Being dry, they serue to boyle into a kinde of broth or pottage, wherein many doe put Tyme, Mints, Sauory, or some other such hot herbes, to giue it the better rellish, and is much vsed in Towne and Countrey in the Lent time, especially of the poorer sort of people.
It is much vsed likewise at Sea for them that goe long voyages, and is for change, because it is fresh, a welcome diet to most persons therein.
The Rams Ciches the Spaniards call Grauancos, and Garauancillos, and eate them boyled and stewed as the most, dainty kinde of Pease that are, they are of a very good rellish, and doe nourish much; but yet are not without that windy quality that all sorts of Pulse are subiect vnto: they increase bodily lust much more then any other sorts, and as it is thought, doth helpe to encrease seede.
Chap. LIII.
Cucumer. The Cowcumber.
Of Cowcumbers there are diuers sorts, differing chiefly in the forme and colour of the fruit, and not in the forme of the plant; therefore one description shall serue in stead of all the rest.
The Cowcumber bringeth forth many trailing rough greene branches lying on the ground, all along whereof growe seuerall leaues, which are rough, broad, vneuen at the edges, and pointed at the ends, with long crooked tendrils comming forth at the same ioynt with the leafe, but on the other side thereof: between the stalks & the leaues at the ioynts come forth the flowers seuerally, euery one standing on a short foot-stalke, opening it selfe into fiue leaues, of a yellowish colour, at the bottome whereof groweth the fruit, long and greene at the first, but when it is thorough ripe, a little yellowish, hauing many furrowes, and vneuen bunches all the length of it, wherein is a white firme substance next vnto the skin, and a cleare pulpe or watery substance, with white flat seede lying dispersed through it: the roote is long and white, with diuers fibres at it.
The kindes.
The first described is called, The long greene Cowcumber.
There is another is called, The short Cowcumber, being short, and of an equall bignesse in the body thereof, and of an vnequall bignesse at both ends.