m- 
jT be (far den of pleafant Flowers. 
maketh P trientium to be a kindc of Squill with rcddilh rootes , Idare not 
vphold their opinion againft fuch manifeft truth. 
ThcVertues. 
The Squill or Sea Onion is wholly vfed phyfically with vs,becaufe wee 
can receiue no pleafure from the fight of the flowers. Pliny writeth, that 
Pithagoras wrote a volume or booke of the properties thereof, for the An- 
gular effects it wrought; which booke is loft, yet the diuers vertues it hath is 
recorded by others, to be effeduall for the fpleene , lungs , ftomach, liuer, 
head and heart ; and for dropfies, old coughs, laundife, and the wormes ; 
thatitcleareththe fight, helpeth the tooth-ache, clcanfcth the head of 
feurfe, and running fores ; and is an efpeciall Antidote againft poifon : and 
therefore is vfed as a principali ingredient into the TheritCA^indremieki, 
which we vfually call Venice T reakle. The Apothecaries prepare hereof, 
both Wine, Vinegar, and Oxymel or Syrupe, which is Angular to extenu- 
ate and expe&orate tough fltgme, which isthc caufe of much dilquietin the 
body, and an hindcrer of cone o<ft ion, or difgeftion in the ftomach , bcfidcs 
diuers other way es, wherein the fcalcs of the rootes, being dryed, are vfed. 
And Galen hath fufficiently explained the qualities and properties thereof, 
in his eight Booke of Simples. 
Chap. XII. 
Orttithegtlum. Starrc of Bethlehem. 
A Fter the Family of the Iacinths, muft ncedes follow the kindes of Starre-flow- 
ers, or Starres of Bethlehem, as they are called, forthat they doe fo nearelyre- 
femble them, that diuers haue named forae of them Iacinths, and referred them 
to that kindred: all of them, both in roote, leafe, and flower, come nearer vnto the 
Iacinths, then vnto any other plant. They fhall therefore bee next deferibed, euery 
one in their order, the greateft firft, and the reft following. 
Ornithtgdum Arskicnm. Thegreat Starre-flower of Arabia. 
This Arabian Starre-flower hath many broad, and long greene leaues, very like vn- 
to the leaues of the Orientali Iacinth, but lying forthe moftpart vpon the ground, 
among which rifeth vp a round greene ftalke, almofttwo footehigh, bearing atrhe 
toppe diuers large flowers, Handing vpon long foote-ftalkcs , andarthebottomeof 
cucryoncof them a (mall fliort pointed greene leafe :thefe flowers are made of fix 
pure white leaues a peece, laid open as large as an ordinary Daffbdill, but of the forme 
ofa Starrc Iacinth, or Starre of Bethlehem, which clofc as they doe euery night, and 
open themfelues in the day time,efpecially in the Sunne,the fmell whereof is pretty 
fweete,butweake : in the middle of the flower is a blackifh head, compofed with fix 
white threeds,tipt with yellow pendents : the feede hath not beene obferued with vs: 
the roote is great and white, with a flatbottome, very impatient of our cold Winters, 
fo that it feldome profpereth or abideth with vs ; for although fometimes it doe abide 
a Winter in the ground, yet it often Iyeth without fpringing blade, or any thing elfe a 
whole yeare, and then perifheth : or if it doe fpring, yet many doe not beare, and moft 
aftertheir firft bearing doe decay and perifh. But if any be defirous , to know how to 
preferuc the roote of this plant, or of many other bulbous rootes that arc tender , fuch 
as the great double white Daffbdill of Conftantinople, and other fine Daffodils, that 
come from hot Countries; let them keepe this rule : Let either the roote be planted in 
4 large pot, or tubbe of earth, and houfed all the Winter , tliat fo it may bee defended 
from the frofts ; O r elfe (which is the eafier way) keepe the roote out of the ground 
euery yeare, from September, after the leaues and ftalkes are paft , vntiil February, in 
fome 
