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Of Worts or Wortle Berries

The Kindes.

VAccinia, or Worts, of which we treat in this place, differ from Violets, neither are they esteemed for their floures but berries: of these Worts there be divers sorts found out by the later Writers.

The Description. 1 VAccinia nigra, the blacke Wortle or Hurtle, is a base and low shrub or wooddy plant, bringing forth many branches of a cubit high, set full of small leaves of a darke greene colour, not much unlike the leaves of Box or the Myrtle tree: amongst which come forth little hollow floures turning into small berries, greene at the first, afterward red, and at the last of a blacke colour, and full of a pleasant and sweet juyce: in which doe lie divers little thinne whitish seeds: these berries do colour the mouth and lips of those that eat them, with a blacke colour: the root is wooddy, slender, and now and then creeping. 2 Vaccinia rubra, or red Wortle, is like the former in the manner of growing, but that the leaves are greater and harder, almost like the leaves of the Box tree, abiding greene all the Winter long: among which come forth small carnation floures, long and round, growing in clusters at the top of the branches: after which succeed small berries, in shew and bignesse like the former, but that they are of an excellent red colour and full of juyce, of so orient and beautifull a purple to limme withall, that Indian Lacca is not to be compared thereunto, especially when this juyce is prepared and dressed with Allom according to art, as my selfe have proved by experience: the taste is rough and astringent: the root is of a wooddy substance. The Place.

These plants prosper best in a leane barren soile, and in untoiled wooddy places: they are now and then found on high hills subject to the winde, and upon mountaines: they grow plentifully in both the Germanies, Bohemia, and in divers places of France and England; namely in Middlesex on Hampsted heath, and in the woods thereto adjoyning, and also upon the hills in Cheshire called Broxen hills, neere Beeston castle, seven miles from the Nantwich; and in the wood by Highgate called Finchley wood, and in divers other places. The Time.

The Wortle berries do floure in May, and their fruit is ripe in June. The Vertues.

The people of Cheshire do eat the blacke Wortles in creame and milke, as in these South parts we eate Strawberries.

The Red Wortle is not of such a pleasant taste as the blacke, and therfore not so much used to be eaten; but (as I said before) they make the fairest carnation colour in the World.