10 FLORA HISTORICA. 



painter in placing so fair an emblem in the hand 

 of one who made converts by the aid of fire and 

 sword, which is so directly in opposition to the 

 mild precepts of Him on whose authority our 

 blessed religion is founded. 



We make these remarks, and notice the super- 

 stitions of former ages, with a perfect assurance 

 that our friends, who are members of the Roman 

 Catholic church, are too liberal to suppose for 

 one moment that we would turn their rehgion to 

 ridicule sooner than we would offend the Protes- 

 tant establishment to which we belong. Our duty 

 is to relate ancient anecdotes, by which means 

 the superstitions of old times are exposed, as far 

 as they relate to the vegetable world, without re- 

 gard to country or sects ; at the same time we 

 are sure that all good Christians must feel regret 

 when they find the heads of any religious sect 

 imposing upon the credulity of the ignorant by 

 pretended miracles. 



The continental order of the Blessed Lady of 

 the Lily was instituted by Garcias, the fourth 

 King of Navarre, on account of an image of the 

 Holy Virgin being miraculously found, as it was 

 believed, in a Lily, and which, it is said, cured 

 this Prince of a dangerous disorder. 



It is related by Bayle, that Charles the Fifth, 

 in his religious retirement, planted a Lily at the 



