Precious Stones regarded as Objects of Virtue--Extravagance in Jewellery accounted for--Abraham's Precious Stones--Altars called Living Stones--Rod of Moses--Sacred Rings and Belts--The Month of one's Nativity has connection with one or other of the Precious Stones--Kings of England hallowing Rings--Ring preserved in Westminster Abbey--Iona Relics--The Green Stone of Arran--A Crystal kept as a Charm--A Conjuring Beryl--Prophetic Stones--The Coronation Stone or Stone of Destiny 429 * * * * * TRIALS BY ORDEAL. CHAPTER L. Trials by Ordeal resorted to in Ancient and Modern Times--Ordeal by means of Hot Iron--Plunging the Arm into Boiling Water or Oil--Walking Blindfold in Dangerous Places--Weighing a Witch--Extending the Arms before a Cross--Swallowing Consecrated Bread--Ordeal among the Hindoos--Touching a Dead Body--An Inquest, how conducted long ago--Dead Henry's Wounds--Sir George M'Kenzie's Opinion of Trial by Ordeal--Sir K. Digby on Trial by Ordeal 438 CHAPTER LI. A Popular Story--Theatberge, wife of Lothaire--Forbes's Memoirs--Trial by Wager of Battle--When Trial by Wager of Battle ceased--Trial by Jury--Court of King's Bench deciding the Legality of Trial by Battle--Sir Walter Scott's Illustrations of Superstition and Trial by Battle in Olden Times 445 * * * * * CURSES AND EVIL WISHES. CHAPTER LII. Curses, Excommunication, and Anathemas--Diræ, the Executioners of Vengeance--Interment of Excommunicated Persons--Excommunication among the Hebrews--Last Degree of Excommunication sometimes followed by Banishment or Death--Form of Excommunication used by Ezra and Nehemiah--The Greek Church annually excommunicates Roman Catholics--The Druids resorted to Excommunication--Bishops excommunicating Rats, Mice, Caterpillars, and other Insects and Vermin--The Pope's Claim--Napoleon I. excommunicated--Victor Emmanuel excommunicated--The Inquisition and its terrible Doings--The Pope's Fearful Curse--Mr. Donald Cargill excommunicating the King and Nobles--Indulgences, Pardons, and Penance 453 CHAPTER LIII. St. Adelbert's Curse--Complexion of Blackamoors attributed to a Curse of Noah--False Accusation, and its Results--Ancestors of the Whelphs and Guelphs of Germany--An Interesting Legend--A Gipsy's Curse--A Cruel Father and Husband--Morrar-na-Shean--Restoration of Three Daughters--A Grateful Father--Ancestors of the Sinclairs of Caithness, and of the noble family of Keith--The Curse of Moy--A Cruel Chieftain of Clan Chattan--Swearing by the Hand of a Bride--Grant of Glenmorriston waiting his Doom--Death of a Father and Lover--Maledictions and Prediction--Lady leaping from a Lofty Tower--The Monroes of Foulis--End of a Relentless Tyrant 462 * * * * * DREAMS AND VISIONS OF THE NIGHT.