A twig of rowan gathered on the second of May and wound with many yards of red thread was set in the window to keep witches away. Denham had seen one himself and told his readers to note the date. He paired it with the saying that rowan and red thread would put the witches to their speed.
Rowan gathered on the second of May
2 May · Northern England
Lore and belief
which had been gathered on the 2nd of May [observe this], wound round with some dozens of yards of reed threed, i.e., red threed, placed visibly in the window
From The Denham Tracts, vol. 2, p. 83. Read the original
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