The Garden of pleafant Flowers. 333 



and doth Ib well refemble the bald crowne ot" a Frier, not onely before it be in flower, 

 but efpeciiilly after it hath done flowring, that thereupon it deleruedly receiued the 

 ii.tme of the Friers Crowne Thiftle: out of thefe heads rifeth forth a purple thrumme, 

 fuch as is to be feene in many other wilde Thiftles, which when they are ripe, are full 

 of a rlockie or woolly fubftnnce, which breake at the toppe (bedding it, and the feede 

 which is blackilh, rlat, and fmooth : the roote is great and thicke, enduring for 

 fomc yeares, vet fometimcs perilhing, if it be too much expofed to the violence of the 

 frofts in Winter. 



The Place. 



The firft groweth naturally in Spaine, Italy, and France, and in many o- 

 ther hot Countries, and growe onely in Gardens in thefe colder climates, 

 and there cherifhed for the beautirull afpect both of the greene plants, and 

 of the (hikes when they are in flower. The Carline Thiftle is tound both 

 in Germany and Italy in many places, and as it is reported, in fome places 

 of the Weft parts in England. The others are found fome in France, fome 

 in Hungary, and on the Alpes, and the laft in Spaine. 



The Time. 



They doe all flower in the Summer moneths, fome a little earlier or later 

 then others. 



The Names. 



The lirft is called Acanthus fativus (becaufe the other that is prickly, is 

 called Jtlueftris or fpinofus] and Branea vrjina ; In Englifh, Branck vrfine, 

 and Beares breech. The third is called Eringium montanum, Alpinum, and 

 Pannonicum latifolium: In Englifh, Mountaine or Hungary Sea Holly. The 

 fourth is called CarJuus mollis, The gentle Thiftle, becaufe it hath no harm- 

 full prickles, although it feeme at the firft fhew to be a Thiftle. The fifth is 

 called of diuers Chamaleo albus, and Carlina^ as if they were both but one 

 plant ; but Fabius Columna hath in my Judgement very learnedly defcided 

 that controuerlie, making Car Una to be Ixine of Theophraftus, and Chama- 

 leo another differing Thiftle, which Gaza tranflateth Vernilago. We call it 

 in Englifh, The Carline Thiftle. The other haue their names in their titles, 

 as much as is conuenient for this difcourfe. 



The Vertues. 



The firft hath alwaies been vfed Phyfically, as a mollifying herbe among 

 others of the like flimie matter in Glifters, to open the body ; yet Lobel 

 feemeth to make no difference in the vfe of them both (that is, the prickly 

 as well as the fmooth.) The Carline Thiftle is thought to bee good againft 

 poyfons and infection. The reft are not vfed by any that I know. 



CHAP. LXXVIII. 

 Fraxinella. Baftard Dittany. 



HAuing finilhed thofe pleafing Thirties, I come to other plants of more gentle 

 handling, and firft bring to your confideration this baftard Dittany, whereof 

 there are found out two efpeciall kindes, the one with a reddifh, the other with 

 a whitifh flower, and each of thefe hath his diuerfity, as (hall be prefently declared. 



i . Fraxinella fare rubentc. Baftard Dittany with a reddifh flower. 



This goodly plant rifeth vp with diuers round, hard, brownilh (hikes, neare two 



foote 



