THE GARDEN
OF
PLEASANT FLOWERS.
Chap. I.
Corona Imperialis. The Crowne Imperiall.
BEcauſe the Lilly is the more ſtately flower among manie: and amongſt the wonderfull varietie of Lillies, knowne to vs in theſe daies, much more then in former times, whereof ſome are white, others bluſh, ſome purple, others red or yellow, ſome ſpotted, others without ſpots, ſome ſtanding vpright, others hanging or turning downewards, The Crowne Imperiall for his ſtately beautifulneſs, deſerueth the firſt place in this our Garden of delight, to be here entreated of before all other Lillies; but becauſe it is ſo well knowne to moſt perſons, being in a manner euery where common, I ſhall neede onely to giue you a relation of the chiefe parts thereof (as I intend in ſuch other things) which are theſe: The roote is yellowiſh on the outſide, compoſed of fewer, but much thicker ſcales, then any other Lilly but the Perſian, and doth grow ſometimes to be as great as a pretty bigge childes head, but ſomewhat flat withall, from the ſides whereof, and not from the bottome, it ſhooteth forth thicke long fibres, which periſh euery yeare, hauing a hole in the midſt thereof, at the end of the yeare, when the old ſtalke is dry and withered, and out of the which a new ſtalke doth ſpring againe (from a bud or head to be ſeen within the hollowneſſe on the one ſide) the yeare following: the ſtalke then filling vp the hollowneſſe, riſeth vp three or foure foote high, being great, round, and of a purpliſh colour at the bottome, but greene aboue, beſet from thence to the middle thereof with many long and broad greene leaues, very like to the leaues of our ordinary white Lilly, but ſomewhat ſhorter and narrower, confuſedly without order, and from the middle is bare or naked without leaues, for a certaine ſpace vpwards, and then beareth foure, ſixe, or tenne flowers, more or leſſe, according to the age of the plant, and the fertility of the ſoyle where it groweth: The buddes at the firſt appearing are whitiſh, ſtanding vpright among a buſh or tuft of greene leaues, ſmaller then thoſe below, and ſtanding aboue the flowers, after a while they turne themselues, and hang downewards euerie one vpon his owne footeſtalke, round about the great ſtemme or ſtalke, ſometimes of an euen depth, and other while one lower or higher than another, which flowers are neare the forme of an ordinary Lilly, yet ſomewhat leſſer and cloſer, conſiſting of ſixe leaues of an Orange colour, ſtriped with purpliſh lines and veines, which adde a great grace to the flowers; At the bottome of the flower next vnto the ſtalke, euery
