T/ic Gn n/en of p leaf ant Flowers. 



forme vnto the flowers of the former, but f mailer, hauing alfo many greenifh yellow 

 threads or thrums in the middle, and fuch like heads or feede veflels, and blackifh feed : 

 the rootes are ftringie and blackifh like the former. 



The Place. 



The firft groweth onely in the Gardens of thofe that are curious, and de- 

 light in all forts of beautifull flowers in our Countrey, but wilde in many 

 places of Germany, Italy, Greece, &c. 



The other groweth wilde in many places of England, as well as the other 

 greater fort, which is not here defcribcd; for befides diuers places within 

 eight or ten miles from London, I haue feen it in the Woods of Northamp- 

 tonfhire, and in other places. 



The Time. 



The firft of thefe plants doth flower in the end of December, and be- 

 ginning of lanuary moll vfually, and the other a moneth or two after, and 

 fometime more. 



The Names. 



The firft is called Helleborus, or JLlleborm niger verus, and is the fame that 

 both Theophraftus and Diofcorides haue written of, and which was called 

 Melampodion, of Melampus the Goateheard, that purged and cured the mad 

 or melancholicke daughters of Pratus with the rootes thereof. Dodonaeus 

 calleth it Veratrum nigrum primum, and the other fecundum: Wee call it in 

 Englifh, The true blacke Hellebor, or the Chriftmas flower, becaufe (as I 

 laid) it is moft commonly in flower at or before Chriftmas. The fecond is 

 a baftard or wilde kinde thereof, it fo nearely refembleth the true, and is 

 called of molt of the later Writers, Pfeudoelleborus niger minor, or Hellebora- 

 fter minor, for a diftinftion betweene it and the greater, which is not here 

 defcribed : and is called in Englifh, The fmaller or lefler Beare foote, and 

 moll vfed in Phyficke, becaufe it is more plentifull, yet it is more churlim and 

 ftrong in operation then the true or former kinde. 



The Vertues. 



The rootes of both thefe kindes are fafe medecines, being rightly prepa- 

 red, to be vfed for all Melancholicke difeafes, whatfoeuer others may feare 

 or write, and may be without danger applied, fo as care and skill, and not 

 temerary rafhnefle doe order and difpofe of them. 



The powder of the dryed leaues, efpecially of the baftard kinde, is a fure 

 remedy to kill the wormes in children, moderately taken. 



CHAP. LXXXII. 

 Elleborus albus. White Ellebor or Neefewort. 



THere are two forts of great white Ellebors or Neefeworts, whereas there was 

 but one kinde knowne to the Ancients; the other being found 'out of later 

 dayes : And although neither of both thefe haue any beauty in their flowers, 

 yet becaufe their leaues, being faire and large, haue a goodly prof peel, I haue infer- 

 ted them in this place, that this Garden fhould not be vnfurnifhed of them, and you 

 not vnacquainted with them. 



X 2 I. Elleborus 



