"The regent conquers, and the Frenchmen fly.
Now help, ye charming spells and periapts"

--periapts being charms which were worn as preservatives against diseases
or mischief. Thus Cotgrave[939] explains the word as "a medicine hanged
about any part of the bodie."

[938] Pettigrew's "Medical Superstitions," p. 48.

[939] "French and English Dictionary;" see Dyce's "Glossary to
Shakespeare," p. 316; Nares describes it as "a bandage, tied on
for magical purposes, from [Greek: periapto];" see Brand's "Pop.
Antiq.," 1849, vol. iii. pp. 324-326; Douce's "Illustrations of
Shakespeare," 1839, pp. 305-307.

_Ceremonies._ These, says Malone, were "omens or signs deduced from
sacrifices or other ceremonial rites." Thus, in "Julius Caesar" (ii. 1),
Cassius says of Caesar, that--

"he is superstitious grown of late,
Quite from the main opinion he held once
Of fantasy, of dreams, and ceremonies."

And in the next scene Calpurnia adds:

"Caesar, I never stood on ceremonies,
Yet now they fright me."

_Charms._ These, as Mr. Pettigrew[940] has pointed out, differ little
from amulets, the difference consisting in the manner in which they are
used rather than in their nature. Thus, whereas the amulet was to be
suspended on the person when employed, the charm was not necessarily
subjected to such a method of application. In days gone by, and even at
the present day, in country districts, so universal has been the use of
this source of supposed magical power that there is scarcely a disease
for which a charm has not been given. It is not only to diseases of body
and mind that the superstitious practice has been directed; having been
in popular request to avert evil, and to counteract supposed malignant
influences. As might be expected, Shakespeare has given various
allusions to this usage, as, for example, in "Cymbeline" (v. 3), where
Posthumus says:

"To day, how many would have given their honours
To have sav'd their carcases! took heel to do't,
And yet died too! I, in mine own woe charm'd,
Could not find death where I did hear him groan,
Nor feel him where he struck"

--this passage referring to the notion of certain charms being powerful
enough to keep men unhurt in battle.

[940] "Medical Superstitions," p. 55.

Othello (iii. 4), speaking of the handkerchief which he had given to
Desdemona, relates:

"That handkerchief