[127] Encyc. Am., Art. _Venice_. And see Scott’s Discovery of Witchcraft (1665,) p. 152. [128] In the Gentleman’s Magazine for March, 1798, p. 184, is a minute account of this ceremony, which somewhat varies from the above: “On Ascension Day, the Doge, in a splendid barge, attended by a thousand barks and gondolas, proceeds to a particular place in the Adriatic. In order to compose the angry gulf and procure a calm, the patriarch pours into her bosom a quantity of holy water. As soon as this charm has had its effect, the Doge, with great solemnity, through an aperture near his seat, drops into her lap a gold ring, repeating these words, ‘_Desponsamus te, Mare, in signum veri perpetuique dominii._’ ‘We espouse thee, O sea! in token of real and perpetual dominion over thee.’” [129] Dictionary of Dates, Adriatic. [130] See Smedley’s Sketches of Venetian History, referred to in note [A] to Byron’s Works. [131] He is under obligations to the Reverend Thomas S. Preston for this. [132] Gavazzi’s Lectures, (New-York ed.,) 185. [133] London Gent.’s Mag. for 1848, p. 599. [134] Eadmer, Histor. Nov., l. i. p. 16. [135] John of Salisbury’s Life of Anselm. [136] Rapin. [137] William of Malmesbury. [138] Burn’s Ecclesiastical Law, 209. [139] Encyc. Brit., Title, _Ring_. [140] London Gent’s Mag., vol. lxxi. p. 1082. [141] Notes and Queries, viii. 387. [142] Ib. 2d vol. 4th S., 300. [143] Notes and Queries, v. 114. [144] Ib. 492. [145] Metamorph. ii. 34. [146] Ennemoser, i. 258, _et seq._ [147] Caylus, vi. 295, Pl. xciii. [148] Addison, (Tickell’s edit.,) v. 178. [149] Since writing the above, we have come across _Ennemoser’s History of Magic_, who refers to these hands; and while he takes up with the notion of their being votive offerings, he refers to the extended fingers to show that a cure had been effected by magnetic manipulation. In reference to one particular specimen, the author considers the hand itself to be an appropriate emblem from having performed the cure. (Vol. i. p. 255.) This, then, does away with the idea that a cure in the hand itself was effected; and if we take away the hand, the remarkable figures with which it was studded do not seem to be connected with or emblematical of any kind of disease. All this brings us nearer to our notion, that these hands were used as amulets. [150] Wilkinson’s Ancient Egyptians, ii. 354. [151] Fosbroke’s Encyc. of Antiquities, 246. [152] Notes and Queries, v. 492. [153] Whitlock’s Memoirs, p. 356. [154] Fortescue de Laud. Legum Angl., cap. 50. [155] 3 Cooke’s Reports, 3. [156] Calmet’s Dictionary, Art. _Bells_. [157] Roman Antiquities, by Foss, § 62. [158] Ib. § 456. [159] Brande’s Popular Antiquities, (by Ellis,) 264. [160] Household Words: _I Give and Bequeath_. [161] London Gentleman’s Magazine, vol. lxxxiii. p. 17. [162] Act 2, scene 1; and see Douce’s Illustrations, 383. [163] Knight’s Bible. [164] Spaniards and their Country, 66.