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Of Sweet Saint Johns and Sweet Williams

The Description. 1 SWeet Johns have round stalkes as have the Gillofloures, (whereof they are a kinde) a cubit high, whereupon doe grow long leaves broader than those of the Gillofloure, of a greene grassie colour: the floures grow at the top of the stalkes, very like unto Pinkes, of a perfect white colour. 2 We have in our London Gardens a kinde hereof bearing most fine and pleasant white floures, spotted very confusedly with reddish spots, which setteth forth the beautie thereof; and hath bin taken of some (but not rightly) to be the plant called of the later Writers Superba Austriaca, or the Pride of Austria. (Dagger)It is now commonly in most places called London-Pride.(Dagger) 3 The great Sweet-William hath round joynted stalkes thicke and fat, somewhat reddish about the lower joynts, a cubit high, with long broad and ribbed leaves like as those of the Plantaine, of a greene grassie colour. The floures at the top of the stalkes are very like to the small Pinkes, many joyned together in one tuft or spoky umbell, of a deepe red colour: the root is thicke and wooddy.

The Place.

These plants are kept and maintained in gardens more for to please the eye, than either the nose or belly.

The Temperature and Vertues.

These plants are not used either in meat or medicine, but esteemed for their beauty to decke up gardens, the bosomes of the beautifull, garlands and crownes for pleasure.