1444 
Of the Hiftorie of Plants, 
Li B.3. 
*f The Names. 
The tree is called in Greeke, : i n La- 
tino, Tagus : inhigh-Dutch ; 23lIcljbaum, or 
23utl) : in Iovv-Dutch,J3Ubcnboom tin Ita- 
lian ,Faggi in Spani{h,Hata,Fata,andFax : 
in French, Fau, or Heftre : in Englifh Beech 
tree,Beech-maft, andBuck-maft. ’ 
T he fruit is called in Latine, Nuces Fagi • 
inGreeke,Vjmn! ( »^ : in low-Dutch 2SUC= 
fecnnootfeensl : in French, Fame. -in Englifh, 
Beech-maft. Diofcorides reckons the Beech 
among the Acorne trees ; and yet is the maft 
nothing at all like roan Acorne. O {Then, 
phraftus it is called Oxya : of Ga\a, Scifcina. 
Pliny alfo makes mention of this tree, but 
vnder the name of oftrya (if fo be in Head of 
Ofirya We mud not reade Oxya ) lib. 1 3 .ca.i 1 . 
Itbringeth forthwith he, meaning Greece) 
the tree oftrys, which they likewife call o. 
ftna, growing alone among waterie ftones, 
like to the Alh tree in barkeand boughes, 
with leaues like thofeof the Peare tree, but 
fomewhat longer and thicker, and with wrin- 
kled cuts which runne quite thorow, with a 
feed like in colour to a Cheftnut,and notvn- 
to barley : the wood is hard and firme, which 
being brought into the houfe there followes 
hard trauellofchilde.and miferable deaths 
as it is reported ; and therefore it is to be for- 
borne, and not vfed as fire wood, if Plinies co- 
pies be not corrupted . 
The tonper attire. 
The leaues of Beech do coole : the kernell of the Nut is fomivhat moift. 
The Vert ties. 
A The leaues of Beech are very profitably applied vnto hot fivellings, b lifters, and excoriations 5 
and being chewed they are good for chapped lips, and paine of the gums . 
B The kernels or maft within are reported to eafe the paine of the kidneyes proceeding of the 
ftone, if they be eaten, and to caufe the grauell and fand the eafier to come forth. With thefe,mice 
and Squirrels are greatlydelighted,whodomightily encreafe by feeding thereon : Swine alfo be 
fatned herewith, and certaine other beafts : alfo Deere do feed thereon very greedily : they be like- 
wile pleafant to Thrufhes and Pigeons. 
C Petrus Crefcentius vvriteth. That the allies of the wood is good to make glaffe with. 
D The water that is found in the hollownelfe of Beeches cureth the naughty feurfe, tetters, and 
fcabsofmen,horfes,kine,and lheepe,if they be wafhed therewith. 
Chap. pj. Of the Almond tree « 
The Defcription. 
T He Almond tree is like to the Peach tree, yet is it higher, bigger, oflonger continuance : the 
leaues be very long, (harpe pointed, fnipt about the edges like thofe of the Peach tree : the 
floures be alike : the fruit is alfo like a peach, hauing on one fide a cleft, with a foft skin without, 
and couered with a thin cotton ; but vnder this there is none, or very little pulp, which is hard like 
agriftlenoteaten : the nut or ftone within is longer than that of the peach, not fo rugged, but 
fmooth;in which is contained the kernel, in tafte fweet,and mliny times bitter : the root of the tree 
groweth deepe : the gum which foketh out hereof is like that of the peach tree. 
t There are diuers forts of Almonds, differing in largenes and tafte: we commonly haue three 
or foure forrs brought to vs,a large fvveet Almond, vulgarly termed a Iordan almond ; and a lelfer, 
called a Valence Almond : a bitter Almond ofthebignelfe of the Valence almond, and fomtimes 
anotherbitteronelelTethanit. $ 
^ the 
