114 
THE COMPLETE HERBAL 
MARIGOLDS. 
Tuese being so plentiful in every garden, 
are so well known that they need no de- 
scription. 
Time.| They flower all the Summer 
long, and sometimes in Winter, if it be mild. 
Government and virtues.|] It is an herb 
of the Sun, and under Leo. They strengthen 
the heart exceedingly, and are very expul- 
sive, and little less effectual in the small- 
pox and measles than saffron. The juice of 
Marigold leaves mixed with vinegar, and 
any hot swellings bathed with it, instantly 
gives ease, and assuages it. The flowers, 
either green or dried, are much used in 
possets, broths, and drink, as a comforter 
of the heart and spirits, and to expel any 
malignant or pestilential quality which 
might annoy them. A plaister made with 
the dry flowers in powder, hog’s-grease, 
turpentine, and rosin, applied to the breast, 
_ strengthens and succours the heart infi- 
nitely in fevers, whether pestilential or not. 
MASTERWORT. 
Descript.]| Common Masterwort has 
divers stalks of winged leaves divided into 
sundry parts, three for the most part stand- 
ing together at a small foot-stalk on both 
sides of the greater, and three likewise at 
the end of the stalk, somewhat broad, and 
cut in on the edges into three or more divi- 
sions, all of them dented about the brims, 
of a dark green colour, somewhat resem- 
bling the leaves of Angelica, but that these 
grow lower to the ground, and on lesser 
stalks; among which rise up two or three 
short stalks about two feet high, and slen- 
_ der, with such like leaves at the joints 
_ which grow below, but with lesser and fewer 
aS : di i . , bearing umbels of white flowers, 
and after them, thin, flat blackish seeds, 
than down deep in the ground, shooting 
forth sundry heads, which taste sharp, 
biting on the tongue, and is the hottest and — 
sharpest part of the plant, and the seed 
next unto it being somewhat blackish on — 
the outside, and smelling well. 
Place.] It is usually kept in gardens 
with us in England. 
Time.] It flowers and seeds about the 
end of August. 
Government and virtues.] It is an herb 
of Mars. The root of Masterwort is hotter 
than pepper, and very available in cold 
griefs and diseases both of the stomach and | 
body, dissolving very powerfully upwards 
and downwards. It is also used in a de- 
coction with wine against all cold rheums, 
distillation upon the lungs, or shortness of 
breath, to be taken morning and evening. 
It also provokes urine, and helps to break — 
the stone, and expel the gravel from the 
kidneys; provokes women’s courses, and. 
expels the dead birth. Is singular good for 
strangling of the mother, and other such | 
like feminine diseases. It is effectual also 
against the dropsy, cramps, and falling — 
sickness; for the decoction in wine being — 
gargled in the mouth, draws down much — 
water and phlegm, from the brain, purging | 
and casing it of what oppresses it. It is of | 
a rare quality against all sorts of cold por 
son, to be taken as there is cause; it pro 
vokes sweat. But lest the taste hereof, oT | 
of the seed (which works to the like effect, | 
though not so powerfully) should be to? 
offensive, the best way is to take the water 
distilled both from the herb and root. The 
juice hereof dropped, or tents dipped | 
therein, and applied either to green wounds 
or filthy rotten ulcers, and those that come | 
by envenomed weapons, doth soon cleans _ 
and heal them. The same is also very good 
to help the ne coming of a cold cause. 
SWEET MAUDLIN. 
seen ea em mm 
 Deseript.] Common Maudlin hath some 
