Beans (Maplet)

This is the entry for beans from Maplet's A Greene Forest.

Of the Beane.

The Beane, sayth Theophrast hast his maner of growth thus. His roote is thicke and grosse: somewhat more deepely set than the Reede his is. In the length it is indifferent, somtime four Cubites high. It giveth fruite by maner of Celler: one onely in part of his Huske. It is in his chiefest braverie, and liketh best being sowne in moyst grounds, and especially in the Fennes and such like. It is also said somtime through the rancour of grounds to come up unsowne. The Pithagorians condemned it, as the which was not meete to meat. For sayd they, it dulleth and maketh grosse ech sense and spirite. It also causeth and exciteth up in sleepe horrible dreames. Varro thought it was forbid for that as he sayd, the soules of the deade were therein placed.