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Of Lilly in the Valley, or May Lilly

The Description. 1 THe Convall Lilly, or Lilly of the Vally, hath many leaves like the smallest leaves of Water Plantaine; among which riseth up a naked stalke halfe a foot high, garnished with many white floures like little bels, with blunt and turned edges, of a strong savour, yet pleasant enough; which being past, there come small red berries, much like the berries of Asparagus, wherein the seed is contained. The root is small and slender, creeping far abroad in the ground. 2 The second kinde of May Lillies is like the former in every respect; and herein varieth or differeth, in that this kinde hath reddish floures, and is thought to have the sweeter smell.

The Place. 1 The first groweth on Hampsted heath, foure miles from London, in great abundance: neere to Lee in Essex, and upon Bushie heath, thirteene miles from London, and many other places. 2 The other kinde with the red floure is a stranger in England: howbeit I have the same growing in my garden.

The Time.

They floure in May, and their fruit is ripe in September. The Names.

The Latines have named it Lilium Convallium: in French, Muguet: yet there is likewise another herbe which they call Muguet, commonly named in English, Woodroof. It is called in English, Lilly of the Valley, or the Convall Lillie, and May Lillies, and in some places Liriconfancie.

The Vertues.

The floures of the Valley Lillie distilled with wine, and drunke the quantitie of a spoonefull, restore speech unto those that have the dumb palsie and that are falne into the Apoplexie, and are good against the gout, and comfort the heart.

The water aforesaid doth strengthen the memory that is weakened and diminished; it helpeth also the inflammations of the eies, being dropped thereinto.

The floures of May Lillies put into a glasse, and set in a hill of ants, close stopped for the space of a moneth, and then taken out, therein you shall finde a liquor that appeaseth the paine and griefe of the gout, being outwardly applied; which is commended to be most excellent.