3 3 o The Garden of pleafant F/owers. 



then abide your cenfure, if they be not worthy of fome place, although it be but a cor- 

 ner of the Garden, where fomething muft needes be to fill vp roome. Some of them 

 are fmooth, and without prickes at all, fome at the heads onely, and fome all ouer ; but 

 yet not without fome efpeciall note or marke worthy of refpecl : Out of this difcourfe 

 I leaue the Artichoke, with all his kindes, and referue them for our Kitchin Garden, 

 becaufe (as all know) they are for the pleafure of the tafte, and not of the fmell or fight. 



i . Acanthus fativus. Garden Beares breech. 



The leaues of this kinde of fmooth thiftle (as it is accounted) are almoft as large as 

 the leaues of the Artichoke, but not fo fharp pointed, very deeply cut in and gamed on 

 both edges, of a fad green & mining colour on the vpperfide, and of a yellowifh green 

 vnderneath, with a great thicke rib in the middle, which fpread themfelues about the 

 root, taking vp a great deale of ground. After this plant hath ftood long in one place, 

 and well defended from the iniury of the cold, it fendeth forth from among the leaues 

 one or more great and ftrong ftalkes, three or foure foote high, without any branch at 

 all, bearing from the middle to the top many flowers one aboue another, fpike-fafhion 

 round about the ftalke, with fmaller but not diuided greene leaues at euery flower, 

 which is white, and fafhioned fomewhat like vnto a gaping mouth ; after which come 

 broad, flat, thicke, round, brownifh yellow feede (as I haue well obferued by them 

 haue beene fent me out of Spaine, and which haue fprung vp, and doe grow with me ; 

 for in our Countrey I could neuer obferue any feede to haue growne ripe) the rootes 

 are compofed of many great and thicke long firings, which fpread farre in and vnder 

 the ground, fomewhat darkifh on the outfide, and whitifh within, full of a clammy 

 moifture (whereby it fheweth to haue much life) and doe endure our Winters, if they 

 be not too much expofed to the fharpe violence thereof, which then it will not en- 

 dure, as I haue often found by experience. 



2. Acanthus Jilueftris. Wilde or prickly Beares breech. 



This prickly Thiftle hath diuers long greenifh leaues lying on the ground, much 

 narrower then the former, but cut in on both fides, thicke fet with many white prickes 

 and thornes on the edges : the ftalke rifeth not vp fo high, bearing diuers fuch like 

 thornie leaues on them, with fuch a like head of flowers on it as the former hath : but 

 the feede hereof (as it hath come to vs from Italy and other places, for I neuer faw it 

 beare feed here in this Country) is blacke and round, of the bignefle of a fmall peafe : 

 the roote abideth reafonable well, if it be defended fomewhat from the extremity of 

 our Winters, or elfe it will perifh. 



3 . Eringium Pannonicum jiue Montanum. Hungary Sea Holly. 



The lower leaues of this Thiftle that lye on the ground, are fomewhat large, round, 

 and broad, hard in handling, and a little fnipt about the edges, euery one ftanding vp- 

 on a long foote-ftalke : but thofe that growe vpon the ftalke, which is ftifFe, two or 

 three foote high, haue no foote-ftalke, but encompafle it, two being fet at euery ioynt, 

 the toppe whereof is diuided into diuers branches, bearing fmall round rough heads, 

 with fmaller and more prickly leaues vnder them, and more cut in on the fides then 

 thofe belowe : out of thefe heads rife many blew flowers, the foote-ftalkes of the 

 flowers, together with the toppes of the branches, are likewife blew and tranfparent, 

 or (hining. 



Flare albo. We haue another of this kinde, the whole toppes of the ftalkes, with the heads and 



branches, are more white then blew : the feede contained in thefe heads are white, 

 flat, and as it were chaffie : the roote is great and whitifh, fpreading farre into many 

 branches, and fomewhat fweete in tafte, like the ordinary Sea Holly rootes. 



4. Carduus mollis. The gentle Thiftle. 

 The leaues of this foft and gentle Thiftle that are next vnto the ground, are greene 



on 



