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 CCLII. Of Spignell.

The Names.

IT is called in Greek 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 & 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, perhaps from the smallnesse of the Leaves, in Latine also Meum, & Meum Athamanticum, either from Athamantes the son of Aeolus, supposed to be the first discoverer, or from the Hill Athamantes in Thessaly, where the best was formerly thought to grow; for it was sometimes usuall with the ancient Writers to name the places of Plants, not because they grew in no other, or were a distinct sort by themselves, but because they were better then the common sort; and for this reason, and for no other, Pli••y cals it also Meum Macedonicum, and Hispanicum: It is called in English Spignell or Spick∣nell, of some Mewe, or Baldmony, or Bearewort.

The Kindes.

To this kind these five sorts may not unfi••ly be referred. 1 Ordinary Spig∣nell. 2 Small Spignell. 3 The Preservative Spignell of Candy. 4 Italian Ba∣stard Spignell. 5 Mountaine Spignell of Germany.

The Forme.

The ordinary Spignell, riseth up with sundry long stalkes of Leaves exceed∣ing finely, cut like unto haires, smaller then those of Dill, set thick on both sides the stalk, of a light or yellow green colour, and of a good sent: from amongst which, rise up round stiffe Stalkes with joynts, having a few Leaves at them, at the tops whereof groweth an Umbell of pure white flowers, at the edges where∣of sometimes will be seene a shew of reddish or blush colour, especially before they be full blown, which give place unto little roundish seed which are of a brownish colour; the Roots are thick and long in respect of the Leaves grow∣ing out from one head, which is hairy at the top, of a blackish brown colour on the outside, and white within.

The Places and Time.

The first groweth naturally in Westmerland, Yorkeshire, and other Northern Counties, and hath been brought from thence into our Southern Physick Gar∣dens; the second in Savoy, the third in Candy, the fourth in Italy, the last in Au∣stria, and as some have affirmed at the bottom of S^t. Vincents rock by Bristoll o∣ver against the hot Well, where it cannot be seen but when the Tide is downe. They flower in June and July, and yeeld their seed in August.

The Temperature.

The Roots of Spignell are hot in the third degree, and dry in the second.

The Vertues.

The dry Roots of Spignell being made into powder, mixed with Honey, and taken after the manner of an Electuary or licking Medicine, not onely con∣sumeth all windinesse in the Stomack, but descendeth into the Guts, and easeth the griping paines of the B••lly: It is excellent also against all Catarrhes, Rhewms and Aches of the Joynts, as also any phlegmatick or watery humour, falling upon the Lu••ges: Being boyled in wine or water, and drunk, it mightily openeth the stoppings of the Kidneys and Bladder, provoketh Urine and bodily lust, easeth and helpeth the Strangury, and consumeth all windynesse and belchings of the Stomack, yea it is so effectuall for the Strangury, that being laid Plaisterwise up the Bellyes of those Children that have it by inheritance, it causeth them to make water very freely. I•• is also very available to bring down Womens Courses, and to help the griefes of the Mother, but should too great a quantity thereof be taken, it would cause the head to ake, by the Vapors that it sendeth thereunto, and therefore the safest way for the last purposes would be to sit over the decoction thereof: The said Roots which are the only parts of the Plant in use, though the seed be very aromaticall, are accounted very effectuall against the sting or biting of any venemous Creature, and therefore it is a maine Ingredient in Mi∣thridate, and Venice Treacle, which are especiall Antidotes, both for that and ma∣ny other of the purposes before mentioned.