u8 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 

 us "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 Fern must have been appreciated 

 by mediaeval burglars and prisoners, for it had the 



