50. Purslain, Portulaca; eſpecially the Golden whilſt tender, next the Seed-leaves, with the young Stalks, being eminently moiſt and cooling, quickens Appetite, aſſwages Thirſt, and is very profitable for hot and Bilious Tempers, as well as Sanguine, and generally entertain'd in all our Sallets, mingled with the hotter Herbs: Tis likewiſe familiarly eaten alone with Oyl and Vinegar; but with moderation, as having been ſometimes found to corrupt in the Stomach, which being Pickl'd 'tis not ſo apt to do. Some eat it cold, after it has been boil'd, which Dr. Muffet would have in Wine, for Nouriſhment.
The Shrub Halimus, is a ſort of Sea-Purſlain: The newly peeping Leaves (tho' rarely us'd) afford a no unpleaſant Acidule, even during winter, if it prove not too ſevere.
Purſlain is accus'd for being hurtful to the Teeth, if too much eaten.
51. Radiſh, Raphanus. Albeit rather Medicinal, than ſo commendably accompanying our Sallets (wherein they often ſlice the larger Roots) are much inferior to the young Seedling Leaves and Roots; raiſed on the [39]Monthly Hot-Bed, almoſt the whole Year round, affording a very grateful mordacity, and ſufficiently attempers the cooler Ingredients: The bigger Roots (ſo much desir'd) ſhould be ſuch as being tranſparent, eat ſhort and quick, without ſtringineſs, and not too biting. Theſe are eaten alone with Salt only, as carrying their Peper in them; and were indeed by Dioſcorides and Pliny celebrated above all Roots whatſoever; inſomuch as in the Delphic Temple, there was Raphanus ex auro dicatus, a Radish of ſolid Gold; and 'tis ſaid of Moſchius, that he wrote a whole Volume in their praiſe. Notwithſtanding all which, I am ſure, the great [40]Hippocrates utterly condemns them, as Vitioſoe, innatantes ac aegre concoctiles. And the Naturaliſt calls it Cibus Illiberalis, fitter for Ruſtics than Gentlemens Tables. And indeed (beſides that they decay the Teeth) experience tells us, that as the Prince of Phyſicians writes, It is hard of Digeſtion, Inimicous to the Stomach, cauſing nauſeous Eructations, and ſometimes Vomiting, tho' otherwiſe Diuretic, and thought to repel the Vapours of Wine, when the Wits were at their genial Club. Dioſcorides and [41]Galen differ about their Eating; One preſcribes it before Meals, the latter for after. Some macerate the young Roots in warm milk, to render them more Nouriſhing.
There is a Raphanus ruſticanus, the Spaniſh black Horſe Radish, of a hotter quality, and not ſo friendly to the Head; but a notable Antiſcorbutic, which may be eaten all the Winter, and on that account an excellent Ingredient in the Compoſition of Muſtard; as are alſo the thin Shavings, mingled with our cold Herbs. And now before I have done with this Root, for an excellent and univerſal Condiment. Take Horſe-Radiſh, whilſt newly drawn out of the Earth, otherwiſe laid to ſteep in Water a competent time; then grate it on a Grater which has no bottom, that ſo it may paſs thro', like a Mucilage, into a Diſh of Earthen Ware: This temper'd with Vinegar, in which a little Sugar has been diſſolv'd, you have a Sauce ſupplying Muſtard to the Sallet, and ſerving likewiſe for any Diſh beſides.
52. Rampion, Rapunculus, or the Eſculent Campanula: The tender Roots eaten in the Spring, like thoſe of Radiſhes, but much more Nouriſhing.
53. Rocket, Eruca Spaniſh; hot and dry, to be qualified with Lettuce, Purcelain, and the reſt, &c. See Tarragon.
Roccombo. See Onions.
54. Roſemary, Roſmarinus; Soverainly Cephalic, and for the Memory, Sight, and Nerves, incomparable: And tho' not us'd in the Leaf with our Sallet furniture, yet the Flowers, a little bitter, are always welcome in Vinegar; but above all, a freſh Sprig or two in a Glaſs of Wine. See Flowers.
55. Sage, Salvia; hot and dry. The tops of the Red, well pick'd and waſh'd (being often defil'd with Venomous Slime, and almoſt imperceptible Inſects) with the Flowers, retain all the noble Properties of the other hot Plants; more eſpecially for the Head, Memory, Eyes, and all Paralytical Affections. In ſhort, 'tis a Plant endu'd with ſo many and wonderful Properties, as that the aſſiduous uſe of it is ſaid to render Men Immortal: We cannot therefore but allow the tender Summities of the young Leaves; but principally the Flowers in our cold Sallet; yet ſo as not to domineer.