a celebrated hero of antiquity, who flourished about 70 years before the Christian era, in the northern parts of ancient Germany, or in the modern kingdom of Denmark. He was at the same time a priest, a soldier, a poet, a monarch, and a victor. He imposed on the credulity of his superstitious countrymen, and made them believe that he could raise the dead, and that he was acquainted with futurity. When he had extended his power, and increased his fame by conquest and by artifice, he determined to die in a different way from other men. He assembled his friends, and with the sharp point of a lance he made in his body nine different wounds in the form of a circle; and when expiring he declared that he was going to Scythia, where he should become an immortal god. He added, that he would prepare bliss and felicity for those of his countrymen who lived a virtuous life, who fought with bravery, and who died like heroes in the field of battle. These injunctions had the wished-for effect: his countrymen superstitiously believed him, and constantly recommended themselves to his protection when they engaged in battle; and they entreated him to receive the souls of such as fell in war. De Odio et Atia. See Fulse IMPRISONMENT.

The writ de odio et atia was anciently used to be directed to the sheriff, commanding him to inquire whether a prisoner charged with murder was committed upon just cause of suspicion, or merely propter odium et atiam, for hatred and ill will; and if upon the inquisition due cause of suspicion did not then appear, then there issued another writ for the sheriff to admit him to bail. This writ, according to Bracton, ought not to be denied to any man; it being expressly ordered to be made out gratis, without any denial, by magna charta, c. 26. and statute Westm. 2. 13 Edw. I. c. 29. But the statute of Glocester, 6 Edw. I. c. 9, restrained it in the case of killing by misadventure or self-defence, and the statute 28 Edw. III. c. 9, abolished it in all cases whatsoever: but as the stat. 42 Ed. III. c. 1. repealed all statutes then in being, contrary to the great charter, Sir Edward Coke is of opinion that the writ de odio et atia was thereby revived. See HABEAS Corpus.