Historia vegetabilium sacra, or, A Scripture herbal wherein all the trees, shrubs, herbs, plants, flowers, fruits &c. mentioned in the Holy Bible, are in an alphabetical order, rationally discoursed of ... / by W. Westmacott.

About this Item

Title: Historia vegetabilium sacra, or, A Scripture herbal wherein all the trees, shrubs, herbs, plants, flowers, fruits &c. mentioned in the Holy Bible, are in an alphabetical order, rationally discoursed of ... / by W. Westmacott.
Author: Westmacott, William.
Publication: London :: Printed for John Salusbury,; 1695.
Rights/Permissions: This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. Searching, reading, printing, or downloading EEBO-TCP texts is reserved for the authorized users of these project partner institutions. Permission must be granted for subsequent distribution, in print or electronically, of this text, in whole or in part. Please contact project staff at eebotcp-info@umich.edu for further information or permissions.
Subject terms: Plants in the Bible.; Herbals.; Botany, Medical.
Cite this Item: "Historia vegetabilium sacra, or, A Scripture herbal wherein all the trees, shrubs, herbs, plants, flowers, fruits &c. mentioned in the Holy Bible, are in an alphabetical order, rationally discoursed of ... / by W. Westmacott." In the digital collection Early English Books Online 2. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/A65494.0001.001. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed May 6, 2024.

Pages

Page 94

Leeks. Numb. 11. 5.

N. K. D. P. Porrum. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Porrum Capita∣tum, is the set or headed Leek. Porrum secti∣le is the cut or unset Leek; which differ not in Genus, but only by culture, that being transplanted in Autumn and this sown in the Spring. Chives or Cives, called Scoenoprason, belong to the wild Leeks, yet thrive greatly in our Gardens, when cut, and endure the coldest Winter.

Vertues and Ʋses.

Leeks are hot and dry in the 3 deg. like Mars their Captain, from whom they infuse great courage and valour into the Welshmen, especially on St. Taf∣fy's day.

This is a Culinary Herb, and seldom mentioned in the Matter of Physick, draws near to Garlick and Onions in virtues and vices; offends through its heat, the Head and Eyes, except boil▪d and eaten with cooling Herbs, cause and increase bad Blood, yet attenuate, open the Breast, and are Diure∣tick: Outwardly they help the noise of the Ears, and mitigate and discuss tumid and painful H••mor∣rhoids, either boil'd to a pultiss, or fry'd with But∣ter, or the green Blade applied, as once I knew it to great advantage, in the Piles.

The most antient Aegyptians, whose Religion was the worst of Gentilism, attributed divi••e Honour a∣mong other Creatures to Leeks, Garlick and Onions, for which they were publickly scorned by the Pens of the Poets.

Page 95

Porrum & caepe nefas—Thus Englished.
To bite an Onion or a Leek is more
Than deadly Sin. The Numen they adore,
Grows in their Gardens. And who doth not know
What monstrous shapes for Gods in Egypt go!

As well as the Cambro-Britains (to whom I am re∣lated) are said to love Leeks, yet I know not of any in all my Travels among them, that is a meer Glut∣ton in eating, or over-much delights in them; which if I did, he should change his antient Name, for Ne∣ro the bloody Emperour, who being a Glutton in de∣vouring Leeks, was in scorn nick-named Porropha∣gus.