The other Colewortes that are noursed vp with those that delight in curiosities, besides the aforesaid ordinary greene, which is much vsed of Dutchmen, and other strangers, are these: The Curld Coleworte eyther wholly of a greene colour, or of diuers colours in one plant, as white, yellow, red, purple or crimson, so variably mixed, the leaues being curld on the edges, like a ruffe band, that it is very beautifull to behold.
There is also another curld Colewort of lesse beauty and respect, being but a little curld on the edges, whose leaues are white, edged with red, or green edged with white.
Two other there are, the one of a popingaye greene colour: the other of a fine deepe greene, like vnto the Sauoyes.
Then there is the Cole rape, which is also a kinde of Coleworte, that beareth a white heade, or headed stalke aboue the ground, as bigge as a reasonable Turnep, but longer, and from the toppe thereof springeth out diuers great leaues, like vnto Colewortes; among which rise diuers stalkes that beare yellow flowers, and seede in pods, almost as small as Mustard seede: the roote is somewhat long, and very bushie with threds.
The Vse of Cabbages and Colewortes.
They are most vsually boyled in poudered beefe broth vntil they be tender, and then eaten with much fat put among them.
The great ribs of the Popingay, and deepe greene Colewortes, beeing boyled and layde into dishes, are serued to the table with oyle and vinegar in the Lent time for very good sallets.
In the cold Countries of Russia and Muscouia, they pouder vp a number of Cabbages, which serue them, especially the poorer sort, for their most ordinary foode in winter; and although they stinke most grieuously, yet to them they are accounted good meate.
It is thought, that the vse of them doth hinder the milke in Nurses breasts, causing it to dry vp quickely: but many women that haue giuen sucke to my knowledge haue denyed that assertion, affirming that they haue often eaten them, and found no such effect. How it might proue in more delicate bodies then theirs that thus said, I cannot tell but Matthiolus auerreth it to encrease milke in Nurses breastes; so differing are the opinions of many. The seede grossely bruised and boyled a little in flesh broth, is a present remedie for the Collicke; the seede and the broth being taken together, easing them that are troubled therewith of all griping paines: as also for the stone in the kidneyes. A Lohoc or licking Electuary made of the pulpe of the boyled stalkes, and a little honey and Almond milke, is very profitable for shortnesse of breath, and those that are entering into a Consumption of the lunges. It hath beene formerly held to be helpefull in all diseases: for Crisippus, an ancient Physitian, wrote a whole Volume of the vertues, applying it to all the parts of the body: which thing neede not seeme wonderfull, in that it is recorded by writers, that the old Romanes hauing expelled Physitians out of their Common-wealth, did for many hundred of yeares maintaine their health by the vse of Cabbages, taking them for euery disease.