The Kindes.
There be according to the opinion of the Antients, of Lettuce two sorts, the one wilde or of the field, the other tame or of the garden: but time, with the industrie of later writers, have found out others both wilde and tame, as also artificiall.
The Description.
1 GArden Lettuce hath a long broad leafe, smooth, and of a light greene colour: the stalke is round, thicke set with leaves full of milky juice, bushed or branched at the top: wherupon do grow yellowish floures, which turne into downe that is carried away with the winde. The seed sticketh fast unto the cottony downe, and flieth away likewise, white of colour, and some-what long: the root hath hanging on it many long tough strings, which being cut or broken, do yeeld forth in like manner as doth the stalke and leaves, a juice like to milke. And this is the true description of the naturall Lettuce, and not of the artificiall; for by manuring, transplanting, and having a regard to the Moone and other circumstances, the leaves of the artificiall Lettuce are oftentimes transformed into another shape: for either they are curled, or else so drawne together, as they seeme to be like a Cabbage or headed Colewort, and the leaves which be within and in the middest are something white, tending to a very light yellow.
The Place.
Lettuce delighteth to grow, as Palladius saith, in a mannured, fat, moist, and dunged ground: it must be sowen in faire weather in places where there is plenty of water, as Columella saith, and prospereth best if it be sowen very thin.
The Time.
It is certaine, saith Palladius, that Lettuce may well be sowen at any time of the yeare, but especially at every first Spring, and so soone as Winter is done, till Summer be well nigh spent.
The Names.
Garden Lettuce is called in Latine, Lactuca sativa, of the milky juice which issueth forth of the wounded stalks and roots.
The Temperature
Lettuce is a cold and moist pot-herbe, yet not in the extream degree of cold or moisture, but altogether moderatly; for otherwise it were not to be eaten.
The Vertues.
Lettuce cooleth the heat of the stomacke, called the heart-burning; and helpeth it when it is troubled with choler: it quencheth thirst, and causeth sleepe.
Lettuce maketh a pleasant sallad, being eaten raw with vineger, oile, and a little salt: but if it be boiled it is sooner digested, and nourisheth more.
It is served in these daies, and in these countries in the beginning of supper, and eaten first before any other meat: which also Martiall testifieth to be done in his time, marvelling why some did use it for a service at the end of supper, in these verses.
Tell me why Lettuce, which our Grandsires last did eate,
Is now of late become, to be the first of meat?
Notwithstanding it may now and then be eaten at both those times to the health of the body: for being taken before meat it doth many times stir up appetite: and eaten after supper it keepeth away drunkennesse which commeth by the wine; and that is by reason that it staieth the vapours from rising up into the head.