The Vertues.
Chap. VIII.
Tulipa. The Turkes Cap.
NExt vnto the Lillies, and before the Narciſſi or Daffodils, the diſcourſe of Tulipas deſerueth his place, for that it partaketh of both their natures; agreeing with the Lillies in leaues, flowers, and ſeede, and ſomewhat with the Daffodils in rootes. There are not onely diuers kindes of Tulipas, but ſundry diuerſities of colours in them, found out in theſe later dayes by many the ſearchers of natures varieties, which haue not formerly been obſerued: our age being more delighted in the ſearch, curioſity, and rarities of theſe pleaſant delights, then any age I thinke before. But indeede, this flower, aboue many other, deſerueth his true commendations and acceptance with all louers of theſe beauties, both for the ſtately aſpect, and for the admirable varietie of colours, that daily doe ariſe in them, farre beyond all other plants that grow, in ſo much, that I doubt, although I ſhall in this Chapter ſet downe the varieties of a great many, I ſhall leaue more vnſpoken of, then I ſhall deſcribe; for I may well ſay, there is in this one plant no end of diuerſity to be expelled, euery yeare yeelding a mixture and variety that hath not before been obſerued, and all this ariſing from the ſowing of the ſeede. The chiefe diuiſion of Tulipas, is into two ſorts: Præcoces, early flowring Tulipas, and Serotinæ, late flowring Tulipas. For that ſort which is called Mediæ or Dubiæ, that is, which flower in the middle time betweene them both, and may be thought to be a kinde or ſort by it ſelfe, as well as any of the other two: yet becauſe they doe neerer participate with the Serotinæ then with the Præcoces, not onely in the colour of the leafe, being of the ſame greenneſſe with the Serotinæ, and moſt vſually alſo, for that it beareth his ſtalke and flower, high and large like as the Serotinæ doe; but eſpecially, for that the ſeede of a Media Tulipa did neuer bring forth a Præcox flower (although I know Cluſius, an induſtrious, learned, and painfull ſearcher and publiſher of theſe rarities, ſaith otherwiſe) ſo farre as euer I could, by mine owne care or knowledge, in ſowing their ſeede apart, or the aſſurance of any others, the louers and ſowers of Tulipa ſeede, obſerue, learne, or know: and becauſe alſo that the ſeede of the Serotinæ bringeth forth Medias, and the ſeede of Medias Serotinæ, they may well bee comprehended vnder the generall title of Serotinæ: But becauſe they haue generally receiued the name of Media, or middle flowring Tulipas, to diſtinguiſh between them, and thoſe that vſually doe flower after them; I am content to ſet them downe, and ſpeake of them ſeuerally, as of three ſorts. Vnto the place and ranke likewiſe of the Præcoces, or early flowring Tulipas, there are ſome other ſeuerall kinds of Tulipas to be added, which are notably differing, not onely from the former Præcox Tulipa, but euery one of them, one from another, in ſome ſpeciall note or other: as the Tulipa Bolonienſis flore rubro, the red Bolonia Tulipa. Tulipa Bolonienſis flore luteo, the yellow Bolonia Tulipa. Tulipa Perſica, the Perſian Tulipa. Tulipa Cretica, the Candie Tulipa, and others: all which ſhall bee described and entreated of, euery one apart by it ſelfe, in the end of the ranke of the Præcoces, becauſe all of them flower much about their time. To begin then with the Præcox, or early flowring Tulipas, and after them with the Medias and Serotinas, I ſhall for the better method, diuide their flowers into foure primary or principall colours, that is to fay, White, Purple, Red, and Yellow, and vnder euery one of theſe colours, ſet downe the feuerall varie-
