214 The Garden of pleafant Flowers. 



Wee call them in Englifti eyther Anemones, after the Greeke name, 

 or Windflowers, after the Latine. 



The Virtues. 



There is little vfe of thefe in Phyficke in our dayes, eyther for inward or 

 outward difeafes ; onely the leaues are vfed in the Ointment called Marcia- 

 tum, which is compofed of many other hot herbes, and is vfed in cold 

 griefes, to warme and comfort the parts. The roote, by reafon of the 

 fharpenefle, is apt to drawe downe rheume, if it be tailed or chewed in the 

 mouth. 



CHAP. XXVI. 

 Aconitum. Wolfebane. 



THere be diuers forts of Wolfebanes which are not fit for this booke, but are 

 referued for a generall Hiftory or Garden of Simples, yet among them there 

 are fome, that notwithftanding their euill quality, may for the beauty of their 

 flowers take vp a roome in this Garden, of whom I meane to entreate in this place : 

 And firft of the Winter Wolfesbane, which for the beauty, as well as the earlineffe of 

 his flowers, being the firft of all other, that fhew themfelues after Chriftmas, defer- 

 ueth a prime place ; and therefore for the likenefTe of the rootes vnto the Anemones, 

 I ioyne it next vnto them. 



i. Aconitum Hyemale. The Winters Wolfesbane. 



This little plant thrufteth vp diuers leaues out of the ground, in the deepe of Win- 

 ter oftentimes, if there be any milde weather in January, but moft commonly after 

 the deepe frofts, bearing vp many times the fnow vpon the heads of the leaues, which 

 like vnto the Anemone, doe euery leafe rife from the roote vpon feuerall fhort foote- 

 ftalkes, not aboue foure fingers high, fome hauing flowers in the middle of them, 

 (which come vp firft moft vfually) and fome none, which leaues ftand as it were 

 round, the ftalke riling vp vnder the middle of the leafe, deeply cut in and gamed to 

 the middle rtalke almoft, of a very faire deepe greene colour, in the middle whereof, 

 clofe vnto the leafe, ftandeth a fmall yellow flower, made of fix leaues, very like a 

 Crowfoote, with yellow threads in the middle : after the flower is fallen, there rife vp 

 diuers fmall homes or cods fet together, wherein are contained whitifh yellow round 

 feede. The roote is tuberous, fo like both for fhape and colour vnto the rootes of A- 

 nemones, that they will eafily deceiue one not well experienced, but that it is browner 

 and fmooth without, and yellow within, if it be broken. 



2. Ac onitum flore albido, Jiue Aconitum luteum Ponticum, 

 The whitim yellow Wolfesbane. 



This Wolfesbane (hooteth not out of the ground vntill the Spring be well begun, 

 and then it fendeth forth great broad greene leaues, deeply cut in about the edges, 

 not much vnlike the leaues of the great wilde Crowfoote, but much greater ; from a- 

 mong which leaues rifeth vp a ftrong ftiffe ftalke, three foote high, hauing here and 

 there leaues fet vpon it, like vnto the loweft, but fmaller ; the toppe of the ftalke is di- 

 uided into three or foure branches, whereon are fet diuers pale yellow flowers, which 

 turne at the laft to be almoft white, in fafhion like almoft vnto the flowers of the Hel- 

 met flower, but much fmaller, and not gaping fo wide open : after the flowers 

 are part come vp diuers ftiort poddes, wherein is contained blacke feede: the 

 roote is made of a number of darke browne rtrings, which fpread and faften 

 themfelues ftrongly in the ground. 



3. Napellus 





