The double flowred Rosmary thus far differeth from the former, that it hath stronger stalkes, not so easie to breake, fairer, bigger and larger leaues, of a faire greene colour, and the flowers are double, as the Larkes heele or spurre: This I haue onely by relation, which I pray you accept, vntill I may by sight better enforme you.
The Place.
Our ordinary Rosmary groweth in Spaine, and Prouence of France, and in others of those hot Countryes, neere the Sea side. It will not abide (vnlesse kept in stoues) in many places of Germany, Denmarke, and those colder Countries. And in some extreame hard winters, it hath well neere perished here in England with vs, at the least in many places: but by slipping it is vsually, and yearly encreased, to replenish any garden.
The Time.
It flowreth oftentimes twice in the yeare; in the Spring first, from April vntill the end of May or Iune, and in August and September after, if the yeare before haue been temperate.
The Names.
Rosmary is called of the ancient Writers, Libanotis, but with this distinction, Stephanomatica, that is, Coronaria, because there were other plants called Libanotis, that were for other vses, as this for garlands, where flowers and sweete herbes were put together. The Latines call it Rosmarinum. Some would make it to be Cneorum nigrum of Theophrastus, as they would make Lauander to bee his Cneorum album, but Matthiolus hath sufficiently confuted that errour.
The Vertues.
Rosmary is almost of as great vse as Bayes, or any other herbe both for inward and outward remedies, and as well for ciuill as physicall purposes. Inwardly for the head and heart; outwardly for the sinewes and ioynts: for ciuill vses, as all doe know, at weddings, funerals, &c. to bestow among friends: and the physicall are so many, that you might bee as well tyred in the reading, as I in the writing, if I should set down all that might be said of it. I will therefore onely giue you a taste of some, desiring you will be content therewith. There is an excellent oyle drawne from the flowers alone by the heate of the Sunne, auaileable for many diseases both inward and outward, and accounted a soueraigne Balsame: it is also good to helpe dimnesse of sight, and to take away spots, markes and scarres from the skin; and is made in this manner. Take a quantitie of the flowers of Rosemary, according to your owne will eyther more or lesse, put them into a strong glasse close stopped, set them in hot horse dung to digest for fourteene dayes, which then being taken forth of the dung, and vnstopped, tye a fine linnen cloth ouer the mouth, and turne downe the mouth thereof into the mouth of another strong glasse, which being set in the hot Sun, an oyle will distill downe into the lower glasse; which preserue as precious for the vses before recited, and many more, as experience by practice may enforme diuers.
There is another oyle Chymically drawne, auaileable in the like manner for many the same inward and outward diseases, viz. for the heart, rheumaticke braines, and to strengthen the memory, outwardly to warme and comfort cold benummed sinewes, whereof many of good iudgement haue had much experience.