118 THE FOLK-LORE OF PLANTS. [CHAP. 
being invisible themselves, they conferred invisibility 
upon whoever was fortunate enough to obtain them. 
Thus one of “rare Ben Jonson’s” characters com- 
plains: “I had no medicine to walk invisible, no Fern 
seed in my pocket ;” and one of Shakespeare’s says: 
“We have the receipt of Fern seed, we walk invisible.” 
But the “seeds” only appeared upon Midsummer 
Eve, when they had to be procured by holding twelve ~ 
pewter plates beneath the Fern until the seeds dropped 
of their own accord, for the plant was not to be shaken 
on any account. It was held that the seeds in falling 
would pass through the upper eleven platters, but be 
held by the twelfth. But sometimes the gatherers 
were not allowed to hold their platters in peace, for 
invisible spirits or fairies would flutter around them, 
and even strike against them, no doubt seriously 
affecting their nerves. Old Nicholas Culpepper tells 
s “they flower and give their seed at Midsummer. 
The female Fern is that plant which is in Sussex 
called Brakes, the seed of which some authors hold to 
be. so rare. Such a thing there is, I know, and may 
be easily had upon Midsummer Eve, and for aught 
I know, two or three days after it, if not more.” 
The young unrolled fronds of the male Fern were 
called St. John’s Hands, and were supposed to pro- 
tect the wearer of them against witchcraft and the 
“evil eye.” They were gathered on Midsummer 
Eve, and worn by the credulous, who also gave 
them in water to their cattle as a protection from 
witchery. 
The Moonwort Here must have been appreciated 
by medizval burglars and prisoners, for it had the 
a ae ee 
