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. CCXXIII. Of Saxifrage.

The Names

IT is called in Latine Saxifraga or Saxifragia (for to the Greek Writers it was altogether unknown as farre as we can gather, they having left no name for it) from its efficacy in breaking the Stone, in England Saxifrage and Breakstone. So much for the names in generall 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, there being 〈◊〉〈◊〉 that do it also though not so effectually. I shall speak of them more parti∣cularly in the kindes.

The Kinds.

Because the best Saxifrage that is growes in England, I shall trouble you with no forreine sorts, we having nine or ten sorts of our own which for their Vertues not for their formes I shall put together. 1. English Saxifrage so called because it

groweth more plentifully in England then in any other Country. 2. Mr. Goodrers Marsh-Saxifrage so called because he first discovered it in a marshy place. 3. Lobels West-Country Saxifrage because L••b••l found it in the Westerne parts of this Land. 4. White Saxifrage so called from the colour of the flowers, to di∣stinguish it from the former. 5. Golden Saxifrage from the Golden colour of the Leaves. 6. The greater Burnet Saxifrage, so called because it hath Leaves som∣what like Burner. 7. The middle Burnet Saxifrage. 8. The lesser Burnet Saxifrage. 9. Sax••frage with Chickweed Leaves.

The Forme.

English Saxifrage, White Saxifrage, Golden Saxifrage, and burnet Saxifrage be of so different Formes, that it will be necessary that I describe them one a••ter another.

English or Medow Saxifrage which is known to divers by the name of Medow Parsly groweth with many very green winged Leaves somwhat like unto those of Fenne••, but thicker and broader; so like unto Medow Hart-wort of Mompelier that it made Parkinson joyne it next thereunto; from amongst the said Leaves ri••e up divers cre••ed stalkes of a Cubit high, having thereupon divers smaller stalkes of winged Leaves also finely cut, but somwhat harsh to the feeling and bearing at the top spoky rundells or umbells be••et with white flowers tending a little to yellow which give place unto seeds like unto the Common Fennell ••eed, both for forme and greatnesse, but of a browner colour and small tast; The root is thick, black without, white within, and of a good savour.

White Sax••frage groweth with divers round faint or yellowish greene Leaves, but grayish underneath, spread upon the ground, unevenly dented about the edges, and somwhat hairy, every one upon a little footstalke, from whence riseth up a round brownish hairy greene stalke, about a foot-high with a few such like round Leaves as grow below but smaller, somwhat branched at the top, where∣on stand pretty large white flowers of five Leaves a peece, with some yellow Threds in the middle standing in a long crested brownish greene husk, which being past there ariseth somtimes a round hard head, biforked at the top, wherein is contained small blackish seed: the Root is compact of a number of black strings, whereunto are fastned many small reddish graines, or round rootes about the big∣nesse of Pepper-cornes, which are used in Medicine, and called by the Apotheca∣ries white Saxifrage seed, and is that which is truly meant by, though not so tru∣ly said of it.

Golden Saxifrage is most like unto the before described, yet it differeth there∣from in that the Leaves are not hairy, but somwhat thicker and of a darker greene colour; amongst which rise up Stalkes in handfull high with such Leaves on them as grow below two at a Joynt, but three at the top of all, whereas also at the Joynts do come forth very small gold yellow flowers, not easily observed, and seldome seen with them, because they fall away so quickly, after which come small round heads wherein is contained small round reddish seed; the Root is comp••••∣ed of a number of small strings or Fibres.

Burnet Saxifrage groweth up with divers stalkes of winged Leaves set one a∣gainst another each being somewhat broad, and a little pointed and dented a∣bout the edges, of a sad greene colour; at the tops of the stalkes stand 〈…〉〈…〉s of white flowers, after which comes small and blackish seed: The root is long and whitish.

The Places and Time.

The first groweth almost in every Medow, and therefore it is called Medow Parsly, yet it somtimes growes in up and ground; the second was found by Mr. Goodyer, on a boggy ground below the red Well of Welling borough in Norhampton∣shire; the third by Lobel between Chipnam and Marleborough, in the High-way between London and Bristow, on a Chalky Hill; the fourth groweth very p••enti∣fully in a feild immediately below the Abby Orchard, at St. Albons an•• in ma∣ny other places: the silt in moist and marish places about Bath and W••lles, and in the Moores by Boston and Wisbich in Lincolneshire: the sixth, seventh, and e••ght, grow in divers Meadows and Pastures-grounds of this Land: the last groweth up∣on barren hills, and sometimes upon Walls. The first flowreth from the be∣ginning of May to the end of August; the second and third ••omwhat later; the fourth in April or May at the furthest, when it is gathered for that which is call∣ed the seed as well as to distill, for it perisheth soon after; the fifth in March and April; the rest, about July, and their Seed is ripe in August.

The Temperature.

All the aforementioned sorts are hot and dry in the third degree, except the Golden Saxifrage which is cold of temperature, as the tast declareth.

The Vertues and Signature.

The seeds and rootes of Saxifrage or Medow Parsly boiled in White-Wine, and the d••••oction drunk, breaketh the Stone in the Bladder and Kidn••es hel〈…〉〈…〉 the strangury and cau••eth one to make Water freely, which also bringeth down Womens Courses, and expelleth the Secondine and dead Child. The root dryed and ma••e into Powder, and halfe a dram or a dram taken with Sugar comfo••teth and warmeth the Stomack, cureth the gnaw••ngs and griping paines o•• the belly cal∣eth the Cholick also, and expelleth Wind. The Cheshire Women put it amongst the R••mnes that they put into their Cheese as a Country-man of theirs reporteth. The distilled Water is much in use with Nurses to give unto their Children against the stopping of their Urine, and to ease the griping paines in their belly which they usually cal•• the Frets. It is used outwardly in Bathes, and Fomentations, to pro∣voke Urine, and to ease the paines of the Belly, proceeding from Wind. The seed or rather the root of the white Saxifrage cureth the Stone by signature as the learn∣ed Cr••llius hath observed, and is singular good against the strangury and stoppings of the Kidneys and Bladder, the Powder of them being drunk in Wine or the de∣coction made of them. The distilled Water of the whole herb rootes and flo∣wers, which is as effectuall in a manner, is familiarly taken by those that have need thereof, for any of the purposes aforesaid, as also to clense the Stomack and Lungs from tough and thick Phlegme that troubleth it, and causeth it more easi∣ly to be avoided. It is not probable, that the Golden Saxifrage hath any opera∣tion upon the Stone, because of its insipide tast, unlesse it be by a specifick Ver∣tue, yet I mentioned it because it is esteemed as a rarity. The Burnet Saxifrages, have the same properties that the others have, both in provoking Urine, and eas∣ing the paines thereof, as also in expelling Wind, and helping the Cholick, the roots or seed being used in Powder, decoction, or any other way, which are like∣wise effectuall for the windy paines of the Mother, to procure Womens Courses, to break and avoid the stone in the Kidneys, and to digest cold viscous and tough Phlegme in the Stomack, and is an especiall remedy against all kind of Venom. The rootes hereof dryed are as hot as Pepper, and may be used for the same, being much more wholesome as Tragus saith. The same in Powder, with the Powder

of the Seeds and Sugar, purgeth the braine, helpeth the Tooth-ach, restoreth lost speech, and is good for Convulsions, Cramps, Apoplexies, and cold feavers, and so is the distilled water wherein Castoreum hath been boiled, which is profitable also for the Palsy, and many other cold griefes. The same drunk with wine and Vinegar cureth the Plague, and being holden or chewed in the mouth, it pre∣serveth from the Infection, when the aire is corrupted. The seed made into Comfits like unto those of Caraway are effectuall for all the purposes aforesaid, and so is the distilled water sweetned with Sugar though not in so powerfull a manner as the former; which water also beautifieth the face, by cleansing it from all Spots and Freckels, and leaving a good colour. The juyce of the Leaves doth the same, and being dropped into the grievous wounds of the Head, or any o∣ther place, dryeth up the moisture and healeth them quickly. The distilled water alone, or with Vinegar, being put into the eyes cleareth the sight exceed∣ingly. I conceive I have given to every sort its due properties, notwithstanding I find all or most of them attributed to Saxifrage in general, and no doubt, when one sort is not to be had, the other may serve as substitutes, they being promis∣cuously used by divers.