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. CCCXIV. Of Madder.

The Names.

IT is called in Greek 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Etruthrodanum, and Erutheda∣num from the red colour of the root, and Rubia Tinctorum in Latine, because Dyers make use thereof to colour Wooll, as Leather-dressers also do to colour their Leather, which is the name that the Shops use also, yet Nicander calleth it 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Schyrium in Greek, and others call it Rub••a in Latin, without any additi∣on.

The Kindes.

There be six kindes of Madder growing in our ownd Land: 1. Red Madder, com∣monly called Garden Madder: 2. Wild Madder: 3. Wild Madder with long Leaves: 4. Sea Madder: 5. Dwarf Madder: 6. Little field Madder.

The Forme.

The manured or Garden Madder shooteth forth many Stalks, which stand up∣right at their first coming up, and so likewise if they be kept cut, but if they be permitted to grow, they become long, weak, and trailing upon the ground a great way, unlesse they grow by some hedge, and then they will climb thereon, being four-square, very rough and full of Joynts, at every of which come forth divers long, and somewhat narrow Leaves, standing about the Stalks somewhat like the r••well of a Spu••, being very rough also; neer unto the tops whereof do come forth many small pale yellow Flowers, after which come small round heads, green at the first, and reddish afterward, but black when they are ripe, wherein are con∣tained the Seed; The Root is not so great as long, creeping very far, as well down∣wards as about the surface of the Earth, fat, full of substance, and of a red and ve∣ry clear colour, whilst it is fresh.

The Places and Time.

The first, though it be commonly manured for the great profit that is made there∣of, yet it groweth wild, not onely upon S. Vincents Rock neer Bristoll, and in the Hedges about Ruthland in Wales; the second is natural also to some parts of this Land, and so is the third, which groweth in divers places of Dorset-shire; the fourth groweth likewise in our own Country, & so do the two last. They flower in June and July chiefly, and the Seed of all of them is ripe in August, or thereabout, except the Sea▪ kind, which seldom perfecteth its Seed with us.

The Temperature.

Madder roots are hot in the second degree, and dry in the third, and have an ope∣ning quality, and also an astringent property.

The Vertues and Signature.

The Decoction of Madder made in Wine and drunk, doth not onely bring down the Courses in Women, and provoke Ʋrine, but bringeth away the Birth and after-birth, cureth the Jaundise, openeth the stoppings of the Spleen and Gall, and ••iminisheth the Melancholy humour: The same taken as aforesaid, or in pow∣der, dissolveth congealed blood in the Body, and is good for such as have bruised themselves by any great fall, and is very much used in vulnerary or Wound-drinks, for which purpose the colour of the root speaks it to be usefull. It is profitable also for such as have the Dropsi••, Palsie, Sciatica, or Hip-gout. The Seeds of Madder taken with Vineg••r and Honey, helpeth the swelling, and hardnesse of the Spleen. It is used also to amend or help the ill colour of the Face, and it helpeth Ʋlcers of the Mouth, if to the Decoction there be added a little Alome and Hony of Roses. The Juyce of the Root, or Decoction thereof, is given to such as are hurt with ve∣nemous Beasts, and preserveth the Body from putrefaction, and is very good for those that have the Itch or Scab: The Roots bruised, especially whist they are fresh, and applyed to any part that is discoloured with Freckles, Morphew, the White Scurf, or such like deformities of the Skin, cleanseth them thoughly, and taketh them away, especially if Vinegar be mixed therewith; or the Powder of the Root mixed with a little Juyce of Garlick, Oyl, and a little Hony, cureth any Itch, Scab, or foulnesse of the Skin, being anoynted therewith. The Juyce of the Root drop∣ped into the Eares, mitigates the pain of them. The Roots applyed as a Pessary, or the powder of the Root made up with Oyl of Savin, and applyed, brings away the Birth, and After-birth. By the reason that the Leaves and Roots do die a red co∣lour, some have mistaken the effects thereof, supposing that it provokes Urine so much, that it causeth blood▪ to come forth, when as the red colour of the Urine proceeds from no other cause, but the colour of the Root, as Rubarbe will cause it to looke yellow. The Decoction of Madder, given with that great composition called Triphera, is singular good to stay the Reds in Women, the

Hemorrhoides, and the Bloudy Flix, which it may be said to do by Signature, as hath been approved by divers experiments, so that the contrary effects herein are manifest, the one being opening, and the other restringent; and it is said to be usefull against untimely birth, though the common opinion be, that it must not be given to women with child, nor often to such as have hot and dry bodies, and then the Dose must not exceed two Scruples, if it be given in Powder, nor half an Ounce, if it be given in Decoction. The Roots are good traffique amongst the Dyers, as well as the Apothecaries, as having a special property to strike a lively red colour upon their Wooll and woollen Cloath, and the Curriers and other Leather-dressers, colour their Leather therewith.