Of Lettuce.
The kindes.
THere are according to the opinion of the auncients, of Lettuce two sorts, the one wilde or of the fielde, the other tame or of the garden: but time with the industrie of later writers haue founde out others both wilde and tame, as also artificiall, which I purpose to laie downe. 1 Lactuca satiua. Garden Lettuce. <column-break/> 2 Lactuca crispa. Curled Lettuce. <column-break/>
The description.
Garden Lettuce hath a long broade leafe, smooth and of a light greene colour: the stalke is rounde, thicke set with leaues full of milkie iuice, bushed or braunched at the top: whereupon do growe yellowish flowers which turne into downe that is caried away with the winde. The seede sticketh fast vnto the cottonie downe and flieth away likewise, white of colour & fomewhat long. The roote hath hanging on it many long tough strings, which being cut or broken do yeelde foorth in like maner as doth the stalke and leaues, a iuice like to milke. And this is the true description of the naturall Lettuce and not of the artificiall: for by manuring, transplanting, and hauing regarde to the moone and other circumstances; the leaues of the artificiall Lettuce be oftentimes transformed into another shape: for either they are curled, or else so drawne togither, as they seeme to be like a cabbage or headed colewoort, and the leaues which be within and in the midst, are somthing white tending to a very light yellowe. 2 The curled Lettuce hath great and large leaues, deepely cut or gashed on both the sides, not plaine or smooth as the former, but intricately curled and cut into many sections. The flowers are smal, of a bleake colour, the which do turne into downe and is caried away with the winde. The seed is like the former, sauing it changeth somtime into blacknesse with a roote like the former. 3 This small sort of curled Lettuce hath many leaues, hackt and torne in peeces very confusedly, and withall curled in such an admirable sort, that euery great leafe seemeth to bee made of many small leaues set vpon one middle ribbe, resembling a fanne of curled feathers vsed among gentlewomen. The flowers, rootes, and seede agree with the former. 4 The Sauoie Lettuce hath very large leaues spread vpon the grounde, at the first comming vp broade, cut, or gasht about the edges, crisping or curling lightly this or that way, not vnlike to the leaues of garden Endiue, with stalks, flowers and seedes like the former, as wel in shape as yeelding that milkie iuice wherewith they do all abound. 3 Lactuca crispa altera. Small curled Lettuce. 5 Lactuca capitata. Cabbage Lettuce. <column-break/> 4 Lactuca Saubaudica crispa. Sauoie Lettuce. 6 Lactuca intybacea. Lumbard Lettuce. 5 Cabbage Lettuce hath many plaine and smooth leaues at his first growing vp; which for the most part lie flat still vpon the grounde; the next that doe appeere are those leaues in the middle; which turne themselues togither embracing eche other so closely, that it is formed into that globe or round head, whereof the simplest is not ignorant. The seede hereof is black, contrary to all the rest, which may be as it were a rule whereby yee may knowe the seede of Cabbage Lettuce from the other sorts. 6 The Lumbard Lettuce hath many great leaues, spred vpon the grounde like vnto those of the garden Endiue, but lesser. The stalkes rise vp to the height of three foote: the flowers be yellowish, which turne into downe and flie away with the winde: the seede is white as snowe.
The place.
Lettuce delighteth to growe, as Palladius saith, in a manured, fat, moist, and dunged grounde: it must be sowen in faire weather in places where there is plentie of water as Columella saith, and prospereth best if it be sowen very thinne.
The time.
It is certaine saith Palladius, that Lettuce may well be sowen at any time of the yeere; but especially at euery first spring, and so soone as winter is done, till sommer be well spent.
The names.
Garden Lettuce is called in Latin Lactuca satiua: Galen nameth it θριδακίνην: the Pythagoriãs ευνουχιον: the apothecaries Lactuca, à Lacteo succo, as the Latines doe, of the milkie iuice which issueth foorth of the wounded stalkes and rootes: the Germaines name it Lattich; the lowe Dutch Lattouwe: the Spaniardes Lechuga and Alface: the English Lettuce: and the French Laictue. When the leaues of this kinde are curled or crompled, it is named of Plinie Lactuca crispa, and of Columella Lactuca Ceciliana: in English curld or crompled Lettuce. The Cabbage Lettuce is commonly called Lactuca capitata, and Lactuca sessilis, Plinie nameth it Lactuca Laconica: Columella Lactuca Bætica: Petrus Crescentius, Lactuca Romana: in English Cabbage Lettuce and Loued Lettuce. There is another sort with reddish leaues, called of Columella Lactuca Cypria: in English red Lettuce.
The temperature.
Lettuce is a colde and moist potherbe, yet not in the extreme degree of colde or moisture, but altogither moderately, for otherwise it were not to be eaten.
The vertues.
Lettuce cooleth a hot stomacke, called the hart burning; and helpeth it when it is troubled with choler: it quencheth thirst, causeth sleepe, maketh plentie of milke in nurses, who through heate & drinesse do growe barraine and drie of milke: for it breedeth milke by tempering the drinesse and heat. But in bodies that be naturally colde, it doth not ingender milke at all, but is rather an hindrance thereunto. Lettuce maketh a pleasant sallade, being eaten rawe with vineger, oile, and a little salt: but if it be boiled, it is sooner digested, and nourisheth more. It is serued in these daies, and in these countries at the beginning of supper, and eaten first before any other meate, which also Martialis testifieth to be done in times past, marueiling why some did vse it for a seruice at the ende of supper, in these verses: > Claudere quæ cænas Lactuca solebat auorum, > Dic mihi, cur nostras inchoat illa dapes? Notwithstanding it may now and then be eaten at both those times to the health of the bodie: for being taken before meate it doth many times stir vp appetite: and eaten after supper it keepeth away drunkennesse which commeth by the wine; and that is by reason that it staieth the vapors from rising vp into the head. The iuice which is made in the veines by Lettuce is moist and colde, yet not ill nor much in quantitie: Galen affirmeth that it doth neither binde the belly nor loose it, for it hath in it no harshnesse nor stiptike qualitie by which the belly is staied, neither is there in it any sharpe or biting facultie, which scoureth and prouoketh to the stoole. But howsoeuer Galen writeth this, and howsoeuer the same wanteth these qualities, yet it is found by experience that it maketh the body soluble, especially if it be boiled, for by moistning of the belly it maketh it the more slipperie, which Martialis very well knewe writing in his 11. booke of Epigrams in this maner, > Prima tibi dabitur, ventri Lactuca mouendo--- > Vtilis Lettuce being outwardly applied mittigateth all inflammations: it is good for burnings and scaldings if it be laide thereon with salt before the blisters do appeere, as Plinie writeth. The iuice of Lettuce cooleth and quencheth the naturall seede if it be too much used, but procureth sleepe.
Text in Gerard's own spelling (the long s is printed as s), transcribed by the Source Library (CC BY-SA 4.0). A chapter may run onto pages not yet transcribed. Gerard wrote within Galenic medicine; nothing here is advice.