Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 10, 1899.djvu/522

 480 Miscellanea.

depending on the phase of the moon, Pulham held what was called " Dr. Buckland's Fair." Vehicles of every description came from far and near with persons to be cured of the King's Evil, when the doctor, assisted by his three daughters dressed in white, was in attendance. He used to amputate the limb of a living frog, and the daughters, with all speed, put the leg into a muslin bag and' suspended it round the neck of the patient, inside the clothing, allowing it to rest on the chest. If the patient felt a twitching and received a shock, the cure was said to be accomplished. — [Mr. Robert Young, Sturminster Newton.]

"A toad-bag" is even now a common expression. — [Mr. Thomas Hardy.]

10. A woman was sure that she was in the power of a witch. At times she was unable to do what she usually did with ease. Her soap would not lather at the washing. She was advised to nail up a horse-shoe [there were special nails for this], and to lay a besom across the threshold, for when the true witch came she could not pass over it, and must ask for it to be removed, and so would be detected. — [Jonathan Hardy.]

Evil spirits could be kept from coming down a chimney by hanging salt in it (on special nails). — [Jonathan Hardy.]

A " wise woman " lived, perhaps lives, at Cattistock, six miles from Cerne by road. She told Henry Paulley that his wife, who was ill, was " overlooked," and that the first person who accosted him next morning would be the witch. This happened to be his neighbour Mrs. Sprake, who then became suspected.

Two men were sent to prison for beating an alleged witch ; and a sick woman's sons went to consult a wise man at Batcombe. — [In the recollection of Miss Gundry, eldest daughter of the rector of Cerne.]

A wise man or woman is one who, without fee or reward, tells folk how to overcome witchcraft.

11. If anyone looks into St. Austin's Well the first thing on Easter morning he will see the faces of those who will die within the year. — [Miss Gundry.]

If the church clock strikes twelve whilst the creed is being said, or a hymn is being sung, twelve persons will die in the parish within a year. — [Miss Gundry.]

Buckland Newton was the burial-place for a good many villages, and for sepulture the dead had to be carried long distances. There