146 THE OLD ENGLISH HERBALS 



Hungary and the lesser mountain lily. Of fritillaries of every 

 sort of which Parkinson tells us that " although divers learned 

 men do by the name given unto this delightful plant think it doth 

 in some things partake with a Tulipe or Daffodill ; yet I, finding 

 it most like unto a little Lilly, have (as you see here) placed it 

 next unto the Lillies and before them." Of gay tulips, which 

 were amongst his special favourites " But indeed this flower, 

 above many other, deserveth his true commendations and 

 acceptance with all lovers of these beauties, both for the stately 

 aspect and for the admirable varietie of colour, that daily doe 

 arise in them," and of which he had a collection such as would 

 be the glory of any garden the tulip of Caffa, the greater red 

 Bolonia tulip, the tulip of Candie, the tulip of Armenia, the 

 Fool's Coat tulip, the Cloth of Silver tulip and others too numerous 

 to mention. (" They are all now made denizens in our Gardens," 

 he joyously tells us, " where they yield us more delight and more 

 increase for their proportion by reason of their culture, than they 

 did unto their owne naturals "). Of daffodils, crocuses and 

 hyacinths in boundless profusion, amongst which are to be noted 

 many pleasing names that we no longer use. Of asphodels, 

 " which doe grow naturally in Spaine and France and from thence 

 were first brought unto us to furnish our Gardens." Of many- 

 coloured flags, which he calls by the prettier name of " flower de 

 luce," and amongst which he gives pride of place " for his 

 excellent beautie and raretie to the great Turkic Flower de luce." 

 Of gladioli, cyclamen and anemones. Of the last-named he 

 writes thus : 



" The Anemones likewise or Windeflowers are so full of variety 

 and so dainty so pleasant and so delightsome flowers that the 

 sight of them doth enforce an earnest longing desire in the mind 

 of anyone to be a possessoure of some of them at the leaste. For 

 without all doubt this one kind of flower, so variable in colours, 

 so differing in form (being almost as many sortes of them double 

 as single), so plentifull in bearing flowers and so durable in lasting 

 and also so easie both to preserve and to encrease is of itselfe 



