Chap. 47 6 . ‘EngUfh Herbs, 
68y 
M ASTER- IF 0 R T. 
lefler Stalks ; ft»m among which Leaves rife 
up two or three Stalks, which are (liort in compari- 
fon of Artge/ica, being about two feet high, and 
flender, with fuch like Leaves at their Joints, as 
grow from the Root below ; but leffer, and with 
fewer divifions, bearing llmblcs of white Flowers : 
and after them fmall, thin. Hat, hlackifh Seed, 
fomething larger than Dill Seed. 
IV. Thefecond , or Mountain Mafter-wort. The 
Root grows in like manner as the former , and is black 
on the out fide , but is more hot , Jharp and biting 
upon the Tongue , than the Root of the firft or 
Common Kind. This Plant grows alfo in form 
much like to the firft, but lefler in every part, 
having nine Leaves Handing on each Stalk by three 
and three, but they are fmaller and narrower, and 
have fewer Incifions in them , but finely dented 
about the edges: The Flowers and Seed of this 
are alfo very like to the firft, without any mate- 
rial difference, unlels it be in the magnitude, 
thefe being iomething the leffer. 
V. The Places. The firft grows \yild on the 
Hills in Italy and Germany , in Woods alfo and De- 
Jar ts •' file fecond was found growing on the 
Alps in Switzerland : With us they only grow, and 
are Nurft up in Gardens. 
VI. The Times. They are faid to Flower from 
the beginning of June to the beginning of AuguJ ?, 
but if the Seafon is cold, and very moift, they 
Flower and Seed late with us , as not untill the 
end of AuguJ. 
VII. The Qualities. They are hot and dry in the 
fourth Degree , being hotter than Pepper , and of 
very fubtil parts. It is Attractive , Aperitive, 
Carminative, Digeftive, Difcuffive, and Diuretick ; 
Cephalick , Neurotick , Stomatick , Cordial, Ne- 
hritick, and Hyfterick ; Ptarmick, Emmenagogick, 
udorifick and Alexipharmick. 
VIII. The Specification. It is faid to Cure the 
Cholick , expel Sand , Gravel , and lmall Stones , 
provoke the Terms, refilt Catarrhs, and is profitable 
againft the Falling-ficknefs, Hyfterick fits, theGout 
from a cold caufe; expels all forts of cold Poy- 
fons, and heals wounds made by Poyfoned 
1 Ve:i pons. . 
IX. The Preparations. The Root is chiefly ufed, 
and then the Seed for want of it, the Leaves very 
feldom, you may have therefore from the Root, 
r. A Liquid Juice. i. An EJfence. a,. A Decodion, 
or Infufion in Wine. 4. A Ponder of the Root. 
>• An Infufion , or Decodion of the Seed in Wine. 
6. A Ponder of the Seed. 7. A Diflilled Water 
of the Herb, Root , or Seed. 8. A Spirituous 
Fin'd urc of the Root or Seed. 9. An Acid Tindure 
of the Root or Seed. 10. An Oily Findure of the 
fame. 11. ALohoch. 1 2. A Catajlafm. 
The Virtues. 
_ X. The Liquid Juice. It is good againft all cold 
Griefs and Difeafesboth of the Stomach, and other 
Bowels, expels Wind powerfully both upwards and 
downwards: it provokes Urine ^ and helps to break 
the Stone, and expell it from the Reins, Ureters 
and Bladder, and powerfully brings down the 
Courfes in Women, and forces away both Dead 
Child and After-birth: It is profitable againft Va- 
pors and Hyfterick Fits: and being mixed with 
White Wine, and ufed as a Gargarifm, it attraUs 
Flegm, Rheum, and cold and watery Humo us out 
of the Jaws, Gums, Throat, Almonds, Head, 
Brain, and bther parts adjacent. Being p>- 00 
old Ulcers, arid nutrid ruhning Sores 
Pledgets dipt therein, and ay; . t.h 
as alfo into Green Wounds, i: loon recovers, 
cleanfes and heals them , yea tho' a Gangrene, 
feems impending : And applyed to theGout from a 
cold Caufe, it gives eafe in the pain. Dole from 
half a Spoonful, to a Spoonful, or mo'e, in any 
proper Vehicle. 
XI. The EJfence. It has all the Virtues of the 
Juice , and may be given in the fame Dofe and 
Vehicle, Morning and Evening 5 befides which it 
Hops Vomiting, wonderfully ftrengthens the Sto- 
mach , caufes a good Appetite , and a ftrong 
Digeftion, difeufles Wind, and gives prefent 
eafe in the Cholick ; and is profitable againft the 
Dropfie , Jaundice * Epilepfie, Lethargy, Drowfi- 
nefs and Sleepinels, and other cold and moift: 
Difeafes of the Head and Brain: it has alfo a 
lingular Virtue and Power againft all forts of cold 
Poyfons , as alfo againft any malign Difeafe, and 
the Plague itfelf: it provokes Sweat, and defends 
the Heart againft any Venom, Malignity or In- 
feUion. 
XII. The Infufion . , or Decodion in Wine. It has 
all the V irtues of the Juice and EJfence , but not 
altogether fo powerful, and may be given from 2 to 
4 Ounces, or more. Morning and Night, or as need 
requires, being dulcified with Syrup of C/ovegi/li- 
Jlowers, or Syrup of Violets-, and ufed as aWafh 
to any putrid or lo'tten Ulcer, it Hops the Putri- 
faflion, cleanfes it, and induces the healing. Tra- 
gus lavs that the Decodion of the Root in Wine, be- 
ing drunk, does reftore the Ability of Genera- 
tion in fuch as are Impotent , or where it is 
almolt extinS , and this he fpe3ks as a certain 
Truth. 
xm. The Ponder of the Rodt. It has the Virtues 
of Juice and EJfence, and may be given inwardly 
ftom 1 ; Grains to a Dram, mixt with a little 
Tttt Honey : 
