the toppes of the branches, yet not very neere toge∣ther, and are 〈◊〉〈◊〉 small and yellow, with a small tayle: the seed of this plant is small, flat, and of a blackish gray colour, inclosed in small round huskes, and you shall commonly haue at one time floures and ripe seed all on a stalke. The whole plant is like to the common Linaria, but that it is a great deale lesser, and the floures are six times as small, and perish at Winter. I also receiued seeds thereof from M^r. William Coys.

Scorpioides multiflorus 〈◊〉〈◊〉.

This Plant is in creeping branches and leaues like the common Scorpioides bupleuri folio: the floures are also alike, but a little bigger, and grow foure or fiue together on one foot-stalke: the cods are rougher, and very much turned round, or folded one within another: in all things else alike.

Scorpioides siliquacrassa Boelij.

This is also like the other in creeping branches and leaues: the floures are something bigger than any of the rest, and grow not aboue one or two together on a foot-stalk: the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 are crooked, without any rough haire, yet finely checkquered, and seuen times bigger than any of the rest, fully as big as a great Palmer-worme, wherein is the difference: the seed is almost round, yet extending somewhat in length, almost as big as small field Peason, of a browne or yellowish colour. This al∣so perisheth when the seed is ripe. Sept. 1. 1621.

Silibum minus flore nut ante Boelij.

This Thistle is in stalkes and leaues much smaller than our Ladies Thistle, that is to say, The stalkes are round, straked, so newhat woolly, with narrow skinny prickly edges three or foure 〈◊〉〈◊〉 high, diuided into many branches, whereon grow long leaues, deeply diuided, full of white milke∣like streakes and sharpe prickles by the edges: the floures grow on the tops of the stalks and bran∣ches, forth of small heads, commonly turning downwards, of the bignesse of an Oliue, set with very small slender sharpe pricks, containing nothing but small purple chiues, spreading abroad like those of Iacea, with some blewish chiues in the middle: the seed followeth, inclosed in downe, and is small and grayish like the seed of other Thistles, but it is as clammy as Bird-lime. The whole plant perisheth at Winter, and reneweth it selfe by the falling of his seed. I finde not this written of. It was first gathered by Boclius in Spaine, and imparted vnto M^r. William Coys, who friendly gaue me seeds thereof.

Aracus maior Baeticus Boelij.

It hath small weake foure square streaked trailing branches, two foot high, lesser, but like those of Fetches, whereon grow many leaues without order, and euery seuerall leafe is composed of six, seuen, or more small sharpe pointed leaues, like those of Lentils, set on each side of a middle rib, which middle rib endeth with clasping tendrels: the floures grow forth of the bosomes of the leaues, but one in a place, almost without any foot-stalkes at all, like those of Vetches, but of a whitish colour, with purple streakes, and of a deeper colour tending to purple towards the nailes of the vpper couering leaues: after which follow the cods, which are little aboue an inch long, not fully so big as those of the wilde beane, almost round, and very hairy: wherein is contained about 4 peason, seldom round, most commonly somewhat flat, and sometimes cornered, of a blackish co∣lour, neere as big as field peason, and of the taste of Fetches: the whole herbe perisheth when the seed is ripe. This plant Boelius sent to M^r. William Coys, who hath carefully preserued the same kind euer since, and friendly imparted seeds thereof to me in Anno 1620.

Legumen pallidum Vlissiponense, Nonij 〈◊〉〈◊〉.

This plant is very like, both in stalks, leaues, and cods, to Aracus 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Baeticus, but the floures of this are of a pale yellow or Primrose colour, and the whole herbe smaller, and nothing so hairy. It perisheth also when the seed is ripe. I receiued the seeds likewise from M^r. Coys.

Vicia Indica 〈◊〉〈◊〉 albo. Pisum Indicum Gerardo.

This Vetch differeth not in any thing at all, either in stalkes, leaues, cods, fashion of the floures, or colour thereof, from our common manured Vetch, but that it groweth higher, and the fruit is bigger and rounder, and of a very cleare white 〈◊〉〈◊〉, more like to peason than Vetches. M^r. Ger∣rard was wont to call this Vetch by the name of Pisum Indicum, or Indian Pease, gotten by him af∣ter the publishing of his Herball, as M^r. Coys reported to me. But the said M^r. Coys hath in my iudg∣ment more properly named it Vicia fractu albo 〈◊〉〈◊〉 which name I thought most fit to call it by, onely adding Indica to it, from whence it is reported to haue been gotten. Iul. 30. 1621.

Astragalus marinus Lusitanicus Boelij.

This hath fiue, six, or more round straked reddish hairy stalks or branches, of a reasonable big∣nesse, proceeding from one root, sometimes creeping or leaning neere the ground, and sometimes standing vpright, a cubit high, with many greene leaues, set by certaine distances, out of order like those of Glaux vulgaris, but lesser, euery 〈◊〉〈◊〉 being composed of fourteen or more round top∣ped

leaues, a little hairy by the edges, set on each side of a long middle rib, which is about nine or ten inches in length, without tendrels: the floures grow forth of the bosomes of the leaues, neere the tops of the stalkes, on long round streaked hairy foot-stalkes, of a very pale yellow colour, like those of Securidacaminor, but bigger, growing close together in short spikes, which turne into spikes of the length of two or three inches, containing many small three cornered cods about an inch long, growing close together like those of Glaux vulgaris, each cod containing two rowes of small flat foure cornered seeds, three or foure in each row, of a darke yellowish or leadish colour, like to those of Securidaca minor, but three or foure times as big, of little taste: the root is small, slender, white, with a few threds, and groweth downe right, and perisheth when the seed is ripe. I first ga∣thered seeds of this plant in the garden of my good friend M^r. Ioh. Parkinson an Apothecary of Lon∣don, Anno 1616.

Fabaveterum serratis 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Boelij.

This is like the other wilde Beane in stalks, floures, cods, fruit, and clasping tendrels, but it dif∣fereth from it in that the leaues hereof (especially those that grow neere the tops of the stalks) are notched or indented about the edges like the teeth of a saw. The root also perisheth when the seed is ripe. The seeds of this wilde Beane were gathered by Boelius a Low-country man, in Baeti∣ca a part of Spaine, and by him sent to M^r. William Coys, who carefully preserued them, and also im∣parted seeds thereof to me, in Anno 1620. Iul. 31. 1621.

Pisum maculatum Boelij.

They are like to the small common field Peason in stalkes, leaues, and cods; the difference is, the floures are commonly smaller, and of a whitish greene colour: the Peason are of a darke gray colour, spotted with blacke spots in shew like to blacke Veluet; in taste they are also like, but somewhat harsher. These peason I gathered in the garden of M^r. Iohn Parkinson, a skilfull Apothe∣carie of London; and they were first brought out of Spaine by Boelius a low-Countrey man.

Lathyrus aestivus flore 〈◊〉〈◊〉. Iuly. 28. 1621:

This is like Lathyris latiore folio 〈◊〉〈◊〉, in stalks, leaues, and branches, but smaller: the stalks are two or three foot long, made flat with two skins, with two exceeding small leaues growing on the stalks, one opposite against another: betweene which spring vp flat foot-stalks, an inch long, bearing two exceeding narrow sharpe pointed leaues, three inches long: betweene which grow the tendrels, diuided into many parts at the top, and taking hold therwith: the floures 〈◊〉〈◊〉 smal, and grow forth of the bosomes of the leaues, on each foot-stalk one floure, wholly yellow, with purple strakes. After each floure followeth a smooth cod, almost round, two inches long, wherein is con∣tained seuen round Peason, somewhat rough, but after a curious manner, of the bignesse and taste of field Peason, and of a darke sand colour.

Lathyrus aestivus Baeticus flore caeruleo Boelij.

This is also like Lathyris 〈◊〉〈◊〉 folio Lobelij, but smaller, yet greater than that with yellow flours, hauing also adioining to the flat stalkes, two eared sharpe pointed leaues, and also two other slen∣der sharpe pointed leaues, about foure inches long, growing on a flat foot-stalke, beetweene them, an inch and a halfe long, and one tendrel between them diuided into two or three parts: the floures are large, and grow on long slender foure-square foot-stalkes, from the bosomes of the leaues, on each foot-stalk one: the vpper great couering leafe being of a light blew, & the lower smaller leaues of a deeper blew: which past there come vp short flat cods, with two filmes, edges, or skins on the vpper side, like those of Eruilia Lobelij, containing within foure or fiue great flat cornered Peason, bigger than field Peason, of a darke sand colour.

Lathyrus aestivus edulis Baeticus flore albo Boelij.

This is in flat skinny stalks, leaues, foot-stalks, and cods, with two skins on the vpper side, and in all things else like the said Lathyrus with blew floures; only the floures of this are milk white: the fruit is also like.

Lathyrus aestivus flore miniato.

This is also in skinnie flat stalks and leaues like the said Lathyris latiore folio, but far smaller, not three foot high: it hath also small sharp pointed leaues growing by couples on the stalke, between which grow two leaues, about three inches long, on a flat foot-stalk half an inch long: also between those leaues grow the tendrels: the floures are coloured like red lead, but not so bright, growing on

smooth short foot-stalks, one on a foot-stalke: after which follow cods very like those of the com∣mon field peason, but lesser, an inch and a halfe long; containing foure, fiue, or sixe cornered Peason, of a sand colour, or darke obscure yellow, as big as common field peason, and of the same taste.

Lathyrus palustris Lusitanicus Boelij

Hath also flat skinnie stalks like the said Lathyrus latiore folio, but the paire of leaues which grow on the stalke are exceeding small as are those of Lathyrus 〈◊〉〈◊〉 luteo, and are indeed scarce worthie to be called leaues: the other paire of leaues are about two inches long, aboue halfe an inch broad, and grow 〈◊〉〈◊〉 betweene those small leaues, on flat foot-stalks, an inch long: betweene which leaues al∣so grow the tendrels: the floures grow on foot-stalks which are fiue inches long, commonly two on a foot-stalke, the great vpper 〈◊〉〈◊〉 leaues being of a bright red colour, and the vnder leaues are somewhat paler: after commeth flat cods, containing seuen or eight small round peason, no bigger than a Pepper corne, gray and blacke, spotted before they are ripe, and when they are fully ripe of a blacke colour, in taste like common Peason: the stalks, leaues, foot-stalkes and coddes are somwhat hairy and rough.

Lathyrus aestivus dumetorum Baeticus Boelij

Hath also flat skinnie stalks like the said Lathyrus latiore folio, but smaller, and in the manner of the growing of the leaues altogether contrarie. This hath also two small sharp pointed leaues, ad∣ioyning to the stalke: betweene which groweth forth a flat middle rib with tendrels at the top, ha∣uing on each side (not one against another) commonly rhree blunt topped leaues, sometimes three on the one side, and two on the other, and sometimes but foure in all, about an inch and a halfe long: the floures grow on foot-stalks, about two or three inches long, each foot-stalk vsually bearing two floures, the great couering leafe being of a bright red colour; and the two vnder leaues of a blewish 〈◊〉〈◊〉 colour: afterwhich follow smooth cods, aboue two inches long, containing, fiue, sixe, or seuen smooth Peason, of a browne Chestnut colour, not round, but somewhat flat, more long than broad, especially those next both the ends of the cod, of the bignesse and taste of common field pea∣son.

Iuniperus sterilis.

This shrub is in the manner of growing altogether like the Iuniper tree that beareth berries, on∣ly the vpper part of the leaues of the youngest and tenderest bowes and branches are of a more red∣dish greene colour: the floures grow forth of the bosoms of the leaues, of a yellowish colour, which neuer exceed three in one row, the number also of each row of leaues: each floure is like to a small bud, more long than round, neuer growing to the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of a quarter of an inch, being nothing else but very small short crudely chiues, very thicke and close thrust together, fastened to a very small middle stem, in the end turning into small dust, which flieth away with the winde, not much vnlike that of Taxus sterilis: on this shrub is neuer found any fruit. 15. Maij. 1621.

WHen the last sheets of this worke were on the Presse, I receiued a Letter from from M^r. Roger Bradshaghe, wherein he sent me inclosed a note concerning some plants mentioned by our Au∣thor which I haue thought fitting here to impart to the Reader: he writes not who it was that writ them, wherefore I cannot acquaint you with his name, but thanke him, though vnknowne, for his de∣sire to manifest the truth, and satisfie our doubts in these particulars.

BEcause you write that Gerards Herbal is vpon a review, I haue thought good to put you in mind what I haue obserued touching some plants which by him are affirmed to grow in our Northern parts: first the plant called Pirola, which he saith groweth in 〈◊〉〈◊〉, I haue made search for it the space of twentie yeares, but no such is to be heard of.

Sea Campion with a red floure was told him groweth in Lancashire: no such hath euer bin seen by such as dwell neere where they should grow.

White Fox-gloues grow naturally in Lansdale, saith he, it is very rare to see one in Lansdale.

Garden Rose he writes groweth about Leiland in Glouers field wilde: I haue learned the truth from those to whom this Glouers field did belong, and I finde no such thing, only aboundance of red wilde poppie, which the people call Corne-rose is there seene.

White Whortles, as he saith, grow at Crosby in Westmerland, and vpon Wendle hill in Lan∣cashire: I haue sought Crosbie very diligently for this plant and others which are said to grow there, but none could I finde, nor can I heare of any of the countrey people in these parts, who day∣ly are labouring vpon the mountains where the VVortle berries abound, that any white ones haue

been seene, sauing that those which Gerard calls red Whortles, and they are of a very pale white green till they be full ripe, so as when the ripe ones looke red, the vnripe ones looke white.

Cloud-〈◊〉〈◊〉 assuredly is no other than Knout berrie.

Heskets Prim-rose groweth in Clap-dale. If M^r. Hesket found it there it was some extraordinary luxurious floure, for now I am well assured no such is there to be seene, but it is onely cherished in our gardens.

Gerard saith many of these Northerne plants do grow in Cragge close. In the North euery town and village neere any craggie ground both with vs & in Westmerland haue closes so called, wher∣by Gerards Cragge close is kept close from our knowledge.

Chamaemorus, seu Vaccinia nubis. Knot, or Knout-berrie, or Cloud-berrie.

THis Knot, Knout or Cloud-berrie (for by all these names it is knowne to vs in the North, and taketh these names from the high mountaines whereon it groweth, and is perhaps, as Gerard saith, one of the brambles, though without any prickles) hath roots as small as packe thred, which creepe far abroad vnder the ground, of an ouerworne red colour, here and there thrusting more fast∣ly in to the mossie hillockes tufts of small threddie strings, and at certaine 〈◊〉〈◊〉 putting vp small stalks rather tough than wooddy, halfe a foot high, somthing reddish below: on which do grow two or three leaues of a reasonable sad green colour, with foot-〈◊〉〈◊〉 an inch long, one aboue another without order: the highest is but little, and seldome well spread open; they are something 〈◊〉〈◊〉, crispie, full of nerues in euery part, notched about the edges, and with some foure gashes a little deeper than the rest, whereby the whole leafe is lightly diuided into fiue portions. On the top of the stalk commeth one floure consisting of foure, sometimes of fiue leaues apiece, very white and ten∣der, and rather crumpled than plaine, with some few short yellow threds in the midst: it standeth in a little greene husk of fiue leaues, out of which when the floure fades, commeth the fruit, composed of diuers graines like that of the bramble, as of eight, ten or twelue, sometimes of 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and per∣haps through some mischance but of three or two, so ioined, as they make some resemblance of a heart, from whence (it may be) hath grown that errour in Gerard of diuiding this plant into, kinds: 〈◊〉〈◊〉 fruit is first witish greene, after becommeth yellow, and reddish on that side next the Sun.

It groweth naturally in a blacke moist earth or mosse, whereof the countrie maketh a fewel we call Turfe, and that vpon the tops of wet fells and mountains among the Heath, mosse, and brake: as about Ingleborow in the West part of York-shire, on Graygreth a high fell on the edge of Lanca∣shire, on Stainmor such a like place in Westmerland, and other such like high places.

The leaues come forth in May, and in the beginning of Iune the floures: 〈◊〉〈◊〉 fruit is not ripe till late in Iuly.

The berries haue a harsh and something vnpleasant taste.

THis worke was begun to be printed before such time as we receiued all the figures from beyond the Seas, which was the occasion I omitted these following in their fitting places: but thinking it not fit to omit them wholly, hauing them by me, I wil giue you them with their titles, and the reference to the places wherto they belong.

* In August last whiles this worke was in the Presse, and drawing to an end, I and M^r. William Broad were at Chissel-hurst with my oft mentioned friend M^r. George Bowles, and going ouer the heath there I obserued this small Spartum whose figure I here giue, and whereof you shall find men∣tion, in the place noted vnder the title of the figure; but it is not there described, for that I had not seen it, nor could finde the description therof in any Author, but in Dutch, which I neither had nor vnderstood. Now this little Matweed hath some small creeping stringy roots: on which grow som∣what thick heads, consisting of three or foure leaues, as it were wrapt together in one skin, biggest below, and so growing smaller vpwards, as in Schaenanth, vntill they grow vp to the height of halfe an inch, then these rushie greene leaues (whereof the longest scarce exceeds two inches) breake out of these whitish skins wherein they were wrapped, and lye along vpon the ground, and amongst these growes vp a small grassie stalke, some handfull or better high, bending backe the top, which carries two rowes of small chaffie seeds. It is in the perfection about the beginning of August.

FINIS.

[illustration]

Cyperus Indicus, siue Curcuma. Turmericke. Pag. 33. Lib. 1. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 〈◊〉〈◊〉

[illustration]

Iuncus minor capitulis Equiseti. Club-Rush. Pag. 35. Lib. 1. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 29. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉.

[illustration]

* Spartum nostras parvum Lobelij. Heath Mat-weed. Pag. 41. lib. 1. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 34. the 〈◊〉〈◊〉.

[illustration]

〈◊〉〈◊〉 flores. The floures of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Hay. Pag. 43. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 1. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. the 〈◊〉〈◊〉.