(^nfroc^uclTon. xvii. 



But if the most beautiful flowers and plants were taken under 

 the protecflion of the Churcli, and dedicated to the memory of her 

 holiest and most venerated members, so, also, certain trees, plants, 

 and flowers — which, either on account of their noxious properties, 

 or because of some legendary associations, were under a ban — 

 became relegated to the service of the Devil and his minions. 

 Hence we find a large group of plants associated with enchanters, 

 sorcerers, wizards, and witches, many of which betray in their 

 nomenclature their Satanic association, and are, even at the pre- 

 sent day, regarded suspiciously as ill-omened and unlucky. These 

 are the plants which, in the dark days of witchcraft and super- 

 stition, were invested with mysterious and magical properties, — the 

 herbs which were employed by hags and witches in their heathenish 

 incantations, and from which they brewed their potions and hell- 

 broths. Thus Ben Jonson, in his fragment, ' The Sad Shepherd,' 

 makes one of his characfters say, when speaking of a witch: — 



" He knows her shifts and haunts, 

 And all her wiles and turns. The venom'd plants 

 Wherewith she kills ! where the sad Mandrake grows, 

 Whose groans are dreadful ! the dead-numming Nightshade ! 

 The stupefying Hemlock ! Adder's-tongue ! 

 And Martagan ! " 



The association of plants with magic, sorcery, and the black 

 art dates from remote times. The blind Norse god Hodr slew 

 Baldr with a twig of Mistletoe. In the battles recorded in the 

 Vedas as being fought by the gods and the demons, the latter 

 employ poisonous and magical herbs which the gods counteradl 

 with counter-poisons and health-giving plants. Hermes presented 

 to Ulysses the magical Moly wherewith to nullify the effecfts of 

 the potions and spells of the enchantress Circe, who was well 

 acquainted with all sorts of magical herbs. The Druids professed 

 to know the secrets of many magical plants which they gathered 

 with mysterious and occult rites. The Vervain, Selago, Mistletoe, 

 Oak, and Rowan were all said by these ancient priests and law- 

 givers to be possessed of supernatural properties ; and remnants 

 of the old belief in their magical powers are still extant. 



In works on the subjecfl of plant lore hitherto published in 

 England, scarcely any refei'ence has been made to the labours in 



