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271
The Folk-lore of Plants
·
T. F. Thiselton-Dyer
59
We
have
already
incidentally
spoken
of
the
vervain,
St.
John's
wort,
elder,
and
rue
as
antagonistic
to
witchcraft,
but
to
these
may
be
added
many
other
well-known
plants,
such
as
the
juniper,
mistletoe,
and
blackthorn.
Indeed,
the
list
might
be
greatly
extended--the
vegetable
kingdom
having
supplied
in
most
parts
of
the
world
almost
countless
charms
to
counteract
the
evil
designs
of
these
malevolent
beings.
In
our
own
country
the
little
pimpernel,
herb-paris,
and
cyclamen
were
formerly
gathered
for
this
purpose,
and
the
angelica
was
thought
to
be
specially
noisome
to
witches.
The
snapdragon
and
the
herb-betony
had
the
reputation
of
averting
the
most
subtle
forms
of
witchcraft,
and
dill
and
flax
were
worn
as
talismans
against
sorcery.
Holly
is
said
to
be
antagonistic
to
witches,
for,
as
Mr.
Folkard[24]
says,
"in
its
name
they
see
but
another
form
of
the
word
'holy,'
and
its
thorny
foliage
and
blood-red
berries
are
suggestive
of
the
most
Christian
associations."
Then
there
is
the
rowan-tree
or
mountain-ash,
which
has
long
been
considered
one
of
the
most
powerful
antidotes
against
works
of
darkness
of
every
kind,
probably
from
its
sacred
associations
with
the
worship
of
the
Druids.
Hence
it
is
much
valued
in
Scotland,
and
the
following
couplet,
of
which
there
are
several
versions,
still
embodies
the
popular
faith:
"Rowan-tree
and
red
thread,
Put
the
witches
to
their
speed."
But
its
fame
has
not
been
confined
to
any
one
locality,
and
as
far
south
as
Cornwall
the
peasant,
when
he
suspects
that
his
cow
has
been
"overlooked,"
twists
an
ashen
twig
round
its
horns.
Indeed,
so
potent
is
the
ash
as
a
counter
charm
to
sorcery,
that
even
the
smallest
twig
renders
their
actions
impotent;
and
hence,
in
an
old
ballad
entitled
"Laidley
Wood,"
in
the
"Northumberland
Garland,"
it
is
said:
Marker
Marker
Fine marker
White-out
Fine white-out
Circle
Paint
Unmarker
Hand
Scalpel
Dice
Sieve
Purify
Undo
Redo
Start over
