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violence of the storm, a cross was plainly depicted, about a foot
long. This cross remained for many years visible in the shattered
trunk of the Ash, and was regarded with superstitious awe by the
Catholics as having been Divinely sent to reprove the officious
zeal of Queen Elizabeth in banishing sacred images from the
Churches.
In Zahn’s work is an account—“ resting on the sworn testimony
of the worthiest men,” and on the authority of an archbishop—
of the holy name J e s u found in a Beech that had been
felled near Treves. The youth, who was engaged in chopping up
this tree, observed while doing so, a cloud or film surrounding the
pith of the wood. _ Astonished at the sight, he called his uncle
Hermann, who noticed at once the sacred name in a yellow colour,
changing to black. Hermann carried the wood home to his wife,
who had long been an invalid, and she, regarding it as a precious
relic, received much comfort, and finally, in answer to daily
prayer, her strength was restored. After this, the wood was presented
to the Elector Maximilian Henry, who was so struck with
the phenomenon, that he had it placed in a rich silver covering,
and publicly exposed as a sacred relic in a church; and on the
spot where the tree was cut, he caused a chapel to be eredted, to
preserve the name of Jesu in everlasting remembrance.
In the same work, we are told that in a certain root, called
Ophoides, a serpent is clearly represented; that the root o i Astragalus
depicts the s ta r s ; that in the trunk of the Quiacus, a dog’s head
was found delineated, together with the perfedt figure of a bird; that
the trunk of a tree, when cut, displayed on its inner surface eight
Danish words ; that in a Beech cut down by a joiner, was found the
marvellous representation of a thief hanging on a gibbet; and that
in another piece of wood adhering to the former was depidted a
ladder such as was used in those days by public executioners :
these figures were distinaiy delineated in a black tint. In 1628, iri
the wood of a fruit-tree that had been cut down near Haarlem,
in Holland, the images of bishops, tortoises, and many other things
were seen; and one Jh e ffe ru s , a physician, has recorded that near
the same place, a piece- of wood was found in which there was
given “ a wonderful representation by Nature of a most orderly
star with six rays.” Evelyn, in his ‘ S y lv a ,’ speaks of a tree found
in Holland, which, being cleft, exhibited the figures of a chalice,
a priest’s alb, his stole, and several other pontifical vestments. Of
this sort, he adds, was an Oxfordshire Elm, “ a block of which
wood being cleft, there came out a piece so exactly resembling a
shoulder of veal, that it was worthy to be reckoned among the
curiosities of this nature.” Evelyn also notices a certain dining-
table made of an old Ash, whereon was figured in the wood fish,
men, and beasts. In the root of a white Briony was discovered
the perfecfl image of a human being: this curious root was preserved
in the Museum at Bologna. Many examples of human
figures in the roots of Mandrakes have been known, and Aldro-
vandus tell us that he was presented with a Mandrake-root, in
which the image was perfect.
It is related that, in the year 1670, there was exposed for
sale, in the public market of Vratislavia, an extraordinary wild
Bugloss, which, on account of the curiosity of the spectators and
the different superstitious speculations of the crowd, was regarded
not only as something monstrous but also as marvellous. This
Bugloss was a little tortuous and 25 inches in length. Its breadth
was 4 inches. It possessed a huge and very broad stem, the fibres
of which ran parallel to each other in a direcfl line. It bore
flowers in the greatest abundance, and had at least one root.
Aldrovandns, in his Liher de Monstris, describes Grapes with
beards, which were seen in the year 1541 in Germany, in the
province of Albersweiler. They were sent as a present, first to
Louis, Duke of Bavaria, and then to King Ferdinand and other
princes.
Zahn figures, in his work, a Pear of unusual size which was
gathered from a tree growing in the Royal Garden at Stuttgart,
towards the close of June, 1644. This Pear strongly resembled
a human face, with the features distinctly delineated, and at the
end, forming a sort of crown, were eight small leaves and two
young shoots with a blossom at the apex of each. This curious and
unique vegetable monstrosity was presented to his Serene Highness
the Prince of Wurtemburg.
In the same book is given a description of a monstrous
Rape—bearing a striking resemblance to the figure of a man
seated, and exhibiting perfectly body, arms, and head, on which
the sprouting foliage took the place of hair. This Rape grew in the
garden of a nobleman in the province of Weiden, in the year 1628.
Mention is made of a Daucus which was planted and became
unusually large in size. Some pronounced it to be a Parsnip,
having a yellow root, and thin leaves. This Parsnip had an
immense root, like a human hand, which, from its peculiar growth,
had the appearance of grasping the Daucus itself.
In Zahn’s book are recorded many other vegetable marvels:
amongst them is the case of a Reed growing in the belly of an
elephant; a ear of Wheat in the nose of an Italian woman; Oats
in the stomach of a soldier; and various grains found in wounds
and ulcers, in different parts of the human body.
MircLcafoUit) pfaiafil».
There are some few plants which have at different times been
prominently brought into notice by their intimate association with
K