568 The Orchard. 



like a Peare, but of a more pleafant tafte then the ordinarie kinde, when they are ripe 

 and mellowed, as they vfe to doe with both thefe kindes, and with Medlars. 



The Vfe of Seruices. 



They are gathered when they growe to be neare ripe (and that is neuer 

 before they haue felt fome frofts) and being tyed together, are either hung 

 vp in fome warme roome, to ripen them thoroughly, that they may bee 

 eaten, or (as fome vfe to doe) lay them in ftrawe, chaffe, or branne, to ripen 

 them. 



They are binding, fit to be taken of them that haue any fcouring or laske, 

 to helpe to (lay the fluxe ; but take heed, left if you binde too much, more 

 paine and danger may come thereof then of the fcouring. 



CHAP. IX. 

 Mefpilus. The Medlar tree. 



r T" 1 Here are three forts of Medlars: The greater and the lefler Englifh, and the 

 Neapolitan. 



The great and the fmall Englifh Medlar differ not one from the other in any 

 thing, but in the fize of the fruit, except that the fmall kinde hath fome prickes or 

 thornes vpon it, which the great one hath not, bearing diuers boughes or armes, from 

 whence breake forth diuers branches, whereon are fet long and fomewhat narrow 

 leaues, many (landing together ; in the middle whereof, at the end of the branch, com- 

 meth the flower, which is great and white, made of fiue leaues, broad at the ends, with 

 a nicke in the middle of euery one ; after which commeth the fruit, being round, and of 

 a pale brownifh colour, bearing a crowne of thofe fmall leaues at the toppe, which 

 were the huske of the flower before, the middle thereof being fomewhat hollow, and 

 is harm, able to choake any that mail eate it before it be made mellow, wherein there 

 are certaine flat and hard kernels. 



The Medlar of Naples groweth likewife to bee a reafonable great tree, fpreading 

 forth armes and branches, whereon are fet many gamed leaues, fomewhat like vnto 

 Hawthorne leaues, but greater, and likewife diuers thornes in many places : the flow- 

 ers are of an herbie greene colour, and fmall, which turne into fmaller fruit then the 

 former, and rounder alfo, but with a fmall head or crowne at the toppe like vnto it, 

 and is of a more fweete and pleafant tafte then the other, with three feeds only therein 

 ordinarily. 



The Vfe of Medlars. 



Medlars are vfed in the fame manner that Seruices are, that is, to be eaten 

 when they are mellowed, and are for the fame purpofes to binde the body 

 when there is a caufe : yet they as well as the Seruices, are often eaten by 

 them that haue no neede of binding, and but onely for the pleafant fweet- 

 nefle of them when they are made mellow, and fometimes come as a dilli 

 of ripe fruit at their fit feafon, to be ferued with other forts to the table. 



CHAP. X. 

 Lotus. The Lote or Nettle tree. 



THe firft kinde of Lote tree, whereof Diofcorides maketh mention, is but of one 

 kinde ; but there are fome other trees fpoken of by Theophraftus, that may be 

 referred thereunto, which may bee accounted as baftard kindes thereof, of 

 which I meane to entreate in this Chapter, hauing giuen you before the defcription 



of 



