loo THE GLORY OF THE GARDEN 



is always mischievous; but the white witches are 

 kindly disposed, and can tell who it is that has 

 bewitched cattle or render assistance to people 

 who have been subject to the power of witchcraft. 

 The grey witch is a mixture of the white and the 

 black, and can help or hurt, as her mood dictates. 



Witches are fond of riding about through the air 

 in the dead of night, and perform long journeys 

 to attend their meetings. Their favourite steeds 

 for these excursions are besoms, which are generally 

 to be found fairly near at hand; bulrushes are also 

 used for locomotive purposes, as well as the broom 

 and the thorn. 



William of Auvergne, who wrote in the thirteenth 

 century, says that when the witches of his time 

 wished to go to the place of rendezvous, they took 

 a reed or cane, and on making some magical signs 

 and uttering certain barbarous words it became 

 transformed into a horse, which carried them to 

 their destination most extraordinarily quickly. 



In nearly every case it will be found that the 

 plants and flowers beloved of witches are also spoken 

 of as "holding witches of their will"; but this 

 need cause us little surprise, for the people of 

 Eastern countries, firmly believe that the plants 

 and materials employed by magicians, sorcerers, 

 and other dealers in black magic, are equally effi- 

 cacious if employed against their charms and 

 spells. 



It is recorded that, during the time of the witch 

 persecutions, whoever found himself unexpectedly 

 under an elder tree, was involuntarily seized with 

 such horror, that in all probability he fell into an 

 hysterical state. Although not one of the trees 



