The ordering of the Garden of Pleafure. 23 



perfwade many in the truth, although I cannot hope of all, loine being fo llrongly 

 wedded to their owne will, and the errours they haue beenc hred in, that no rcafon 

 may alter them. Firit therefore I fay, that if there were any art to make fonic flowers 

 to grow double, that naturally were tingle, by the fame art, all forts of flowers that arc 

 lin^le by nature, may be made to grow double : but the forts of flowers that are tingle 

 by nature, whereot tome are double, were neuer made double by art ; for many forts 

 abide ttill lingle, whereof there was neuer feene double : and therefore there is no 

 fuch art in any mans knowledge to bring it to pafle. If any man (hall fay, that becaufc 

 there are many flowers double, whereof there are tingle alto of the fame kinde, as for 

 example, Violets, Marigolds, Daifyes, Daffodils, Anemones, and many other, that 

 therefore thole double flowers were fo made by the art of man : 7 vs. by the obferuati- 

 on of the change of the Moone, the conltellations or conjunctions of Planets, or 

 loine other Starres or celettiall bodies. Although I doe confefle and acknowledge, 

 that I thinke fome conllellations, and peraduenture changes of the Moone, &c. were 

 appointed by the God of nature, as conducing and helping to the making of thofe 

 flowers double, that nature hath fo produced, yet I doe deny, that any man hath or 

 lhall euer be able to proue, that it was done by any art of man, or that any man can tell 

 the true caufes and feafons, what changes of the Moone, or conllellations of the Pla- 

 nets, wrought together for the producing of thofe double flowers, or can imitate na- 

 ture, or rather the God of nature, to doe the like. If it (hall bee demanded, From 

 whence then came thefe double flowers that we haue, if they were not fo made by art ? 

 I anfwer, that afluredly all fuch flowers did firrt grow wilde, and were fo found dou- 

 ble, as they doe now grow in Gardens, but for how long before they were found they 

 became double, no man can tell ; we onely haue them as nature hath produced them, 

 and fo they remaine. Againe, if any thall fay, that it is likely that thefe double flowers 

 were forced fo to be, by the often planting and tranfplanting of them, becaufe it is ob- 

 ferued in mort of them, that if they Hand long in any one place, and not be often re- 

 moued, they will grow llill lefle double, and in the end turne tingle. I doe confefle, 

 that Vac'iinr c/l defcenfus quam a/'ceri/us, and that the vnfruitfulnefle ot the ground they 

 are planted in, or the neglect or little care had of them, or the growing of them 

 too thicke or too long, are oftentimes a caufe of the diminithing of the flowers 

 doublenefle ; but withall you thall obferue, that the fame rootes that did beare double 

 flowers (and not any other that neuer were double before) haue returned to their for- 

 mer doublenefle againe, by good ordering and looking vnto : tingle flowers haue only 

 beene made fomewhat fairer or larger, by being planted in the richer and more fruit- 

 full ground of the Garden, than they were found wilde by nature ; but neuer made to 

 grow double, as that which is naturally fo found of it felfe : For I will thew you mine 

 owne experience in the matter. I haue been as inquititiue as any man might be, with 

 euery one I knew, that made any fuch report, or that I thought could fay any thing 

 therein, but I neuer could finde any one, that could afluredly refolue me, that he knew 

 certainly any fuch thing to be done : all that they could fay was but report, for the ob- 

 feruation ot the Moone, to remoue plants before the change, that is, as fome fay, the 

 full of the Moone, others the new Moone, whereupon I haue made tryall at many 

 times, and in many forts of plants, accordingly, and as I thought fit, by planting & tran- 

 fplanting them, but I could neuer fee the effect defired, but rather in many of them the 

 lotfe of my plants. And were there indeed fuch a certaine art, to make fingle flowers 

 to grow double, it would haue beene knowne certainly to fome that would practife it, 

 and there are fo many lingle flowers, whereof there were neuer any of the kinde feene 

 double, that to produce fuch of them to be double, would procure both credit and 

 coyne enough to him that tliould vfe it ; but Vltra po/e non c/l ej/'c : and therefore let no 

 man beleeue any fuch reports, bee they neuer fo ancient ; for they are but meere tales 

 and fables. Concerning colours and fents, the many rules and directions extant in ma- 

 nie mens writings, to caufe flowers to grow yellow, red, greene, or white, that neuer 

 were fo naturally, as alfo to be of the fent of Cinamon, Muske, &cc. would almott per- 

 fwade any, that the matters thus fet downe by fuch perfons, and with fome thew of 

 probability, were conftant and allured proofes thereof : but when they come to the 

 triall, they all vanilh away like fmoake. I will in a few words thew you the matters and 

 manners of their proceedings to effect this purpofe : Firft (they fay) if you thall tteepe 



your 



