Page:The Folk-Lore Journal Volume 2 1884.djvu/166

158 to cure men, women, children, and beasts by a certayne charme, the whiche they saye she would do onely for a penny in money and a loafe of bread. This was misliked of many good men in the countrey where she did dwell, and for that cause she was upon suspition of sorcery and witchcraft brought to the Assizes and there arrayned for it. The simplicity of the old woman was somewhat considered by the whole bench: then the judges and the justices graunted her this favour, that if she would surely declare unto them what manner of charm it was she used she should be deliuered: and beyng in greate feare and doubt of her life forthwithe in the presence of them all declared it to be as followeth:—

"First (sayd she) after I had receyued the penny in money and the loafe of bread, then my charme was this:—

The Charme.

1. My lofe in my lappe,

2. My Penny in my pursse,

3. Thou art never the better,

4. Nor I am neuer the wurse.

"Immediately after the judges with the rest perceued it to be meere deceit and cosenage, then they did straightly charge her upon payne of great punishment to leave off her delusions and cosenage of the people and so she was discharged as is there said."

Notes from Weardale, Durham.—Cramp Bone.—Children were very eager to obtain this charm from the head of a goose, when the dinner was a giblet-pie. It is the top of the neck column, and was carried in the pocket.

Fox and Geese.—This game was common to children of both sexes, and generally a night-game, when there was moonlight, or not very dark. A gathering of children would select a fox and a goose, then the fox would place himself in front of the geese. The leader of the geese would step forward, and address the fox in a loud voice.

Goose. Fox a fox, a fummelary, how many miles a mummelary?

Fox. Eight and eight, and other eight.

Goose. How shall I get home to-night?

Fox. Fly your stumps, and you'll get home in candle-light.

The geese then would "fly" to reach the goal behind the fox; the