ice THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR. " ] SIR,—There may be a
great seal of witchcraft in Somerset, but there is quite as mach, if not more, in Devon. The fol-
lowing is a charm used in charming handkerchiefs to be tied round the limbs of those suffering from a complaint called " the white swelling," all the varieties of which are supposed to be enumerated in the charm. I had it from the person who is in the habit of using it, who receives no money for doing so, and who is as firmly convinced of its efficacy as she is of her own existence. "As Christ was walking he saw the Virgin Mary sitting on a cold, marble stone. He said unto her, What aileth thee P' He said unto her, ' If it is a. white ill-thing, or a red ill-thing, or a black ill-thing, or a sticking, cracking, pricking, stabbing bone ill-thing, or a sore ill-thing, or a swelling ill-thing, or a rotten ill- thing, or a cold, creeping ill-thing, or a smarting ill-thing, let it fall from thee to the earth, in my name, and the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen. So be it." The charm is to be repeated nine times, and each time the Lord's Prayer is to be said.—I am, Sir, &c.,
Seavington Rectory, Somerset. F. E. W. LANGDON.
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