The first is called of some Chamælæa, with this addition Germanica, that it may differ from the third, which is the true Chamælæa of Dioscorides, as all the best Authors doe agree, and is also called Piper montanum of the Italians. It is generally called Mezereon, and is indeede the true Mezereon of the Arabians, and so vsed in our Apothecaries shops, wheresoeuer the Arabians Mezereon is appointed, although the Arabians are so intricate and vncertaine in the descriptions of their plants, confounding Chamælæa and Thymælæa together. Matthiolus maketh it to be Daphnoides of Dioscorides; but in my opinion he is therein mistaken: for all our best moderne Writers doe account our Laureola, which hath blacke berries, to bee the true Daphnoides: the errour of his Countrey might peraduenture drawe him thereunto; but if hee had better considered the text of Dioscorides, that giueth black berries to Daphnoides, and red to Chamædaphne, he would not so haue written; and truly, I should thinke (as Lobel doth) with better reason, that this Chamælæa were Dioscorides Chamædaphne, then hee to say it were Daphnoides: for the description of Chamædaphne, may in all parts be very fitly applyed to this Chamælæa: and euen these words, Semen annexum folijs, wherein may be the greatest doubt in the description, may not vnfitly bee construed, that as is seene in the plant, the berries growe at the foote of the leaues, about the branches: the faculties indeede that Dioscorides giueth to Chamædaphne, are (if any repugnancie be) the greatest let or hinderance, that this Chamælæa should not be it: but I leaue the discussing of these and others of the like nature, to our learned Physitians; for I deale not so much with vertues as with descriptions. The second is called of Lobel Chamælæa Alpine incana, of Clusius Chamælæa secunda, and saith hee had it out of Italy. Wee may call it in English, Mountaine Spurge Oliue, as it is in the description, or Mountaine Laurell, which you will. The last hath the name of Cneorum, first giuen it by Matthiolus, which since is continued by all others. Bauhinus (as I said) referreth it to the Mountaine Campions, but Clusius (as I doe) to the kindes of Chamælæa or Thymælæa. For want of an English name I haue (as you see, and that is according to the name the Germane women, as Clusius saith, doe call it) entituled it the Small Rocke Rose; which may abide vntill a fitter may be conferred vpon it.
| 1 | Chamælæa Germanica seu Mezereon. Mezereon or Dwarfe Bay. |
| 2 | Chamælæa Alpina. Mountain or Spurge Oliue. |
| 3 | Cneorum Matthioli. Small Rocke Roses. |
| 4 | Laurus Tinus siue siluestris. The wild Bay tree. |
| 5 | Oleander siue Laurus Rosea. The Rose Bay tree. |
| 6 | Laurocerasus. The Bay Cherrie tree. |
The Vertues.
All these plants except the last, as well leaues as berries, are violent purgers, and therefore great caution is to bee had in the vse of them. The last hath not beene applyed for any disease that I know.
Chap. CIIIA.
Laurus. The Bay Tree.
My meaning is not to make any description of our ordinary Bayes in this place (for as all may very well know, they may be for an Orchard or Courtyard, and not for this Garden) but of two or three other kindes, whose beautifull aspect haue caused them to be worthy of a place therein: the one is called Laurus Tinus, The wilde Baye: the other Laurus Rosea or Oleander, The Rose Bay: and a third is Laurocerasus, The Cherry Bay; which may haue not onely some respect for his long bush of sweet smelling flowers, but especially for the comely statelinesse of his gallant euer fresh greene leaues; and the rather, because with vs in most places, it doth but frutescere, vse to bee Shrub high, not arborescere, Tree high, which is the more fit for this Garden.