Although diuers learned men do by the name giuen vnto this delightfull plant, thinke it doth in some things partake with a Tulipa or Daffodill, and haue therefore placed it betweene them; yet I, finding it most like vnto a little Lilly, both in roote, stalke, leafe, flower, and seede, haue (as you see here) placed it next vnto the Lillies, and before them. Hereof there are many sorts found out of late, as white, red, blacke, and yellow, besides the purple, which was first knowne; and of each of them there are also diuers sorts: and first of that which is most frequent, and then of the rest, euery one in his place and order. 1. _Fritillaria vulgaris._ The common checkerd Daffodill. The ordinary checkerd Daffodill (as it is vsually called, but might more properly be called the small checkerd Lilly) hath a small round white roote, and somewhat flat, made as it were of two cloues, and diuided in a maner into two parts, yet ioyning together at the bottome or seate of the roote, which holdeth them both together: from betweene this cleft or diuision, the budde for the stalke &c. appeareth, which in time riseth vp a foote, or a foote and a halfe high, being round and of a brownish greene colour, especially neere vnto the ground, whereon there standeth dispersedly foure or fiue narrow long and greene leaues, being a little hollow: at the toppe of the stalke, betweene the vpper leaues (which are smaller then the lowest) the flower sheweth it selfe, hanging or turning downe the head, but not turning vp againe any of his leaues, as some of the Lillies before described doe; (sometimes this stalke beareth two flowers, and very seldome three) consisting of sixe leaues, of a reddish purple colour, spotted diuersly with great spots, appearing like vnto square checkers, of a deeper colour; the inside of the flower is of a brighter colour then the outside, which hath some greennesse at the bottome of euery leafe: within the flower there appeare sixe chiues tipt with yellow pendents, and a three-forked stile or pointell compassing a greene head, which when the flower is past, riseth vpright againe, and becommeth the seede vessell, being somewhat long and round, yet hauing a small shew of edges, flat at the head, like the head of a Lilly, and without any crowne as the Tulipa hath, wherein is contained pale coloured flat seede, like vnto that of a Lilly, but smaller. [Sidenote: _Fritillaria vulgaris pallidior, praecox, & serotina._] There is some variety to be seene in this flower; for in some the colour is paler, and in others againe of a very high or deepe colour: sometimes also they haue eight leaues, and sometimes ten or twelue, as if two flowers were made one, which some thereupon haue called a Double Fritillaria. Some of them likewise doe flower very early, euen with or before the early flowring Tulipas; and some againe flower not vntill a moneth or more after the former. [Illustration: