OF HERBS AND MAGIC 185 



sub-divisions." The number 5, and its appearance in 



works of Nature, must have occupied his mind at one 



time to a very great extent, judging from his writings. 



There is a saying that : — 



An eldern stake and a black thorn ether (hedge) 

 Will make a hedge to last for ever. 



And it is a common tradition that an Elder stake will last 

 in the ground longer than an iron bar the same size. 

 Several very different musical instruments have been 

 alike named " Sambuke," because they were all made 

 out of Elder-wood. Elder-berries have also wonderful 

 properties. In Styria, on "Bertha Night (6th January), 

 the devil goes about with special virulence. As a safe- 

 guard persons are recommended to make a magic circle, 

 in the centre of which they should stand, with Elder- 

 berries gathered on St John's night. By doing this, the 

 mystic Fern-seed may be obtained, which possesses the 

 strength of thirty or forty men. There are no instruc- 

 tions as to why or how the desired Fern-seed should 

 arrive, and all the proceedings are somewhat mysterious." 

 The most extraordinary collection of charms and 

 receipts is to be found in an old book, called Le petit 

 Albert ; probably the contents are largely gleaned from 

 out the wondrous lore set forth by Albertus Magnus. 

 A charm — it must be a charm, for a mere recipe could 

 hardly achieve such results, " pour s'enrichir par la 

 peche des poissons " is made by mixing Nettles, Cinquefoil, 

 and the juice of Houseleek, with corn boiled in water of 

 Thyme and Marjoram, and if this composition is put into 

 a net, the net will soon be filled with fish. Cinquefoil 

 appears in many spells, particularly as a magic herb in 

 love-divinations, and also against agues ! Some parts of 

 the book shed a lurid light on the customs of the day, as 

 for instance, recipes "to render a man or woman insen- 

 sible to torture." Here is a less ghastly extract. " Je 

 quitte des matieres violentes pour dire un Mot de Paix. 



