Of Ginger
The Description.
GInger is most impatient of the coldnesse of these our Northerne regions, as my selfe have found by proofe, for that there have beene brought unto me at severall times sundry plants thereof, fresh, greene, and full of juice, as well from the West Indies, as from Barbary and other places; which have sprouted and budded forth greene leaves in my garden in the heate of Summer, but as soone as it hath beene but touched with the first sharpe blast of Winter, it hath presently perished both blade and root. The true forme or picture hath not before this time been set forth by any that hath written; but the world hath beene deceived by a counterfeit figure, which the reverend and learned Herbarist Matthias Lobel did set forth in his Observations. The forme whereof notwithstanding I have here expressed, with the true and undoubted picture also, which I received from Lobels owne hands at the impression hereof. The cause of whose former error, as also the meanes whereby he got the knowledge of the true Ginger, may appeare by his own words sent unto me in Latine, which I have here thus Englished:
How hard and uncertaine it is to describe in words the true proportion of Plants (having none other guide than skilfull, but yet deceitfull formes of them, sent from friends or other means) they best do know who have deepliest waded in this sea of Simples. About thirty yeares past or more, an honest and expert Apothecarie William Dries, to satisfie my desire, sent me from Antwerpe to London the picture of Ginger, which he held to be truly and lively drawne. I my selfe gave him credit easily, because I was not ignorant, that there had beene often Ginger roots brought greene, new, and full of juice, from the Indies to Antwerp: and further, that the same had budded & grown in the said Dries garden. But not many yeares after I perceived, that the picture which was sent me by my friend was a counterfeit, and before that time had been drawne and set forth by an old Dutch Herbarist. Therefore not suffering this error any further to spread abroad (which I discovered not many yeares past at Flushing in Zeeland, in the garden of William of Nassau Prince of Orange, of famous memorie), I thought it convenient to impart thus much unto Mr. John Gerrard an expert Herbarist, and master of happy successe in Surgerie, to the end he might let posteritie know thus much, in the painfull and long laboured travels which now he hath in hand, to the great good and benefit of his countrey.
Thus much have I set downe, truly translated out of his owne words in Latine; though too favourably by him done to the commendation of my mean skill. The Place.
Ginger groweth in Spaine, Barbary, in the Canarie Islands, and the Azores. Our men who sacked Domingo in the Indies, digged it up there in sundry places wilde.
The Time.
Ginger flourisheth in the hot time of Sommer, and loseth his leaves in Winter. The Names.
Ginger is called in Latine Zinziber, and Gingiber.
The Vertues.
Ginger, as Dioscorides reporteth, is right good with meat in sauces, or otherwise in conditures; for it is of an heating and digesting qualitie, and is profitable for the stomacke, and effectually opposeth it selfe against all darknesse of the sight; answering the qualities and effects of Pepper.