a charm, or preservative against mischief, witchcraft, or diseases.

Amulets were made of stone, metal, simples, animals, and in a word of every thing that imagination suggested. Sometimes they consisted of words, characters, and sentences, ranged in a particular order, and engraved upon wood, &c. and worn about the neck, or some other part of the body.

At other times they were neither written nor engraved; but prepared with many superstitious ceremonies, great regard being usually paid to the influence of the stars. The Arabians have given to this species of amulet the name of talisman.

All nations have been fond of amulets: the Jews were were extremely superstitious in the use of them, to drive away diseases; and the Misra forbids them, unless received from an approved man who had cured at least three persons before by the same means.

Among the Christians of the early times, amulets were made of the wood of the cros, or ribands with a text of scripture written in them, as preservatives against diseases. Notwithstanding the progress of learning and refinement, there is not any country in Europe, even at this day, who do not believe in some charm or other. The pope is supposed to have the virtue of making amulets, which he exercises in the consecration of Agnus Dei, &c. &c. The sponge which has wiped his table, was formerly in great veneration on this account, as a preservative from wounds, and death itself: on this account it was sent with great solemnity by Gregory II. to the duke of Aquitain.