By them that do apply this trade."

Sir Thomas Brown mentions that a chalked tile at each corner of a
field and one in the centre thereof were rural charms that prevented
weeds growing; and the three following charms are given in Herrick's
_Hesperides_:

"This I'le tell ye by the way,
Maidens when ye leavens lay,
Cross your dough, and your dispatch
Will be better for your batch.

In the morning when ye rise,
Wash your hands and cleanse your eyes,
Next be sure to have a care
To disperse the water farre,
For as farre as that doth light,
So farre keeps the evil spright.

If ye fear to be affrighted,
When ye are (by chance) benighted;
In your pocket for a trust
Carry nothing but a crust;
For that holy piece of bread
Charms the danger and the dread."

Here are older charms in metre:

"With blessynges of Saynt Germayne
I will me so determyne,
That neyther for nor vermyne
Shall do my chyckens harme.
For your gese seke Saynt Legearde,
And for your duckes Saynt Leonarde,
There is no better charme.

Take me a napkin folte
With the byas of a bolte,
For the healing of a colte
No better thynge can be;
For lampes and for bottes
Take me Saynt Thomas Lattes,
On my life I warrande ye."

In the _Hesperides_ we also find the following spell:

"Holy water come and bring:
Cast in salt for seasoning:
Set the brush for sprinkling.

Sacred spittle bring ye hither:
Meale and it now mix together,
And a little oyle to either.

Give the tapers here their light;
Ring the saints' bell to affright
Far from hence the evil sprits.

And good Saynt Francis' gyrdle,
With the hamlet of a hyrdle,
Are wholesome for the pyppe.

Besides these charms afore
I have feates many more
That kepe still in store,
Whom I now over hyppe."

The same writer quaintly says:

"A charm or an allay for love,
If so be a toad be laid
In a sheep-skin newly flaid,
And that ty'd to man, 'twill sever
Him and his affections ever."

Butler, in his _Hudibras_, describes the supposed power of a cunning
man thus:

"Not far from hence doth dwell
A cunning man hight Sidrophel,
That deals in destiny's dark counsels,
And sage opinion of the moon sells;
To whom all people, far and near,
On deep importances repair;
When