Popular Superstitions - A Murderer's Charm

( Originally Published 1884 )

A Charm, or Protection, found in a Linen Purse of Jackson, the Murderer and Smuggler, who died (a Roman Catholic) in Chichester Goal.

" Sancti tres Reges
"Gaspar, Melchior, Balthasar,
" Orate pro nobis nunc et in bora
" Mortis nostre.

" Ces billets ont touche aux trois testes de S. S. Roys a Cologne.
" Ils font pour les voyagers, contre les mal-heurs de chemins, maux
" de teste, mal caduque, fievres, sorcellerie, toute sorte de malefice,
"et mort subite."

In English thus :

Ye three Holy Kings,
Gaspar, Melchior, Balthasar,
Pray for us now, and in the hour of death.
These papers have touch'd the three heads of the holy kings at Cologne.

They are to preserve travellers from accidents on the road, headaches, falling sickness, fevers, witchcraft, all kinds of mischief, and sudden death.