There are divers sorts of Basill, the most whereof are very great strangers to our Nation, and but entertained by a few that are curious and industrious.
1. Ocimum vulgare majus & minus. The great and small common Bassill.
Ocimum basilicum. -Henriette
The greater ordinary Basill riseth up usually but with one upright stalke, diversly branching forth on all sides, whereon are set two leaves at every joynt, which are somewhat broad and round, yet a little pointed, of a pale greene colour, but fresh, a little snipt about the edges, and of a strong heady scent, somewhat like a Pomecitrion, as many have compared it, and therefore called it Citratum: the flowers are small and white, standing at the tops of the branches with two small leaves at the joynt, in some places greene, in others browne, after which come black seed: the root perisheth at the first approach of winter weather, and is to be new sowne every yeare, if you will have it.
The lesser kinde called small, fine, or bush Basill, groweth not so high, but is thicker spread with branches, and smaller leaves thereon, closer set together, and of a more excellent pleasant sweet scent by much: the flowers are white, and the seed black like the other, when it giveth seed with us, which is more seldome, for it hath not beene knowne to give ripe seed in our Country often, because it neither springeth nor seedeth so early as the former. Vnto these sorts of Basill I must adde the third, which is as it were the meane betweene them, being greater than the small one, and lesser in leaves than the great, and not growing so high, in other things differing not.
2. Ocimum maximum Citratum. The greatest Citron Basill.
Ocimum x citriodorum? Ocimum basilicum? -Henriette
This kinde of Basill differeth not in the manner of growing from the greater ordinary garden Basill: but brancheth forth like it, with leaves set by couples at the joynts, but much larger, and of a reddish colour in the hotter Countries, but not so in the colder, a little dented about the edges, of a very sweet scent, resembling a Citron pill, and therefore called Citratum; the flowers are white like the ordinary Basill, and the seed black like it, perishing also after it hath flowred and seeded.
3. Ocimum caryophyllatum maximum. The great Clove Basill.
Ocimum basilicum. -Henriette
There is another also of these greatest Basils that differeth not from the former, either in growing, or largenesse of leaves, or colour of the flowers, except that sometimes they are a little purplish, but in the smell of the whole plant, it hath a stronger and quicker scent, more neerely resembling Cloves, then the former, and is thereupon named Caryophyllatum.
4. Ocimum Anisatum. Aniseed Basill.
Ocimum basilicum. -Henriette
This Basill is of the kind of our ordinary garden Basill, and of a middle kinde, whose leaves are neither so great as the greater, nor so small as the small kindes, but of a middle size betweene them both, the difference whereof consisteth chiefly in the smell, which is like the smell of Aniseed.
5. Ocimum Indicum. Indian Basill.
Ocimum tenuiflorum? -Henriette
The Indian Basill hath a square reddish greene stalke, a foot high, or better, from the joynts whereof spread out many branches with broad fat leaves set thereon, two alwayes at a joynt one against another, as the Basils have, but somewhat deepely cut in on the edges, and oftentimes a little crumpled, standing upon long reddish foot stalkes, of a darke purple colour, spotted with deeper purple spots, in some greater, in others lesse: the flowers stand at the tops of the stalkes, spike fashion, of a white colour, with reddish stripes and veines running thorow them, set or placed in darke purple coloured huskes: the seed is greater and rounder than any of the former, and somewhat long withall: the root perisheth like the rest. The whole plant smelleth strong like unto the ordinary Basill and Camfire put together.
6. Ocimum Crispum. Curld Basill.
Perilla frutescens? -Henriette
This curled Bassill is of the kinde of the Indian Bassill, having such like large leaves cut in somewhat deepely on the edges, and curled or crumpled as they are sometimes, as also with swelling bunches like bladders on them, but wholly of a greene colour, without any spot on them, as the stalkes are also: the flowers hereof are likewise wholly white, without any spot in them: the smell hereof is somewhat strong, resembling the spotted Indian kinde, and is very likely to be but a degenerate kinde, risen from the seed thereof, being gathered in these colder Countries.
7. Ocimum minus angustifolium. Small dented Basill.
Ocimum angustifolium? -Henriette
This small Basill groweth not so like any of the former Bassills, or the small fine bush Bassill, in the bushing branches thereof, but rather somewhat resembling the wild Bassill, or Clinopodium, having fewer stalkes and branches, with small narrow leaves, a little snipt or indented about the edges, two alwayes set together at a joynt, but more sparsedly on the branches; the flowers grow at the tops of the branches, somewhat like unto Bassil of a white colour, but bending a little more backward, the smell hereof is smaller than any of the other Bassils.
The Place.
These plants grow onely in Gardens with us, as also in Italy, and other places where they are cherished; their naturall being not knowne to us: onely the Indian and curld Basill are said to come first from the West-Indies into Spaine, and from thence into other places.
The Time.
They all flower in the heate of Summer, and some of them latter.
The Names.
There is some controversie among Writers concerning this plant, in three or foure particular matters: first, for the etymologie or derivation of the word, some thinking it to be derived from the Greeke word Ωχος, and the Latine ocyus, that is, a celeritate crescendi, from the speedy springing of the seed (which is usually within three or foure dayes, if it be a hot and dry time without raine, for moysture turneth it into a gelly, as any one may see, that will looke on it after it hath taken wet) which is written with ω. Secondly, as some thinke, from the Greeke word οζω oleo, which signifieth, to smell, or give a savour, as commonly taken in the worst sence as in the best; and so would have the word to be Ozimum, of the sweet smell thereof. Thirdly, whether it should be Ocymum, as it is to be found in divers ancient Writers, or Ocimum. Fourthly, what Ocymum is of the ancient Writers, for by divers it is taken to be that kinde of graine called Fagopyrum, or Tragopyrum, in English Buckwheate, or else a kinde of medley of Corne or Pulse sowne together, as many ancient Writers have set it downe, as shall be shewed in his proper place, whereunto I shall referre you. And lastly, about the vertues as shall be shewed presently. It is called by the latter Greeke Writers, βαξιλικον. Basilicum, because the smell thereof being so excellent, is fit for a Kings house.
The first two sorts of these Bassils are by all Authors so called, as I doe.
The second is the same Ocymus that Prosper Alpinus saith groweth in the Gardens of Alexandria in Egypt.
The third is so called by Lobel and others.
The fourth is onely set forth in the great Booke of the Bishop of Eystot his garden:
the fift is called Hispanicum, by Camerarius and Tabermontanus, and Indicum, by Chusius and others.
The sixt is as is said in the description, a degenerate kind of the last before it.
The last is so called by Estetensis, as is here expressed. The Arabians call it Berandaros, and Badobrog, the Italians Basilico; the Spaniards Albahaca; the French Basilic; the Germanes Basilgen, and Basilgram; the Dutch Basilicom; and we in English Bassill.
The Vertues.
Bassill in all Countries for the most part is of little use in Physick, but rather used as a sweet smelling hearbe to sweeten or perfume any thing, or else used outwardly to comfort and warme cold members. Dioscorides saith that being eaten in any plentifull manner, it dulleth the sight, maketh the belly soluble, stirreth up wind, provoketh urine, with-draweth the milke, and is of hard digestion.
Galen also saith it is accounted among those things that are hot in the second degree, but because it hath an excrementitious moysture joyned with it, it is not fit to be taken inwardly: and in another place, that it is an hearbe for sawce, or meate, hurtfull to the stomack, breeding ill juyce, and hard to be digested.
It is held by Crysippus (as Pliny saith) who inveied bitterly against the use thereof, to be hurtfull both for the stomack, urine, and eye-sight: and besides, causeth a kinde of madnesse and lethargie, and other diseases of the liver, &c.
And that those of Affrica say, that if any have eaten Bassill, that day he is stung by a Scorpion, that he cannot be saved: which saying is quite contrary to that of Dioscorides, that saith, from those of Affrica, that he shall have no paine or danger, that is stung by a Scorpion, if he have eaten Bassill before.
Pliny setteth downe, that in his time it was defended from such calumnies as Crisippus cast upon it, and was commended to be profitable against the sting of Scorpions, and some other venemous Serpents; and found to be helpfull and wholsome for those are given to swouning, used with vineger, and smelled unto:
used with oyle of Roses, or Mirtles, and Vineger, is good against the paines of the head, it is profitably applyed to those are troubled with the lethargie, the jaundise and dropsie.
It is good to be put into the eares of young children with a little goose-grease, to helpe them of paines thereof:
the juyce of the seed bruised put into the nostrils, procureth neesing:
it is good also for the trembling of the heart,
it provoketh Venery, and therefore was given to horses to make them apt to breed.
Some of the ancient Writers likewise have set downe, that the seed is good to kill the wormes of the belly, to lessen the spleene,
and that bruised and mixed with Oxegall, it taketh away the foule markes and scarres of ulcers, and other sores.
And used with honey, it taketh away the discolourings and spots of the face.
The Arabian Authors and Mesues chiefly have used the seed among other Cordiall Spices, for the comforting of the heart in the trembling thereof,
and the expelling of Melancholy or sadnesse, that riseth without manifest cause.
And for these causes chiefly the seed is used by our later Physicians for the most part: the fragrant smell of this hearbe so comfortable to the sences, reviving them as it were, when they are dull or distempered, may evidently declare a singular efficacy to be therein, and therefore not to be smally regarded.
Theophrastus in his first booke, and eighth Chapter de causis plantarū, saith that Bassill growing in a place too much exposed to the heate of the Sunne, changeth into Serpyllum, or wild Tyme, by the overmuch drynesse thereof, for the leafe becommeth smaller, and the scent the stronger thereby: but these Metamorphoses or changes of hearbs one into another, is very frequent both with him, Pliny, yea, and Gallen too, as well as divers others of the ancient Writers, which sheweth in what errours men of judgement and learning have beene conversant and confident in.
Let me yet before I leave, relate unto you a pleasant passage betweene Franciscus Marchio, an Advocate of the state of Genua, sent in Embassage to the Duke of Millan, and the said Duke, who refusing to heare his message, or to agree unto the conditions proposed, brought an handfull of Bassill and offered it to him, who demanding of him what hee meant thereby, answered him, that the properties of that hearbe was, that being gently handled, it gave a pleasant smell, but being hardly wrung and bruised, would breed Scorpions: with which witty answer the Duke was so pleased, that he confirmed the conditions, and sent him honourably home. It is also observed, that Scorpions doe much rest and abide under those pots or vessels wherein Bassill is planted.
