The gardeners labyrinth containing a discourse of the gardeners life, in the yearly trauels to be bestovved on his plot of earth, for the vse of a garden: with instructions for the choise of seedes, apte times for sowing, setting, planting, [and] watering, and the vessels and instruments seruing to that vse and purpose: wherein are set forth diuers herbers, knottes and mazes, cunningly handled for the beautifying of gardens. Also the physike benefit of eche herbe, plant, and floure, with the vertues of the distilled waters of euery of them, as by the sequele may further appeare. Gathered out of the best approued writers of gardening, husbandrie, and physicke: by Dydymus Mountaine.

Title

The gardeners labyrinth containing a discourse of the gardeners life, in the yearly trauels to be bestovved on his plot of earth, for the vse of a garden: with instructions for the choise of seedes, apte times for sowing, setting, planting, [and] watering, and the vessels and instruments seruing to that vse and purpose: wherein are set forth diuers herbers, knottes and mazes, cunningly handled for the beautifying of gardens. Also the physike benefit of eche herbe, plant, and floure, with the vertues of the distilled waters of euery of them, as by the sequele may further appeare. Gathered out of the best approued writers of gardening, husbandrie, and physicke: by Dydymus Mountaine.

Author

Hill, Thomas, b. ca. 1528.

Publication

Printed at London :: By Henry Bynneman,

Anno. 1577.

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Subject terms

Gardening -- Early works to 1800.

Herbs -- Therapeutic use -- Early works to 1800.

Link to this Item

https://name.umdl.umich.edu/A03364.0001.001 content_copy

Cite this Item

"The gardeners labyrinth containing a discourse of the gardeners life, in the yearly trauels to be bestovved on his plot of earth, for the vse of a garden: with instructions for the choise of seedes, apte times for sowing, setting, planting, [and] watering, and the vessels and instruments seruing to that vse and purpose: wherein are set forth diuers herbers, knottes and mazes, cunningly handled for the beautifying of gardens. Also the physike benefit of eche herbe, plant, and floure, with the vertues of the distilled waters of euery of them, as by the sequele may further appeare. Gathered out of the best approued writers of gardening, husbandrie, and physicke: by Dydymus Mountaine." In the digital collection Early English Books Online. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/A03364.0001.001. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed May 3, 2024. content_copy

Contents

• illustration
• title page
• editor to the reader
• ¶ To the righte honourable and his sin∣gular good Lorde, Sir William Cecill, knighte of the moste noble Order of the Garter, Baron of Burghlev, Lord high Tresurer of England &c. Henry Dethicke wysheth long health, with encrease of honour.
• ¶ A Table expressing the Conten∣tes of euery Chapiter conteyned in this Labyrinth.
• ¶ Authours from whome this vvorke is selected.
• The Gardeners Labyrinth. Contayning the manifolde trauayles, great cares, and diligence, to be yearly bestowed in euery earth, for the vse of a Garden: with the later inuentions, and rare secretes therevnto ad∣ded (as the like) not heretofore published.
  • The inuention of Grden plottes, by whom first deuised, and what commoditie founde by them, in time past. Chap. 1.
  • What care and diligence is requyred of euery Gardener: to these, what increase & commoditie a well laboured earth yeeldeth. Chap. 2.
  • What consideration and chosing to be vsed, in any Garden plot: with the goodnesse and worthinesse of euery earth. Chap. 3.
  • Certayne playner instructions, much furthering the Gardener, in the knowledge and choyse of a good and battell ground, with other matter necessarie. Chap. 4.
  • Of the placing and standing of a Garden plotte, with the necessarie benefite of water to a Garden, and other matters profitable. Chap. 5.
  • What ayre commended for the benefite of a Garden, and whiche be noous as well to Man as the Plantes: and the reason why Garden plottes ought to be placed nigh to the owners house. Chap. 6.
  • The forme of the inclosures, whiche the Husbandmen, and Ro∣maynes in time past inucted. Chap. 7.
  • The later inuentions of erecting a naturall and strong Hedge▪ whiche in time growing, may proue a most sure defence and sauegarde of the Garden. Chap. 8.
  • The cause why certayne skilfull husbandmen in Auncient time, misli∣ked the dunging of Gardens neere to the house: and what dung best allowed for kitchin or pothearbes. Chap. 9.
  • Of the kindes of dung, and which well commended for the dunging of Gardens. Chap. 10.
  • What to be considered of euerie gardiner, before the casting forth and leueling of the beddes, with the disposing of the earth. Chap. 11.
  • The framing of sundry Herbers delectable in a Garden, with the walkes and alleys artely de∣uised in the same. Chap. 12.
  • The forme of the disposing the quarters into beddes and apt borders about, with the sowing, choie and defence of the seedes, and weeding of the beds. Chap. 13.
  • The artely disposing of sundrie beddes, for the sowing and in∣crease of diuerse fruites and kitchin herbes, with the wittie defences to be vsed after the seedes are bestowed. Chap. 24.
  • The workemanly casting forth, deuiding, and preparing of beddes for the most hearbes and rootes of the Kitchin. Chap. 5.
  • The rare inuentions and defences for most seedes to be commit∣ted to the Earth that these be neither endamaged of Birds, nor creeping things. Chap. 16.
  • The wittie helpes commended of the auncient, for the Garden seedes, to be employed as well before as after the sow∣ing, that these be not harmed by outward nor inward iniuries. Chap. 17.
  • The laudable instructions of the auntient, in the nature and election of sundry Seedes, with the apt times com∣mended for the sowing of most Kitchin Herbes. Chapter. 18.
  • Certayne preceptes of the skilful in our time, for the sowing of many delectable floures, and tender Herbes, with the obseruations of the Moone in these, and in other matters necessary. Chap. 19.
  • The commended times to be obserued, with the anoyannce and incommoditie to be eschewed, in the bestowing of seeds and plants in the Earth. Chap. 20.
  • Certaine instructions more curious to be learned of euery skilfull Gardener, in the bestowing of seedes and daintie hearbes in a well dressed carth. Chap. 21.
  • In what space of tyme seedes committed to the Earth, in the increase of the Moone, commonly shoote vppe and appeare aboue grounde. Chap. 22.
  • What care and diligence is required of euery Gardener, in the pluc∣king vp, and cleere weeding away of all vnprofitable Herbes, growing among the garden plantes. Chap. 23.
  • The commended times for watring of the Garden Beddes, and what manner of water ought necessarilye be vsed to plantes, with the later inuentions of sundrye vessels, aptest for thys purpose. Chap. 24.
  • At what tyme diuerse plantes sprung vppe, ought to be remoued and set againe, as out of one bedde or bordure, into another, with the breaking or sipping of sundry settes from old bodies, which with skil require to be bestowed in the Earth. Chap. 25.
  • The laudable instructions of the wise, in the gathering and preseruing of the greater number of Kitchyn Herbes and rootes, with the times aptest, for the like doing by a floures, dainty Herbes, and rootes, to the vse of physicke. Chap. 26.
  • The worthe remedies and secretes auayling against Snayles, can∣ker wormes, the long bodied Mothes, Garden fleas and earth wormes, vitiate and gnaw, as wel the potte Hearbes, as trees and fruites. Chap. 27.
  • The skilfull inuentions and helpes againste the Garden Moles, antes, Gnattes, Flies, and Frogges, euerting, harming and wasting as well Kitchin Hearbes, as Trees and fruites. Chap. 28.
  • The rare practises and secrets, both of the auntient, and later writers of Husbandrie, against Serpents of the Garden, and any others veneming aswel men as the Kitchin Hearbes, trees, and fruites. Chap. 29.
  • The laudable deuises and cunning helpes against the Scorpions, Todes, Gardenmyse, Weasels, and al other greater beasts wasting and corrupting, aswel the kitchin Hearbes, as fruites. Chap. 30.
  • The skilful practises and remedies, against Hayle, lightnings and tempestes, beating downe, and spoyling the Kitchin Hearbes, trees, and fruites. Chap. 51.
  • The laudable deuises and helpes against Frost, blasting of trces, Mystes, and ruste, whyche be enemies aswel to Garden Hearbes as fruites. Chap. 32.
• The second part of the Gar∣deners Labyrinth, vttering suche skilfull experiences and vvorthy secretes, about the parti∣cular sowing and remouyng of the most Kitchin Hearbes, with the wittie ordering of other dayntie Hearbes, delectable floures, pleasant fruites, and fyne rootes, as the like hath not heeretofore bin vttered of any. Besides the Phisicke benefites of each Herbe annexed, with the commoditie of waters distilled out of them, ryghte necessarye to be knowen.
  • What healpes and secretes to be learned in the sowing and often remouing of the Coleworte. Chapter. 1.
    • The Physicke helpes and worthy secretes of the Coleworte.
    • The commended benefites of the distilled water of Colewortes.
    • The Phisicke helpes of the water of the redde Coleworte.
  • What worthy instructions to be conceyed in the sowing and ordering of the Beete for the Pote. Chapter. 2.
    • The Phisicke benefytes of the Beete.
    • The speciall effectes of the distilled water of the white Beetes.
  • What fate drawe and to be learned, in the sowing and setting of the Blete. Chapter. 3.
    • The Phisicke healpes and commodities of the Blete.
  • What diligence and skill is required in the sowing and setting of the Garden Arage. Chapter. 4.
    • The Phisicke benefytes of the Orache.
  • What singular skill and secretes to be knowen in the sowing, remouing, and setting againe of the worthy Hearbe named Sperage. Chapter. 5.
    • The Phisicke commodities and helpes of the Sperage.
  • What skil and obseruation to be folowed, in the sowing, and ordering of the Spynage. Chap. 6.
    • The Phisicke benefites and helpes of the Spynedge.
  • What skil and diligence is required, in the sowing and ordering of the Garden Sorrel. Chap. 7.
    • The Phisicke commodities and helpes of the Sorrel and Pympernel.
    • The commended helpes of the distilled waters, both of the Sorrel, and Pympernel.
  • What skil and diligence required, in the workmanly sowing and ordering of the Borrage and Buglosse. Chap. 8.
    • The Phisicke benefites and singular helpes both of the Borage and Buglosse or Longdebeefe.
    • The singular healpes and Phisicke benefytes of the distilled wa∣ters, both of the Borage and Buglosse.
  • What skill and secrees to be learned, in the sowing, remouing and setting of the Marigold. Chapter. 9.
    • The Phisicke benefytes and healpes of the Marigolde.
    • The commended healpes of the distilled water.
  • What skill industrie and secretes to be learned, in the sowing and ordering of the Parselie. Chapter. 10.
    • The Phisicke benefites and healpes of the Parselie.
    • The Phisicke helpes of the distilled water of Parsely.
  • What skil and diligence required, in the sowing and ordering both of the Garden and wilde or running Time. Chap. 11.
    • The Phisicke helpes both of the Garden and running Time.
    • The worthie helpes of the distilled water of the running Tyme.
  • What skill and diligence is required in the sowing and ordering both of the Myntes and Holyhocke. Chap. 12.
    • The Phisicke benefites and healpes, both of the Mint, and Gar∣den Malowes or holyhoke.
    • The Phisicke benefites of the Holyhoke, do heere ensewe.
    • The commended healpes of the distilled water of the Holyhoke.
    • The commended benefytes of the distilled water of Mintes.
  • What care and skill is required in the sowing and worke∣manly ordering of the artochoke. Chapter. 13.
    • The Phisicke benefites and helpes of the Artochoke.
  • What skil and diligence to be learned in sowing, and workmanly ordering, both of the Endyue and Succorie. Chap. 14.
    • The Phisicke helpes, both of the Endyue and Sychorie.
    • The commended vertues of the distilled water, both of the Endyue and Cychorie.
  • What care, skil, and secretes to be learned in the sowing, and workmanly ordering of the Lettuce. Chap. 15.
    • The phisicke benefites and helpes of the Lettuce.
    • The commended vertues of the distilled water of Lettuce.
  • What care and skill requyred in the sowing and ordering of the purselane and Rocket. Chap. 16.
    • The phisicke helpes and remedies both of the Purselane and Rocket.
    • The commended Vertues of the distilled waters of Purselane.
  • What skil and diligence required, in the sowing and ordering of the Cheruil Smallage, Taragon, and Cresses. Chap. 7.
    • The Phisicke remedies and helpes both of the Cheruil, and Garden Cresses.
    • The commended vertues of the distilled waters, both of the Cheruel and Garden Cresses.
  • What care and skil required in the sowing and ordering of the Buckes horne, strawberie, and Mustardseed. Chap. 18.
    • The phisicke remedies and helpes of the Buckes horne▪ Strawberie, and Mustard seede.
    • The commended vertues of the distilled waters bothe of the Strawberie, and plante of the Mustarde seede.
    • The vertues commendable of the distilled water of the Strawbery leaues.
  • What skill and care is requyred in the sowing and workmanly ordring of the Lekes and Liues. Chap. 19.
    • The Phisicke helpes of the Garden Leeke.
    • The commended helpes of the distilled water of the Leeke.
  • What skil and diligence required in the workmanly sowing and ordering of the Onyon. Chap. 20.
    • The phisicke commodities of the Onion.
    • The commended vertues of the distilled Water of the Onions.
  • What care, skill and secreates to be learned in the sow∣ing and ordering both of the lesser, and grea∣ter Garlike. Chap. 21.
    • The Phisicke helpes and commodities of the Garlike.
    • The inconueniences of Garlike out of Plinie.
    • The commended vertues of the distilled water of Garlike.
  • What care and skil is requyred in the sowing and or∣dering, both of the Scalion and Squyll Onyon. Chap. 2.
    • The Phisicke helpes both of the Scalion and Squil Onion.
  • What care and skill is requyred in the preparyng and ordering of the Garden Saffron. Chap. 23.
    • The phisicke benefits and helpes of the Saffron.
  • What skill care and diligence to requyred in the workmanly sowing and ordering of the Nauewes. Chap. 24.
    • The Phisicke benefits of the Nauewes.
  • What care and skill is requyred in the sowing and rightly or∣dering of the Rape and Turnup. Chap. 25.
    • The phisicke vertues and helpes of the Rapes.
    • The benefites of the distilled water of Rapes.
  • What skil and diligence is required with the secretes to be learned in the sowing and ordering of the Radish. Chap. 26.
    • The Phisicke benefites and helpes of the Radish.
    • The commended helpes of the distilled water of the Radishe.
  • What care and skill is required in the sowing and workmanly ordering both of the Parsnep, and Carote. Chap. 27.
    • The phisicke benefits and helps of the Parsnep and Carot.
    • The vertues and helpes of the distilled water of the Parsenep.
  • The diligence and skill to be vsed, both in sowing and ordering of the Garden Poppie. Chap. 28.
    • The phisicke benefits of the Garden Poppie.
    • The commended vertues of the distilled water of the white Poppy.
  • What skil, diligence and secrets is to be lerned in the sowing and ordering of the Cucumber. Chap. 29.
    • The Phisicke commodities and helpes of the Cucumber.
  • What skil and secreates are to be learned in the sowing and workmanly ordering of the Gourde. Chap. 30.
    • The phisicke benefits and helps of the Gourde.
    • The benefites and helpes of the distilled water of the Gourde.
  • Of the care, helpes, and secretes of the Pompons, Mel∣lons, and Muske Mellons. Chap. 31.
    • The Phisicke commodities of the Pompons and Mellons.
    • The commended helpes of the distilled water of the Mellons.
  • Worthy instructions about the sowing and setting of sundry Phisicke herbs, to these of the greatest number of fragrant herbes, and pleasaunt floures, and first of the blessed Thistle. Cap. 32.
    • The phisicke benefits and helps of the blessed Thistle.
    • The commended vertues of the distilled water of the blessed Thistle.
  • What care and secrets ar to be lerned in the sowing and setting of the hearbe Angelica. Chap. 33.
    • The phisicke commodities of the Angelica.
  • What care & diligence is required in the artely sowing of the hearbe Ualerian. Chap. 34.
    • The phisicke benefits of the Valerian.
    • The worthy vertues of the distilled water of the Herbe.
    • The vertues of the distilled water of the rootes of Valerian.
  • The dilligence required in the bestowing of the Hearbe Bytonie. Chap. 35.
    • The Phisicke commodities of the Herbe Bitonie.
    • The commended vertues of the distilled water of Betonie.
  • The skil and diligence required in the artly bestowing of the Herbe Louage. Chap. 36.
    • The Phisicke benefites of the Herbe Louage.
    • The commended vertues of the distilled water of Louage
  • What care and skil is required in the bestowing of the Herbe Elecampane. Chap. 37.
    • The Phisicke commodities of the Elecampane.
    • The worthy vertues of the distilled water of the leaues of the Elecampane.
    • The commended vertues of the distilled water of the roote.
  • The care in the bestowing of the hearbe Pepperworte. Chap. 39.
    • The phisicke benefits of the hearbe Pepperworte.
  • The care in the bestowing of the Celondyne. Chap. 39.
    • The phisicke benefits of the Celondine.
    • The commended vertues of the distilled water of Celondine.
  • The care in the bestowing of the hearbe Filipendula. Chap. 40.
    • The phisicke commodities of the hearbe Filipendula.
    • The commended vertues of the distilled water of Filipendula.
• ¶ A necessary Table to the second part of this Booke, briefly shewyng the Physical operations of euery herbe and plant therein conteyned, with the vertues of their distilled waters.