“THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST.”
Of the same class was the charm to which this name was given. It consisted of a green string, which was kept in the mouth while the charm was muttered, and then secured to the charmed person’s right shoulder. The ceremony must be performed on Thursday or Sunday.
“May God bless your cross
Before you go to any garden,
Any disease that is in it
May He take from it.
May God bless your crucifying cross,
On the top of a house, the house of Christ,
From drowning, from danger, and from fever.
When the King was stretched on high,
The King of the Three Hills
And a brown branch top
... (unintelligible) ...
May God bless what is before thee.
When thou goest at their head
Success at meeting and in battle;
The grace of God and courteous look of all men be yours;
The banners of Christ be over thee
To protect thee from thy crown to thy sole.
Fire will not burn thee,
Seas will not drown thee;
A rock at sea art thou,
A man on land art thou,
Fairer than the swan on Loch Lathaich,
And the sea-gull on the white stream;
You will rise above them
As the wave rises,
On the side of God and His powers.
Thou art the red rowan tree
To cause the wrath of men to ebb
Like a wave from the sea to flood-tide,
And a wave from flood-tide to ebb.”