298 The Garden of pleafant Flowers. 



point then any where elfe, and fmaller alfo at the fetting to of the ftalke, where it com- 

 pafleth it about : the flowers are fometimes very thicke and double (breaking out of a 

 fcaly clammy greene head) compofed of many rowes of leaues, fet fo clofe together 

 one within another, that no middle thrume can bee feene, and fometimes lefTe double, 

 hauing a fmall browne fpot of a thrume in the middle: and fometimes but of two or 

 three rowes of leaues, with a large browne thrume in the middle ; euery one where- 

 of is fomewhat broader at the point, and nicked into two or three corners, of an ex- 

 cellent faire deepe gold yellow colour in fome, and paler in others, and of a pretty 

 ftrong and refinous fweete fent : after the flowers are part, there fucceede heads of 

 crooked feede, turning inward, the outermoft biggeft, and the innermoft leaft : the 

 roote is white, and fpreadeth in the ground, and in fome places will abide after the 

 feeding, but for the moft part perifheth, and rifeth againe of his owne feede. Some- 

 times this Marigold doth degenerate, and beareth many fmall flowers vpon fhort 

 ftalkes, compaffing the middle flower : but this happeneth but feldome, and there- 

 fore accounted but lufus natures, a play of nature, which me worketh in diuers other 

 plants befides. 



2. Calendula Jimp lex. The fingle Marigold. 



There is no difference betweene this and the former, but that the flowers are fingle, 

 confifting of one rowe of leaues, of the fame colour ; eyther paler or deeper yellow, 

 (landing about a great browne thrumme in the middle : the feed likewife is alike, but 

 for the mofl part greater then in the double kindes. 



The Place. 



Our Gardens are the chiefe places for the double flowers to grow in ; for 

 we know not of any other naturall place : but the fingle kinde hath beene 

 found wilde in Spaine, from whence I receiued feede, gathered by Guil- 

 laume Boel, in his time a very curious, and cunning fearcher of fimples. 



The Time. 



They flower all the Summer long, and fometimes euen in winter, if it be 

 milde, and chiefly at the beginning of thofe monethes, as it is thought. 



The Names. 



They are called Galtha of diuers, and taken to be that C alt ha, whereof both 

 Virgil and Columella haue written. Others doe call them Calendula, of the 

 Kalendes, that is the firft day of the monthes, wherein they are thought 

 chiefly to flower ; and thereupon the Italians call them Fiori di ogni mefe, 

 that is, The Flowers of euery moneth :" We cal them in Englifh generally, 

 eyther Golds, or Marigolds. 



The Vertues. 



The herbe and flowers are of great vfe with vs among other pot-herbes, 

 and the flowers eyther greene or dryed, are often vfed in poflets, broths, and 

 drinkes, as a comforter of the heart and fpirits, and to expel any malignant 

 or peftilential quality, gathered neere thereunto. The Syrupe and Conferue 

 made of the frefh flowers, are vfed for the fame purpofes to good effecl. 



CHAP. 



