Now what begot this conceit, might be the enlargement of some part of truth contained in its story. For certain it is, that some Birds do feed upon the berries of this Vegetable, and we meet in _Aristotle_ with one kind of Trush called the Missel Trush [SN: Ἰξόβορος.], or feeder upon Misseltoe. But that which hath most promoted it, is a received proverb, _Turdus sibi malum cacat_; appliable unto such men as are authors of their own misfortunes. For according unto ancient tradition and _Plinies_ relation, the Bird not able to digest the fruit whereon she feedeth; from her inconverted muting ariseth this Plant, of the Berries whereof Birdlime is made, wherewith she is after entangled. But although Proverbs be popular principles, yet is not all true that is proverbial; and in many thereof, there being one thing delivered, and another intended; though the verbal expression be false, the Proverb is true enough in the verity of its intention. [Sidenote: _Paganish superstition about the Misseltoe of the Oak._] As for the Magical vertues in this Plant, and conceived efficacy unto veneficial intentions, it seemeth a _Pagan_ relique derived from the ancient _Druides_, the great admirers of the Oak, especially the Misseltoe that grew thereon; which according unto the particular of _Pliny_, they gathered with great solemnity. For after sacrifice the Priest in a white garment ascended the tree, cut down the Misseltoe with a golden hook, and received it in a white coat; the vertue whereof was to resist all poisons, and make fruitful any that used it. Vertues not expected from Classical practice; and did they fully answer their promise which are so commended, in Epileptical intentions, we would abate these qualities. Country practice hath added another, to provoke the after-birth, and in that case the decoction is given unto Cows. That the Berries are poison as some conceive, we are so far from averring, that we have safely given them inwardly; and can confirm the experiment of _Brassavolus_, that they have some purgative quality.