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Aristotle, in his Metaphysicks writing of the Nature of Man, hit the Nail on the Head when he said, That Man is naturally enclined to, and desirous of Knowledg: and indeed it is palpable and apparent, that as Pride is the first visible sin in a child, whereby we may gather that it was the first sin of Adam; so Knowledg being the first Vertue a Child minds, as is apparent to them that do but with the eye of Reason heed their actions even whilst they are very yong, even before they are a yeer old, even by natural instinct, whereby a man may more than guess that Knowledg was the greatest loss, or at least one of the greatest we lost by the fall of Adam: Knowledg, saith Aristotle, is in Prosperity an Ornament, in Adversity a Refuge; and truly there is almost no greater enemy to Knowledg in the world that Pride and Covetousness; Excellently said, Juvenal, Sat. 7.

Scire volunt omnes, mercedem solvere nemo.
Although all men, in Knowledg take delight,
Yet they love money better, that's the spight.

And again, some men are so damnable proud and envious withal, that they would have no body know any thing but themselves; the one I hope will shortly learn better manners, and the other be a burden too heavy for the Earth long to bear.

The Subject which I here fixed my thoughts upon is not only the Description and Nature of Herbs, which had it been all, I had authority sufficient to bear me out in it, for Solomon employed part of that wisdom he asked, and received of God in searching after them, which he wrote in Books, even of all Herbs, Plants and Trees; some say those Writings were carried to Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar; being kept in the Temple at Jerusalem for the publick view of the People, but being transported to Babylon in the Captivity, Alexander the GREAT TYRANT at the taking of Babylon gave them to his Master Aristotle, who committed them to the mercy of the fire.

But since the daies of Solomon, many have those famous men been that have written of this Subject, and great Encouragements have

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been given them by Princes, of which I shall quote an example or two, Mathiolus his greediness was such to finish his Comment upon Dioscorides, which Book is yet in use in the famous Universities in Leyden in Holland, & Mountpilier in France, that he forgot to count what the charges of it might amount to, although I rather comend him for his dilligence in Studie and Care of the Worlds good, than harbor the least ill thought of him for not counting the middle and both ends before he began the Work, I say when he came to count the charges of Printing and cutting the Cuts, it far surmounted his Estate; in this he was abundantly furnished by Ferdinand the Emperor, and diverse other Princes of Germany, as himself confessed furnished him with great sums of money, for perfecting that so great, so good a Work; the Prince Elector of Saxony sent him much money towards his charge, as also Joachim, Marquess of Brandenburg, who as he was neighbor to Saxony in Place, so was he in Affection to so good a Work; Frederick, Count Palatine of the Rhine, the Cardinal Prince of Trent, the Arch Bishop of Saltzberg, the Dukes of Bavaria and Cleveland, and the Free State of Norimberg, together with many others, so that he had the help of the Emperor, of Arch Dukes, Dukes, Electors, Cardinals, Princes. Happie is that Nation whose Magistrates countenance such as mind and study their Good: I might instance in many more, and thereby give you a glimps how Magistrates formerly favored this Art, and which is more, how studious they were in it. Bellonius a man that soared high in the Nature of Herbs, also professed he had the helping hand of Kings and Cardinals to maintain him in his Studies, and more than this, kings themselves were Studious in it; amongst which (Solomon excepted) Mithridates that renowned King of Pontus seems to bear away the Bell, his Writings after his death were found in his Country Mannor by Pompey the great, but never a Roman of them all had the honesty to print them with his name in the Frontispiece, so that we have nothing of them but what is quoted by some honest Authors, especially by Plutarch.

Ad nos vix tenuis fame dilabitur aura.

Men mind our good, but such cross times do fall,
We only hear they did, and that is all.

Mesue King of Damascus, Avicenna, and Evax King of Arabia, labored much in this Study, and I could well have afforded to have mentioned Dioclesian the Roman Emperor had he not washed out his Vertues, and defiled them with a Purple stain, in a most bloody persecution of Christians. It is quoted in Virgil, that when a famous Prince was proffered by Apollo to be taught his Arts, viz. Physick, Musick, Augury, and the Art of Shooting in the Bow, he made choice of Physick and to know the Nature of Herbs.

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Ipse suas artes, sua munera, laetus Appollo
Augurium, Citheramq; dedit, celerefs; sagittas,
Ille, ut depositi preferret fata Parentis
Scire potestates Herbarum, usumq; Medendi
Maluit: & mutas agitare(inglorias) Artes.

His Arts to him, when great Appollo gave,
He did nor Augury, nor Arrows crave,
Nor the Melodius Lute, but to prevent
His Fathers death, who now with age was spent,
To be an Herbarist, and Medicine
To learn, he rather did his thoughts incline.

So precious hath the knowledg of the Vertues of Herbs been in former times to men of quality, and indeed happy is that Nation, whose Rulers mind Knowledg, as Solomon saith on the contrary, Wo to that Nation whose King is a Child, and indeed in Ancient times people need little other Physick than such Herbs as grew neer them, some Footsteps of which and but a few only, are now in use with us to this day, as people usually boyl Fennel with Fish, and know not why they do it but only for custom, when indeed the Original of it was founded upon Reason, because Fennel consumes that Flegmatick quality of Fish, which is obnoxious to the Body of man, Fennel being an Herb of Mercury, and he so great an Enemie to the Sign Pisces.

In this Art the Worthies of our own Nation, Gerard, Johnson, and Parkinson are not to be forgotten, who did much good in the Studie of this Art, yet they and all others that wrote of the Nature of Herbs, gave not a bit of a reason why such an Herb was apropriated to such a part of the Body, nor why it cured such a Disease; truly my own body being sickly brought me easily into a capacitie to know that Health was the greatest of all Earthly Blessings, and truly he was never sick that doth not beleeve it; then I considered that all Medicines were compounded of Herbs, Roots, Flowers, Seeds &c. and this first set me awork in studying the Nature of Simples, most of which I knew by sight before, and indeed all the Authors I could reade gave me but little satisfaction in this particular, or none at all; I cannot build my faith upon authors words, nor beleeve a thing because they say it, and could wish every bodie were of my mind in this, to labor to be able to give a reason for every thing they say or do; they say reason makes a man differ from a Beast, if that be true, pray what are they that instead of Reason for their judgment, quote old Authors, perhaps their Authors knew a reason for what they Wrote, perhaps they did not, what is that to us, do we know it? Truly in writing this Work first, to satisfie my self I drew out all the Vertues of vulgar Herbs, Plants, and Trees &c. out of the best and most approved Authors I had or could get, and having done so, I set my self to studie the Reason of

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them; I knew well enough the whol world and every thing in it was formed of a Composition of contrary Elements, and in such a harmony as must needs shew the wisdom and Power of a great God. I knew as well this Creation though thus composed of contraries was one united Body, and man an Epitome of it, I knew those various affections in man in respect of Sickness and Health were caused Naturally (though God may have other ends best known to himself) by the various operations of the Macrocosm; and I could not be ignorant, that as the Cause is, so must the Cure be, and therefore he that would know the Reason of the operation of Herbs must look up as high as the Stars; I alwaies found the Disease vary according to the various motion of the Stars, and this is enough one would think to teach a man by the Effect where the Cause lay: Then to find out the Reason of the Operation of Herbs, Plants, &c. by the Stars went I, and herein I could find but few Authors, but those as full of nonsense and contradictions as an Egg is full of meat, this being little pleasing, and less profitable to me, I consulted with my two Brothers, Dr. REASON, and Dr. EXPERIENCE, by whose advice together with the help of Dr. DILLIGENCE, I at last obtained my desires, and being warned by Mr. HONESTY, a stranger in our daies to publish it to the World, I have done it.

But you will say, What need I have written of this Subject, seing so many famous and learned men have written so much of it in the English Tongue, nay much more than I have done?

To this I Answer,

1. All that have written of Herbs either in the English or not in the English Tongue, have no waies answered my intents in this Book, for they have intermixed many, nay very many outlandish Herbs, and very many which are hard, nay not at all to be gotten, and what harm this may do I am very sensible of. Once a Student in Physick in Sussex sent up to London to me, to buy for him such and such Medicines, and send them down, which when I viewed, they were Medicines quoted by authors living in another Nation, and not to be had in London for Love nor Money, so the poor man had spent much pains and Brains in studying Medicines for a Disease that were not to be had; so a man reading Gerards or Parkinsons Herbal for the Cure of a Disease so may as like as not, light on an Herb that is not here to be had, or not without great diffuculty, if possible; but in mine, all grow neer him.

2. My last, though not the least of my Reasons is, Neither Gerard nor Parkinson nor any that ever wrote in the like Nature, ever gave one wise Reason for what they wrote, and so did nothing els but train up yong Novices in Physick in the School of Tradition, and teach them just as a Parrot is taught to speak, an Author saith so, therefore 'tis true, and if all that Authors say be true, why do they contradict one another? But in mine, if you view it with the Eye of Reason, you shall see a Reason for every thing that is written, whereby you may find the very Ground and Foundation of Physick, you may know

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what you do, and wherefore you do it, and this shall call me Father, it being (that I know of) never done in the world before.

I have now but two things more to write and then I have done.

1. What the profit and benefit of this Work is.
2. Instructions in the Use of it.

First, The admirable Harmony of the Creation is herein seen, in the Influence of Stars upon Herbs and the Body of man, how one part of the Creation is subservient to another, and all for the use of man whereby the Infinite Power and Wisdom of God in the Creation appears; and if I do not admire at the simplicity of the Ranters, never trust me, who but viewing the Creation can hold such a sottish Opinion, as that it was from eternity, when the Mysteries of it are so cleer to everie eye; but that Scripture shall be verified to them, Rom. I. 20. The invisible things of Him from the Creation of the world are cleerly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal Power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse. And a Poet could teach them a better Lesson.

Excideret ne tibi divini muneris author
Presentem monstrat; qualibet Herba Deum.

Because out of thy thoughts God should not pass,
His Image stamped is on every Grass.

This indeed is true, God hath stamped his Image upon every Creature, and therefore the abuse of the Creature is a great sin; but how much more doth the Wisdom and Excellencie of God appear if we consider the Harmony of the Creation in the Vertue and Operation of every Herb; this is the first.

Secondly, Hereby thou maist know what infinite Knowledg Adam had in his Innocencie, that by looking upon a Creature, he was able to give it a name according to his Nature, and by knowing that, thou maist know how great thy fall was, and be humbled for it even in this respect, because hereby thou are so ignorant.

Thirdly, Here is the right way for thee to begin the study of Physick if thou art minded to begin at the right end, for here thou hast the Reason of the whol Art. I wrote before in certain Astrological Lectures which I read, and printed, intituled Semeiotica Uranica what Planet caused (as a second Cause) every Disease, and how it might be found out what Planet caused it; here thou hast what Planet cures it by Sympathy and Antipathy; and this brings me to my last premise, Viz.

Instructions for the right use of the Book.

And herein let me promise a word or two, Many Herbs, Plants, &c

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are not in the Book apropriated to their propper Planets, the Reason was, want of time, or some other thing else, which many that know me will easily guess at; at last the Book hanging longer in the Press that I imagine it would, I took the time and pains (though I could ill have spared either) to apropriate them all, and have for thy benefit (Courteous Reader) inserted them in order after the Epistle, now then for thy Instruction,

First, Consider what Planet causeth the Disease; that thou maist find in my Semeiotia.

Secondly, Consider what part of the Body is afflicted by the Disease, and whether it lie in the Flesh, or Blood, or Bones, or Ventricles.

Thirdly, Consider by what Planet the afflictd part of the Bodie is governed; that my Semeiotica will inform you in also.

Fourthly, You have in this Book the Herbs for Cure apropriated to the Several Diseases, and the Diseases for your ease set down in the Margin, whereby you may strengthen the part of the Bodie by its like, as the Brain by Herbs of Mercury, the Breast and Liver by Herbs of Jupiter, the Heart and Vitals by Herbs of the Sun, &c.

Fifthly, You may oppose Diseases by Herbs of the Planet opposite to the Planet that causeth them, as Diseases of Jupiter by Herbs of Mercury, and the contrary; Diseases of the Luminaries by Herbs of Saturn, and the contrary; Diseases of Mars by Herbs of Venus, and the contrary.

Sixthly, There is a way to cure Diseases somtimes by Sympathy, and so every Planet cures his own Diseases, as the Sun and Moon by their Herbs cure the Eyes, Saturn the Spleen, Jupiter the Liver, Mars the Gall and Diseases of Choller, and Venus Diseases in the Instruments of Generation.

Seventhly, There was a small Treatise of mine of Humane Vertues, printed at the latter end of my Ephemeris for the yeer 1651. I suppose it would do much good to yong Students to peruse that with this Book.

Eighthly, Yong Students would do themselves much good, and benefit themselves exceedingly in the Study of Physick if they would tak the pains to view the Vertues of the Herbs &c. in the Book, and compare them to these Rules, they shall to their exceeding great content find them all agreeable to them, and shall thereby see the reason why such an Herb conduceth to the Cure of such a Disease.

Ninthly, I gave you the Key of al in the Herb Wormwood, which if because of the volubility of the Language, any think it would not fit the Lock, I will here give it you again in another Herb of the same Planet which in the Book either through my own forgetfulness, or my Amanuensis was omitted, and here I shal give it you plainly without any circumstances.

The Herb is Carduus Benedictus.

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themselves: It is an Herb of Mars, and under the Sign Aries; now in handling this Herb, I shall give you a rational Pattern of all the rest, and if you please to view them throughout the Book, you shall to your content find it true.

It helps Swimming and giiddiness of the Head, or the Disease called Vertigo, because Aries is the House of Mars.

It is an excellent Remedy against the yellow Jaundice, and other infirmities of the Gall, because Mars governs Choller.

It strengthens the attractive faculty in man, and clarifies the Blood, because the one is ruled by Mars.

The continual drinking the Decoction of it helps red Faces, Tetters, and Ringworms because Mars causeth them.

It helps Plague sores, Boils, and Itch, the Biting of mad Dogs and venemous Beasts, all which infirmities are under Mars. Thus you see what it doth by Sympathy.

By Antypathy to other Planets.

It strengthens the Memory and cures Deafness by Antipathy to Saturn who hath his Fall in Aries which Rules the Head.

It cures Quartan Agues, and other Diseases of Melancholly and adult Choller by Sympathy to Saturn, Mars being exalted in Capricorn.

Also it provokes Urine, the stopping of which is usually caused by Mars or the Moon.

If you please to make use of these Rules, you shall find them true throughout the Book, and by heeding them, you may be able to give a Reason of your Judgment to him that asketh you: I assure you it gave much content to me, and for your goods did I pen it; but I must conclude, my Epistle having exceeded its Bounds alreadie; hereby you see what Reason may be given for Medicines, and what necessity there is for every Physitian to be an Astrologer, you have heard it before I suppose, but now you know it; what remains, but that you labor to glorifie God in your several places, and do good to your selves first by encreasing your Knowledg, and to your Neighbors afterwards by helping their Infirmities; some such I hope this Nation is worthy of, and to such shall I remain a Friend, during life, readie to my poor power to help.

Nich. Culpeper.

Spittle-fields next door
to the red Lyon.
Novemb. 6. 1652.

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