WITCHES AND THEIR FLOWER LORE 103 



certain magical ointments, provided by their in- 

 fernal leader, are supposed to be carried through the 

 air on broomsticks. Butler, in his " Hudibras," 

 says of this: 



" Or trip it o'er the water quicker 

 Than witches when their staves they liquor, 

 As some report." 



There seems to have been much controversy 

 about the popular idea of witches flying, and many 

 of the old w^riters think this is only an illusion, 

 part of the enactment of a dream. This idea is 

 expressed by Oldham, v^hen he v^rites : 



" As men in sleep, though motionless they lie, 

 Fledged by a dream, believe they mount and fly, 

 So Witches some enchanted wand bestride, 

 And think they through the airy regions ride." 



Some plants confer on the people v^ho employ 

 them the pov^er of detecting witches, or even of 

 seeing them. Some say that the green juice of the 

 inner bark of the elder is used for anointing the 

 eyes. Any baptised person, whose eyes are touched 

 with it, can see what the witches are doing in any 

 part of the world. 



In Denmark, there is a superstition that if 

 anyone will take his stand under an elder tree at 

 12 o'clock on Midsummer Eve, he will be able to 

 see the king of the elves go by, attended by his 

 train. 



The Snapdragon was said to have a supernatural 

 influence and to possess the power of destroying 

 charms. 

 ^ There used to be a very widespread belief in the 



