T be Ljarden 0 / plea) ant t loners. 
forme vn to the flowers of the former, but fmaller , hauing alfo many greenifli yel low 
threads or thrums in the middle, and fuch like heads orfeedc veflels,and blackifli feed: 
the rootes are ftringie and blackifli like the former. 
The Place. 
The firfl: groweth onely in the Gardens ofthofethatare 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 wcl I as the other 
greater fort, which is not here deferibed ; for befides diuers places within 
eight or ten miles from London, I hauc feen it in the Woods of Northamp- 
tonfhirc, and in other places. 
The Time. 
The firfl of thefe plants doth flower in the end of December, and be- 
ginning of Ianuary moft vfually , and the other a moncth or two after, and 
lometimc more. 
The Names. 
The firfl is called UeUeborut, or Elleborus niger verm , and is the famethat 
both Theophraftusand Diofcorides hauc written of, and which was called 
MeUmpodion, ofMelampus the Goateheard, that purged and cured the mad 
or melancholicke daughters ofPrattus with the rootes thereof. Dodon^u* 
calleth it Centrum mgrum primum , arid the other fecundum : Wee call it in 
Englifh, The true blacke Hellebor , or the Chriftmas flovrer,becaufe(asI 
Laid) itis moft commonly in flower at or before Chriftmas. The fecond is 
a baftard or wilde kinde thereof, it fonearely refembleth thetrue, andis 
called of moft ofthe later Writers, PfeudoeOeborus niger minor, or Hellebor a- 
fierminer, for adiftinttion betweene it and the greater, which is not here 
deferibed : and is called in Englifh , The fmaller or lefTer Beare foort, and 
moft vfed in Phyfickc, becaufeit is more plentiful!, yetis more churlifh and 
ftrong in operation then the true or former kinde. 
TheVerrues. 
The rootes of both thefe kindes are fafe medecines, being rightly prepa- 
red, to be vfed for all Melancholicke difeafes, whatfoeuer others may fears 
or write, and may be without danger applied, fo as care and skill, and not 
temerary raflinefle doe order and difpole of them. 
The powder of the dryed leaues, efpccially ofthe baftard kinde, is a fure 
remedy to kill the wormes in children, moderately taken . 
Chat. LXXXII. 
Elleborus elbus . White Ellebor or Necfewort. 
T Herearetwo forts ofgreat white Ellebors or Neefcworts , 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 profpe<ft, I hauc infer- 
red them in this place , that this Garden Ihould not be vnfurnilhed of them, and you 
not vnacquainted with them. 
1. Ellebor ut 
