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Of Bell-Floures

The Description. 1 COventry-Bells have broad leaves rough and hairy, not unlike to those of the Golden Buglosse, of a swart greene colour: among which do rise up stiffe hairie stalkes the second yeare after the sowing of the seed: which stalkes divide themselves into sundry branches, whereupon grow many faire and pleasant bell-floures, long, hollow, and cut on the brim with five sleight gashes, ending in five corners toward night, when the floure shutteth it selfe up, as doe most of the Bell-floures: in the middle of the floures be three or foure whitish chives, as also much downie haire, such as is in the eares of a Dog, or such like beast. The whole floure is of a blew purple colour: which being past, there succeed great square or cornered seed-vessels, divided on the inside into divers cels or chambers, wherein do lie scatteringly many small browne flat seeds. The root is long and great like a Parsenep, garnished with many threddy strings, which perisheth when it hath perfected his seed, which is in the second yeare after his sowing, and recovereth it selfe againe by the falling of the seed.

The Place and Time.

They grow in woods, mountaines, and dark vallies, and under hedges among the bushes, especially about Coventry, where they grow very plentifully abroad in the fields, and are there called Coventry bells, and of some about London, Canterbury bells; but unproperly, for that there is another kinde of Bell-floure growing in Kent about Canterbury, which may more fitly be called Canterbury Bells, because they grow there more plentifully than in any other countrey. These pleasant Bell-floures wee have in our London gardens especially for the beauty of their floure, although they be kinds of Rampions, and the roots eaten as Rampions are.

They floure in June, July, and August; the seed waxeth ripe in the mean time; for these plants bring not forth their floures all at once, but when one floureth another seedeth.

The Names.

Coventry bels are called in Latine Viola mariana: in English, Mercuries Violets, or Coventry Rapes, and of some, Mariets.

The Nature and Vertues.

The root is not used in physicke, but only for a sallet root boiled and eaten, with oile, vineger, and pepper.