Mulberry (Maplet)

From Cunnan

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

Of the Mulberie tree.

The Mulberie tree hath a soveraigne red colour in fruit bearing: whereupon in Greeke it is called Moros, which signifieth red or ruddie coloured. There is saith Theophrast the Egyptian Mulberie tree that is not much unlike ours in the Gardaine: but it hath a singular maner by it selfe in fruite bearing, for neyther yet upon his leafe, it beareth fruit but onely beneath out at his bodie, in the bignesse of our Fig. But forasmuch as it lacketh his inward Karnell (which other fruites have) it is somewhat slack in hastningtowards ripenesse, and is never mature or mellow untill such time as it be pressed and chafed with Iron Instrumentsm, such as they have in Ægypt. Which kinde of fruit being on this wise used as it were the space of foure dayes, it wareth ripe by and by, and in the eating is verie pleasant.