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. XCVII. Of Lettuce.

The Names.

THe Garden Lettuce is called in Greek, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, and of the Pythagoreans 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. In Latine, Lactuea sativa à lactei succi copia, from the plenty of Milk that it hath, and causeth. When the Leaves of this kind are cur∣led, or crompled, it is called of Pliny, Lactuca crispa; and of Columella Lactuca Ceciliana, in English, curled or crumpled Lettuce. The Cabbage Lettuce is commonly called Lactuca capitata, and Lactuca sessilis. Pliny nameth it Lactu∣ca Laconica; Columella, Lactuca Baetica; Petrus Crescentius Lactuca Romana. In English, Cabbage Lettuce, and Loved Lettuce. There is another Sort with Red∣dish Leaves, called Latine, Lactuca Cypria; in English, Red Lettuce.

The Kindes.

Of Lettuce, there be seaven kinds, 1. Garden Lettuce. 2. Curled Lettice. 3. Small Curled Lettuce. 4. Savoy Lettice. 5. Cabbage Lettuce. 6. Lumbard Lettuce. 7. Red Lettuce, to which it will not be amisse, to add Lambs Lettuce, or Corn Sallet, which is called in Greek, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, in Latine Album Olus & Lactuca Agnina, whose description I shall give you, because the other Sorts are more generally known.

The Forme.

Lambs Lettuce hath many slender, weak stalks, trailing upon the ground, grow∣ing to the height of a foot, if the ground be very fertil; but otherwise not above an hand or two high, with sundry Joynts or Knees; out of every one whereof, grow a couple of Leaves, narrow and long, not unlike to Lettuce, at the first com∣ing up, as well in tendernesse, as tast in eating: the form being somewhat like that of Valerian; for a kind whereof, it hath been set forth by some. On the top of the stalks, stand upon a broad tuft, as it were, certain white Flowers, that be marvellous little, which canscarcely be known to be Flowers, saving that they grow many together like a Tuft or Umbel: it hath instead of Roots a few slender threds, like unto hairs.

The Places and Time.

All the Sorts of Lettuces are nursed up in Gardens, but none so commonly as the first, which is sowen in every Garden. Most of the others are scarce known to the common Sort of people: yet some that are curious, have them. They de∣light to grow in a manured, fat, moyst, and well dunged Soil, and will prosper the better, if they be sowen very thin, and in faire weather.

The best time of sowing them is in the Spring presently after the winter is spent, yet they may be sowed all the Summer long. The Lambs Lettice groweth natu∣rally in many Corn Fields, and hath thence been brought into the Gardens of tho••e that know it, and its use. It is found green almost Winter and Summer, and is eaten in Sallets, in February and March, before the Garden Lettice can be had.

The Temperature.

Although these sorts of Lettice do differ in form, one from another, yet their temperature is the same; which is cold and moyst, in the second or third Degree.

The Signature and Vertues.

The Milky juyce which Issueth forth from the wounded stalkes and Leaves is a sufficient Signature, that this Herb, if it be eaten boyled or raw, maketh plenty of milke in Nurses, who through heat and drynesse are not stored with a competen∣cy thereof; for it breedeth Milke by tempering the drynesse and heat; but in Bodies naturally cold, it doth not ingender milke at all but is rather an hinder∣ance thereunto, so that it will be necessary to examine the Constitution of the party before any thing can be prescribed. If this defect happen in a dry body, there is nothing better then Lettuce, but if in a cold one then hot things, as Ni∣gell Fennell and Dill will be proper, because diseases are cured by their Con∣traries. It is also good for a hot Stomack, and yeildeth good nourishment to the Body. Antonius Musa did by Lettuce ease Augustus of the Violence of his Disease. It procureth rest and sleep; being taken raw or boyled it helpeth to loosen the belly, and the boyled more then the raw, which last eaten perform∣eth it the better: and was generally so used by the Ancients. It helpeth digestion, quencheth thirst, & easeth all griping paines of the Stomack or bowells that come of Choler; it abateth bodily lust and tempereth the heat of Urine, the seeds and distilled water are good for the virulent running of the Reines, & for the heat of the Urine, as also for the foresaid purposes. But for procuring rest, and sleep and easing the headach, if it proceeds from an hot cause, it will be convenient that the juice of Lettuce be mixed or boyled with oyle of Roses, and applyed to the Forehead and Temples; with applyed Champhir to the Cods, it abateth the heat of Lust, or applyed to the same manner to the Region of the Heart Liver or the Reins or, by bathing the said place with the juyce or distilled water, wherein some white Sanders & red Roses are put, doth abate the heat & Inflammations therein; as also strengthen those parts. The Lambs Lettice is with pleasure eaten with vinegar Salt and oyle as other Sallets be, amongst which is none of the rest.

And let thus much suffice to be written concerning those plants which cause Milk for which purpose Sowthistle, Rocket, Anemonies, and divers other plants are effectu∣all, some whereof are already and the rest shall be hereafter handled. In the next place, it will be convenient to speake of those that dry up Milke in Womens Breast when they weane their Children, or be overcharged with abundance of Milke; and those also that keep it from Curdling and dissolve the tumors of the Breasts.