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Croll, Oswald - Preface of Signatures – 02 Preface

Although from the monuments of others, without any Foundation of Signature, or separation of the true from the false, very many heteroclite virtues are described, and assigned to several herbs; yet experience, the alone and only mistress of things, testifies that they are insufficient to answer the desired expectation of physicians and patients.

If experience, the mother of verity, may be credited, we need not infer many reasons for the proof hereof.

There is required a higher ingenuity, and more subtle inquisition, than can be obtained by sight of the eyes only. [Divers and manifold forms are the signs directing to find every singular mystery].

If the plenary and intimate knowledge of plants (such as Nature hath reserved to be searched out, and subtly understood by the studious lovers and admirers of Natural things) we would as perfectly comprehend, as some hundreds of them, at first sight, without the knowledge of their internal virtue, may in the vulgar manner by their names be discerned:

Yet names of herbs have not the virtues, therefore their bodies are to be examined, that we may know, what purges, what yields odour, what heals fevers, and what cures wounds. [The qualities of simples are not to be considered; but their arcanum].

Moreover, that fallacious and unjust censure of the four qualities viz. hot, cold, dry, and moist, cannot sufficiently manifest their virtues, such qualities being but the shadows of things, as colours, not having roots, or powerful operations. They will not run this hazard, who knowing the virtue from the root of the center, not from the superficies; and leaving the subtlety of fruitless names, do from things themselves, by intimate and profound speculation, more exquisitely search out the truth.