We have this account of it in Gough's Camden. "In Evie parish, in the Orkneys, near the sea, are some rocks, which frequently in the night appear on fire; and the church of St Michael there was often seen full of lights, called fires sent by St Odin to guard their tombs, but now ceased. This may be a meteor, or some inflammable matter on the cliffs, as at Charmouth, Dorset." De Odio et Atia. See False 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 proper 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 c. 1, repealed all statutes then in being, contrary to the great charter, Sir Edward Coke is of opinion that the writ de odio et atia was thereby revived.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.