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. LXXVI. Of Ragwort.

The Names.

IT hath no Greek name, being an Herb, but of later knowledge; for if it had been formerly known, we should find it mentioned by some ancient, Greek, or Latine Authour, or other, which we cannot do, unlesse you would, as some do, refer it to the 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Erigerum of D••oscorides, which the Latines ca•• Senecio, and therefore Lobel calleth it Jacobaea Senecio. Tragus, Matthiolus, and others call it Flos Sti Jacobi, and Herba Sti Jacobi. Dodonaeus and the latest Writers Jacobaea; for what cause I know not, unlesse it be, because it flourish∣risheth about St. Iames-tide. Some have taken the Sea kind to be Arthemisia Ma∣rina, or a species of it, because the divi••••on of the Leaves is somewhat like the Ar∣themisia vulgaris. Others call it Cineraria & Argentea, from the whitenesse of the Leaves, which shew like silver, or as though they were covered with Ashes, and is usually with Us, called Jacobaea marina & maritima, Sea-Ragwort in Eng∣lish, and Rag-weed, by some Country people, from the raggednesse of the Leaf.

The Kindes.

Of Ragwort there be nine sorts. 1. The Greater common Ragwort. 2. The lesser common Ragwort. 3. The first Hungarian broad leafed Ragwort. 4. The o∣ther broad-leafed Hungarian Ragwort. 5. Smooth leafed Ragwort. 6. Round leafed hoary Ragwort. 7. The common Sea-Ragwort. 8. The lesser Sea-Ragwort 9. Broad leafed Sea-Ragwort.

The Form.

The greater common Rag-wort, hath many large, and long dark green Leaves, lying on the ground, very much rent and torn on the sides, into many peeces: from among which, riseth up sometimes but one, and sometimes two or three square or crested, blackish or brownish stalks, two or three foot high, sometimes branch∣ed, bearing divers such like leaves upon them, at severall distances unto the tops, where it brancheth forth into many stalks, bearing yellow Flowers, consisting of divers Leaves, set as a pale or border, with a dark yellow thrum in the middle, which do abide a great while; but in the end, growing full ripe, are turned into down, which with the small, blackish gray Seed, is carryed away with the wind:

the Root is made of many Fibres, some greater, and others lesser, whereby it is firmly fastned into the ground, and abideth many years.

The Place and Time.

The two first Sorts grow wild in pastures, and untilled Grounds, in many pla∣ces, and both together in one Field often times: the three next grow in Hun∣gary, and Austria: the sixth grew in some parts of France, but it is not expres∣sed where: the seaventh groweth on our own Coasts, not far from the Sea, in the Isles of Sheppey and Thanet, and along the Kentish shore in many places: the eighth groweth on the Mediterranean Sea-shore of Italy, and other places, as by the Sea side in Zeland: the last is mentioned by Bauhinus, but he expresseth not the place where it groweth. Divers of them are nursed up by divers Herbarists, and are to be seen in the Physick-Gardens at Oxford, and Westminster. They flower in June and July, and their Seed is ripe in August.

The Temperature.

Ragwort is hot and dry in the second Degree, as some think, with some bitter∣nesse joyned therewith; and therefore cleanseth, digesteth, and discusseth.

The Vertues.

The Decoction of Ragwort is very much commended to wash the Mouth or Throat, that have Ulcers and Sores therein; and for swellings, hardnesse, or im∣postumations; for it throughly cleanseth and healeth them: as also the Quinsey and the Kings Evill. It doth help to stay Catarrhes, thin Rheums and Defluxions from the Head, into the Eyes, Nose or Lungs. The Juyce is found by continuall experience, to be singular good, both to heal green wounds, and to cleanse and heal all old and filthy Ulcers, as well in the Privities, as in other parts of the Bo∣dy, and inward Wounds and Ulcers also, and stayeth the malignity of fretting or running Cankers, and hollow Fistulaes, not suffering them to spread further. It is much commended also, to help Aches and pains, either in the fleshy parts, or in the Nerve and Sinews: as also the Sciatica, or pain of the Hips, or Huckle∣bone, to bathe the places with the decoction of the Herb, or to anoint them with an Oyntment made of the Herb, bruised and boyled in old Hogs-Suet, with some Mastick and Olibanum in Powder, added unto it, after it is strained forth, and not before; for otherwise it would be to little or no purpose. It is held also to be a certain remedy to help the Staggers in Horses, and upon that account, some call it Stagger-wort, and indeed it is not without a Signature thereof: the unevennesse of the edges of the Leaves, being like unto those uneven motions which Horses make in that Disease.