®'^''^''i7 ^°i'^' 113 



The Mistletoe, in addition to its miraculous medicinal virtues, 

 possesses the power of opening all locks; and a similar property is 

 by some ascribed to Artemisia, the Mandrake, and the Vervain, 



The Moonwort, or Lesser Lunary {Botrychium Liinaria) — the 

 Martagon of ancient wizards, the Lunaria minor of the alchymists — 

 will open the locks of doors if placed in proper fashion in the key- 

 hole. It is, according to some authorities, the Sferracavallo of the 

 Italians, and is gifted with the power of unshoeing horses whilst at 

 pasture. 



Grimm is of opinion that the Sferracavallo is the Euphorbia 

 lathyris, the mystic Spring-wort, which, like the Luck-flower, 

 possesses the wondrous power of opening hidden doors, rocks, and 

 secret entrances to treasure caves, but which is only to be obtained 

 through the medium of a green or black woodpecker under condi- 

 tions which will be found duly recorded in Part II., under the head 

 of Springwort. 



The Mouse-ear is called Herha clavorum because it prevents the 

 blacksmith from hurting horses when he is shoeing them. 



Magic @^anc|/^ aT^ Ss)W\x\'\r^ '^jx^ib. 



At so remote a period as the Vedic age we find allusions to 

 magic wands or rods. In the Vedas, the Hindu finds instruclions 

 for cutting the mystic Sami branch and the Arani. This operation 

 was to be performed so that the Eastern and Western sun shone 

 through the fork of the rod, or it would prove of no avail. The 

 Chinese still abide by these venerable instrucflions in the cutting of 

 their magic wands, which are usually cut from the Peach or some 

 other fruit tree on the night preceding the new year, which always 

 commences with the first new moon after the Winter solstice. The 

 employment of magic wands and staffs was in vogue among the 

 Chaldaeans and Egyptians, who imparted the knowledge of this 

 system of divination to the Hebrews dwelling among them. Thus 

 we find the prophet Hosea saying, " My people ask counsel at 

 their stocks, and their staff" declareth unto them." Rhabdomancy, 

 or divination by means of a rod, was pracftised by the ancient 

 Greeks and Romans, and the art was known in England at the 

 time of Agricola, though now it is almost forgotten. In China 

 and Eastern lands, the art still flourishes, and various kinds of 

 plants and trees are employed ; the principal being, however, the 

 Hazel, Osier, and Blackthorn. The Druids were accustomed to 

 cut their divining-rods from the Apple-tree. In competent hands, 

 the Golden Rod is said to point to hidden springs of water, as well 

 as to hidden treasures of gold and silver. 



" Some sorcerers do boast they have a rod, 

 Gathered with vows and sacrifice, 

 That, borne aloft, will strangely nod 

 To hidden treasure where it lies." — Shepherd (1600). 



