MANDRAKE. 327 



too frequent use of so dangerous a plant amongst 

 the idolaters of early a§ 



In later times, when the darkness of ignorance 

 spread its wings over Europe, this plant and its 

 substitutes formed a profitable article with the 

 mountebank doctors of those superstitious days, 

 when credulity was at a sufficient height to believe 

 that this root was a preventive against mischief and 

 dangers of every kind. With this belief, the Ger- 

 mans formed little idols of the roots of the Man- 

 drake, to which they gave the name of Abrunes. 

 These images were regularly dressed every day, 

 and consulted as oracles; and their repute was 

 such, that they w r ere manufactured in great num- 

 bers, and sold in cases. They appear to have been 

 brought over to this country in this state during the 

 time of Henry the Eighth, and met with ready 

 purchasers, it being pretended that they would, 

 with the assistance of some mystic words, be able to 

 increase whatever money was placed near them ; 

 and to give greater importance to these pretended 

 miracle- workers, it was said that the roots of these 

 plants were produced from the flesh of criminals 

 which fell from the gibbet, and that they only grew 

 in such situations. Others pretended that this 

 plant grew only in one small spot in China, from 

 whence they were procured with the greatest risk 

 and danger. 



