It would be interesting to compare these lines with, those used under similar circumstances in the North of England. But there is always a difficulty in drawing from a Northern his little superstitions; he is too reticent. One still in use in the Isle of Man was communicated by Mr. Crombie, of Woodville House. It was given him by a farmer named James Kelly, formerly troubled with bleeding at the nose, which he declared he could now always stop at once by its use. He adds that a belief in such charms, and in the power of the Evil eye, is almost universal in that island.
TO STOP BLEEDING.
Three wise men came from the East,
Christ, Peter, and Paul—
Christ bleeding crucified,
Mary on her knees at the foot of the cross.
And Christ drew a cross over the three women that were crossing the waters.
One said, Stop,
One said, Stand,
One said, “I will stop the blood of [here name the person.]
In the name, &c.
beast 40 times, on shoulders and legs 30 times; 30 times was my hair plucked, and I sighed 127 times. My beard was pulled 72 times, and I was scourged with 6666 strokes. A thousand blows were rained on my head with the reed, smiting the thorny crown. Seventy-three times was I spat in the face, and I had in my body 5475 wounds. From my body flowed 30,430 blood drops. All who daily say seven Our Fathers and seven Hail Maries, till they have made up the number of my blood drops, shall be relieved of pain in childbirth.
A CHARM AGAINST STORMS.
Jesus, King of Glory, is come in peace + God is made man + Christ is born of a Virgin + Christ has suffered + Christ has been crucified + Christ has died + Christ arose + Christ ascended + Christ conquers and rules + Christ stands between me and thunder and lightning + He passed through them unhurt + Holy God + Holy strong God + Holy undying God + Have mercy !
A CHARM FOR CATTLE.
Our Lord Jesus Christ went over the land
With His staff in His hand,
The Holy Ghost in His mouth,
In the name, &c.
And the sign of the cross is made nine times over the cattle.—S. B. G.
