1002. Of the Hiftory of Plants. L i b. 2 : 
T he Defeription. 
1 IMperatoriaot Mafterwoort hath great broad leaues not much vnlikcvvil.de Angelica, but 
*ftnaller,and of a deeper greene colour, infariorlike Angelica, andeuery leafedxuided’into 
fundry other little leaues : the tender knotted (lalkes ate of a reddifh colour, bearing at the top 
round fpokie tufts with white floures : the feed is like the feed of Dill : the root is thicke, knotty 
and tuberous, of a good fauour, and hot or biting vpon the tongue, which hath mooued the vnskil- 
full to call it Pellitory of Spaine,but very vnfitly and vntruely . 
2 Herba Gerardi, which Pena doth alfo call Imptr.uoria and oftrtttium .• the Germaines Podagra- 
ria, that is, Gout-woort:in Englifib, herbe Gerard, or wilde Mallerwoor,andin fome places after 
Zytc, Afliweed s is very like the other in leaues,fioures,and roots, failing that they be fmaller,grow- 
ing vpon long Items .-the roots tenderer, whiter, and not fo thicke or tuberous. The whole’ plant 
is of a reafonable good fauour, but not fo ftrong as Mafterwoort. 
7 he. Place, 
Imperatoria groweth in darke woods and defarts ; in my Garden and fundry others very plenti- 
fully. 
Herbe Gerard groweth ofitfelfe in gardens without fetting orfowing,and is fofruitfull in his 
increafe, that where it hath once<raken root,it will hardly be gotten out againe, fpoiling and o- e r- 
ting euery yeere more ground, to the annoying of better herbes. 
The Time. 
They floure from the beginning of Iune to the beginning of Auguft. 
The Names. 
Imper atori a, or Aftrantia , is called in Englifh, Mafterwoort, or baftard Pellitory of Spaine. 
Herba Gcrardi is called in Englifh,Herb Gerard, Ai.lhweed, and Goutwoortfin Latine alfo Poda- 
granaGtrmimica. 
* . U The Nature. 
Imperatoria,tfpec ia 1 1 y the root, is hot and dry in the third degree. The wi\de Imperatoria ^ or herbe 
Gerard, is almoft of the fame nature and quality,but not fo fti ong. 
The Vert ties. 
A imperateria is not onely good againft all poifon,but alfo Angular againft all corrupt and naugh- 
ty aire and infedion of the peftilence,ifit be drunken with wine. 
B The roots and leaues ftamped,di(Tolueand cure peftilentiall carbuncles and botches, and fuch 
other apoftumations and fvvelltngs,being applied thereto. 
C The root drunke in wine cureth the extreme and rigorous cold fits of agues, and is good againft 
the dropfie, and prouoketh fweat. 
]3 The fame taken in manner aforefaid,cotnforteth and ftrengthncrh the ftomack,hclpeth digefti- 
on,reftoreth appetite, and diftolueth all ven.tofities or windinefle of the ftomacke and other parts. 
j. It greatly helpeth fuch as haue taken great fquats,brufes, or falls from fome high place.diftbl- 
uing and fcattenng abroad congealed and clotted bloud within the body:the root with his leaues 
ftamped and laid vpon the members info fled, cureth thebitings of mad dogs, and of all other ve- 
nomous beafts. 
P Herbe Gerard with his roots ftamped, and laid vpon members that are troubled or vexed with 
the gout,fwageth the paine, and taketh away the fwellings and inflammation thereof, which occa- 
fioned the Germaines to giue it the name Poda^raria, bccaufe of his vettues in curing the gout. 
G Itcurethalfothe Hemorrhoids, if the fundamentbe bathed with the decodion of the leaues 
and roots,and the foft and tender foddenherbes laid thereon very hot. 
PI Falle "Pellitory of Spaine attenuateth or maketh thin, digefteth, prouoketh ftveate and \ tine, 
concodeth grofle and colde humors, wafteth away windinefle of the entrailes, ftomacke and ma- 
trix: it is good againft the coll icke and ft.one. 
I One dram of the root in pouder giuen. certaine daies together, is a remedy for them that haue 
the dropfie, and alfo for thofe that aretroubled with convulfions, cramps, and the falling ficke- 
nefle. 
K Being giuen with wine before the fit come, it cureth the quartaine ague, and is a remedy againft 
peftilentdifeafes. 
L The fame boiled in fbarpe or fovver w ine,eafeth the toorh-ach,if the mouth be wafhed therewith 
very hot. 
M Being chewed it draweth forth wat er and flegme out of the mouth(which kinde of remedies 
in Latine arc-called Apophlegmatifmr) a nddisburdeneththe braine ofphlegmaticke humours, and 
are likewifevfed with good fuccefle in apoplexies, drowfie fleepes, and other like infirmities. 
