Of Mustard.
The kindes.
There be three kindes of Mustarde: two of the Garden, and the thirde wilde. | 1 Sinapi satiuum. Garden Mustard. | 2 Sinapi satiuum alterum. Fielde Mustard. | |-------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------|
The description.
The tame or garden Mustard, hath great rough leaues, like to those of the Turnep, but rougher and lesser. The stalke is rounde, rough, and hearie, of three cubits high, deuided into many branches, whereon do grow small yellowe flowers, and after them long cods, slender and rough, wherein is conteined round seede, of colour whitish declining to yellowe, of taste sharpe and biting the toong, as doth our common fielde mustarde. The other tame Mustarde is like to the former in leaues, and braunched stalkes, but lesser, and are more whitish and rough. The flowers are likewise yellow, and the seede browne like the Rape seede, which is also not a little sharpe or byting. 3 Sinapi sylvestre. Wilde Mustard. The wilde Mustard hath leaues like those of shepheards purse, but rougher, and more deeply indented, with a stalke growing to the height of two foote, bearing at the top small yellow flowers made of fower leaues: the cods be small and slender, wherein is conteined reddish seede, smaller then any of the others, but not so sharpe or biting.
The place.
The garden Mustard, with whitish seed is sowen in gardens: Palladius saith, it loueth to growe in plowed grounde, and is delighted with moisture. This kinde is not common in England, yet I haue dispersed the seede thereof into sundrie parts of this lande, so that I thinke it is reasonable well knowne at this day. The other kindes do growe of their owne accorde in grauelly grounds and ditch bankes, and by high waies, and among rubbish.
The time.
Mustard may be sowen in the beginning of the spring. The seede is ripe in Iuly or August: it commeth to perfectiō the same yeere that it is sowen.
The names.
The Athenians haue called mustard νᾶπυ: the Latines Sinapi: the rude and barbarous Sinapium: the Germanes Senff: the Frenchmen Seneue, and Moustarde: the lowe Dutch Mostaert saet: but the sauce which is made of the seede, is simplie called Mustard in English: the Italians Senape: the Spaniardes Mostaza and Mostalla: the Bohemians Horcice: Plini calleth it Thlaspi, whereof doubtlesse it is a kinde, and some haue called it Saurion. That Mustard which bringeth foorth white seede, may be called white Mustard. The second kinde, common Mustarde, or fielde Seneue. The third wilde Mustard, or treacle Mustarde.
The temperature.
The seede of Mustard, especially that which we chiefely vse, doth heate and make thinne, and also drawe foorth. it is hot and drie in the fourth degree according to Galen.
The vertues.
The seede of Mustard pound with vineger, is an excellent sauce good to be eaten, with any grosse meates, either fish or flesh, bicause it doth helpe digestion, warmeth the stomacke, and prouoketh appetite. It is giuen with good successe in like manner to such as be short winded, and are stopped in the breast with tough flegme from the head and braine. It appeaseth the toothach, being chewed in the mouth. They vse to make a gargarisme with honie, vineger, and Mustard seede against the tumors and swelling of the Vuula, and the Almondes about the throate and roote of the toong. Mustard dronke with water and honie, prouoketh the tearmes and vrine. The seede of mustard beaten and put into the nostrils, causeth sneezing, and raiseth women sick of the mother out of their fits. It is good against the falling sicknes, and such as haue the Lithargie, if it be laid plaisterwise vpon the heade (after shauing) being tempered with figs. It helpeth the Sciatica or ache in the hippe or huckle bone: it also cureth all manner of old pains proceeding of a colde cause. It is mixed with good successe with drawing plaisters, and with such as waste and consume nodes and and hard swellings. It helpeth those that haue their haire pilled off; it taketh away the blew and blacke markes that come of brusings.
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.