Of the Kings Speare.

Asphodelus luteus minor. The Kings Speare. <column-break/> Asphodelus Lancastriæ. Lancashire Asphodill.

The description.

The leaues of the Kings speare are long, narrow, and chamfered or furrowed, of a greene blew colour. The stalke is round, of a cubit high. The flowers which grow thereon from the middle to the top are very many, in shape like to the flowers of the other, which being past, there come in place thereof little round heads or seede vessels, wherein the seede is contained. The rootes in like maner are very many, long and slender, smaller than those of the other yellow sort. Vpon the sides whereof grow foorth certaine strings, by which the plant it selfe is easily increased and multiplied. There is found in these daies a certaine waterie or marish Asphodil like vnto this last described, in stalke and flowers, without any difference at all. It bringeth foorth leaues of a beautifull greene somewhat chamfered, like to those of the Flower de-luce or Corne flag, but narrower; not full a span long. The stalke is straight, a foote high, whereupon growe the flowers, consisting of sixe small leaues: in the middle whereof come foorth small yellow chiues or threds. The seede is very small, contained in long sharpe pointed cods. The roote is long, iointed, and creepeth as grasse doth, with many small strings.

The place.

The small yellow Asphodill groweth not of it selfe wilde in these parts, notwithstanding we haue haue great plentie thereof in our London gardens. 2 The Lancashire Asphodill groweth in moist and marish places neere vnto the towne of Lancaster in the moorish grounds there, as also neere vnto Maudley and Martom, two villages not far from thence; where it was found by a worshipfull and learned gentleman, a diligent searcher of simples, & feruent louer of plants, master Thomas Hesket, who brought the plants thereof vnto me for the increafe of my garden. I receiued some plants thereof likewise from master Thomas Edwards Apothecarie in Excester, learned and skilfull in his profession, as also in the knowledge of plants, vnto whom I rest bounden as well for this plant, as also other rare and strange plants and seedes, especially for the plant of Iuca, which his seruant brought from the Indies, & is the plant of whose roots the needy naked Indian soules do make their bread, as shall be expressed more at large, where I shall haue occasion to make further mention thereof. He found this Asphodill at the foote of a hill in the west part of England, called Bagshot hill, neere vnto a village of the same name.

The time.

They flower in May and Iune: most of the leaues thereof remaine greene in the winter, if it be not extreme cold.

The names.

The latter herbarists call this yellow Asphodill Xiphium: in Latine Asphodelus luteus of Dionysius: of some it is called Hastula Regia. We haue englished it, the Speare for a King, or small yellowe Asphodill. 2 The Lancashire Asphodil is called in Latine Asphodelus Lancastriae, and may likewise be called Asphodelus palustris, or Pseudoasphodelus luteus, or the Bastard yellow Asphodill.

The vertues.

It is not yet found out what vse there is of either of them in nourishment or medicines.