The Vertues.
The sweete Marieromes are not onely much vsed to please the outward senses in nosegayes, and in the windowes of houses, as also in sweete pouders, sweete bags, and sweete washing waters, but are also of much vse in Physicke, both to comfort the outward members, or parts of the body, and the inward also: to prouoke vrine being stopped, and to ease the paines thereof, and to cause the feminine courses. Herbe Masticke is of greater force to helpe the stopping of vrine, then the Marierome, and is put into Antidotes, as a remedie against the poyson of venemous Beasts.
Chap. CXXXI.
Thymum. Tyme.
There are many kindes of Tyme, as they are vsually called, with vs, some are called of the garden, and others wilde, which yet for their sweetnesse are brought into gardens, as Muske Tyme, and Lemon Tyme; and some for their beauty, as embroidered or gold yellow Tyme, and white Tyme. But the true Tyme of the ancient Writers, called Capitatum, as a speciall note of distinction from all other kindes of Tyme, is very rare to be seene with vs here in England, by reason of the tendernesse, that it will not abide our Winters. And all the other sorts that with vs are called garden Tymes, are indeede but kindes of wilde Tyme, although in the defect or want of the true Tyme, they are vsed in the stead of it. With the Tymes I must doe as I did with the Marieromes in the [Chapter before], that is, reserue the most common in vse, for the common vse of the Kitchen, and shew you only those here, that are not put to that vse: and first with the true Tyme, because it is knowne but to a few.
1. Thymum legitimum capitatum. The true Tyme.
The true Tyme is a very tender plant, hauing hard and hoary brittle branches, spreading from a small wooddy stemme, about a foote and a halfe high, whereon are set at seuerall ioynts, and by spaces, many small, long, whitish, or hoary greene leaues, of a quicke sent and taste: at the tops of the branches stand small long whitish greene heads, somewhat like vnto the heads of Stæchas, made as it were of many leaues or scales, out of which start forth small purplish flowers (and in some white, as Bellonius saith) after which commeth small seede, that soone falleth out, and if it be not carefully gathered, is soone lost, which made (I thinke) Theophrastus to write, that this Tyme was to be sowne of the flowers, as not hauing any other seede: the root is small and wooddy. This holdeth not his leaues in Winter, no not about Seuill in Spaine, where it groweth aboundantly, as Clusius recordeth, finding it there naked or spoiled of leaues. And will not abide our Winters, but perisheth wholly, roote and all.
2. Serpillum hortense siue maius. Garden wilde Tyme.
The wilde Tyme that is cherished in gardens groweth vpright, but yet is lowe, with diuers slender branches, and small round greene leaues, somewhat like vnto small fine Marierome, and smelling somewhat like vnto it: the flowers growe in roundels at the toppes of the branches, of a purplish colour: And in another of this kinde they are of a pure white colour.