to Pietro Vaticano, an indulgence of 30
years and 1200 days."

CHAPTER LIII.

St. Adelbert's Curse a Charm against
Thieves--Complexion of Blackamoors attributed to a
Curse of Noah--False Accusation, and its
Results--Preservation of Children--A Joyful
Mother--Ancestors of the Whelphs and Guelphs of
Germany--An Interesting Legend--A Curse turned into a
Blessing--A Gipsy's Curse--A Cruel Father and
Husband--Morrar-na-Shean's Despair--Bitter
Grief--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--A Lady's Dilemma--A
Father yielding up his Life--Swearing by the Hand of a
Bride--Grant of Glenmorriston waiting his Doom--Death
of a Father and Lover--An Imprisoned
Maiden--Maledictions and Prediction--Lady leaping from
a Lofty Tower into a Lake beneath--The Monroes of
Foulis--Foraying Expedition--An Unreasonable
Request--End of a Relentless Tyrant--Prediction
fulfilled.

St. Adelbert's curse was a charm against thieves. It was full of
cursing against dishonest persons, and prayers that they might have
their share with Dathan and Abiram, whom the earth swallowed up, and
have their part with Judas. Thieves were to be cursed in their houses,
fields, and everywhere; they were to be denied Christian burial; yea,
the very ground in which they rested was to be cursed. Their bodies,
in all their separate parts, and their children, were damned; and as
Lucifer was expelled out of heaven, and Adam and Eve driven from
Paradise, so they were sought to be expelled from the light of day.
The terrible curse was pronounced with bell, book, and candle; and
concluded with this fearful denunciation: "And as the candle, which is
thrown out of my hand here, is put out, so let their works and their
souls be quenched in the stench of hell-fire, except they restore that
which they have stolen; and let every one say, Amen."

Perhaps few are aware that the dark complexion of the blackamoors is
attributed to a curse of Noah; but as that statement has been
disputed, we shall pass it without further notice.

Irmentrude, a German countess, accused a noble lady of adultery
because she had three children at one birth, saying that she deserved
to be tied up in a sack and thrown into the sea. N