Some doe account Scalions to be rather a kinde of Onions then Leekes, and call them Cepa Ascalonica, or Ascalonitides, which will quickly spend it selfe, if it be suffered to be vncut; but all Authors affirme, that there is no wilde kinde of Onion, vnlesse they would haue it to be Gethyum, whereof Theophrastus maketh mention, saying, that it hath a long necke (and so these Scalions haue) and was also of some called Gethyllides, which antiquity accounted to be dedicated to Latona, the mother of Apollo, because when she was bigge with childe of Apollo, she longed for these Leekes.
The Vse of Leekes.
The old World, as wee finde in Scripture, in the time of the children of Israels being in Egypt, and no doubt long before, fed much vpon Leekes, Onions, and Garlicke boyled with flesh; and the antiquity of the Gentiles relate the same manner of feeding on them, to be in all Countries the like, which howsoeuer our dainty age now refuseth wholly, in all sorts except the poorest; yet Muscouia and Russia vse them, and the Turkes to this day, (as Bellonius writeth) obserue to haue them among their dishes at their tables, yea although they be Bashas, Cades, or Vaiuodas, that is to say, Lords, Iudges, or Gouernours of countries and places. They are vsed with vs also sometimes in Lent to make pottage, and is a great and generall feeding in Wales with the vulgar Gentlemen.
Ciues are vsed as well to be shred among other herbes for the pot, as to be put into a Sallet among other herbs, to giue it a quicker relish.
Leekes are held to free the chest and lungs from much corruption and rotten flegme, that sticketh fast therein, and hard to be auoided, as also for them that through hoarsenesse haue lost their voice, if they be eyther taken rawe, or boyled with broth of barley, or some such other supping, fit and conducing thereunto. And baked vnder hot embers is a remedy against a surfeit of Mushromes.
The greene blades of Leekes being boyled and applyed warme to the Hemorrhoides or piles, when they are swolne and painfull, giue a great deale of ease.
Chap. XLV.
Allium. Garlicke.
I haue spoken of diuers sorts of Garlicke called Moly, in [the former booke]: I shall neede in this place to shew onely those kindes, that this Garden nourseth vp, and leaue the rest to his fit time and place.
Garlicke hath many long greene leaues, like vnto Onions, but much larger, and not hollow at all as Onions are; the stalke riseth vp to be about three foote high, bearing such a head at the toppe thereof as Onions and Leekes doe, with purplish flowers, and blacke seede like Leekes: the roote is white within, couered ouer with many purplish skins, and is diuided into many parts or cloues, which serue both to set againe for increase, and also to vse as neede shall require, and is of a very strong smell and taste, as euery one knoweth, passing either Onions or Leekes, but exceeding wholsome withall for them that can take it.