FLOR 4. Book I. 
CHAP. ero, 
Tslipa. 
M te Tulip is a flower well known, efpecially the more 
common kinds thereof, but there are many noble va- 
rieties , whofe faces, as few'ate acquainted with, as 
Seq with their excellent qualities ; thefe are thofe lovely 
sles , whofe bravery excelled Solomon in his greateft 
luftre} Flora’s choiceft Jewels, and the moft.glorious ornaments of 
the be{t Gardens’, transferable favours: from one Flori ff to another, 
aptly conveyable (che feafon confidered) many-miles diftant, 
And as thefe ftately Flowers are efteemed,fo are they valued , one 
root being ufually fold with usat all prices, from a penny (I may fay 
with modefty) to five pounds; but in ocher Countries where Elow- 
ers are more affected, at far higher rates. Such is their rarity and 
excellence, and fo numerous are the varieties , that it isnot pofsible 
any one perfon ‘in the world fhould be able to exprefs , ot compre- 
hend the half of chem, every Spring difcovering many new. diverfi- 
ties} never before obferved , either arifing from the Seeds of fome 
choice kinds, the altering of off-fers , omby: the bufie and fecret 
working of Nature upon feveral felf-colours,’ in different! foils and 
fituations , together with the help of Art : Of all which plentifully 
in the end of this Chapter. : 
~The divifion of Tulips according to Gerard, Parkinfon, Cly fins, 
and Ferrarius, isinto three forts, Precoces; Medias , and Serotinas, 
early, middle, and late flowering Tw#/ips, whereas indeed there are but 
two primary diftinét kinds, Precoces, and Serotinas ; thefe having 
other notable differences, befides their time .of flowering, which 
from the firft to the laft, is asdiftant inthe Precaces, as that of thofe 
called Medias to the Serotinas ; fo according to their rule,we might 
as well divide the early as the later, and fo make four forts out of 
two; yet not to be thought fingular, I fhall not alcer the old me- 
thod, but fet downa plentiful variety of each, under fuch names as 
they are generally received and known by, written after the Englifh 
fathion, that perfons unexpert in the Orthography of Forein Lan- 
Suages, may beable to write and pronounce them; beginning with 
the beft known and more ordinary forts , and fo proceed to better, 
« Whe greateft difference of Tulips is inthe flowers , as the diver- 
fity of colour, manuer of marking, bottoms, chives or Tamis, big- 
‘nefs, fafhion, and manner of growing ; the which after one general | 
defcription of the whole Plant, fhall be particularly expreffed, where- 
by each flower by name and face may be known and diftinguifhed. 
Tulipa 
