Helston Borough Bounds, page 20.—At the close of this ceremony eleven dozen buns are thrown amongst the crowd to be scrambled for. One is always reserved for the Mayor. Wells, page 65.—Some wells in Cornwall (not holy) were famed for their wonderful virtues: I will mention two. The water of the first, which was west of Penzance, was esteemed a sovereign cure for sore eyes. People from far and near visited it, and even carried away the water in bottles. It was, however, best if possible to walk to the well before breakfast, and there bathe the eyes. The second was at Castle ChÛn, between Penzance and St. Just; its water endowed the drinkers with perpetual youth. Both have dried up within the last fifty years. Ghosts, page 99.—The following quaint story was told me by a girl whose grandmother was the friend mentioned.
Farmers’ Superstitions, page 141.—“If you can throw fire over a witch you will break the spell.” “Bleeding a white hen on a millstone prevents danger from the mill; for they say a mill will have blood every seven years.” Charms, page 144.—“Some were provided with little bags of earth, teeth, or bones taken from a grave.” “Most of the very religious folks had a verse of scripture, concluded with the comfortable assurance that by the help of the Lord the white witch hopes to do them good.”—Bottrell. Epilepsy, page 154.—Another authority says that the thirty pence collected by thirty young men at the Church door is deposited for a half-crown, from which the centre is cut. The flat ring left is worn by the epileptic person day and night.
Burning the Witch, page 180.—Still played. A pole about five feet long is placed with its ends resting on low stools, or bottles. On this a person sits lengthways with crossed ankles. He (or she) holds in his hand a long stick with a slit at one end, into which the paper effigy of the witch is stuck. This must be burnt at a candle placed on the floor at a short distance from the sitter; he must not support himself in any way, nor leave his perch. ENDE. ENDE. BEARE AND SON, PRINTERS, PENZANCE. |