four quarters with an oaken brand, make the brand bloody, throw away, sing this thrice:
If ale be spoilt then take lupins, lay them on the four quarters of the dwelling and over the door and under the threshold and under the ale vat, put the wort into ale with holy water." (Leech Book 67.)
In using the charm to bring back stolen cattle it is ordered to be followed by saying, "May the cross of Christ bring me back my beasts from the East" thrice, then to the West thrice, then to the South thrice, and then to the North thrice." (Lacnunga 91.)
Transferring the illness to some other object. This is not only of very ancient origin, but until recent times (i.e. the close of the last century) and even now in very remote parts this belief persisted in this country. In the Saxon manuscripts we find the following instances:—
"For bite of hunting spider strike five scarifications one on the bite and four round about it, throw the blood with a spoon silently over a wagon way." (Leech Book I. 68.)
"If a man eat wolf's bone, let him stand upon his head, let some one strike him many scarifications on the shanks, then the venom departs out through the incisions." (Leech Book I. 84.)
In the salve against the "elfin race and nocturnal goblin visitors " it is directed that the salve made of herbs, sheep's grease and butter and holy salt is to be thrown into running water. (Leech Book III. 61.) Vervain. "For mad hound's bite take the same root (vervain) and wheaten corns whole and lay to the wounds till that the corns are neshed through the wet and so are swollen up. Take then the corns and cast them to some cock or hen fowl." (Herb. Ap.)
