Guernsey Folk Lore / a collection of popular superstitions, legendary tales, peculiar customs, proverbs, weather sayings, etc., of the people of that island

by Sir Edgar MacCulloch

The “Groignet.”

Pierce one of the thorns into the heart, saying:—

Adibaga, Sabaoth, Adonay, contra, ratout prisons preront fini unixio paracle gasum.

Take two thorns and pierce them in, saying:—Qui susum mediotos agres gravoil valax.

Take two more, and in placing them say:—Laula zazai valoi sator saluxu paracle gassum.

Take two more, and say in placing them:—Mortuis cum fice suni et per flagelationem domini nostri Jesu Christi.

Then place the last two thorns with these words:—Avir sunt devant nous paracle tui strator verbonum ossisum fidando.

Then continue saying:—“I call on him or her who has caused the Missal Abel to be fabricated: cease from thine evil deed; come, nevertheless, by sea or by land, wherever thou art; show thyself to us without delay and without fail.”

(Note: that if thorns of the “noble épine” are not to be procured, one may have recourse to new nails).