Adam in Eden, or, Natures paradise the history of plants, fruits, herbs and flowers with their several names ... the places where they grow, their descriptions and kinds, their times of flourishing and decreasing as also their several signatures, anatomical appropriations and particular physical vertues together with necessary observations on the seasons of planting and gathering of our English simples with directions how to preserve them in their compositions or otherwise : ... there is annexed a Latin and English table of the several names of simples, with another more particular table of the diseases and their cures ... / by William Coles ...

CHAP. CXXVIII. Of Vipers-Grasse.

The Names.

IT was found, and the Vertues thereof discovered, but of late dayes by a Mauritanian bondslave, who holpe divers that were bitten of that Venemous Beast, (or Viper as it is called by others, which they of Catalonia, where they breed in abundance, call in their Language Escuersos, from whence Scorzonera is derived,) with the juyce of this Herb, and the root given them to eate, which both took away the poyson, and healed the bitten place very quickly, when Treacle and other things would do no good: which ever since hath grown in estimation both against Venome and other diseases also. It is call∣ed in Lattin Viperaria, Viperina, or Serpentaria, but most Commonly Scorzo∣nera, which name is generally given it by all Nations. We in English call it Scorzonera and Vipers-grasse.

The Kinds.

I find Ten Sorts of Vipers-grasse rekonned up by Authors, 1. Common Vi∣pers grasse, 2. Dwarfe Vipers grasse, 3. Spanish Vipers grasse, 4. Dwarfe Span∣ish Vipers grasse, 5. The greater Hungarian broad leafed Vipers grasse, 6. The Dwarfe Hungarian Vipers grasse. 7. The small Hungarian Vipers grasse, 8. Purple Vipers grasse, 9. Tall Narrow Leaved purple Vipers grasse. 10. Vipers grasse of Sclavony.

The Forme.

The first of the Vipers grasses hath long broad leaves, fat or full bodyed, un∣even about the edges, sharp pointed, with an high swoln rib down the middle, and of an overworn green colour, tending to that of Woad, amongst which riseth up a stiffe stalk, smooth and plaine, of two cubits high, whereon do grow such leaves as those next the ground. The flowers stand on the top of the Stalks, consisting of many small yellow leaves, thick thrust together, very double, like unto those of Tragopogon or Goates-beard, whereof most think it to be a kind. The Root is long, thick, very brittle, continueth many yeares, yeelding great increase of roots, black with∣out, white within, and yeeldeth a milky juyce, as do the leaves also like unto the Goates-beards.

The Places and time

Many of the Sorts aforesaid are to be found in the Gardens of some Physitians, and Apothecaries who know the worth of them, as also in the Physick Gardens at Oxford, and Westminster, but especially the two first. The Third and Fourth in Spain as their titles do declare. The fifth in many places of Germany, Bohemia and Hungary. The Sixth on the hills by Baden in Germany. The Seventh in many of the same places with the Fifth. The Eighth and Ninth on a small hill nigh unto Stampfen, which is two Duch miles from Posonium, a chief Citty in Hungary. The last in Illyria or Sclavony, as Alpinus saith. They do all flower in May, and their seed is ripe before the end of June.

The Temperature.

V••pers-Grasse is thought not to exceed the first Degree of heat and moysture, which are the predominant qualities.

The Vertues and Signature.

The water of this Herb distilled in Glasses, or the Root it self taken is good a∣gainst the passions and tremblings of the heart, and also against swounings, sadness and melancholy: the same also is a present remedy against all contagious Fea∣vers; for by causing sweat, the infection is evaporated, and the sick person resto∣red. The Root preserved, and taken fasting, ••or the said water drunk for some dayes together, doth open the obstructions of the Liver, Spleen, and other inward parts: as also helpeth to bring down Womens Courses, and to ease the suffoca∣tion or other Diseases of the Mother whatsoever; for in those feminine griefs, it hath a very powerful effect, as hath been often and certainly found true. It is also very good against the swimming or turning of the brain, and all other pains in the head, and likewise very Cordiall, both to strengthen the vitall ••pirits, when they are much subject to faint, or swoun; as also against melancholy or sadness, that ariseth without manifest cause. If the clarified Juyce of the 〈…〉〈…〉b be set in the Sun for certain dayes, and the pure liquor thereof mixed with a 〈…〉〈…〉e Honey, be dropped into the Eyes, it both cleareth and strengtheneth the s••ght, and taketh away the spots and blemishes in them. Monardus, by whom the first knowledge hereof came to the World, although it was found out, and the use thereof thirty years before he wrote of it, saith, that the Roots of those in Spain are somewhat sweet, like a Parsnip, and may be eaten in the same manner. He saith also, that the Root hereof, whether raw, or dressed, or condited, as also the juyce of the Herb taken by themselves, or with any other Cordiall or Counter∣poyson, doth not only help the biting of that venomous Serpent Escuersos or Scorzon, which Crollius saith, it doth by Signature there being some resemblance between the form of the Serpent and the Root; but of the Viper, and all other virulent Creatures whatsoever.