Favourite ingredients with these later practitioners were mandragora, cantharides, and vervain, which were supposed to have Satanic properties.
"Trial-of-Mary-Blandy"
Roughead, William
You shall understand, that when this caytiffe demanded of me a present and strong poyson, considering that it was not my part to give occasion of any others death, but rather to cure and save sicke persons by meane of medicines: and on the other side, fearing least if I should deny his request, I might minister a further cause of his mischiefe, either that he would buy poyson of some other, or else returne and worke his wicked intent, with a sword or some dangerous weapon, I gave him no poyson, but a doling drinke of mandragora, which is of such force, that it will cause any man to sleepe as though he were dead.
"The Golden Asse"
Lucius Apuleius
Two or three reputations slightly compromised are surely not an immoderate allowance for a viveur of five-and thirty years' standing, and need scarcely entail indulgence in poppies or mandragora.
"Barren Honour: A Novel"
George A. Lawrence