[208] See _Notes and Queries_, IV. Series. Vol. VIII., p. 506. _Derbyshire Folk-Lore._ On St. Thomas’ Eve there used to be a custom among girls to procure a large red onion, into which, after peeling, they would stick nine pins, and say:-- “Good St. Thomas, do me right, Send me my true love this night, In his clothes and his array, Which he weareth every day.” Eight pins were stuck round one in the centre, to which was given the name of the swain--the “true love.” The onion was placed under the pillow on going to bed, and they would dream of the desired person. [209] From Miss Lane. [210] From Miss Lane. [211] From Miss Lane. [212] From the late Miss Sophy Brock and Rachel Du Port. [213] From Miss Lane. THE CONSEQUENCES OF A LOVE SPELL. It must not be supposed that these love charms can always be tried with impunity. Like all other forms of divination they are sinful, and instances are on record in which punishment has followed the unhallowed attempt to pry into the secrets of futurity so wisely hidden from our mortal ken. It would seem that not merely the wraith or similitude of the destined husband can be made to show itself, but that, by some unexplained and mysterious agency, the actual presence in the body can be completed, at whatever distance the man may at that moment be. To the unfortunate individual who is made the victim of these practices the whole appears the effect of a frightful dream, attended with much suffering. It is related that an officer, thus forced to show himself, left behind him a sword, which was found by the young woman after his departure, and carefully hidden away. In process of time he came to the island, saw the girl, fell in love with her, and was married. For many years they lived happily together, until, one day, in turning out the contents of an old coffer, he found at the bottom of it the identical sword which had disappeared from his possession in so unaccountable and mysterious a manner. The memory of the frightful dream in which he had endured so much flashed across his mind. In a frenzy of passion he sought his wife, and, upbraiding her with having been to him the cause of dreadful suffering, and of having put him in peril of his life by her magical practices, plunged the sword into her breast.[214] [214] From Rachel Du Port. See _Les Veillées Allemandes_, by Grimm. _La Veille de St. André_, Vol. I., p. 201. WITCHES AND THE WHITE-THORN. There appear to be some superstitious notions with regard to the connection of witchcraft with the white-thorn. Witches are suspected of meeting at night under its shade. An old man of very eccentric habits not many years since still inhabited the ruined manor house of Anneville, once the residence of the ancient family of de Chesney, sold in 1509 to Nicholas Fashin, and subsequently passing by inheritance into the Andros family, in whose possession it still remains.