[1] He is known for the doctrine of signatures of medicinal herbs or 'simples', whereby the plant has some attribute which shows the botanist what its use may be.
He afterwards resided at Putney, 'where he became the most famous simpler or herbalist of his time' (Athenæ Oxon.)
and fellow of New College and in 1660 was made secretary to Brian Duppa, bishop of Winchester, in whose service he died in 1662.
The Art of Simpling, or an Introduction to the Knowledge and Gathering of Plants, London, 1656, pp.
Wherein Man is in a Compendium, theologically, philosophically, and anatomically described, and compared with the Universe.