Heucher Magic Plants 1886 Complete
Heucher Magic Plants 1886 Complete
Heucher Magic Plants 1886 Complete
Countway
Library of Medicine -^Boston
2010
witii
funding from
http://www.archive.org/details/magicplantsbeingOOheuc
MUiotfitta miosa.
WRITTEN BY
M.
J.
H.
HEUCHER.
C1700. J
EDITED BY
EDMUND GOLDSMID,
F.S.A. (Scot.)
F.R.H.S.,
L"i'iViVi'i';
(^
\
-Bioii-p3 aiiclte
mmmm
BibliDtheca Curios^a.
DE YE(}ETALTBTTS MAGICTS.
WRITTEN BY
M.
J.
H.
HEUCHER.
(1700. J
'
EDITED BY
EDMUND GOLDSMID,
F.S.A. (Scot.)
F.R.H.S.
^ ^^ ^^
-*-
/^
-^
This edition
is
and
\J k)
INTRODUCTION.
YYVVT
ik
^HE
one of
strange
compositions
a
to
man
of
endeavours
unmask
superstition of his
once exposes
Witchcraft
was
Ages,
the
Middle
class
and
and
" aifected
all
every
of
Society,
sorts
and conditions of
the unreasoning
men."
by our
In our
judicial
own
country, as evidenced
records,
iv
Introduction.
credulity
which swept
efforts
was by the
of Scotland.
Heucher's pamphlet
of
1
itself
is
a small ^to.
6 pp.
know
of no copy besides
my
own, which formed part of the Maidment Library. The imprint is "Lipsiae, apud
Paulum Ehrentium,
I
MDCC."
have given,
as
trial
women
for
is
witchcraft in
1617.
J.
This
L.
Pitt's
translation
the
Channel
pam-
phlet.
EDMUND GOLDSMID.
Edinburgh, March
2%th, 1886.
riDaaic plants,
J.
M. H.
HEUCHER.
and forcibly does it occur to me to wonder how it has happened that many men, of glorious reputation and fainous for the greatness of their illustrious deeds, have believed in wicked and unlawful arts, yea, in some hidden compact entered upon with the devil. For, passing over
I.
/^FTEN
Hebrew
nation
and the insolence of Ilierocles accusing of sorcery both Him and his most holy disciples, chiefly Peter and Paul, and also the impious attacks of Plinius and Apuleius against Moses, and the false ideas of Theophilus of Alexandria and Eustathius of Antioch about Origen, and of the Arians about Athanasius ; I find the great names of Pythagoras, Platinus,
Jamblicus, Porphyrins, Chicus ^sculanus, Anselm
MAGIC PLANTS.
of Parma, Peter of
mentioned in
cians.
And
concerning
of these,
it
is
clearly
and of great celebrity, as men whom a and intellect separated from the vulgar herd of litej-ati ; a careful study of astrology and nature gave them an understanding of all the most abstruse questions, and transmitted their
illustrious
lofty spirit
brilliant
theories even
to
posterity,
so that
it
seems to be almost superfluous for any one, after the example of Gabriel Naudseus, to defend them
by a written apology.
But
ceased to wonder
when
vails,
of virtue, and
nay, even
when I when
noticed
I
how much
it
pre-
that
may have
sacred
or
profane
the
more recent
writings of
Doctor Faust, Zedechias the Jew, Scotus Parvus, Christopherus Wageners, the three Eschelles, of Merlinus and Maugis, or of Naudseus Their (if you prefer magic romances) suffice.
tricks and manifold deceits, although not to be compared with the wonderful works of wisdom
MAGIC PLANTS.
and
art carried out
by the learned men mentioned before, made a deep impression, however, owing
to the particularly gross ignorance of the ages in
which they
2.
lived, but
they also
left
on them an
own
had been drawn from the most filthy lake of hell. And, indeed, a more just or more accurate judgment could scarcely be expected from those men, since, besides their utter ignorance of literature, they were also ignorant of real magic, which embraces in its
sphere the highest culminating point of all sciences,
rare, abstruse, and unaccustomed effects are produced. For, be it far from me to assent to the opinion of those who,
with
Thomas
and low
magic and condemn it as which they have hitherto brought before the public are open to many objections, and if they do prove anything,
Hornius, renounce
illicit
;
it is
People in
little
MAGIC PLANTS,
it
looking upon
as
it
being unlawful
and being
base,
accustomed to
supernatural,
call
poisonous,
the
evil
of
had
repute,
and
as
other
names.
These
devils.
men
They
indeed,
believe
Democritus,
good
angels,
whom by
class
call spirits,
them
to
which
Emperor
or
Avicenna and Petrus Pomponatius his pupil, that all things spring from hidden magnetic properties, and a peculiar state of the atmosphere, or with Reginald Scott trace back most cases to madness, black bile, or other
disturbances of nature,
or along with
Thomas
power of concentrated
will.
may mention
many
others as
my
contention, since
it
can be seen by
beneficent sorcery.
3.
it.
may be
magic
is
not
is
MAGIC PLANTS.
commendation.
Although I would willingly grant that what is base and devilish, is often blended with that blameless and harmless science, just as that science in an impure state often advances in
the guise of one which is legitimate, and adopts methods from nature. This the most ancient of the Magi had already done, as Lucanus, Statius, Seneca the tragedian, and others assert. For they wished to appear to have accomplished every thing they did by the power of Nature. Whence you often read that they invoked Hecate, since by her they specified nature herself, or the Empress of Nature, which fact the passage in Eusebius, in Prapar. Evatzg. makes tolerably clear, wherein Hecate says of herself Bearing the threefold
'
: '
symbols
hinders
of
threefold
nature."
Nay,
what
et
me
of
destroying
sensations,
and
;
of
accomplishing
this
what
is all
whereby
lO
MAGIC PLANTS.
There are many which we see produced, particularly admirable and unusual, which must be attributed to the Supreme Deity alone, and on that account you may consistently call them supernatural, since by a long distance they outstrip the usual powers
of being duly inquired into.
effects
of nature.
same
Creator,
owe
nevertheless
their
whole
natural.
Others indeed,
and are therefore simply called differ from these to this depend
chiefly
on our imaginalet
us not
And we
some
which emanate from superstition, as Theophastus very well shows in his Characters. Finally, certain results which we are able to assign to noneof these classes of causesyet enumerated, are
and thus belong to the removed from God, they have been distinguished by the name of devilish. Moreover, to this list I would add all those, which although they depend on, and proceed solely from, some evident natural cause.
attributed to the
devil,
supernatural.
Being so
far
MAGIC PLANTS.
nevertheless, because the devil mixes himself
II
up
be
own work
is
mind
is
not able to
perceive by
confusedly,
how
small
feebly,
how
of
and
with
what
degree
men,
for,
although
we have
a very
much
so that,
you wished to estimate the number of those who have written on magic, your paper would hardly contain them, you will nevertheless be unable to name one who has unfolded and
if
explained everything,
as
was
befitting.
will
which indeed,
I
these
little
place
before myself, as
least,
my
all,
the vegetable
kingdom
at
industry, if not of
will
devote
myself to
subject.
may
subject
made
in their writings,)
aware that
appreciated.
For,
who can
12
MAGIC PLANTS.
in
Who
is
Homer,
the
Manes, the plant of Juba and Bela arousing the dead, the soothsaying Thelangis, the Juniper and
Hypericum
putting
the
demons
to
flight,
the
Nevertheless
it
has
not
yet
appeared
regard to them.
impels
6.
I
Which fact therefore the more embrace the opportunity. confess that, at first, I was filled with no
me
to
inconsiderable joy
authors
praise
read the
list
of the
Hermes,
this I
whom
from
my
labour.
to naught
But, indeed,
when
had been destroyed by the injury of time, or if any fragments of their writings survive they are of uncertain and slight reliance, as there is still
MAGIC PLANTS.
much doubt
fragments.
as
to
the
real
authorship of such
Nor do
the writers
whose works on
my
expectations
much more,
Apuleius, namely, Theophrastus Eresius, and those who have drawn small streams from Paracelsus, Th. these sources Theophrastus,
Plinius,
name
of Albert the
Bernh.
G.
Penotus,
Alex.
Suchtenius,
Leonh. Turnheuserus, Carrichterus, Mich. Sendigovius, Jo. Em. Burggravius, Wreckerus, Porta,
plants,
Lemnius, and a few others. These writers on on the wonders of nature and other hidden things, however much they may wish to appear
to have founded the healing effects of herbs
on
natural laws,
superstition,
either wittingly
or
corrupted
by
have nevertheless inserted in their writings certain things which savour somewhat of magic and supernatural agency.
7. It
this subject
free
stition,
and properly imbued with natural science and learning, nay, even with a knowlege of the For when those who first healing art itself. wrote on the subject gave their attention almost solely to meditation about the stars, and believed natural philosophy and the healing art to be
intimately connected with these heavenly bodies,
they
over-
14
MAGIC PLANTS.
its
pollution.
Ot
fact
Pliny
is
Natural History, confirming what we have said by these words " No one can doubt that magic
:
is
it is
the
reduces
them
to one.
No
has sprung
loftier
and
are
what
is
Grillus also
maintains,
physicians.
that
saying
that
the
it
Egyptians
clearly
From which
nation,
fact
proved
soon
almost always
as
flourished
shall
among
and thus,
myself that
we
show, contributed
8. I will
much
to our argument.
this
not
flatter
work
will
be
It is sufficient to
it
make
it
so, in so far as
goes.
this present work on the so-called vegetable kingdom, including and embracing in its limits nothing less than all that springs from the soil,
and
is
be nourished and increase, both in roots, leaves, stalks, stems, flowers, branches, twigs, fruits and
seeds
;.
in short,
nothing in
this
work belongs
kingdoms, and let it be remembered that magic specifies not merely what is devilish, but also all that which is coneither to the animal or mineral
MAGIC PLANTS,
sidered supernatural through ignorance
stition.
and superif
Since therefore,
intend to treat of
magical herbs,
all,
I will specially
enumerate
not
most plants, herbs, trees, leaves, flowers, fruits and seeds, which are considered to savour of anything superstitious and deceitful, and
at
least
those by
falsehoods imposes on
And, from
this little
work
who
long to understand
many
many
by
sorcerers will
that
be detected, by which
medicine
9.
is
possible
our
as well as of
may
greatly be increased.
is
resolved to
commence
in
all,
my
far
wrong
if,
first
of
on the healing
of the
first
principles
buted to the
whose
very
ancient
these
records, however,
clear
yet
all
unna-
tural things.
l6
MAGIC PLANTS.
For he,
no dreams were sent by the Gods to men, as was unworthy of their dignity to go into the
the
Gods
in their dreams,
to the
dictates
of these revelations,
cure.
method of
simple at
As
this
was a
it
little
too
first,
so in process of time,
was more
For, and more overloaded with ceremonies. when many plants and flowers had come under
the notice of the sorcerers, they, with the selfish
up beforehand
for themselves.
the
Gods with
hymns, to show by means of a dream, which plants were the best cure for the disease, then, after preparing themselves by prayer to sleep, whatever deity first appeared to them in their
Which
fact
Jamblicus,
MAGIC PLANTS.
lapius, diseases are cured
I7
And
Osiris,
Not that the Egyptians, at the shrines of Isis, and of the Egyptian Aesculapius, which
was close by the banks of the Nile, followed this custom in the same manner as the Greeks and
Romans
For,
with this intention and design, the former often used to sleep in the temple of ^sculapius, to
which custom Aristophanes refers when he says " Let both you and I go as soon as possible, and
:
lie
down
in the
temple of ^sculapius."
;
Which
temple
t^ act
rite
it
" Therefore
happens that
of ^sculapius."
in the
same way in this temple, as in the city of Pergamos in Asia, whither Herodianus states that Antoninus Caracalla had set out, "wishing to use The same thing used the cures of ^^sculapius. " to take place in the temple of the Oropian Amphiarus, about which Pausanias says " Sacri:
ficing a
ram
to
And from these testimonies of authors it is clear, how remarkably the "lying down"
of the
MAGIC PLANTS.
of
of the Latins, the hides of those, and the couches these, corresponded to one another, all of
to
the custom of
be obtained by means of
judge,
sleep.
may
and what
indeed,
own
profit,
and
that he
and very convenient opportunity of defiling the natural and healing Science by means of the most
wicked superstitions. Which thing even Borrichius in
other passages the keenest opponent of Couringuis,
who
confess in his
art,
and on
the
account of
this,
we should lament
Nevertheless, Kircherus in
afforded
diseases, these
to to
results even in lamentable were by no means to be ascribed the natural power and quality of the plants, but a hidden compact and treaty with demons. For
wonderful
MAGIC PLANTS.
I9
curing,
power of no one, nevertheless, will hesitate to assert that none of those remedies, acting in a natural way, have displayed a power and efficacy of their own. 1 1 And so the Egyptians obtained some fair knowledge of plants, and did not remain content with dreams, but advanced even further. They had, indeed, selected from those who had appeared to
the devils supplying the actual
.
whom
show the
one
To
given
separate
number
Supreme Deity and the Cause of Causes, number two to Mephta, number three to Minerva, number four to Apollo or Horus, number five to Isis, number six to Osiris, number seven to Mercury, number eight to Ammon, number nine to Typhon, lastly, number ten to Momphta, and they had thus come to conThereafter they nect numbers with the gods. examined the numbers the leaves, plants, and flowers had, how many pips fruit contained, and how many joints stems possessed, and afterwards considered them sacred to that god whose number was thus represented, and placed them under Nor did they attend to the his guardianship. number only, but earnestly watched the colour
to
number
the
20
MAGIC PLANTS.
in flowers
;
and
as regards stalks of
they
round,
smooth, three-sided
deities, as
and
ponding
Bembina Fabula in the writings of Kircherus. They used to believe that they were able to show
wonderful
Proclus,
results,
in
his
He
adds that
by amalgamation of many things they obtained supernatural influence, but he thinks, nevertheless, that sometimes one plant or one stone has been sufficient for the divine work, adding that in stones and plants is concentrated the essence of divine
powers.
12.
(if
we
in
this
very
thing. into
For,
human body
;
so
many
J.
or,
call
them decani
each of
after
whom was
And
its
who looked
own
man
could be recovered,
name
MAGIC PLANTS.
dedicated to himself.
21
Theban, and Manlius differ among themselves about the Decani and their number, whether there
were
thirty-six only, three
were more
under
had
him
;
own
to
subordinates and
fellow-
workers
zodiac,
am
divided according
of
the
whole human body, and were wont to be propitiated by certain plants. Nay, it was a proper
to
appoint to
nay,
;
to separate constellations
own
herbs
Abenrahman, the
relates
Arabian
philosopher, moreover,
for use as
that
they chose
medicines
all
common
all
As
an example,
to
stones,
animals,
them
heart
as
it
more comprehensively
Mysteriis ^gyptiortun,
De
and likewise
this
in Ficinus.
sprang from
22
bodies, and
MAGIC PLANTS.
amongst these
I
on the hour they were gathered in the meadows, which hour was fixed by the influence of the stars.
And
and
false
custom,
who
still
in the stems of
split
Of
this
superstition
noct.
many examples.
Kircherus
tries to
prove
underside
reason, therefore, I
am
account
all
motions
the
heavenly bodies;
across
besides, in the
being a clear
constellations.
own
Much
less
do
and
positions
of
the
constellations
fixing
the
MAGIC PLANTS,
different
23
ridiculous,
times of collection,
is
and
we can determine
means
differs
Which
well,
says,
uncommonly
and
He
modern books on Medicine there ascribes a great number of diseases to signs of the Zodiac, and since the number of these signs was
too small, they extended each into three sections,
in order, forsooth, to divide all herbs into thirty
six classes.
Do we
it
not
know
which capa-
therefore,
have nothing
to say, except
number of
however,
the planets
now known
in
Neither,
is
it
right,
making
all
believe that
;
the
was magic
although I
erred
who
men
surpassed in
many ways
summoned
to
24
MAGIC PLANTS.
and touch.
With
of
its
texture
and
lastly,
Thus, by judging carefully from their senses, they were able to infer and learn the effects of plants. 15. But, truly, the more correctly they conducted themselves in this matter the more basely did
they devote themselves to superstition. they used to watch for the distinctive
Carefully
every plant,
observed to which
it
human body
own
external shape.
it as a remedy Thus the peony flowers yet enclosed in the bud and poppy heads they dedicated to the head. In like manner the Euphrastia, Caltha, Heiracius, and Anthemis they thought beneficial to the eyes, because in them they found something
of the
first
therefore, they
for
came
across any
plant,
the
Cynosorchis,
example, like
the
MAGIC PLANTS.
it
25
by
most certainly cured the sexual passions, since its influence they believed that deity could be
presided over the genitals.
i6.
summoned who
For a
juices of plants
employed the
purpose of
which
in colour
or
cleansing
Hence,
bile
Whence
not, as
it
can
be inferred that
this
science
was
many
(among whom is Couringius) think, invented in modern times, but that it was raised afresh from
the records of Eastern people, since very distinct
proofs of this are found in the writings of Dioscoris
and Pliny, and, probably, from the absurd toms of the Egyptians. I confess that, on
point, I rather prefer
custhis
now
to
suspend
my
judg-
ment than
even
it
to settle
on anything as certain.
For
if
the Aphrodisiac, the best plums ; they and the juice of the Esula the best milk nevertheless prove nothing from that, as it can be How long is it since Mercury, at once retorted
26
MAGIC PLANTS.
seeds, &c.,
were
list
of poisons?
Borriclius
It is a characteristic of
human,
into
to
inquire remissly
Nothing has
ever been
discovered or
17.
as
it
were,
magic
grew
to such
spread
its
an extent, as to it refuses to be
embraced in these narrow limits. It is a matter of enquiry even whether the land of the Egyptians
supplied itself with
ringius
did
Couits own magic plants. shows that it furnished a few wines, but Let not abound in medicinal remedies.
writers contend
wish,
we
refer those
and other
writers,
own
opinion.
But now,
limits
regret that I
am
pre-
vented
by the
of
my
parchment from
entering into any disquisition concerning the merits of these plants, whose names I have recorded.
their
may
briefly
mention
and properties
&c,, powerful in routing the demons; the Adianthus, Ruta, Sideritis, &c., a sovereign charm lor over-
MAGIC TLANTS.
coming
witchcraft
;
2/
Ricinus,
the
Absinthium,
sacrifices,
and
to
gloomy
deities
the Osiris, &c., which enables one to prophesy; the Laurus, Theangelis, Halicaccabi, Bellonasia,
Strichnon,
Thallassegle,
Gelotophyllis,
Semasum,
the Olive,
The
Pleiracium,
Theom-
I shall
and many other plants, but meanwhile must bid thee farewell, benevolent reader.
these
Xaus
2)eo.
APPENDIX.
CONFESSIONS OF WITCHES UNDER
TORTURE.
Before Amice
De Carteret,
Jurats.
1617.
4th,
Esq., Bailiff,
and the
JULY
CoUette du
SENTENCE OF DEATH.
Mont, widow of yean Becquet
;
;
Marie, her
wife of Jean
and
report
long
damnable
art
of Witchcraft,
and
the
same being
I.], after
voluntarily submitting
of the
30
APPENDIX.
upon a great number of depositions made and produced before the Court by the said Officers
;
from
which
it is
clear
the aforesaid
women
upon inanimate
in langour
objects, but
also
by having retained
through strange
diseases,
many
persons and
beasts
women, and
laid, it
the death of
many
animals, as recorded
in the informations
thereupon
proved to be Witches.
it
women
shall
Executioner to a gallows,
killed,
and
all
estates, if
any such
In
order
exist, shall be
to
His
their
Majesty.
to
make them
disclose
APPENDIX.
31
Du
and
Isabel
wife
of yean
as follows
Le Moygne
:
the same
have confessed
immediately
after
the said
was
Witch
at the
same
said
question
being
when
as she
her cattle,
it
being
still
daylight,
whom
she was
that
when
and sometimes
occurring where they are not required, Mr Pitts observes that they corresDond to similar pauses in the original records, and evidently indicate the successive stages by which the story was wrung from th: wretched They are thus endowed with a sad and ghastly sigvictims. nificance, for it must be remembered that the confessions were not made in a connected form, but were elicited by leading questions, often accompanied by a .'lesh sp.il of torture.
regards
ihese
colons,
* As
32
in the
APPENDIX.
form of a dog
:
persuading her to
without anycertain
and
gave
her
black
(after
and then
when
at
at
a great
instant
the
place
the
Sabbath,
which was
:
and at
where, upon
arrival,
she
met
Devils
who were
hares
to
recognise, because
:
blackened
and
disfigured
it
was
true,
the
Devil
summon them
she
and
the
Devil wishing to
with her
sometimes.
of Massy,
now condemned
was
Witch
Devil,
with her
who
APPENDIX.
connection with
33
;
him under
then
silver or
which wine
did not
seem to
;
her so good
also ate
they
she
call, as
Moygne
when
she
came
to the
On leaving
various
commit
deeds
as
she wished
with
this
several
wicked
acts
which she
remember
among
others
:
she threw
some
same
she
upon
Mr
With
this
touched on the
side,
Mr
Perchard, the
who
she
did not
know
that the
so.
woman
Upon
give her
Totte-vin to
some milk
cow
to dry up,
34
by throwing upon
it
APPENDIX.
some of
this
powder
which cow
it
by making
eat
some
some
gave her.
who
form of
a dog
when
with her, where there was no one but the Devil and
her as
it
seemed
form
in
which she
at
She was
also
the
came
to
her,
and
it
seemed
;
as
she the
said
Rocquaine
Devil, in the
form of
a dog, having
had connection
ate
and
The
which powders
whom
he ordered her
she threw
cattle
:
some of them by
notably upon the
his orders
APPENDIX.
child of Pierre Brehaut.
35
Bourgatze, while
child of Leonard
le
she was
Messurier.
Jean
le
Witch
quarrel
with the
:
woman
her
:
Girarde,
who was
a hare,
her
sister-in-law
the
Devil, in the
form of
road
him
at
the
moment
:
condescend to yield
very soon he
so he at once disappeared
to her
in
:
but
came again
the
same road,
her and
exhorted her in
left
that done, he
went away,
of parsnips
after
j
wrapped in a cloth
which he
placed
it
which
He
anew
to give herself to
to her dwelling
and fetched
same
place
it
and
36
after
APPENDIX.
having thanked her he made an appointment for
woman
ColUtte du
this (after
when
his Sabbath
came
form
and with
she was
welcome
then immediately
while he himself
the Devil
words
the
/ renounce
,
God
the Father,
God
the
Son,
and God
Holy Ghost
us !
with a special
this
compact to be
of a dog, but a
him
and
when
was
in the aforesaid
form
larger
to
danced with
him back
back
after
having danced,
APPENDIX.
37
did
wine which
is
usually
drunk
:
to
him
for a
month
they returned
from the
The
the old
woman
Collette
on entering the Sabbath, she again had connection with the Devil and danced with him; after having danced, and upon his solicitation to prolong the
time, she gave herself to
him
at the
summon
Witches
having heard
in these
then the
Hardie.
woman Colktte the first, terms: Madame the Old Woman Becquette): woman Fallane ; and afterwards the woman
call
him
the old
them
:
in these
terms
The Little
Collas
[Collasl
him
call
there
Becquet,
son
her
of
the the
said
old
in
woman (who
dancing,
held
[a
by
hand
she did
and
someone
woman] whom
:
h er by
know
the said
:
old
woman was
some
occasionally while
were dancing,
38
APPENDIX.
;
While
at
marked her
at the
felt it,
know
those
in
what
who came
for
to
j
waited
the
others
and
all
the
:
Wizards and
but blackened
The
at
him in other forms on made them kiss him behind, and asked them when they would come again he exhorted them always to be true to him and to do evil deeds, and to this end he gave them certain black powders, wrapped in a cloth, for them to throw upon those
the Sabbath
never saw
their departure he
whom
they wished
to
bewitch
on
leaving
the
after
all
by the
hand
At the
threw some
:
notably
when he came
and of others.
It
APPENDIX.
39
iti
And
she
of this
maltreatment was
Whenever
Devil
which he named,
so, she
for
did
there.
^ ^m
COUmWAY
LIBRARY OF MEDICINE
1623
I
P5 Hi^8
1886
j