88 FAMILIAR WILD PLOTTERS. 



Syttapi ; iu French, Yelus or Torielle ; in high Douche, 

 Ilederich j in base Allemaigne, Herricke. This herbe of 

 the late physitions is not used iu medicine, but some with 

 this seede do make mustarde, the whiche they eate with 

 meate in steede of mustarde, although it be not al thing so 

 good. It was reckoned of Theophrast and Galen amongst 

 those seedes wherewithall men used commonly to pre- 

 pare and dresse their meates/' Another old writer gives 

 amongst " the vertues/' the following : " The seede that 

 growethe naturally wilde is hotter than that which is 

 manured and sowen, and more bitter also, whereof some do 

 make use instead of mustarde seede, or mingle it there- 

 with/' He also commends the oil expressed from the 

 seeds as a preferable substitute for " the Traine Oyle which 

 is made of the Whale/- 1 



The generic name Sinapis is derived from the Greek word 

 for mustard; while the specific title a rvensis indicates the 

 locality where it flourishes. 



