The Signature of All Things — trans. John Ellistone (1651)

36. If it be in Herbs, then they are long, of a middle sized Stature or Stalk, of a very curious Form, fair Blossoms, white, or blue; but if the Sun also calls the Influence of his Property into it, then does its Colour by Reason of the Sun incline to yellow, and if Mars hinders not, then is the Universal very sovereign in the Thing, be it either a Man, or other Creature, or an Herb of the Earth: This let the Magus well observe, it withstands all Malignity, and false Influences and Assaults from the Spirits, whatever they be, so far as a Man himself is not false and wicked, and inclines not his Desire to the Devil, as Adam did, in whom also the Universal was wholly complete.

37. With these Herbs a Man may Cure, and heal without any Art of the Artist; but they are rarely and seldom found, yea not one among many sees them, for they are nigh to Paradise: The Curse of God hides the Eye-sight of the Wicked, that it does not see, although they would stand before his Eyes: Yet in such a Conjunction of the Planets they are manifest, and may not be hidden; therefore there lies a great Secret in many an Herb and Beast, if the Artist knew it, and had the true Skill to use it; the whole Magia lies therein: But I am bidden to be silent by Reason of the Wicked, who is not worthy of it, and is justly Plagued with the Plague with which he Plagues other honest People, and tumbles himself in the Mire.

38. But if Mars in his Property be next Saturn, and Mercury calls an opposite Aspect, and the Power of Venus be under Mars, and Jupiter under the Property of Venus, then out of this Property all is corrupted and Poisoned, a poisonful Herb, Tree, Beast, or whatever it be; if it falls into the corrupt human Property, then it is fitted and prone to Evil, but if the Moon brings its powerful Influence thereinto, then is the false Magia ready in the Lunar Menstruum, and Witchcraft is manifest, of which I will here also be silent, and will only shew the Signature.

39. In an Herb, if the Blossom be somewhat reddish, and wreathed, or streaked, and inclined to white by the red, then is the Power of Venus there, which makes Resistance therein, but if it be only reddish, and of dark Wriths or Streaks, with a rough Peel or Skin on the Stalk, Branch, and Leaf, then does the Basilisk lodge there.

40. For Mars makes it rugged, and Mercury is poisonful therein, which gives a streaked Colour, and Mars the red, and Saturn the dark, which is a Pestilence in the Lunar Menstruum; but to the Artist it is an Herb against the Pestilence, if he takes the Poison from Mercury, and gives him Venus and Jupiter for Food, then Mars brings forth the vegetable Soul in Sol, and turns his wrathful Fire into a Love-Fire, which the Artist must know, if he will be called a Doctor.

41. This Property likewise signs the living Creatures both in their Voice and Visage; it gives a gross, dull Sound, somewhat inclining to a shrill Voice by Reason of Mars, soothing, flattering, and very false, lying, commonly red Pimples [or Streams] in the Eyes, or blinking, and rolling unsteady Eyes: In Herbs this Property likewise yields a Taste very loathsome, from whence in Man's Life, viz. in Mercury, if it takes it down, a stirring boiling Poison arises, which darkens and obscures the Life.

42. The Physician must have a Care of the Herbs of this Property, they are not to be taken into the Body, but they are poisonful, of what Name soever they be; for there often happens such a Conjunction of the Planets, which sometimes so prepares an Herb, which is good if it be subject to Saturn and Mars: So likewise it falls out sometimes, that an Evil Herb by Reason Of a good Conjunction, if in its Beginning it stands in the Menstruum, may be freed from the Malignity, which is to be known by the Signature; therefore the Physician, who understands the Signature, may best of all gather the Herbs himself.