The herball or Generall historie of plantes. Gathered by Iohn Gerarde of London Master in Chirurgerie very much enlarged and amended by Thomas Iohnson citizen and apothecarye of London

CHAP. 44. Of Ginger.

¶ The Description.

1 GInger is most impatient of the coldnesse of these our Northerne Regions, as my selfe haue found by proofe, for that there haue beene brought vnto me at seuerall times sundry plants thereof, fresh, greene, and full of juyce, as well from the West Indies, as from Barbary and other places; which haue sprouted and budded forth greene 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in my garden in the heate of Sommer, but as soone as it hath been but touched with the first sharp blast of Winter, it hath presently perished both blade and root. The true forme or picture hath not before this time beene set forth by any that hath written; but the World hath beene deceiued by a counterfeit figure, which the reuerend and learned Herbarist Matthias Lobell did set forth in his Obseruations. The forme whereof notwithstanding I haue here expressed, with the true and vn∣doubted

picture also, which I receiued from Lobelius his owne hands at the impression hereof. The cause of whose former errour, as also the meanes whereby he got the knowledge of the true Gin∣ger, may appeare by his owne words sent vnto me in Latine, which I haue here inserted. His words are these:

How hard and vncertaine it is to describe in words the true proportion of Plants, (hauing no other guide than skilfull, but yet deceitfull formes of them, sent from friends, or other meanes) they best do know who haue deepliest waded in this sea of Simples. About thirty yeares past or more, an honest and expert Apothecarie William Dries, to satisfie my desire, sent me from Ant∣werpe to London the picture of Ginger, which he held to be truly and liuely drawne: I my selfe gaue him credit easily, because I was not ignorant, that there had bin often Ginger roots brought greene, new, and full of juice, from the Indies to Antwerpe; and further, that the same had bud∣ded and growne in the said Dries Garden. But not many yeares after, I perceiued that the picture which was sent me by my Friend was a 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and before that time had been drawne and set forth by an old Dutch Herbarist. Therefore not suffering this error any further to spred abroad, (which I discouered not many yeares past at Flushing in Zeeland, in the Garden of William of Nassau Prince of Orange, of famous memorie, through the means of a worthy person, if my me∣morie faile me not, called Vander Mill; at what time he opened, and loosed his first young buds and shoots about the end of Sommer, resembling in leaues, and stalkes of a foot high, the young and tender shoots of the common Reed, called Harundo vallatoria) I thought it conuenient to im∣part thus much vnto Master Iohn Gerard, an expert Herbarist, and Master of happy successe in Sur∣gerie; to the end he might let posteritie know thus much, in the painefull and long laboured tra∣uels which now he hath in hand, to the great good and benefit of his Countrey. The plant it selfe brought me to Middleborrough, and set in my Garden, perished through the hardnesse of the Winter.

Thus much haue I set downe, truly translated out of his owne words in Latine; though too fa∣uourably by him done to the commendation of my meane skill.

[illustration]

1 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ficta Icon. The feigned figure of 〈◊〉〈◊〉.

[illustration]

1 Zinziberis verior Icon. The true figure of Ginger.

¶ The place.

Ginger groweth in Spaine, Barbary, in the Canary Islands, and the Azores. Our men which sacked Domingo in the Indies, digged it vp there in sundry places wilde.

¶ The time.

Ginger flourisheth in the hot time of Sommer, and loseth his leaues in Winter.

¶ The Names.

Ginger is called in Latine Zinziber and Gingiber: in Greeke, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉: In French, Gi∣gembre.

¶ The nature.

Ginger heateth and drieth in the third degree.

¶ The vertues.

Ginger, as Dioscorides reporteth, is right good with meate in sauces, or otherwise in conditures: [ A] for it is of an heating and digesting qualitie; it gently looseth the belly, and is profitable for the stomacke, and effectually opposeth it selfe against all darknesse of the sight; answering the qua∣lities and effects of Pepper. It is to be considered, That canded, greene or condited Ginger is hot and moist in qualitie, prouoking Venerie: and being dried, it heateth and drieth in the third degree.