Lib. z. 
Of he Hiftory of Plants. 
2 There is .-mother fort like in fhape 
and proportion to the former, failing that the 
leauesofthis be ftreakedwith red here and 
there confufedly , which fecteth forth the 
difference. 
3 There is liketvife another fort hereof, 
that was brought vnto me from beyond the 
feas , by that courteous merchant mafter 
Lete , before remcmbred, the which hath 
leauesvery great, and red ofco'our, as is all 
the reft of the plant, as well root, as ftalke, 
and floures , full of a perfed purple iuyce 
tending to rednefTe : the middle rib of 
which leaues are for the mofb part very 
broad and thicke, like the middle part of the 
Cabbage leafe, which is equall in goodnefle 
with the leaues of Cabbage being boyled. 
Itgrewwith me 15 96. t© the height ofviij. 
cubits, and did bring forth his rough and vn- 
euen feed very plentifully: with which plant 
nature doth feeme to play and fport her- 
felfe : for the feeds taken from that plant, 
which was altogether of one colour and 
fowen, doth bring forth plants of many and 
variable colours, as the vvorfhipful! gentle- 
man mafter Iohrt Norden can very welltefti- 
fie, vnto whom I gaue lome of the feeds a- 
forefaid, which in his garden bruoght forth 
many-other of beautifull colours. 
7 'he Place. 
to grow in a rnoift and fertile ground. $ The 
ordinary white Beet growes wildevponthe fea-coaft ofTenet anddiuers other places by the 
Sea, for this is not a different kind as fome would haue it. t 
TheTime. 
Thefitteft time to fowit is in the fpring : it flourifheth and is greene allfommer long, and 
likewife in winter, and bringeth forth his feed the next yeare following. 
«[ The Barnes. 
The Grecians haue named it the Latines ,Beta: the Germanes, <^ 3 U(J 0 lt the Spa- 
niards, Afelgas : the French, de UPoree, desUtes, and Beets ; Theophrafius faith, that the white 
Beete is furnamed .uw', that is to fay ,Sicula, or of Sicilia: hereof commeththe name Stela, by 
which the Barbarians, and fome Apothecaries did call the Beet; the which word wein England 
doevfe, taken for the fame. 
The Nature. 
The white Beets are in moifture and heate temperate, but the other kinds are drie, and all of 
them abfterfiue:fo that the white Beete is a cold and moift pot-herbe, which hath ioyned with it a 
certaine fait and nitrous quality, by reafon whereof itclenfeth and draweth flegme out of the 
nofthrils. 
«]- TheVertues. 
Being eaten when it is boyled, it quickly defcendeth, loofeth the belly, and prouoketb to the A 
ftoole,efpecially being taken with the broth wherein it is fodden : it nourifheth little or nothing, 
and is not fo wholefome as Lettuce. 
The iuyce conueied vp into the nofthrils doth gently draw forth flegme, and purgeth the head . B 
Tbegreatand beautifull Beet laftdefcribed may be vfed in winter fora ftiladherbe, with C 
vineger, oyle, and fait, and isnotonely pleafant to the tafte,but alfo delightful! to the eye. 
The greater red Beet or Roman Beet, boyled and eaten with oyle, vineger and pepper, is a moft D 
excellent and delicate fallad : but what might be made of the red and beautifull root (which is 
to be preferred before the leaues, as well inbeauty as ingoodneffe ) I refer vnto the curious and 
cunning cooke, who no doubt when he hath had the view thereof, and is affured that it is both 
good and wholefome, will make thereof many and diuers difhes, both faire and good. 
£ 3 Beta rubra Ramona. 
Red Roman Beet. 
The Beete is fowen in gardens : it 1 
Chap, 
Dd a 
