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diff --git a/41928-0.txt b/41928-0.txt index a35005c..dcaaabf 100644 --- a/41928-0.txt +++ b/41928-0.txt @@ -1,40 +1,4 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of A Collection of Rare and Curious Tracts on -Witchcraft and the Second Sight, by Unknown - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with -almost no restrictions whatsoever. 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You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included -with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org - - -Title: A Collection of Rare and Curious Tracts on Witchcraft and the Second Sight - With an Original Essay on Witchcraft - -Author: Unknown - -Release Date: January 27, 2013 [EBook #41928] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TRACTS ON WITCHCRAFT *** - - - - -Produced by Chris Curnow and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was -produced from images generously made available by The -Internet Archive) - - - - - - - - - - A - - Collection - - OF - - _RARE AND CURIOUS TRACTS_ - - ON - - WITCHCRAFT - - AND THE - - SECOND SIGHT; - - WITH AN - - _Original Essay on Witchcraft_. - - Edinburgh: - PRINTED FOR D. WEBSTER, 35, WEST COLLEGE STREET. - 1820. - - - - - EDINBURGH: - - Printed by Thomas Webster. - - - - - CONTENTS. - - - _Page_ - - An Original Essay on Witchcraft, 5 - - News from Scotland, 13 - - To the Reader, 15 - - A True Discourse of the Damnable Life of - Doctor Fian, and Sundry other Witches, - lately taken in Scotland, 17 - - Another Account of the Foregoing Transactions, - from Sir James Melvill's Memoirs, 36 - - Advertisement, 40 - - Extracts from King James's Daemonologie concerning - Sorcery and Witchcraft, 42 - - Notice to the Reader, 68 - - Answer of a Letter from a Gentleman in Fife, - to a Nobleman, containing an Account of - the Barbarous and Illegal Treatment of the - Witches in Pittenweem, 69 - - Another Letter concerning the Witches of Pittenweem, 73 - - A Just Reproof to the False Reports contained - in the two Foregoing Letters, 79 - - A Copy of the Indictment and Precept for - Summoning the Jury and Witnesses, with - the Warrant for the Execution, of the - Witches at Borrowstouness, 95 - - Trial of Isobel Elliot and others, 104 - - Confession of Helen Taylor, 107 - - Deposition of Manie Haliburton, 109 - - Declaration of John Kincaid, the Pricker, 111 - - Trial of William Coke and Allison Dick, 113 - - Amount of the Kirk's Share of Expense for - Burning the said William Coke and Allison - Dick, 123 - - Town's part on the above occasion, 124 - - Account of the Expense of Burning Margaret - Denham, 125 - - Minutes and Proceedings of the Kirk-Session - of Torryburn, and the Confession of Lillias - Adie, 129 - - Frazer on the Second Sight, 147 - - The Publisher to the Reader, 150 - - Short Advertisement to the Reader, 157 - - A Brief Discourse concerning the Second Sight, - commonly so called, 159 - - - - - AN - - ORIGINAL ESSAY - - ON - - WITCHCRAFT. - - - If we wish to form a just estimate of the human character in its - progress through the various stages of civilization, from ignorance - and barbarism, to science and refinement, we must search into the - natural causes that actuate the human mind. The life of man is - prolonged to a remoter period, but subjected to more casualities, and - greater vicissitudes of fortune, than most other animals. From these - causes arises his anxious solicitude about futurity, and an eager - desire to know his destiny; and thus man becomes the most - superstitious of all other creatures. In every nation there have been - multitudes of oracles, augurs, soothsayers, diviners, - fortune-tellers, witches, sorcerers, &c. whose business has been to - communicate intelligence respecting futurity, to the rest of mankind. - If we attend to history, we shall find this theory sufficiently - confirmed by experience. The most superstitious part of the species - are soldiers and sailors, who are more exposed to accidents than any - other class. History is full of the superstitious observances of the - Roman armies; their regard to omens; the entrails of victims; the - flight of birds, &c. and there are thousands of brave sailors of the - present day, who would not sail in the finest ship of the British - navy, without a horse-shoe were nailed on the main-mast. This passion - of diving into futurity, naturally produced a number of '_dealers in - destiny's dark council_,' who soon found it turn out a very lucrative - profession. From knowing the secrets, it was naturally inferred, that - they were the favourites of those powers who are supposed to have the - future happiness of mankind at their disposal. This we apprehend is - the real source of that power which the priesthood hath ever - exercised over the human mind. Pleasure and pain are the two great - principles of human action which has given rise to the good and evil - principle common to all nations. Those who held communication and - commerce with the evil principle, are witches, wizzards, sorcerers, - &c. Although we have various laws and injunctions against witchcraft - in scripture, yet we are still as much in the dark as ever, as no - definition is given of it, nor is the particular actions which - constitute witchcraft enumerated, so as we can say wherein it - consists. The story of the witch of Endor, is a case that throws more - light on the subject than any other. But she appears to have acted - more in the character of one of our second sighted seers, than one of - our modern witches. According to our notions and ideas of witchcraft - (as laid down by that _sapient_ monarch James VI.), it is a poor - ignorant old woman, who, through misery or malice, gives herself to - the devil, soul and body, and renounces her baptism; for which - considerations Satan engages to assist her with his power to work a - number of petty mischiefs on such as she has a spite at; and - sometimes he advances a little of the '_needful_,' which, - unfortunately for the poor _old hag_, turns out to be 'naething but - _sklate stanes_,' and this most unaccountable contract is generally - sealed by '_carnal copulation_!' And yet, after believing this, we - call ourselves _rational creatures_, and other animals we term - _brutes_!! Many people have wondered, how so exalted a personage as - the devil formerly was in days of yore, should latterly have taken up - with such low company as our modern witches. He who tempted the very - fathers of the church in so many various ways; who kept the whole - priesthood of the Catholic church constantly on the _alert_ with holy - water, exorcisms, &c. only to keep him in _check_; who often attacked - Luther and our other reformers, in very ungentlemanly disguises; and - had even the audacity to insult our covenanted saints, by bellowing - like a bull, grunting like a pig, or groaning like a dying man. These - were pranks something worthier of a devil than the tricks played off - by the witches. Our King James gives the reason, because 'the - consumation of the world, and our deliverance drawing neere, makes - Satan so rage the more in his instruments, knowing his kingdom to be - so neere an end.' James was a little out in his reckoning here, 'the - consumation of the world' not having taken place as yet, and the - devil's kingdom turning out to be rather better established than his - own. So far was it from being near an end, that it was on the - increase, caused chiefly by the absurd and stupid laws that were - enacted against it by himself and successors. The devil's kingdom is - not to be destroyed by acts of parliament and burning of witches; - these expedients have been tried in vain all over Europe and America, - without effect; but now, when every person can bewitch with impunity, - not a witch is to be found; and the devil, though left at large, has - retreated to the Highlands and islands, where he is seldom seen, even - by those who have the second sight. The true engines for battering - the strong holds of Satan, and driving him and his imps into utter - darkness, are science and philosophy; these are the weapons that have - compelled him to retrograde movements, after lavishing rivers of holy - water in vain. Thus the terrific claws of the devil, when seen by the - distempered eyes of ignorant bigotry, appear to us truly horrible, - but when viewed through philosophical spectacles, look as harmless as - the lamb-skin gloves of a fine lady. - - These stories, however, convey a strong likeness of the times in - which they were acted. In our day, it is almost impossible to - believe, that human beings could give credit to such gross - absurdities as we have laid before the public in this little work, - were the evidence not indubitable. Far less, that judges, lawyers, - and divines, should unite in murdering such numbers of poor ignorant - helpless creatures, for such mad chimeras, when it is hard to say, - whether the poor victim, or the insane judges, were under the greater - delusion. These wonderful tales of the doings of the devil with the - witches, are taken from their own confessions, and from their - _delating_ of one another, as it is called. To us it does not appear - improbable, but that too many of the poor deluded wretches actually - imagined themselves to be witches. Nor will this appear so very - surprizing, if we consider the circumstances of the case. At that - period, any person who doubted of witchcraft, was looked upon as an - athiest, and worse than mad; the whole country, from one end to the - other, was continually ringing with tales of witches, devils, and - fairies, with such other trash. Is it not then most likely, that - people should dream about them? and is there any thing unnatural in - supposing, that they should mistake these dreams for realities? as is - evidently proved in several cases, and then confess, not the actions - they really did, but the effects of their own disordered imagination. - Moreover, when confined for this imaginary crime, they were tortured - in all manner of ways, deprived of sleep, flung into water, and - _brodit,_ as they called it, being striped naked and searched for the - devil's mark, in the most indecent manner. These confessions, after - they were made, were nothing more than the wild ravings of a - distempered imagination; and such a tissue of inconsistencies, as no - person of the present day would listen to. An old woman in the Isle - of Teree (as related by Mr Frazer, page 165), took in her head that - she was in heaven no less, and had eat and drank there; and so - firmly had the poor creature imbibed the notion, that it was with - some difficulty she could be undeceived. A curious account of a - pretended meeting with the devil, is given by a gentleman of - Normandy, in the Memoirs of Literature for November 1711. - - "The pretended meeting, about which those who believe they have been - at it, relate so many extravagant things, is only in their - imagination. I own, that some country people, especially shepherds, - do now and then rub their skin with some narcotick grease or - ointments, which cast them into a sound sleep, and fill their - imagination with a thousand visions. When they are thus asleep, they - fancy they see every thing that was told them concerning the devil's - meeting, by their fathers, who were also shepherds, or wizards, if - you will have me to call them so. Whereupon I will inform you of what - I have been told by a country friend of mine, who pretended to have a - mind to go to the devil's meeting with his own shepherd, who had the - reputation of being a great sorcerer. Having frequently urged that - shepherd to carry him thither, at last he obtained his desire. He - went to him in the night at the appointed time. The shepherd - immediately gave him something to grease himself withal. He took the - grease as if he had a mind to rub his skin with it; but he desired - that the shepherd's son, who was to go to the devil's meeting with - his father, should anoint himself first. Which being done, that - gentleman told the shepherd, that he should be glad to know what - would become of the young man. Not long after, the young man fell - fast asleep, and when he awaked, though he had not stirred from that - place, he gave an account of every thing he thought he had seen at - the devil's meeting; and even named several persons whom he pretended - to have seen there. My friend perceived then, that what is commonly - said of the devil's meeting was a mere fancy. I have told you this - story, that you may impart it to your brethren, who being prepossest - with popular errors about witchcraft, do frequently hang and burn - poor wretches, whose crime does only consist in the weakness of their - imagination." - - A thousand more instances might be produced to show, that the devil - hath no meetings any where, but in the perturbed brain of ignorant - credulity. The history of superstition is however of great use; we - there see its dangerous influence upon the peace and happiness of - society--its degrading effects upon the character and manners of - nations, in morality, literature, jurisprudence, and science. - Theology seems to have been particularly infected with this - pestiferous contagion. The clergy were generally in the front rank of - witch-hunters, and through their influence, the most of them were put - to death. In places where the minister was inflamed with a _holy - zeal_ against the devil and his emissaries, such as Pittenweem and - Torryburn, the parish became a perfect hot-bed for the rearing of - witches; and so plentiful a crop did it produce, that it appeared - nothing else could thrive. But in places where the minister had some - portion of humanity, and a little common sense, the devil very - rarely set foot on his territories, and witchcraft was not to be - found. Since the repeal of the statutes against witchcraft, several - prosecutions have been instituted against witches, who were convicted - and punished; but it was bewitching silly ignorant people out of - their money, goods, and common sense, by pretending a knowledge of - futurity--a power of relieving maladies in man or beast--or procuring - the affection of some favourite swain to a love-sick maiden. The - dupes of these impostors do not altogether escape, as they are made - the laughing stock of their neighbours; and by these means even this - trade is now nearly annihilated. Happily for our times, the refulgent - brightness of philosophy and science, hath dispelled these dark - clouds of benighted superstition, and left us in possession only of - our natural powers and faculties, which are quite enough. - - EDITOR. - - - - - News from Scotland: - - DECLARING THE - DAMNABLE LIFE OF DOCTOR FIAN, - A - _NOTABLE SORCERER_, - WHO WAS - _Burned at Edenbrough in Januarie last, 1591_. - - WHICH DOCTOR WAS REGISTER TO THE DEVILL THAT - SUNDRIE TIMES PREACHED AT NORTH BARRICKE - KIRKE TO A NUMBER OF NOTORIOUS WITCHES. - WITH THE - TRUE EXAMINATIONS OF THE SAID DOCTOR - AND WITCHES, AS THEY UTTERED THEM - IN THE PRESENCE OF THE SCOTTISH KING. - - DISCOVERING - - HOW THEY PRETENDED TO BEWITCH AND DROWNE - HIS MAJESTIE IN THE SEA COMMING FROM DENMARKE; - WITH SUCH OTHER WONDERFULL - MATTERS AS THE LIKE HATH NOT BEIN - HEARD AT ANIE TIME. - - _Published according to the Scottish Copie._ - - PRINTED FOR WILLIAM WRIGHT. - - EDINBURGH: - RE-PRINTED FOR D. WEBSTER, 35, WEST COLLEGE STREET. - - 1820. - - - - - TO THE READER. - - - The manifold untruths which are spred abroad concerning the - detestable actions and apprehension of those witches whereof this - historie following truely entreateth, hath caused me to publish the - same in print, and the rather for that sundrie written coppies are - lately dispersed thereof, containing that the said witches were first - discovered by meanes of a poore pedlar travelling to the towne of - Trenent; and that by a wonderfull manner hee was in a moment conveyed - at midnight from Scotland to Burdeux in France (being places of no - small distance), into a merchant's sellar there; and after being sent - from Burdeux into Scotland by certaine Scottish merchants to the - King's Majestie, that he discovered those witches, and was the cause - of their apprehension; with a number of matters miraculous and - incredible: all which in truth are most false. Nevertheless, to - satisfie a number of honest mindes, who are desirous to be informed - of the veritie and truth of their confessions, which for certaintie - is more stranger than the common reporte runneth, and yet with more - truth. I have undertaken to publish this short Treatise which - declareth the true discourse of all that happened, and as well what - was pretended by those wicked and detestable witches against the - King's Majestie; as also by what means they wrought the same. - - All which examinations (gentle reader) I have here truly published as - they were taken and uttered in the presence of the King's Majestie, - praying thee to accept of it for veritie, the same being so true as - cannot be reproved. - - - - - A - - TRUE DISCOURSE - - OF THE - - APPREHENSION OF SUNDRIE WITCHES LATELY TAKEN - IN SCOTLAND; WHEREOF SOME ARE EXECUTED, - AND SOME ARE YET IMPRISONED.--WITH A PARTICULAR - RECITALL OF THEIR EXAMINATIONS, - TAKEN IN THE PRESENCE OF THE KING'S MAJESTIE. - - - God, by his omnipotent power, hath at all times, and daily dooth take - such care, and is so vigilant for the weale and preservation of his - owne, that thereby he disappointeth the wicked practices and evil - intents of all such as by any means whatsoever seeke indirectly to - conspire any thing contrary to his holy will: Yea, and by the same - power he hath lately overthrowne and hindered the intentions and - wicked dealings of a great number of ungodly creatures, no better - than devils; who suffering themselves to be allured and enticed by - the Devil whom they served, and unto whom they were privately sworne, - entered into the detestable art of witchcraft, which they studied and - practised so long time, that in the ende they had seduced by their - sorcerie a number of others to be as bad as themselves, dwelling in - the bounds of Lowthen, which is a principall shire or part of - Scotland, where the Kinges Majestie useth to make his cheifest - residence or abode; and to the ende that their detestable wickednesse - which they prively had pretended against the Kinges Majestie, the - commonweale of that countrie, with the nobilitie and subjects of the - same, should come to light. God of his unspeakable goodness did - reveale and laie it open in verie strange sorte, thereby to make - known to the world that their actions were contrarie to the lawe of - God and the naturall affection which we ought generally to beare one - to another. The manner of the revealing whereof was as followeth. - - Within the towne of Trenent, in the kingdome of Scotland, there - dwelleth one David Seaton, who being deputie bailiffe in the said - towne, had a maid called Geillies Duncane, who used secretlie to - absent and lie forth of her maisters house every other night. This - Geillies Duncane tooke in hand to helpe all such as were troubled or - grieved with anie kinde of sickness or infirmitie, and in short space - did performe many matters most miraculous; which things, forasmuche - as she began to do them upon a sodaine, having never done the like - before, made her maister and others to be in great admiration, and - wondered thereat: by meanes whereof the saide David Seaton had his - maide in great suspition that shee did not those things by naturall - and lawfull waies, but rather supposed it to be done by some - extraordinarie and unlawfull meanes. - - Whereupon her maister began to grow verie inquisitive, and examined - her which way and by what meanes shee was able to performe matters of - so great importance; whereat shee gave him no aunswere: nevertheless, - her maister to the intent that hee might the better trie and finde - out the truth of the same, did with the help of others torment her - with the torture of the pilliwinkes upon her fingers, which is a - griveous torture, and binding or wrinching her head with a cord or - roape, which is a most cruel torment also, yet would shee not confess - anie thing; whereupon they suspecting that shee had beene marked by - the devill (as commonly witches are,) made diligent search about her, - and found the enemies mark to be in her fore crag, or fore part of - her throate; which being found, shee confessed that all her doings - was done by the wicked allurements and entisements of the devil, and - that shee did them by witchcraft. - - After this her confession, shee was committed to prison, where shee - continued a season, where immediately shee accused these persons - following to bee notorious witches, and caused them forthwith to be - apprehended, one after another, viz. Agnes Sampson, the eldest witche - of them all, dwelling in Haddington; Agnes Tompson of Edenbrough; - Doctor Fian, alias John Cuningham, master of the schoole at Saltpans - in Lowthian, of whose life and strange acts you shall heare more - largely in the end of this discourse. - - These were by the saide Geillies Duncane accused, as also George - Motts' wife, dwelling in Lowthian; Robert Grierson, skipper; and - Jannet Blandilands; with the potters wife of Seaton; the smith at the - Brigge Hallies, with innumerable others in those parts, and dwelling - in those bounds aforesaid, of whom some are alreadie executed, the - rest remaine in prison to receive the doome of judgement at the - Kinges Majesties will and pleasure. - - The saide Geillies Duncane also caused Ewphame Mecalrean to bee - apprehended, who conspired and performed the death of her godfather, - and who used her art upon a gentleman, being one of the Lordes and - Justices of the Session, for bearing good-will to her daughter. Shee - also caused to be apprehended one Barbara Naper, for bewitching to - death Archbalde lait Earle of Angus, who languished to death by - witchcraft, and yet the same was not suspected; but that he died of - so strange a disease as the phisition knewe not how to cure or - remedie the same. But of all other the said witches, these two last - before recited, were reputed for as civil honest women as anie that - dwelled within the cittie of Edenbrough, before they were - apprehended. Many other besides were taken dwelling in Lieth, who are - detayned in prison until his Majesties further will and pleasure be - knowne; of whose wicked dooings you shall particularly heare, which - was as followeth. - - This aforesaide Agnes Sampson, which was the elder witche, was taken - and brought to Haliriud House before the Kinges Majestie, and sundrie - other of the nobilitie of Scotland, where shee was straytly examined; - but all the persuasions which the Kinges Majestie used to her, with - the rest of his councell, might not provoke or induce her to confess - any thing, but stoode stiffley in the deniall of all that was layde - to her charge; whereupon they caused her to be conveyed away unto - prison, there to receive such torture as hath been lately provided - for witches in that countrie; and for as muche as by due examination - of witchcraft and witches in Scotland, it hath lately beene founde - that the devill dooth generally marke them with a privie marke, by - reason the witches have confessed themselves, that the devill doth - licke them with his tong in some privie part of their bodie, before - he dooth receive them to bee his servants, which marke commonlie is - given them under the haire in some part of their bodie, whereby it - may not easily be found out or seene, although they bee searched; and - generally so long as the marke is not seene to those which search - them, so long the parties which have the marke will never confess - anie thing. Therefore by special commandment this Agnes Sampson had - all her haire shaven off, n each part of her bodie, and her head - thrawane with a rope according to the custome of that countrie, being - a payne most grieveous, which they continued almost an hower, during - which time shee would not confess anie thing untill the divel's marke - was founde upon her privities, then shee immediately confessed - whatsoever was demaunded of her, and justifiying those persons - aforesaide to be notorious witches. - - _Item_, the said Agnes Sampson was after brought againe before the - Kinges Majestie and his councell, and being examined of the meeting - and detestable dealings of those witches, shee confessed, that upon - the night of Allhallow Even last, shee was accompanied as well with - the persons aforesaide, as also with a great many other witches, to - the number of two hundreth, and that all they together went to sea, - each one in a riddle or cive, and went into the same very - substantially, with flaggons of wine, making merrie and drinking by - the way in the same riddles or cives, to the Kirke of North Barrick - in Lowthian, and that after they had landed, tooke hands on the lande - and daunced this reill or short daunce, singing all with one voice, - - _Commer goe ye before, commer goe ye, - Gif ye will not goe before, commer let me._ - - At which time shee confessed, that this Geillies Duncane did goe - before them playing this reill or daunce, uppon a small trumpe, - called a Jewes trumpe, untill they entred into the Kirke of North - Barricke. - - These confessions made the Kinge in a wonderfull admiration, and sent - for the saide Geillie Duncane, who upon the like trumpe did play the - saide daunce before the Kinges Majestie, who in respect of the - strangeness of these matters, tooke great delight to be present at - their examinations. - - _Item_, the said Agnes Sampson confessed, that the devill, being then - at North Barricke Kirke attending their coming, in the habit or - likeness of a man, and seeing that they tarried over long, hee at - their coming enjoined them all to a pennance, which was, that they - should kiss his buttockes, in sign of duty to him; which being put - over the pulpit bare, every one did as he had enjoined them: and - having made his ungodly exhortations, wherein he did greatly inveigh - against the Kinge of Scotland, he received their oathes for their - good and true service towards him, and departed; which done, they - returned to sea, and so home again. - - At which time the witches demaunded of the devill why he did beare - such hatred to the Kinge? Who answered, by reason the Kinge is the - greatest enemie hee hath in the world.[1] All which their confessions - and depositions are still extant upon record. - - [1] James, who boasted that he was born in 'the purest church on - earth,' and whose courtiers called him 'the Childe of God,' was no - doubt highly gratified at this declaration of the devil's hatred, - 'because he was his greatest enemie on earth.' This was such a piece - of flattery as suited the meridian of the monarch's intellects. ED. - - _Item_, the saide Agnes Sampson confessed before the Kinges Majestie - sundrie things, which were so miraculous and strange, as that his - Majestie saide they were all extreme liars; whereat shee answered, - shee would not wish his Majestie to suppose her words to be false, - but rather to believe them, in that shee would discover such matters - unto him as his Majestie should not anie way doubt of. - - And thereupon taking his Majestie a little aside, shee declared unto - him the verie wordes which passed between the Kinges Majestie and his - Queene at Upslo in Norway the first night of marriage, with the - answere ech to other; whereat the Kinges Majestie wondered greatly, - and swore by the living God, that he believed all the devills in hell - could not have discovered the same, acknowledging her words to be - most true, and therefore gave the more credit to the rest that is - before declared. - - Touching this Agnes Sampson, shee is the onlie woman who by the - devill's perswasion should have intended and put in execution the - Kinges Majesties death in this manner. - - Shee confessed that shee tooke a blacke toade, and did hang the same - up by the heeles three daies, and collected and gathered the venome - it dropped and fell from it in ane oister shell, and kept the same - venome close covered, untill shee should obtaine anie part or peece - of foule linnen cloth that had appertained to the Kinges Majestie, as - shirt, handkercher, napkin, or anie other thing, which shee practised - to obtaine by meanes of one John Kers, who being attendant in his - Majesties chamber, desired him for old acquaintance between them, to - help her to one or a peece of such a cloth as is aforesaide, which - thing the saide John Kers denyed to helpe her to, saying he coulde - not helpe her unto it. - - And the saide Agnes Sampson by her depositions since her - apprehension, saith, that if shee had obtayned anie one peece of - linnen cloth which the Kinge had worne and fowlede, shee had - bewitched him to death, and put him to such extraordinarie paines, as - if he had been lying upon sharp thornes and endes of needles. - - Moreover shee confessed, that at the time when his Majestie was in - Denmarke, shee being accompanied by the parties before speciallie - named, tooke a cat and christened it, and afterwarde bounde to each - part of that cat, the cheefest part of a dead man, and several joynts - of his bodie; and that in the night following, the saide cat was - convayed into the middest of the sea by all the witches, sayling in - their riddles or cives, as is aforesaid, and so left the saide cat - right before the towne of Lieth in Scotland. This doone, there did - arise such a tempest in the sea, as a greater hath not beene seene; - which tempest was the cause of the perishing of a boat or vessel - coming over from the towne of Brunt Islande to the towne of Lieth, - wherein was sundrie jewelles and rich giftes, which should have been - presented to the now Queene of Scotland at her Majesties coming to - Lieth. - - Againe it is confessed, that the said christened cat was the cause - that the Kinges Majesties shippe at his coming forth of Denmarke had - a contrarie winde to the rest of his shippes then being in his - companie, which thing was most strange and true as the Kinges - Majestie acknowlegeth, for when the rest of the shippes had a faire - and good winde, then was the winde contrarie and altogether against - his Majestie; and further, the sayde witche declared, that his - Majestie had never come safely from the sea, if his faith had not - prevayled above their intentions.[2] - - [2] It no doubt required the penetration of a witch to discover the - strength of James's faith, which prevailed against their - incantations, and saved him from perishing at sea. Those who - conducted the examination of the witches, no doubt knew well enough - how to extract this little piece of delicate flattery from the hags, - so gratifying to the palate of their master. ED. - - Moreover, the saide witches being demaunded how the divell would use - them when he was in their companie, they confessed, that when the - divel did recyeve theme for his serventes, and that they had vowed - themselves unto him, then he woulde carnally use them, albeit to - their little pleasure, in respect to his colde nature,[3] and would - doe the like at sundrie other times. - - [3] In the records of the kirk-session of Torryburn, in Fifeshire, so - late as 1703, is the confession of one Lillias Eddie, a supposed - witch, who immediately after she had been initiated in the infernal - mysteries, was taken behind a stook, it (being harvest time), and - carressed by the devil. She likewise complains that his embraces were - cold and unsatisfactory. The gross indelicacy of such stories are - only to be equalled by their absurdity. What a picture does it - present to readers of the present day, of the manners of that age, - when such topics could be gravely discussed by the King in - councill!! - - As touching the aforesaide Doctor Fian, alias John Cunningham, the - examination of his actes since his apprehension, declareth the great - subteltie of the divell, and therefore maketh thinges to appeare the - more miraculous; for being apprehended by the accusation of the saide - Geillies Duncane aforesaide, who confessed he was their register, and - that there was not one man suffered to come to the divel's readinges - but onlie hee, the saide Doctor was taken and imprisoned, and used - with the accustomed paine provided for those offences, inflicted upon - the rest as is aforesaide. - - _First_, by thrawing of his head with a rope, whereat he would - confess nothing. - - _Secondly_, hee was persuaded by faire meanes to confesse his - follies, but that would prevail as little. - - _Lastly_, hee was put to the most severe and cruell paine in the - worlde, called the bootes, who, after he had received three strokes, - being inquired if hee would confess his damnable actes and wicked - life, his toong would not serve him to speake, in respect whereof the - rest of the witches willed to searche his toong, under which was - found two pinnes thurst up into the heade; whereupon the witches did - say, now is the charm stinted, and shewed, that those charmed pinnes - were the cause he could not confesse any thing: then was he - immediately released of the bootes, brought before the King, his - confession was taken, and his own hand willingly set thereunto, which - contained as followeth: - - _First_, that at the generall meetinges of those witches, he was - always present,--that he was clarke to all those that were in - subjection to the divel's service, bearing the name of witches,--that - always hee did take their oathes for their true service to the divel, - and that he wrote for them such matters as the divel still pleased to - command him. - - _Item_, hee confessed that by his witchcraft hee did bewitch a - gentleman dwelling neare to the Saltpans, where the said Doctor kept - schoole, only for being enamoured of a gentlewoman whome he loved - himself; by meanes of which his sorcery, witchcraft, and divelish - practices, hee caused the said gentleman that once in xxiiii howers - he fell into a lunacy and madness, and so continued one whole hower - together; and for the veritie of the same, he caused the gentleman - to be brought before the Kinges Majestie, which was upon the xxiiii - day of December last, and being in his Majesties chamber, suddenly - hee gave a great scritch, and fell into madness, sometime bending - himself, and sometime capering so directly up, that his heade did - touch the seeling of the chamber, to the great admiration of his - Majestie and others then present; so that all the gentlemen in the - chamber were not able to hold him, untill they called in more helpe, - who together bound him hand and foot; and suffering the said - gentleman to lie still until his furie were past, hee within an hower - came againe to himselfe, when being demaunded by the Kinges Majestie - what he saw or did all that while, answered, that he had been in a - sounde sleepe. - - _Item_, the saide Doctor did also confesse, that hee had used meanes - sundrie times to obtaine his purpose and wicked intent of the same - gentlewoman, and seeing himselfe disappointed of his intention, hee - determined by all wayes hee might to obtaine the same, trusting by - conjuring, witchraft, and sorcerie, to obtaine it in this manner. - - It happened this gentlewoman being unmarried, had a brother who went - to schoole with the saide Doctor, and calling the saide scholler to - him, demaunded if hee did lie with his sister, who answered he did, - by meanes whereof he thought to obtain his purpose, and therefore - secretly promised to teach him without stripes, so he woulde obtaine - for him three hairs of his sister's privitees, at such time as hee - should spie best occasion for it; which the youth promised - faithfully to performe, and vowed speedily to put it in practice, - taking a piece of conjured paper of his maister to lap them in when - hee had gotten them; and thereupon the boy practised nightly to - obtaine his maister's purpose, especially when his sister was asleep. - - But God, who knoweth the secret of all harts, and revealeth all - wicked and ungodly practices, would not suffer the intents of this - divelish Doctor to come to that purpose which hee supposed it woulde, - and therefore to declaire that hee was heavily offended with his - wicked intent, did so work by the gentlewoman's own meanes, that in - the ende the same was discovered and brought to light; for shee being - one night asleep, and her brother in bed with her, sodainly cried out - to her mother, declaring that her brother woulde not suffer her to - sleepe; whereupon, her mother having a quicke capacitie, did - vehemently suspect _Doctor Fian's_ intention, by reason shee was a - witch of herself, and therefore presently arose, and was very - inquisitive of the boy to understand his intent, and the better to - know the same, did beat him with sundrie stripes, whereby hee - discovered the truth unto her. - - The mother, therefore, being well practised in witchcraft, did thinke - it most convenient to meete with the Doctor in his owne arte, and - thereupon took the paper from the boy wherein hee would have put the - same haires, and went to a yong heyfer which never had borne calf, - nor gone unto the bull, and with a paire of sheeres clipped off three - haires from the udder of the cow, and wrapt them in the same paper, - which shee again delivered to the boy, then willing him to give the - same to his saide maister, which hee immediately did. - - The schoole maister, so soone as he did recieve them, thinking them - indeede to be the maids haires, went straight and wrought his arte - upon them: But the Doctor had no sooner done his intent to them, but - presently the hayfer cow, whose haires they were indeede, came unto - the door of the church wherein the schoole maister was, into the - which the hayfer went, and made towards the schoole maister, leaping - and dancing upon him, and following him forth of the church, and to - what place soever he went, to the great admiration of all the - townsmen of Saltpans, and many others who did behold the same. - - The report whereof made all men imagine that hee did worke it by the - divel, without whome it coulde never have been so sufficiently - effected; and thereupon the name of the saide Doctor Fian (who was - but a young man), began to grow common among the people of Scotland, - that he was secretly nominated for a notable conjurer. - - All which, although in the beginning he denied, and woulde not - confesse, yet having felt the paine of the bootes,[4] (and the charme - stinted as aforesaide) hee confessed all the aforesaide to be most - true, without producing any witnesses to justifie the same; and - thereupon before the Kings Majestie hee subscribed the sayd - confessione with his owne hande, which for truth remaineth upon - record in Scotland. - - [4] We have no doubt that the bootes were a most efficacious engine - to procure a confession, and the Doctor would most likely have - confessed that he had the moon in his pocket by the same means. ED. - - After that the depositions and examinations of the sayd Doctor Fian, - alias Cuningham, was taken, as alreddie is declared, with his own - hand willingly set thereunto, hee was by the maister of the prison - commited to ward, and appointed to a chamber by himselfe, where - foresaking his wicked wayes, acknowledging his most ungodly life, - shewing that hee had too much followed the allurements and - enticements of Sathan, and fondly practised his conclusions by - conjuring, witchcraft, inchantment, sorcerie, and such like, he - renounced the divel and all his wicked workes, vowed to lead the lyfe - of a Christian, and seemed newly converted towards God. - - The morrow after, upon conference had with him, hee granted that the - divel had appeared unto him in the night before, appareled all in - blacke, with a white wande in his hande; and that the divel demanded - of him if hee woulde continue his faithfull service, according to his - first oath and promise made to that effect. Whome (as hee then - saide), hee utterly renounced to his face, and said unto him in this - manner, avoide, Satan, avoide, for I have listened too much unto - thee, and by the same thou hast undone me, in respect whereof I - utterly forsake thee: To whome the divel answered, that once ere thou - die thou shalt bee mine; and with that (as hee sayd), the divel - brake the white wande, and immediately vanished forth of his sight. - - Thus all the daie this Doctor Fian continued verie solitarie, and - seemed to have a care of his owne soule, and would call upon God, - shewing himselfe penitent for his wicked lyfe; nevertheless, the same - night hee found such meanes that he stole the key of the prison doore - and chamber in which he was, which in the night he opened and fled - awaie to the Saltpans, where he was alwayes resident, and first - apprehended. Of whose sodaine departure when the Kings Majestie had - intelligence, hee presently caused dilligent inquirie to be made for - his apprehension; and for the better effecting thereof, hee sent - public proclamations into all parts of his land to the same effect. - By meanes of whose hot and harde pursuite he was again taken and - brought to prison; and then being called before the Kings Highness, - he was reexamined as well touching his departure, as also touching - all that had before happened. - - But this Doctor, notwithstanding that his owne confession appeareth - remaining in recorde under his owne hande writting, and the same - thereunto fixed in the presence of the Kings Majestie and sundrie of - his councill, yet did he utterly denie the same. - - Thereupon the Kings Majestie percieving his stubborne willfullness, - concieved and imagined that in the time of his absence hee had - entered into newe conference and league with the _divell_ his - maister; and that hee had beene again newely marked, for the which - he was narrowly searched, but it coulde not in anie waie be founde; - yet for more tryal of him to make him confesse, he was commanded to - have a most strange torment, which was done in this manner following. - - His nails upon all his fingers were riven and pulled off with an - instrument called in Scottich a Turkas, which in England we call a - payre of pincers, and under everie nayle there was thrust in thro - needels over even up to the heads. At all which torments - notwithstanding the Doctor never shronke anie whit, neither would he - then confesse it the sooner for all the tortures inflicted upon him. - - Then was hee with all convenient speede, by commandment, convaied - againe to the torment of the bootes, wherein hee continued a long - time, and did abide so many blows in them, that his legges were - crusht and beaten together as small as might bee, and the bones and - flesh so bruised, that the blood and marrow spouted forth in great - abundance, whereby they were made unserviceable for ever. And - notwithstanding all these grievous paines and cruel torments hee - woulde not confesse anie thing, so deeply had the _divel_ entered - into his hart, that hee utterly denied that which he before avouched, - and would saie nothing thereunto but this, that what hee had done and - sayde before, was only done and sayde for fear of paynes which he had - endured. - - Upon great consideration, therefore, taken by the Kings Majestie and - his councell, as well for the due execution of justice upon such - detestable malefactors, as also for examples sake, to remayne a - terrour to all others hereafter that shall attempt to deale in the - lyke wicked and ungodlye actions, as witchcraft, sorcerie, - cunjuration, and such lyke, the saide Doctor Fian was soon after - arraigned, condemned, and adjudged by the law to die, and then to be - burned according to the lawe of that lande provided in that behalfe. - Whereupon he was put into a carte, and being first stranguled, hee - was immediately put into a great fire, being readie provided for that - purpose, and there burned in the Castile Hill of Edenbrough, on a - Saterdaie in the ende of Januarie last past, 1591. - - The rest of the witches which are not yet executed, remayne in prison - till farther triall and knowledge of his Majesties pleasure. - - * * * * * - - This strange discourse before recited, may perhaps give some occasion - of doubt to such as shall happen to reade the same, and thereby - conjecture that the Kings Majestie would hazzarde himselfe in the - presence of such notorious witches, least thereby might have ensued - great danger to his person and the general state of the land, which - thing in truth might wel have beene feared. But to answer generally - to such let this suffice; that first it is well known that the King - is the child and servant of God, and they but the servants to the - devil; he is the Lord's anointed, and they but vesseles of God's - wrath; hee is a true Christian, and trusteth in God; they worse than - infidels, for they only trust in the divel, who daily serve them, - till hee have brought them to utter destruction. But hereby it - seemeth that his Highness carried a magnanimous and undaunted mind, - not feared with their inchantments, but resolute in this, that so - long as God is with him hee feareth not who is against him; and - trulie, the whole scope of this Treatise dooth so plainlie laie open - the wonderfull Providence of the Almightie, that if hee had not been - defended by his omnipotence and power, his Highness had never - returned alive in his voiage from Denmarke, so there is no doubt but - God woulde as well defend him on the land as on the sea, where they - pretended their damnable practice. - - FINIS. - - - - - ANOTHER - - ACCOUNT - - OF THE - - FOREGOING TRANSACTIONS, - - _Extracted from_ SIR JAMES MELVIL'S _Memoirs_, page 388, octavo - edition. - - - About this time many witches were taken in Lothian, who deposed - concerning some design of the Earl of Bothwell's against his - Majesty's person. Which coming to the said Earl's ears, he entered in - ward within the Castle of Edinburgh, desiring to be tried, alledging - that the devil, who was a liar from the beginning, ought not to be - credited, nor yet the witches, his sworn servants. Especially a - renowned midwife called Amy Simson affirmed, that she, in company - with nine other witches, being convened in the night beside - Prestonpans, the devil their master being present, standing in the - midst of them, a body of wax, shapen and made by the said Amy Simson, - wrapped within a linnen cloth, was first delivered to the devil; who, - after he had pronounced his verdict, delivered the said picture to - Amy Simson, and she to her next neighbour, and so every one round - about, saying, _This is King_ James VI. _ordered to be consumed at - the instance of a nobleman_, Francis Earl Bothwell. Afterward again - at their meeting by night in the kirk of North Berwick, where the - devil, clad in a black gown, with a black hat upon his head, preached - unto a great number of them out of the pulpit, having light candles - round about him. - - The effect of his language was to know what hurt they had done; how - many they had gained to their opinion since the last meeting; what - success the melting of the picture had, and such other vain things. - And because an old silly poor ploughman, called Gray Meilt, chanced - to say, that nothing ailed the King yet, God be thanked, the devil - gave him a great blow. Thus divers among them entred in reasoning, - marvelling that all their devilry could do no harm to the King, as it - had done to divers others. The devil answered, _il est un homme de - Dieu_, certainly he is a man of God, and does no wrong wittingly, but - he is inclined to all Godliness, justice, and vertue, therefore God - hath preserved him in the midst of many dangers.[5] Now, after that - the devil had ended his admonitions, he came down out of the pulpit, - and caused all the company come kiss his arse; which they said was - cold like ice, his body hard like iron, as they thought who handled - him, his face was terrible, his nose like the beak of an eagle, great - burning eyes, his hands and his legs were hoary, with claws upon his - hands and feet like the griffin;--he spoke with a low voice. - - [5] It was certainly very kind in the devil thus to vouch for James's - being 'a man of God, and one who did no wrong wittingly, but was - inclined to all Godliness, Justice, and Virtue.' This is a most - excellent character. But posterity are inclined to be of Earl - Bothwell's opinion, that the devil is a liar, and ought not to be - credited. ED. - - The tricks and tragedies he played then among so many men and women - in this country, will hardly get credit by posterity; the history - whereof, with their whole depositions, was written by Mr James - Carmichael, minister of Haddington.[6] Among other things, some of - them did shew, that there was a westland man, called Richard Graham, - who had a familiar spirit, the which Richard they said could both do - and tell many things, chiefly against the Earl of Bothwell. Whereupon - the said Richard Graham was apprehended and brought to Edinburgh; - and, being examined before his Majesty, I being present, he granted - that he had a familiar spirit which shewed him sundrie things, but he - denied that he was a witch, or had any frequentation with them. But - when it was answered again, how that Amy Simson had declared, that he - caused the Earl of Bothwell address him to her, he granted that to be - true, and that the Earl of Bothwell had knowledge of him by Effe - Machalloun and Barbary Napier, Edinburgh women. Whereupon he was sent - for by the Earl Bothwell, who required his help to cause the Kings - Majesty his master to like well of him. And to that effect he gave - the said Earl some drug or herb, willing him at some convenient time - to touch therewith his Majesty's face. Which being done by the said - Earl ineffectually, he dealt again with the said Richard to get his - Majesty wrecked, as Richard alledged; who said, he could not do such - things himself, but that a notable midwife, who was a witch, called - Amy Simson, could bring any such purpose to pass. Thus far the said - Richard Graham affirmed divers times before the council; - nevertheless, he was burnt with the said Simson, and many other - witches. This Richard alledged, that it was certain what is reported - of the fairies, and that spirits may take a form, and be seen, though - not felt. - - [6] This probably is the author of the foregoing 'True Discourse.' - ED. - - - - - ADVERTISEMENT. - - - From the foregoing '_True Discourse_,' it will be seen what an active - part James took in the examination of Doctor Fian and the other - witches. From this source he most probably collected those materials - which he has wrought up into a _Daemonologie_, a work which no doubt - contributed to obtain for him from the English bishops, the - appelation of '_the British Solomon_.' In this work he appears to be - more intimately acquainted with the internal polity of the _Devil's_ - kingdom, than he was with his own. The kingdom of _Sathan_ was then - in its zenith of power; but, like other states and kingdoms, it has - sunk into great weakness and debility. The '_horn'd diel_,' who could - then make the greatest personages shake in their shoes, cannot now - frighten a child; and the '_roaring lion_,' who used to be going - about seeking whom he might devour, must surely be a better - housekeeper than formerly, as he is never seen abroad, even by an old - woman. - - From the _Daemonologie_ we have made copious extracts, that our - readers may have an idea of the days of '_langsyne_,' when there was - plenty of _diels_, _witches_, _fairies_, _and water kelpies_, all - over the country. Those, therefore, who are anxious to know how - affairs are managed in the '_kingdom of darkness_,' and can rely on - the word of a king for the truth of it, will be here amply gratified. - - So, courteous reader, I bid thee farewell, - - The EDITOR. - - - - - EXTRACTS - - FROM - - KING JAMES'S DAEMONOLOGIE, - - CONCERNING - - _SORCERY AND WITCHCRAFT_. - - - _The First Entresse and Prentiship of them that give themselves to - Witchcraft._ - - The persons that give themselves to witchcraft, are of two sorts, - rich and of better accompt, poore and of baser degree. These two - degrees answere to the passions in them, which the divell uses as - meanes to entice them to his service; for such of them as are in - great miserie and povertie, he allures to follow him, by promising - unto them great riches and worldly commoditie. Such as though rich, - yet burne in a desperate desire of revenge, he allures them by - promises to get their turne satisfied to their hearts contentment. It - is to be noted now, that that olde and craftie enemie of ours - assailes none, though touched with any of these two extremities, - except he first finde an entresse ready for him, either by the great - ignorance of the person he deales with, joyned with an evill life, or - else by their carelessnesse and contempt of God. And finding them in - an utter despaire, he prepares the way by feeding them craftely in - their humour, and filling them further and further with despaire, - while hee finde the time proper to discover himself unto them. At - which time, either upon their walking solitarie in the fieldes, or - else lying pausing in their bed, but alwaies without the company of - any other, hee, either by a voyce, or in likenesse of a man, inquires - of them what troubles them, and promiseth them a suddaine and - certaine way of remedie, upon condition, on the other part, that they - follow his advise, and doe such things as he will require of them. - Their mindes being prepared beforehand, they easily agree unto that - demand of his, and syne sets another tryist where they may meete - againe. At which time, before hee proceede any further with them, hee - first perswades them to addict themselves to his service, which being - easily obtained, he then discovers what he is unto them, makes them - to renounce their God and baptisme directly, and gives them his marke - upon some secret place of their bodie, which remaines soare unhealed - while his next meeting with them, and thereafter ever insensible, - howsoever it be nipped or pricked by any, as is daily prooved, to - give them a proofe thereby, that as in that doing he could hurt and - heale them, so all their ill and well doing thereafter must depend - upon him; and, besides that, the intolerable dolour that they feele - in that place where he hath marked them, serves to waken them, and - not to let them rest, while their next meeting againe; fearing lest - otherwaies they might either forget him, being as new prentises, and - not well enough founded yet in that fiendly follie; or else - remembering of that horrible promise they made him at their last - meeting, they might skunner at the same, and presse to call it backe. - At their third meetinge, hee makes a shew to be carefull to performe - his promises, either by teaching them waies how to get themselves - revenged, if they be of that sort, or else by teaching them lessons - how by most vile and unlawfull meanes they may obtaine gaine and - worldly commoditie, if they be of the other sort. - - * * * * * - - _The Witches actions divided into two parts--The actions proper to - their own persons--The forme of their Conventions and adoring of - their Master._ - - Their actions may be divided into two parts; the actions of their - owne persons, and the actions proceeding from them towards any other; - and this division being well understood, will easily resolve what is - possible to them to doe. For although all that they confesse is no - lie upon their part, yet doubtlesly, in my opinion, a part of it is - not indeede according as they take it to be, for the divell illudes - the senses of these schollers of his in many things. - - To the effect that they may performe such services of their false - master as he employs them in, the devill, as God's ape, counterfeits - in his servants this service and forme of adoration that God - prescribed and made his servants to practise; for as the servants of - God publikely use to conveene for serving of him, so makes he them in - great numbers to conveene (though publikely they dare not), for his - service. As none conveenes to the adoration and worshipping of God, - except they be marked with his seale, the sacrament of baptisme; so - none serves Satan, and conveenes to the adoring of him, that are not - marked with that marke whereof I alreadie spake. As the minister sent - by God teacheth plainely at the time of their publike conventions, - how to serve him in spirit and trewth, so that unclean spirit, in his - owne person, teacheth his disciples at the time of their conveening, - how to worke all kind of mischiefe, and craves coumpt of all their - horrible and detestable proceedings passed for advancement of his - service: Yea, that hee may the more vilely counterfeit and scorne - God, he oft times makes his slaves to conveene in these very places - which are destinate and ordained for the conveening of the servants - of God, (I meane by churches.) But this farre which I have yet said, - I not onely take it to be trew in their opinions, but even so to be - indeed; for the forme that he used in counterfeiting God amongst the - Gentiles, makes me so to think; as God spake by his oracles, spake he - not so by his? As God had as well bloodie sacrifices, as others - without blood, had not he the like? As God had churches sanctified to - his service, with altars, priests, sacrifices, ceremonies, and - prayers, had he not the like polluted to his service? As God gave - responses by _Urim_ and _Thummim_, gave he not his responses by the - intralles of beasts, by the singing of fowles, and by their actions - in the aire? As God by visions, dreames, and extasies, revealed what - was to come, and what was his will unto his servants, used hee not - the like meanes to forewarne his slaves of things to come? Yea, even - as God loved cleanenesse, hated vice and impuritie, and appointed - punishments therefore, used he not the like, (though falsly I grant, - and but in eschewing the lesse inconvenience, to draw them upon a - greater), yet dissimulated he not, I say, so farre as to appoint his - priests to keepe their bodies cleane and undefiled, before their - asking responses of him? And fained he not God, to be a protectour of - every vertue, and a just revenger of the contrarie? This reason then - mooves me, that as he is that same divell, and as crafty now as he - was then, so will he not spare as pertly in these actions that I have - spoken of concerning the witches' persons; but further, witches oft - times confesse, not only his conveening in the church with them, but - his occupying of the pulpit: Yea, their forme of adoration to be the - kissing of his hinder parts, which, though it seeme ridiculous, yet - may it likewise be trew, seeing we reade that in Calicute he appeared - in forme of a goat-bucke, hath publikely that unhonest homage done - unto him by every one of the people. So ambitious is he, and greedy - of honour, (which procured his fall) that he will even imitate God in - that part where it is said, that Moyses could see but the _hinder - parts of God for the brightnesse of his glory_. - - * * * * * - - _What are the wayes possible whereby the Witches may transport - themselves to places farre distant?--And what are impossible and - meere illusions of Satan?_ - - PHI.--But by what way say they, or thinke yee it possible, they can - come to these unlawfull conventions?[7] - - [7] The Daemonologie is written by way of dialogue, in which - Philomathes and Epistemon reason the matter. - - EPI.--There is the thing which I esteeme their senses to be deluded - in, and though they lie not in confessing of it, because they thinke - it to be trew, yet not to be so in substance or effect; for they say, - that by divers meanes they may conveene, either to the adoring of - their master, or to the putting in practise any service of his - committed unto their charge; one way is naturall, which is naturall - riding, going, or sailing, at what houre their master comes and - advertises them; and this way may be easily beleeved; another way is - somewhat more strange, and yet it is possible to bee trew, which is, - by being caried by the force of the spirit, which is their conducter, - either above the earth, or above the sea, swiftly to the place where - they are to meet; which I am perswaded to bee likewise possible, in - respect, that as Habakkuk was carried by the angel in that forme to - the den where Daniel lay, so I thinke the divell will be readie to - imitate God as well in that as in other things; which is much more - possible to him to doe, being a spirit, then to a mighty wind, being - but a naturall meteore to transport from one place to another a - solide body, as is commonly and daily seene in practise; but in this - violent forme they cannot be caried but a short bounds, agreeing with - the space that they may retain their breath, for if it were longer, - their breath could not remain unextinguished, their body being caried - in such a violent and forcible manner; as by example, if one fall off - a small height, his life is but in perill, according to the hard or - soft lighting; but if one fall from an high and stay rocke, his - breath will be forcibly banished from the body before he can win to - the earth, as is oft seene by experience; and in this transporting - they say themselves, that they are invisible to any other, except - amongst themselves, which may also be possible in my opinion; for if - the devill may forme what kinde of impressions he pleases in the - aire, why may he not farre easilier thicken and obscure so the aire - that is next about them, by contracting it straite together, that the - beames of any other man's eyes cannot pierce throw the same to see - them? But the third way of their comming to their conventions is that - wherein I thinke them deluded; for some of them say, that being - transformed in the likenesse of a little beast or foule, they will - come and pierce through whatsoever house or church, though all - ordinarie passages be closed, by whatsoever open the aire may enter - in at; and some say, that their bodies lying still, as in an extasie, - their spirits will be ravished out of their bodies, and caried to - such places; and for verifying thereof, will give evident tokens, as - well by witnesses that have seene their body lying senseless in the - mean time, as by naming persons with whom they met, and giving tokens - what purpose was amongst them, whom otherwise they could not have - known; for this forme of journeying they affirme to use most, when - they are transported from one countrey to another. - - PHI.--But the reasons that moove me to thinke that these are meere - illusions, are these--first, for them that are transformed in - likenesse of beasts or foules, can enter through so narrow passages, - although I may easily beleeve that the divell could by his - workmanship upon the aire, make them appeare to be in such formes, - either to themselves, or to others; yet how can he contract a solide - body within so little room? I think it is directly contrary to - itselfe; for to be made so little, and yet not diminished; to be so - straitly drawn together, and yet feele no paine, I thinke it is so - contrary to the qualitie of a naturall bodie, and so like to the - little transubstantiate god in the Papists masse, that I can never - beleeve it. So to have a quantitie, is so proper to a solide body, - that as all philosophers conclude, it cannot be any more without one, - then a spirit can have one; for when Peter came out of the prison, - and the doores all locked, it was not by any contracting of his body - in so little roome, but by the giving place of the doore, though - unespied by the gaylors; and yet is there no comparison, when this is - done, betwixt the power of God and of the divel. As to their forme of - extasie and spirituall transporting, it is certaine the soules going - out of the body, is the onely definition of naturall death; and who - are once dead, God forbid we should thinke that it should lie in the - power of all the divels in hell to restore them to their life again, - although he can put his owne spirit in a dead body, for that is the - office properly belonging to God; and, besides that, the soule once - parting from the body, cannot wander any longer in the world, but to - the owne resting place must it goe immediately, abiding the - conjunction of the body again at the latter day. And what Christ or - the prophets did miraculously in this case, it can in no Christian - man's opinion be made common with the divel. As for any tokens that - they give for proving of this, it is very possible to the divel's - craft to perswade them to these meanes; for he being a spirit, may he - not so ravish their thoughts, and dull their senses, that their body - lying as dead, he may object to their spirits, as it were in a - dreame, and represent such formes of persons, of places, and other - circumstances, as he pleases to illude them with? Yea, that he may - deceive them with the greater efficacie, may he not, at the same - instant, by fellow angels of his, illude such other persons so in - that same fashion, with whom hee makes them to beleeve that they - mette, that all their reports and tokens, though severally examined, - may every one agree with another? And that whatsoever actions, either - in hurting men or beasts, or whatsoever other thing that they falsly - imagine at that time to have done, may by himselfe or his marrowes at - that same time be done indeed; so as if they would give for a token - of their being ravished at the death of such a person within so short - a space thereafter, whom they beleeve to have poisoned or witched at - that instant, might he not at that same houre have smitten that same - person, by the permission of God, to the farther deceiving of them, - and to moove others to beleeve them? And this is surely the likelyest - way, and most according to reason, which my judgement can finde out - in this and whatsoever other unnatural points of their confession. - - * * * * * - - _Witches actions towards others--Why there are more Women of that - Craft then Men--What things are possible to them to effectuate by the - power of their Master--What is the surest remedy of the harmes done - by them._ - - PHI.--FORSOOTH your opinion in this seems to cary most reason with - it; and since ye have ended then the actions belonging properly to - their owne persons, say forward now to their actions used towards - others. - - EPI.--In their actions used towards others, three things ought to be - considered; first, the manner of their consulting thereupon; next, - their part as instruments; and, last, their master's part, who puts - the same in execution. As to their consultations thereupon, they use - them oftest in the churches, where they conveene for adoring; at - which time their master enquiring at them what they would be at, - every one of them propones unto him what wicked turne they would have - done, either for obtaining of riches, or for revenging them upon any - whom they have malice at; who granting their demaund, as no doubt - willingly he will, since it is to doe evill, hee teacheth them the - meanes whereby they may doe the same. As for little trifling turnes - that women have adoe with, he causeth them to joynt dead corpses, and - to make powders thereof, mixing such other things thereamongst as he - gives unto them. - - PHI.--But before ye goe further, permit me, I pray you, to interrupt - you one word, which ye have put me in memorie of by speaking of - women; What can be the cause that there are twentie women given to - that craft where there is one man? - - EPI.--The reason is easie, for as that sexe is frailer than man is, - so is it easier to be intrapped in these grosse snares of the divell, - as was over-well prooved to be trew, by the serpent's deceiving of - Eve at the beginning, which makes him the homelier with that sexe - sensine. - - PHI.--Returne now where ye left. - - EPI.--To some others at these times he teacheth how to make pictures - of waxe or clay, that by the roasting thereof, the persons that they - beare the name of may be continually melted or dried away by - continuall sicknesse. To some he gives such stones or pouders as will - helpe to cure or cast on diseases; and to some hee teacheth kindes of - uncouth poysons, which mediciners understand not; not that any of - these meanes which he teacheth them (except the poysons, which are - composed of things naturall), can of themselves helpe any thing to - these turnes that they are employed in, but onely being God's ape, as - well in that, as in all other things. Even as God by his sacraments, - which are earthly of themselves, workes a heavenly effect, though no - waves by any cooperation in them; and as Christ by clay and spettle - wrought together, _opened the eyes of the blinde man_, suppose there - was no vertue in that which he outwardly applied, so the divel will - have his outward meanes to be shewes as it were of his doing, which - hath no part or cooperation in his turnes with him, how farre that - ever the ignorants be abused in the contrarie. And as to the effects - of these two former parts, TO WIT, the consultations and the outward - meanes, they are so wonderfull, as I dare not alledge any of them - without joyning a sufficient reason of the possibilitie thereof; for - leaving all the small trifles among wives, and to speake of the - principall points of their craft, for the common trifles thereof, - they can doe without converting well enough by themselves, these - principall points, I say, are these--they can make men or women to - love or hate other, which may be very possible to the divel to - effectuate, seeing he being a subtile spirit, knowes well enough how - to perswade the corrupted affection of them whom God will permit him - to deal with,--they can lay the sicknesse of one upon another, which - likewise is very possible unto him; for since by God's permission he - laide sicknesse upon Job, why may he not farre easilier lay it upon - any other? For as an old practitian, hee knowes well enough what - humour domines most in any of us, and as a spirit he can subtillie - waken up the same, making it peccant, or to abound, as hee thinkes - meet, for troubling of us, when God will so permit him. And for the - taking off of it, no doubt he will be glad to relieve such of present - paine as he may thinke by these meanes to perswade to be catched in - his everlasting snares and fetters. They can bewitch and take the - life of men or women, by roasting of the pictures, as I spake of - before, which likewise is verie possible to their master to performe; - for although that instrument of waxe have no vertue in that turne - doing, yet may he not very well, even by the same measure that his - conjured slaves melts that waxe at the fire, may he not, I say, at - these same times, subtily as a spirit, so weaken and scatter the - spirits of life of the patient, as may make him on the one part, for - faintnesse, to sweat out the humour of his bodie, and on the other - part, for the not concurrence of these spirits, which causes his - digestion, so debilitate his stomacke, that this humour radicall - continually, sweating out on the one part, and no new good sucke - being put in the place thereof, for lacke of digestion on the other, - he at last shall vanish away, even as his picture will doe at the - fire? And that knavish and cunning workeman, by troubling him onely - at sometimes, makes a proportion so neere betwixt the working of the - one and the other, that both shall end as it were at one time. They - can raise stormes and tempests in the aire, either upon sea or land, - though not universally, but in such a particular place and prescribed - bounds, as God will permit them so to trouble. Which likewise is very - easy to be discerned from any other naturall tempests that are - meteores, in respect of the sudden and violent raising thereof, - together with the short induring of the same. And this is likewise - very possible to their master to doe, hee having such affinitie with - the aire, as being a spirit, and having such power of the forming and - mooving thereof; for in the Scripture, that stile of the _prince of - the aire_, is given unto him. They can make folkes to become - phrenticque or maniacque, which likewise is very possible to their - master to doe, since they are but naturall sicknesses, and so he may - lay on these kindes as well as any others. They can make spirits - either to follow and trouble persons, or haunt certaine houses, and - affray oftentimes the inhabitants, as hath been knowne to be done by - our witches at this time. And likewise, they can make some to bee - possessed with spirits, and so to become very demoniacques; and this - last sort is very possible likewise to the divel their master to doe, - since he may easily send his owne angels to trouble in what forme he - pleases any whom God will permit him so to use. - - PHI.--But will God permit these wicked instruments, by the power of - the devill their master, to trouble by any of these meanes any that - beleeve in him? - - EPI.--No doubt, for there are three kindes of folkes whom God will - permit so to be tempted or troubled; the wicked for their horrible - sinnes, to punish them in the like measure; the godly that are - sleeping in any great sinnes or infirmities, and weaknesse in faith, - to waken them up the faster by such an uncouth forme; and even some - of the best, that their patience may be tried before the world, as - Job's was. For why may not God use any kinde of extraordinarie - punishment, when it pleases him, as well as the ordinarie rods of - sicknesse or other adversities? - - PHI.--Who then may be free from these devilish practises? - - EPI.--No man ought to presume so farre as to promise any impunitie to - himselfe; for God hath before all beginnings, preordinated as well - the particular sorts of plagues, as of benefites, for every man, - which in the owne time he ordaines them to be visited with; and yet - ought we not to be the more afraide for that, of any thing that the - divell and his wicked instruments can doe against us, for we daily - fight against the divell in a hundreth other wayes; and therefore, as - a valiant captaine affraies no more being at the combate, nor stayes - from his purpose for the rummishing shot of a canon, nor the small - clacke of a pistolet, suppose he be not certaine what may light upon - him; even so ought we boldly to goe forward in fighting against the - divell, without any great terrour for these his rarest weapons, nor - for the ordinary, whereof we have daily the proofe. - - PHI.--Is it not lawfull then, by the helpe of some other witch, to - cure the disease that is casten on by that craft? - - EPI.--No wayes lawfull, for it is an axiome of theologie, that we are - not to doe evil, that good maie come of it. - - PHI.--How then may these diseases be lawfully cured? - - EPI.--Only by earnest prayer unto God, by amendment of their lives, - and by sharpe pursuing every one, according to his calling of these - instruments of Satan, whose punishment to the death will be a - salutarie sacrifice for the patient. And this is not onely the - lawfull way, but likewise the most sure; for by the devil's meanes - _can never the devill be casten out_, as Christ sayth; and when such - a cure is used, it may well serve for a short time, but at the last - it will doubtlesly tend to the utter perdition of the patient, both - in body and soule. - - - _What sort of Folkes are least or most subject to receive harm by - Witchcraft--What power they have to harme the Magistrate, and upon - what respects they have any power in prison--And to what end may or - will the Devill appeare to them therein--Upon what respects the - Devill appeares in sundry shapes to sundry of them at any time._ - - PHI.--But who dare take upon him to punish them, if no man can be - sure to be free from their unnatural invasions? - - EPI.--Wee ought not the more of that restraine from vertue, that the - way whereby we clime thereunto be straight and perillous; but, - besides that, as there is no kinde of persons so subject to receive - harme of them, as these that are of infirme and weake faith, so have - they so small power over none, as over such as zealously and - earnestly pursue them. - - PHI.--Then they are like the pest which smites these sickarest that - flies it farthest? - - EPI.--It is even so with them, for neither is it able to them to use - any false cure upon a patient, except the patient first beleeve in - their power, and so hazard the tinsell of his owne soule, nor yet can - they have lesse power to hurt any, nor such as contemne most their - doings, so being it comes of faith, and not of any vaine arrogancie - in themselves. - - PHI.--But what is their power against the Magistrate? - - EPI.--Lesse or greater, according as he deales with them; for if hee - be slothfull towards them, God is very able to make them instruments - to waken and punish his sloth; but if he be the contrary, hee, - according to the just law of God, and allowable law of all nations, - will be diligent in examining and punishing of them, God will not - permit their master to trouble or hinder so good a worke. - - PHI.--But fra they be once in hands and firmance, have they any - further power in their craft? - - EPI.--That is according to the forme of their detention; if they be - but apprehended and deteined by any private person, upon other - private respects, their power no doubt, either in escaping, or in - doing hurt, is no lesse nor ever it was before; but if, on the other - part, their apprehending and detention be by the lawfull magistrate, - upon the just respects of their guiltinesse in that craft, their - power is then no greater than before that ever they medled with their - master; for where God begins justly to strike by his lawfull - lieutenants, it is not in the devil's power to defraud or bereave him - of the office, or effect of his powerful and revenging scepter. - - PHI.--But will never their master come to visite them fra they be - once apprehended and put in firmance? - - EPI.--That is according to the estate that these miserable wretches - are in, for if they be obstinate in still denying, he will not spare, - when hee findes time to speake with them, either if he finde them in - any comfort, to fill them more and more with the vaine hope of some - manner of reliefe, or else if he finde them in a deepe despaire, by - all meanes to augment the same, and to perswade them by some - extraordinarie meanes to put themselves downe, which very commonly - they doe; but if they be penitent and confesse, God will not permit - him to trouble them any more with his presence and allurements. - - PHI.--It is not good using his counsell I see then; but I would - earnestly know, when he appeares to them in prison, what formes uses - he then to take? - - EPI.--Divers formes, even as hee uses to doe at other times unto - them; but ordinarily in such a forme as they agree upon among - themselves; or, if they be but prentises, according to the qualitie - of their circles or conjurations: yet to these capped creatures he - appeares as he pleases, and as he findes meetest for their humours; - for even at their publicke conventions, hee appeares to divers of - them in divers formes, as we have found by the difference of their - confessions in that point; for he deluding them with vaine - impressions in the aire, makes himselfe to seeme more terrible to the - grosser sort, that they may thereby be mooved to feare and reverence - him the more, and lesse monstrous and uncouth like againe to the - craftier sort, lest otherwise they might sturre and skunner at his - uglinesse. - - PHI.--How can he then be felt, as they confesse they have done, if - his body be but of aire? - - EPI.--I heare little of that amongst their confessions, yet may he - make himselfe palpable, either by assuming any dead bodie, and using - the ministerie thereof, or else by deluding as well their sense of - feeling as seeing, which is not impossible to him to doe, since all - our senses, as wee are so weake, and even by ordinarie sicknesses, - will be oftentimes deluded. - - PHI.--But I would speere one word further yet concerning his - appearing to them in prison, which is this, may any other that - chances to be present at that time in the prison see him as well as - they? - - EPI.--Sometimes they will, and sometimes not, as it pleases God. - - - _Of the Tryall and Punishment of Witches--What sort of Accusation - ought to be admitted against them--What is the cause of the - increasing so farre of their number in this age._ - - PHI.--Then to make an end of our conference, since I see it drawes - late, what forme of punishment thinke yee merit these witches? - - EPI.--They ought to be put to death according to the law of God, the - civill and imperial law, and municipall law of all Christian nations. - - PHI.--But what kinde of death I pray you? - - EPI.--It is commonly used by fire, but that is an indifferent thing - to be used in every countrey, according to the law or custome - thereof. - - PHI.--But ought no sexe, age, nor ranke, to be exempted? - - EPI.--None at all, (being so used by the lawfull magistrate), for it - is the highest point of idolatry wherein no exception is admitted by - the law of God. - - PHI.--Then barnes may not be spared? - - EPI.--Yea, not a haire the lesse of my conclusion, for they are not - that capable of reason as to practise such things; and for any being - in company, and not reveiling thereof, their less and ignorant age - will no doubt excuse them. - - PHI.--I see ye condemne them all that are of the counsell of such - craftes. - - EPI.--No doubt the consulters, trusters in, overseers, interteiners, - or stirrers up of these craftes folkes, are equally guiltie with - themselves that are the practisers. - - PHI.--Whether may the prince then, or supreme magistrate, spare or - oversee any that are guilty of that craft, upon some great respects - knowen to him? - - EPI.--The prince or magistrate, for further trials cause, may - continue the punishing of them such a certaine space as he thinkes - convenient, but in the end to spare the life, and not to strike when - God bids strike, and so severely punish in so odious a fault and - treason against God, it is not onely unlawfull, but doubtlesse no - lesse sinne in that magistrate, nor it was in Saules sparing of Agag; - and so comparable to the sinne of witchcraft itselfe, as Samuel - alledged at that time. - - PHI.--Surely then, I think since this crime ought to be so severely - punished, judges ought to beware to condemne any but such as they are - sure are guiltie, neither should the clattering report of a carling - serve in so weightie a case. - - EPI.--Judges ought indeede to beware whom they condemne, for it is as - great a crime (as Solomon saith), to condemne the innocent as to let - the guilty escape free, neither ought the report of any one infamous - person be admitted for a sufficient proof which can stand of no law. - - PHI.--And what may a number of guilty persons confessions worke - against one that is accused? - - EPI.--The assise must serve for interpretour of our law in that - respect, but in my opinion, since in a matter of treason against the - prince, barnes or wives, or never so diffamed persons, may of our - law serve for sufficient witnesses and proofes, I thinke surely that - by a farre greater reason such witnesses may be sufficient in matters - of high treason against God; for who but witches can be prooves, and - so witnesses of the doings of witches? - - PHI.--Indeed, I trow they will be loath to put any honest man upon - their counsell; but what if they accuse folke to have been present at - their imaginar conventions in the spirit, when their bodies lye - senseless, as ye have said? - - EPI.--I thinke they are not a haire the less guiltie; for the divell - durst never have borrowed their shadow or similitude to that turne, - if their consent had not beene at it; and the consent in these turnes - is death of the lawe. - - PHI.--Then Samuel was a witch, for the divell resembled his shape, - and played his person in giving response to Saul. - - EPI.--Samuel was dead as well before that, and so none could slaunder - him with medling in that unlawful arte; for the cause why, as I take - it, that God will not permit Satan to use the shapes of similitudes - of any innocent persons at such unlawfull times is, that God will not - permit that any innocent persons shall be slandered with that vile - defection, for then the divell would finde waies anew to calumniate - the best; and this we have in proofe by them that are carried with - the _pharie_, who never see the shadowes of any in that court but of - them that thereafter are tryed to have beene brethren and sisters of - that craft. And this was likewise prooved by the confession of a - young lasse troubled with spirits, laid on her by witchcraft; that - although she saw the shapes of divers men and women troubling her, - and naming the persons whom these shadowes represent; yet never one - of them are founde to be innocent, but all clearely tryed to be most - guiltie, and the most part of them confessing the same. And, besides - that, I thinke it hath beene seldome heard tell of, that any whom - persons guiltie of that crime accused, as having knowen them to be - their marrows by eye-sight, and not by hearesay, but such as were so - accused of witchcraft, could not be clearely tried upon them, were at - the least publikely knowen to be of a very evill life and reputation; - so jealous is God of the fame of them that are innocent in such - causes. And, besides that, there are two other good helps that may be - used for their triall; the one is, the finding of their marke, and - the trying the insensibleness thereof; the other is their fleeting on - the water, for as in a secret murther, if the dead carkasse be at any - time thereafter handled by the murtherer, it will gush out of bloud, - as if the bloud were crying to the heaven for revenge of the - murtherer, God having appointed that secret supernaturall signe for - triall of that secret unnatural crime, so it appeares that God hath - appointed (for a supernatural signe of the monstrous impietie of - witches), that the water shall refuse to receive them in her bosome - that have shaken off them the sacred water of baptisme, and wilfully - refused the benefitie thereof. No, not so much as their eyes are able - to shed teares (threaten and torture them as ye please), while first - they repent, (God not permitting them to dissemble their obstinacie - in so horrible a crime) albeit the women kind especially, be able - otherwayes to shed teares at every light occasion when they will, - yea, although it were dissemblingly like the crocodiles. - - PHI.--Well, wee have made this conference to last as long as leisure - would permit; and to conclude then, since I am to take my leave of - you, I pray God to purge this countrey of these divellish practises, - for they were never so rife in these parts as they are now. - - EPI.--I pray God that so be too; but the causes are over manifest - that make them to be so rife; for the great wickedness of the people - on the one hand, procures this horrible defection, whereby God justly - punisheth sinne by a greater iniquitie; and on the other part, the - consummation of the world and our deliverance drawing neere, makes - Satan to rage the more in his instruments, knowing his kingdome to be - so neere an end.--And so farewell for this time. - - - THE END - - - - - AN - - ANSWER - - OF A - - LETTER - - FROM A - - Gentleman in Fife, - - TO - - A NOBLEMAN, - - CONTAINING A - - BRIEF ACCOUNT OF THE BARBAROUS AND ILLEGAL - TREATMENT THESE POOR WOMEN ACCUSED OF - WITCHCRAFT MET WITH FROM THE BAILLIES OF - PITTENWEEM AND OTHERS--WITH SOME OBSERVATIONS - THEREON. - - To which is added, - - _An Account of the Horrid and Barbarous Murder, - in a Letter from a Gentleman in Fife to his Friend - in Edinburgh, February 5th, 1705._ - - PRINTED IN THE YEAR 1705. - - - - - The two following Tracts give an account of the witches of Pittenweem - in 1705. The first is a concise relation of facts, in which the - minister and magistrates are placed in no very favourable point of - view. The second is an answer to the first, and seems chiefly - intended to obviate the charges that are preferred against the - minister and baillies, but in our opinion with no great success, as - the principal facts are admitted, and the only defence set up is, - that the women were in reality witches. We have given this author's - story in his own words, with such of his remarks as bear upon the - narrative of the other pamphlet, which is all that is necessary at - the present day. - - EDITOR. - - - - - AN - - ANSWER - - OF - - A LETTER FROM A GENTLEMAN IN FIFE, &c. - - - MY LORD, - - I reckon myself very much honoured by your Lordship's letter, - desiring me to write you an account of that horrible murder committed - in Pittenweem. I doubt not, but by this time, your Lordship has seen - the gentleman's letter to his friend thereanent; I refer you to it, - the author thereof being so well informed, and so ingenous, that I'll - assure you, there is nothing in it but what is generally talked and - believed to be true. - - All I can contribute to your Lordship's further information, shall be - by way of a brief narrative of the minister and baillies - unwarrantable imprisoning, and barbarous treating of the poor women. - - I need not write your Lordship a character of Patrick Morton, being - now sufficiently known for a cheat. - - It was upon his accusation allennarly the minister and baillies - imprisoned these poor women, and set a guard of drunken fellows about - them, who by pinching and pricking some of them with pins and - elsions, kept them from sleep for several days and nights together, - the marks whereof were seen by severals a month thereafter. This - cruel usage made some of them learn to be so wise as acknowledge - every question that was asked them; whereby they found the minister - and baillies well pleased, and themselves better treated. - - Notwithstanding of all this, some of the more foolish continued, as - the minister said, hardened in the devil's service, such as White, - Jack, Wallace, Patrick, and others; all which, save the first, were - ordered to the stocks, where they lay for several weeks. - - All this while Patrick Morton's melancholly fancy (to give it no - harsher term), being too much encouraged by severals, and - particularly by the minister's reading to him the case of - Barrgarran's daughter, continued roving after a wonderful manner, - accusing for his tormentors some of the most considerable mens' wives - in the town, but such as the minister and baillies durst not venture - to imprison.--By this your Lordship may see, it was only the weakest - that went to the walls. - - My Lord Rothes, accompanied with several gentlemen of good sense and - reputation, came to Pittenweem, where finding these poor womens' - confessions no wise satisfying, and Patrick Morton a cheat, informed - the privy council thereof, who sent an order to send Patrick over to - them. This turn being given, and Patrick finding that things were not - likely to go so favourably with him as he before fancied, began to - draw to his breeches, and in a short time recovered his former - health, in which he still continues. By this time the baillies began - to be as earnest in emptying their prisons, as ever they were forward - in filling them; so after a long and serious deliberation, they set - them at liberty: but that their last step might be as illegal as - their first, obliged each of them to pay the town-officer the sum of - 8 lib. Scots; to pay which, some of them were forced to sell some - linnen they had reserved for their dead shirts and wynding sheets. - - I beg your Lordship's further patience a little to read these few - following observations: _Obs. 1st_, The baillies and minister sent - and brought several of these women from places without their - jurisdiction--one from Anstruther, and another from the country at - six miles distance. - - _Obs. 2d_, What good could the minister propose to Patrick Morton by - reading to him the book intituled the case of Barrgarran's daughter? - - _Obs. 3d_, After so much injustice done to these poor women, the - baillies and minister obliged them to pay the town-officer eight - pound Scots, is worthy of your Lordship and the rest of the Lords of - the privy council's considerations; and it would be the height of - charity to fall on a method to oblige the minister and baillies to - refound it seven-fold. - - _Obs. 4th_, One Thomas Brown, the only man accused by Patrick Morton, - and imprisoned by the minister and baillies, after a great deal of - hunger and hardship, died in prison, so as this poor woman's murder - was not the first, neither will it be the last, unless by severe - punishments prevented. - - _Obs. 5th_, The baillies in a manner justified these two murthers, by - not allowing them Christian burial, but burying them like dogs, - scarce covering them from the ravens. - - _Obs. 6th_, You may wonder why all along I should say the minister - and baillies? The reason is, because during all this narrative he - exercised more of the civil authority than any of the baillies, and - so continues to do, as you may see by the following late instance. - - The baillies of Pittenweem being conveened before the Lords of Privy - Council on the 14th or 15th of February, I am informed gave in to - them a subscribed account of the murther; and to justify themselves, - assert they had imprisoned several of the murtherers before they left - Pittenweem. It is very true they did so, but they were not long from - the town when the minister set them at liberty. This, I think, is - exercising the office of a civil magistrate: perhaps the minister may - say he did it by the magistrates' order left behind them; then I - think the magistrates were mightily in the wrong to give in to the - Lords of the privy council an account they knew to be false. - - My Lord, this is not the tenth part of what may be said upon this - subject, I hope some other person will be more particular. - - I am, - My LORD, - Your Lordship's - Most humble servant. - - - - - AN - - ACCOUNT - - OF AN - - HORRID AND BARBAROUS MURDER, - - IN A - - - _Letter from a Gentleman in Fife to his Friend in Edinburgh_. - - I doubt not of your being exceedingly surprized with this short and - just account I give you of a most barbarous murder committed in - Pittenweem the 30th of January last. One Peter Morton, a blacksmith - in that town, after a long sickness, pretended that witches were - tormenting him--that he did see them and know them--and, from time to - time, as he declared such and such women to be witches, they were by - order of the magistrates and minister of Pittenweem, apprehended as - such, to a very considerable number, and put into prison. This man, - by his odd postures and fits, which seemed to be very surprizing at - first, wrought himself into such a credit with the people of that - place, that unless the Earl of Rothes, our sheriff, had discovered - his villany, and discouraged that practice, God knows how fatal it - might have proved to many honest families of good credit and - respect. Sir, however, at first many were deceived, yet now all men - of sense are ashamed for giving any credit to such a person; but how - hard it is to root out bad principles once espoused by the rabble, - and how dangerous a thing it is to be at their mercy, will appear by - the tragical account I give you of one of these poor women, Janet - Corphat. - - After she was committed prisoner to the tolbooth, upon a suspicion of - her being a witch, she was well guarded with a number of men, who, by - pinching her, and pricking her with pins, kept her from sleep many - days and nights, threatening her with present death, unless she would - confess herself guilty of witchcraft; which at last she did. This - report spreading abroad, made people curious to converse with her - upon the subject, who found themselves exceedingly disappointed. The - Viscount of Primrose being in Fife occasionally, inclined to satisfy - his curiosity in this matter, the Earl of Kellie, my Lord Lyon, the - Laird of Scotstarvat, and the Laird of Randerston, were with his - Lordship in Pittenweem. Three of the number went to the tolbooth and - discoursed with her, to whom she said, that all that she had - confessed, either of herself or her neighbours, were lies, and cried - out, _God forgive the minister_, and said, that he had beat her one - day with his staff when she was telling him the truth. They asked her - how she came to say any thing that was not true; she cryed out, - _alas, alas, I behoved to say so, to please the minister and - baillies_; and, in the mean time, she begged for Christ's sake not - to tell that she had said so, else she would be murdered. Another - time, when the Laird of Glenagies and Mr Bruce of Kinross, were - telling her, she needed not deny what they were asking her, for she - had confessed as much as would infallibly burn her; she cried out, - _God forbid!_ and to one of the two she said, that from which he - might rationally conclude, she insinuate she had assurance from the - minister her life should not be taken. - - A little before harvest, Mr Ker of Kippilaw, a writer to the signet, - being in Pittenweem, Mr Robert Cook, advocate, went with him to - prison to see this poor woman; Mr Cook, among other questions, asked - her, if she had not renounced her baptism to the devil; she answered, - she never renounced her baptism but to the minister. These were her - words, what she meant by them I know not. The minister having got - account of this from Mr Cook, he sent for her, and in presence of Mr - Cook and Mr Ker in the church, he threatened her very severely, and - commanded the keeper to put her into some prison by herself under the - steeple, least (as he said) she should pervert those who had - confessed. The keeper put her into a prison in which was a low - window, out of which it was obvious that any body could make an - escape; and, accordingly, she made her escape that night. - - Next day when they missed her, they made a very slight search for - her, and promised ten pound Scots to any body that would bring her - back. Mr Gordon, minister at Leuchars, hearing she was in his - parish, eight miles distant from Pittenweem, caused apprehend her, - and sent her prisoner, under custody of two men, on the 30th of - January, to Mr Cowper, minister of Pittenweem, without giving any - notice to the magistrates of the place. When she came to Mr Cowper, - she asked him if he had any thing to say to her? he answered, No. She - could get lodging in no house but with one Nicolas Lawson, one of the - women that had been called witches.--Some say a baillie put her - there. - - The rabble hearing she was in town, went to Mr Cowper, and asked him - what they should do with her? he told them he was not concerned, they - might do what they pleased with her. They took encouragement from - this to fall upon the poor woman, those of the minister's family - going along with them, as I hear; they fell upon the poor creature - immediately, and beat her unmercifully, tying her so hard with a - rope, that she was almost strangled; they dragged her through the - streets, and alongst the shore, by the heels. A baillie, hearing of a - rabble near his stair, came out upon them, which made them - immediately disappear. But the magistrates, though met together, not - taking care to put her into close custody for her safety, the rabble - gathered again immediately, and stretched a rope betwixt a ship and - the shore, to a great height, to which they tied her fast; after - which they swinged her to and fro, from one side to another, in the - mean time throwing stones at her from all corners, until they were - weary; then they loosed her, and with a mighty swing threw her upon - the hard sands, all about being ready in the mean time to receive - her with stones and staves, with which they beat her most cruelly. - Her daughter, in the time of her mother's agony, though she knew of - it, durst not adventure to appear, lest the rabble had used her after - the same manner, being in a house, in great concern and terror, out - of natural affection for her mother, (about which the author was - misinformed in the first edition.) They laid a heavy door upon her, - with which they prest her so sore, that she cried out, to let her up - for Christ's sake, and she would tell the truth. But when they did - let her up, what she said could not satisfy them, and therefore, they - again laid on the door, and with a heavy weight of stones on it, - prest her to death; and to be sure it was so, they called a man with - a horse and a sledge, and made him drive over her corpse backward and - forward several times. When they were sure she was killed outright, - they dragged her miserable carcase to Nicolas Lawson's house, where - they first found her. - - There was a motion made to treat Nicolas Lawson after the same manner - immediately; but some of them being wearied with three hours sport, - as they called it, said it would be better to delay her for another - day's divertisement; and so they all went off. - - It is said that Mr Cowper, in a letter to Mr Gordon, gave some rise - to all this; and Mr Cowper, to vindicate himself, wrote to Mr Gordon, - whose return says, if he were not going to Edinburgh, he would give - him a double of his letter. It's strange he sent him not the - principal. In the postscript, he assures him, he shall conceal it to - meeting. - - 'Tis certain, that Mr Cowper, preaching the Lord's day immediately - after, in Pittenweem, took no notice of the murder, which at least - makes him guilty of sinful silence. Neither did Mr Gordon, in his - letter to Mr Cowper, make any regret for it; and this some construe - to be a justifying of the horrid wickedness in both. - - We are perswaded the government will examine this affair to the - bottom, and lay little stress upon what the magistrates or minister - of Pittenweem will say to smooth over the matter, seeing it's very - well known, that either of them could have quashed the rabble, and - prevented that murder, if they had appeared zealous against it. - - I am sorry I have no better news to tell you, God deliver us from - those principles that tend to such practices. - - I am, - SIR, - Your humble servant. - - - - - A - - JUST REPROOF - - TO THE - - FALSE REPORTS and UNJUST CALUMNIES, - - IN THE - - _FOREGOING LETTERS._ - - - About the month of March last year, one Beatrix Laing, a woman of - very bad fame, who had formerly been under process for using charms, - and refusing to be reconciled to her neighbours, was debarred from - the Lord's table, came to one Patrick Morton, a blacksmith, desiring - him to make some nails, which he refused to do, because otherwise - employed at that time. Upon which she went off muttering some - threatening expressions. A little after, the said Patrick Morton, - with another person in company, carrying some fish by the said - Beatrix Laing's door, they saw a vessel with water placed at the - door, with a burning coal in it. Upon which he was presently strucken - with an impression that it was a charm designed against him, and upon - this a little after he sickened. In this sickness he languished for a - long time; physicians that saw him, could not understand his - distemper, yet tried various medicines, till at length his trouble - increased, and he began to be seized with some unusual fits, which - made them give over. He forbore all this while any accusation of the - person whom he all along suspected for his trouble, at least he made - no mention of it to the minister, who frequently visited him while - under it. But his trouble still increasing, he at length began to - drop some apprehensions of the cause of it. Upon which Beatrix Laing - was called, and by the magistrates, in the said Patrick Morton's - father's house, examined in presence of a great multitude of people, - and owned, that she had placed that vessel with water, and the coal - in it, there; but at that time would give no account of the reason of - it. Being dismissed by the magistrates, she went home, and that same - night, when she was challenged by Katharine Marshal, in her own - house, before Nicolas Lawson, about the lad's trouble, she answered, - that he might blame his own ill tongue for what had befallen him, and - that it was an evil spirit that was troubling him; which was in her - face maintained by the said persons next day, in presence of the - magistrates. Then the boy began to complain of her tormenting him, - and fell into grievous fits of trouble upon her entering the house. - Upon all which she being imprisoned, after some time did acknowledge - to magistrates and minister, in presence of many witnesses, without - threat or torture, (of which we shall speak more afterwards) that she - was displeased with Patrick Morton for his refusing to make some - nails; that she designed to be avenged upon him for it; and that she - used that charm of the coal in the water against him; and that she - renounced her baptism, entered into a compact with the devil some - twelve years before; condescending upon time, place, and her - inducements to engage in his service; and that she, with Nicholas - Lawson, had made a wax picture to torment him, and put pins in it; - which the said Nicolas likewise confessed afterwards, and so - justified the boy's account of the rise of his trouble. - - After this the boy's trouble daily increased, in which there were - many strange things; first his belly, for some time, then his breast, - frequently heaved up to a prodigious height, and instantly went off - again, by a blowing at the mouth like a bellows; frequently he cried - out that such persons as he named were pinching him in his arms, - breast, or some other places of his body, his hands lying all the - while above the clothes, at a distance from one another, in the view - of many of the spectators; and when they looked the places of which - he complained, they saw distinctly the print of nails. Again, he was - frequently cast into swooning fits, became insensible, which was - tried by exquisite pinching the more sensible parts of his body, of - which he complained afterwards when he came out of the fits, though - he took no notice of them, nor felt them, in the time while he was in - these fits. The strongest who essayed to lift his head from the - pillow, were not able to move it, though both his feet and head were - perfectly free of the bed, which was exactly tried: Yea, sometimes - while the trunk of his body and his head were thus rigid and could - not be raised from the pillow, his legs were loose, and any might - move them as they pleased. Sometimes these fits were not so great as - at other times, and then, or when he was falling in, or coming out of - them, several persons lifted him with little difficulty; but when he - was in the depth of the fit, the strongest that essayed it could not - raise him up. Again, when any of the women whom he accused touched - him, and sometimes on their coming into the room he fell into - grievous fits of trouble, and cried out, that such a person was - tormenting him, condescending on their names; and this he did very - frequently, before multitudes of people of different ranks, ready to - attest the same. And commonly such care was taken to prevent his - having any notice, either of the womens' entry, or which of them was - there, that there was no place left for any rational suspicion of - trick or cheat in the matter. He was carefully hoodwinked with - several plies of cloth--the women were brought in with the utmost - secrecy--innocent persons present in the room laid their hands on - him, but yet he never shewed the least concern, save when the accused - persons touched him. Several times gentlemen that seemed jealous that - there was somewhat of an imposture in the case, were allowed and - invited to make the nicest trial, and found it hold. Several pitiful - cavils have been used about this, and other instances of the boy's - trouble, which proceed either from ignorance of the circumstances of - matter of fact, or gross inadvertency in not observing the several - variations of the boy's case; which, had they been considered, they - would have been so far from giving any countenance to the conclusion - aimed at by these objectors, that they would strongly have enforced a - conviction of something preter-natural in the case. - - The author then proceeds to give an account of Janet Corphat, the - woman who was murdered. She was a person of very bad fame, who of a - long time was reputed a witch, frequently used charms, and was wont - commonly to threaten persons who disobliged her, and such - consequences sometimes followed, as made her the terror of many, both - of the town and country, which might be verified by particular - instances, if it were necessary. She was not at first delated by - Patrick Morton, though afterwards he complained of her as one of his - tormentors; but she, with several others, being in company with the - devil, whereof Isabel Adam was one, in pursuance of a quarrel which - Beatrix Laing, formerly mentioned, had with one Alexander M'Grigor, a - fisher in the town, made an attempt to murder the said M'Grigor in - bed; which was prevented by his awakening and wrestling against them. - This attempt was acknowledged by Isabel Adam, of whose confession a - more full account shall be given afterwards, who had been taken up on - that man's delation, and some other informations against her, and not - on the lad's. As likewise, the said Janet was accused by Nicolas - Lawson, another person present at that attempt; and Nicolas accused - her of being at another meeting in the Loan of Pittenweem; at both - which meetings they confessed the devil was present.--All which she - herself afterwards freely confessed. - - The manner of this woman's confession was very remarkable.--After she - had obstinately some while denied, and with a subtility beyond what - might be expected from one of her education, shifted all questions - put to her, she, with Isobel Adam aforesaid, being brought to the - house where the tormented lad lay, and he discovering her at her - entry into the room, notwithstanding the utmost precaution was used - to conceal it from him, and he falling into grievous fits of trouble, - did cry out of her as one of his tormentors; at which she was so - stunned, that instantly she fell a trembling. The magistrates and - minister observing her in such a confusion, asked if she was willing - to commune with them, in reference to the matters whereof she had - been accused; she declaring herself willing, went with them to - another place, and when desired to be ingenuous, she again fell a - trembling, and said she would confess all, but was afraid the devil - would tear the soul out of her body if she did, and said, if you will - pray, and cause all good folk pray for me, I will confess, and she - then desired the minister to pray; and, after prayer, confessed she - was bodily present at both the meetings aforesaid with the devil and - the witches, and gave a circumstantiat account of the renounciation - of her baptism, naming time, place, and inducements which led her to - it, and the shape the devil appeared to her in.--She likewise told - the reason of their attempt to murder M'Grigor was, that he did not - hire a house which belonged to Beatrix Laing. - - Again, on a Thursday, after she had been hearing sermon, she desired - to speak with the minister, and sent one to acquaint him with this - desire; on which he went to her, and she, before several witnesses, - renewed her former confession, and condescended on all the persons - the other confessing witches had accused, as being present at the two - foresaid meetings; adding withal, that there were others present whom - she knew not. This confession she renewed before the presbytery, in - presence of a great many country gentleman, and other spectators; as - likewise in the face of a numerous congregation on the Lord's day. - - It is owned, that when Beatrix Laing and Nicolas Lawson were first - imprisoned, they were ill used by some of the guard, without the - knowledge of magistrates or minister, of which the women made - complaint to the minister, whereof he presently acquainted the - magistrates, who, with the minister, went to the prison, and - threatened the guard if they offered the least disturbance to persons - in custody. And the minister, on the Lord's day thereafter, took - occasion in sermon to discover the wickedness of that practice, as - being against the light of nature, Scripture, and the just laws of - the land. After this, we heard of no more disturbances they met with. - Now, it was not till after this precaution used to prevent their - trouble, that Janet Corphat was imprisoned; and, from the time of her - imprisonment, till the time that she confessed, which was some ten - or twelve days, she was not in company with the rest, nor with the - guard, save one or two days, but was alone in a separate prison, and - nothing to disturb her. - - Now, it is remarkable, that neither of these persons who were ill - used, of which Janet Corphat was none, did ever make any - acknowledgement to these persons who used them ill, nor till some - days after they were quite freed of this trouble. And when they did - confess, it was to magistrates and minister, whom they owned to be - careful to preserve them from such abuses; nor did magistrates or - minister ever use any threatening to extort a confession, or any - other argument, but what the gospel requires to be made use of to - bring impenitent sinners to a confession of their sins.[8] - - [8] We should like to know what threatenings the gospel requires - ministers to make use of to such impenitent sinners as will not - confess sins they could not commit. ED. - - The author of the letter tells us, 'she was put in a low prison, out - of which it was obvious that any body could make an escape, and - accordingly she made her escape that night.' Here are but two - assertions, and both of them false, for the prison was the second - story, and her escape was by breaking an old iron grate in the - window; nor was it that night after that she broke the prison, for it - was on Friday these gentlemen discoursed her, and on the Lord's day - at night she broke the prison.[9] - - [9] This just reprover begins very fairly by wilfully perverting his - opponent's language, 'a prison with a low window,' he makes 'a low - prison.' We very much suspect the minister himself had a hand in this - pamphlet. - - Here follows the author of the 'Just Reproofs' way of telling the - story of the barbarous and cruel murder of Janet Corphat. She came to - town under cloud of night with two men, and went straight to an inn - where her daughter was serving. After some stay there, the two men - brought her to the minister's house, who was visiting a sick child of - one James Cook, a present bailie, where his servant came to him with - Mr Gordon's letter; and, as soon as he had perused it, he bid his - servant go tell them, he would have nothing to do with her, but since - they had brought her to the town, let them take her to the - magistrates; which answer, two men then present, have attested under - their hands. On this, the men brought her to Bailie Cook's house, - where the minister was, and the men meeting him coming down stairs, - pressed him to take her off their hands, which he refused to do, but - called the two next magistrates, and advised them instantly to set - her off safe out of the town. On which the two bailies sent for their - officer immediately, and the minister went off straight to his own - house, and saw no appearance of a rabble, nor did hear of it, till - the rabble had gone a considerable length; and after a little, he - heard that the woman was got safe out of their hands, and the rabble - dissipate, and he knew nothing of her death till the next morning. - - When the officer came to the magistrates, they, on deliberation among - themselves, resolved to imprison her till the next morning; and - accordingly ordered their officer to do it. And as the officer was - executing the magistrates' orders, the rabble gathered upon them, - attacked the officer, and took the woman from him, with which, it is - said, he did not acquaint the magistrates, that they might have taken - other measures for the woman's safety. - - This rabble did not flow from the inclinations of the people of the - place, which is evident from the peaceable and safe residence two - confessing witches had for two months time in the place since they - were set at liberty, but from an unhappy occasional concourse of a - great many strangers, some Englishmen, some from Orkney, and other - parts, who were forward in it, and have since taken guilt on them by - their flight. - - As to the assertion with regard to those of Mr Cowper's family going - along with the rabble, Mr Cowper urged to have his servants examined - among the first, and they have declared before the magistrates, that - they stole out in a clandestine way, that their master might not know - of it, and he indeed knew nothing of it, and they returned very - quickly and made no stay; nor do any of the witnesses examined - insinuate any accusation of their having the least accession to any - injury she met with, nor were they any other way concerned, than by - looking on a short while with some hundreds of other spectators. - - Again, it is said, 'that they first found her at Nicolas Lawson's - house, and that she was killed out-right when they dragged her there - again,' is as ill grounded as the rest of our author's assertions; - for they found her not at Nicolas Lawson's house, and some of the - persons examined have declared, that after she was brought to that - door, she arose and put on head cloaths, and called to Nicolas Lawson - to let her in; which, if she had done, she in all appearance had met - with no more disturbance; but after this, we hear _that some few of - the rabble stole up secretly and murdered her_. - - The author of the Second Letter accuses the minister of encouraging - Patrick Morton in carrying on the cheat, by reading to him the case - of Bargarran's daughter. In answer to which, we shall give a short, - but candid, account of matter of fact. In the month of May last, the - minister, with a preacher, and a great many other people, attending - all night in the room where Patrick Morton lay, and he lying - meanwhile in a swooning fit, which was then tried by exquisite - pinching, the minister and probationer falling into some discourse - about Bargarran's daughter, took out the book, and for their own - satisfaction, read only two sentences, and stopt. Several weeks - after, when the minister was again attending in the night time, the - lad being insensible, the minister, for his own diversion, read the - preface, and some part of the process, against the witches, but had - no reason to think he heard any thing, but on the contrary. And it is - to be observed, when the committee of the privy council did - accurately examine the boy in reference to this story, he still - declared he never heard any thing of Bargarran's daughter's case - read. - - What he says of 'their obliging them to pay eight pound Scots to the - town-officer,' is in many ways false. It is false that they were - ordered by the magistrates to pay such a sum. It is false that they - paid all alike. It is also untruth that any of them gave what they - had provided for their winding sheets. Nicolas Lawson, one of the - confessing witches, her husband voluntarily gave a small piece of - unbleached linen to the officer for his fees; and this is all the - ground for the story of their winding-sheets. - - The author of the Just Reproof then proceeds to give an account of - Mrs White and Isobel Adam. The woman brought from Anstruther was a - Mrs White, an inhabitant of Pittenweem, who, through fear of being - apprehended, fled thither to her daughter's house. This woman, whose - cause is now warmly espoused by some, with no advantage to their - reputation, and who is now insisting against the magistrates in a - process for wrongous imprisonment, has been for many years a person - of very bad fame. Some eighteen years ago, she pursued a woman before - the session, in Mr Bruce the late Episcopal incumbents time, for - calling her a witch, and succumbing in the probation. Mr Bruce urged - her to be reconciled with the woman,--she obstinately refused,--using - most Unchristian and revengeful expressions, which are to be seen in - the session-register. Since the revolution, she desired admission to - the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper, which was then denied her, - because she still refused to be reconciled to that woman. Her - scandalous carriage in refusing to cohabit with her husband to this - day, who is a sober honest man, is generally known. This woman being - accused by the boy as one of his tormentors, and delated by two - confessing witches, and other presumptions of her guilt, the - magistrates one morning sent their officer to the magistrates of - Anstruther, desiring them on these grounds to send Mrs White to them, - and the grounds of her imprisonment were sent in write to her, in her - daughter Mrs Lindsay's house; and she being brought to Pittenweem, - the two women which delated her, were confronted with her, in - presence of the magistrates, a great many gentlemen and ministers, - where they did accuse her to her face, and charged her particularly - with being at a meeting in the Loan with the devil and the witches, - and gave some binding tokens to convince her. By all which it - appears, how little ground there is to accuse the magistrates for - invading their neighbours jurisdiction, or load the minister with any - concernment in the matter. - - As to the other instance of one brought to Pittenweem at six miles - distance, this was the young woman Isobel Adam. About the middle of - May, one Alexander M'Grigor delated her for an attempt to murder him - in his own house in the night-time, with several others whom he knew - not; and there being some surmises of other presumptions of - witchcraft against her, the minister hearing she was occasionally in - the town, called for her, and advised her, before her father, if - innocent, to take proper measures for her own vindication, which she - undertook to do, and promised to return for that end on - advertisement, which her father engaged to give. The noise about her - still increasing, her father was desired, according to promise, to - call her to the place, which he declined, growing jealous of her - guilt; on which the minister advertised her, but in case she refused, - a letter was sent to be delivered to the gentleman on whose ground - she lived, desiring him to send her. So soon as the advertisement was - given, she came voluntarily to her father's house in Pittenweem, and - so there was no occasion for force. - - When she came, she confessed her converse with the devil at Thomas - Adamson's house, on the first day of January 1704; she was confronted - with M'Grigor, and he accused her of the above mentioned attempt on - him, which she then refused; on which she was imprisoned, and the two - following days, she did with tears, and more than ordinary concern, - make a free and large confession. - - She said Beatrix Laing aforesaid, a confessing witch, had been - dealing with her to engage in her service, which she refused; and - that some time thereafter, this Beatrix came for her, and desired her - to go along to her house; when she came there, they sat down at the - fire, and she saw a man in black cloaths, with a hat on his head, - sitting at the table; and Beatrix said to her, since you will not - engage with me, here is a gentleman that will see you; whereupon he - told her, he knew she was discontented with her lot, and if she would - serve him, he promised she should want for nothing; to which she - yielded to serve him, and he came forward and kissed her; and she - said, he was fearsome like, and his eyes sparkled like candles, on - which she knew he was the devil. - - Again, she told, that being employed to spin in Thomas Adamson's - house in Pittenweem, while she was lying awake in her bed in the - night time, the devil appearing to her, where she did expressly - renounce her baptism to the devil, by putting her hand on her head, - and the other to her feet, the other maid lying in the bed with her - being at the time asleep, as the maid declared before the session. - About a fortnight after this, Beatrix Laing came to visit her, and - asked her, if she had met with the gentleman? She answered she had, - and also engaged with him, on which Beatrix said, I have then got my - work wrought, and went away. And she confessed, she came to that - meeting at M'Grigor's with the devil and several witches, viz. - Beatrix Laing, Nicolas Lawson, Janet Corphat, Thomas Brown, and - several others she knew not, designing to murder M'Grigor; but since - the man awakened and prayed to God for himself, they could not do it. - She confessed also converse with the devil at other times. All which - is in her two confessions, signed by the magistrates, and transmitted - to Edinburgh. Now, we desire to know what the author of this letter - can quarrel in the magistrates or minister's conduct in this matter. - - As for what he says 'about the magistrates and minister refounded the - imprisoned womens' money seven-fold.' We find this author very - charitable on other mens' purses, but when the magistrates and - minister design to bestow their charity, they will choose more - deserving objects. And the Lords of Her Majesty's privy counsel - understands themselves better than to take their measures as to what - is just from the daring prescriptions of this author. - - What he says about Thomas Brown is also false, he was accused by the - lad, and delated by three confessing witches, as being accessory to - the attempt on M'Grigor. It is false he was starved, for his daughter - brought him his diets punctually. Our author's fears of more murders - are altogether groundless, and we appeal to all men of candour, - whether this author's impudent and unjust accusation against - magistrates and minister of murdering Thomas Brown, deserves not - severer punishment than any thing he can charge them with. - - He again tells us, "the bailies justified the murder, by denying - Christian burial." The bailies gave no order thereabout. As for - Thomas Brown, his son-in-law, with some others, buried him. Our - author by his next may prove, that Janet Corphat, a woman that had so - frequently and so solemnly confessed the renounciation of her baptism - to the devil, deserved Christian burial. - - - THE END. - - - - - A - - COPY - - OF THE - - INDICTMENT OF THE WITCHES AT BORROWSTOUNESS--THE PRECEPT FOR - SUMMONING THE JURY AND WITNESSES--WITH THE WARRANT FOR THEIR - EXECUTION. - - - _Copy of the Indytment._ - - Annaple Thomsone, widow in Borrowstownes, - - Margaret Pringle, relict of the deceast John Campbell sive-wright - there, &c. - - Yee, and ilk ane of yow ar indytted and accwsed, that where, - notwithstanding, be the law of God, particularlie sett down in the 20 - chapter of Leviticus, and eighteen chap. of Dewtronomie, and be the - lawes and actes of parliament of this kingdome, and constant practiq; - thereof, particularlie be the 73 act, 29 parliament Q. Marie, the - cryme of witchcraft is declaired to be ane horreid, abominable and - capitall cryme, punishable with the paines of death and confiscatiown - of moveables. Never the less it is of veritie, that you have - comitted, and ar gwyltie of the said cryme of witchcraft, in swa far - ye have entered in pactiown with the devill, the enemie of your - salvatiown, and have renownced our Blissed Lord and Savior, and your - baptizme, and have given your selffes, both soulles and bodies to the - devil, and have bein severall mettings with the devill, and swndrie - wyth witches in diverse places; and particularlie, ye the said - Annaple Thomsone had a metting with the devill the tyme of your - weidowhood, befoer yow was maried to your last husband, in your - cwming betwixt Linlithgow and Borrowstownes, where the devil, in the - lyknes of ane black man, told yow, that you wis ane poore puddled - bodie, and had ane evill lyiff, and difficultie to win throw the - world; and promesed, iff yee wald followe him, and go alongst with - him, yow should never want, bot have ane better lyiff: and, abowt - fyve wekes therefter, the devill appeired to yow when yow wis goeing - to the coal-hill abowt sevin a clock in the morning. Having renewed - his former tentatiown, you did condeschend thereto, and declared - yowrselff content to follow him, and becwm his servant; wherewpon the - devill threw yow to the grownd, and had carnal copwlatiown with yow; - and ye, and each persone of yow, wis at several mettings with the - devill in the Linkes of Borrowstowness, and in the howss of yow - Bessie Vickar, and ye did eatt and drink with the devill, and with on - another, and with witches in hir howss in the night tyme; and the - devill and the said Wm Craw browght the ale which ye drank, extending - to abowt sevin gallons, from the howss of Elizabeth Hamilton; and yow - the said Annaple had ane other metting abowt fyve wekes ago, when you - wis goeing to the coal-hill of Grange, and he inveitted yow to go - alongest and drink with him in the Grange-pannes; and yow the said - Margaret Pringil have bein ane witch thir many yeeres bygane; hath - renowncid yowr baptisme, and becwm the devill's servant, and promeis - to follow him; and the devill had carnall copwlatiown with yow, and - tuik you by the right hand, whereby it was, for eight dayes, - grevowslie pained; but having it twitched of new againe, it - imediatlie becam haill: and yow the said Margaret Hamilton has bein - the devill's servant these eight or nyne yeres bygane; and he appered - and conversed with yow at the toun-well of Borrowstownes, and several - tymes in yowr awin howss, and drank severall choppens of ale with - you, and thereafter had carnall copwlatiown with yow; and the devill - gave yow ane fyve merk peice of gold, whilk a lyttil efter becam ane - sklaitt stone; and yow the said Margaret Hamilton, relict of James - Pollwart, has bein ane witch, and the devil's servant thertie yeres - since, haith renowncid yowr baptizme as said is, and has had carnall - copwlatiown with the devill in the lyknes of ane man, bot he removed - from yow in the lyknes of ane black dowg: and ye, and ilk ane of yow - wis at ane metting with the devill and wther witches at the Croce of - Murestaine above Kinneil, upon the threttein of October last, where - yow all danced, and the devill acted the pyiper, and where yow - endevored to have distroyed Androw Mitchell, sone to John Mitchell, - elder in Dean of Kinneill. - - - _Precept_ qra _Witches, and the Witnesses and Assyissers, 1679_. - - ---- Cochran of Barbbachlay, Richard Elphinstown of ----, Saindelands - of Hilderstown, ---- Cornwal of Bonhard, Robert Hamilton of Dechmont, - baillzie of the regallitie of Borrowstownes, Sir John Harper advocat, - Mr William Dundas, and Mr John Prestowne advocats, commissioners of - justiciarie, speciallie constitwte, nominat, and appoynted by the - lordes off his majestie's most honowrable privie cownsell for the - tryall and jwdging of the persones after namit; To our lovitts ---- - messengers, macers, and officers of cowrt, owr shirriffs in that - pairt, conjunctlie and severallie, speciallie constitwte, greitting: - For sameikillais the ---- day of ----is appoynted by ws for the - trying and judging off Anabill Thomson widow in Borrowstownes, - Margaret Pringle relict of the decist John Campbell sive-wright ther, - Margaret Hamilton relict of the deceist James Pollwart ther, Wm. Craw - indweller ther, Bessie Viccar relict of the deceist James Pennie - indweller ther, and Margarett Hamilton relict of the deceist Thomas - Mitchell, who are apprehendit and imprisoned in the tolbuith of - Borrowstownes, as suspect gwilty of the abominable cryme of - witchcraft, by entering into pactiown with the devill, renwncing - their baptism and comitting of _malificies_: Wherefoir nescessary it - is, that the saides persons should be summonded to wnderlye the lawe - for the samen, and that witness and assyssers should be cited against - them, to the effect, and under the paines efter specifiet. HEREFOIR, - this precept sein, we chairge you passe, and in owr soveraigne lordes - name and authority, and owrs, comand and chairge the saides persones - above compleaned upon, to compeir befoir ws, or any three of us (who - are by our said commissiown declaired to be a quorum), within the - said tolbuith of Borrowstownes, the nyneteen day of December nixt, in - the howr of cawse, ther to wnderlye the lawe, for the crymes above - specifiet, and that under the paines contained in the new acts of - parliament: And sicklyik, summon, wairne and chairge ane assyse of - honest and famous persones, not exceeding the number of fortie-five, - togither with such witnesses who best know the veritie of the - persones above compleaned upon ther gwiltynes, to compeir befoir us, - day and place foirsaid, in the howr of cawse, the persones of[10] - witness, to bear leall and soothfast witnessing in the premiss, and - the inqueist to passe upon the assyse each persone, under the paine - of ane hundreth merks, according to justice, ais ye will answer to us - therwpon: the whilk to doe commits to you, conjunctlie and severalie, - our fwll power, be thir our lettres, delyvering them be you dewllie - execut and indorset againe to the beirer. Given under our hands at - Borrowstownes, the twentie-nynt day of November, ane thousande six - hunder and seventie nyne yeirs. - - [10] This word is interlined, and the word inqueist scored out. - - (_Sic Subscribitur_) - - R. HAMILTON, - J. CORNWALL, - RICH. ELPHENSTONE, - W. DUNDAS. - - - _Ane List of the Persones to be warned to passe upon the Assyse for - Judging the Witches in Borrowstownes._ - - _Barronie of Carridin._ - - Robert Ballendin elder in Northbank, - Alex. Brown in Bonhard, - John Irwyne there, - James Lamb there, - George Storie in Mure-edge, - Thomas Knox wiver in Littill Carridin, - John Meldrum ther, - George Yowng in Murrayes, - John Brown oversman ther, - George Smyth ther, - John Robertsone in Bonhard-panns, - John Daviesone ther, - John Pooll ther. - - _Town of Borrowstownes._ - - George Bennet, - James Cassilles elder, skipper, - Alex. Drysdaill skipper, - James Hardie glover, - Alex. Randie baxter - Richard Carss, - James Hamilton elder, - James Hwtton baxter, - Andrew Hamilton, - Thomas Downie, - James Mwngill wiver, - Rob. Downie. - - _Barronie of Kinneill._ - - George Gib in Kinneil Carss, - Alex. Gib in Inneraven, - John Glen ther - John Baird ther - James Dobbie in Nether Kinneil, - Patrick Hardie ther, - John Dick in Woodheid, - John Wilson in Over Kinneil, - James Thomson ther, - James Lithgow in Balderstown, - John Hardie, maltman in Burrowstown, - James Thomson ther. - - _Barronie of Pollmont._ - - James Burn of Clerkstoun, - James Monteth of Myln-hall, - Alex. Whyte in Hill, - Patrick Ballanden of Parkend, - John Mairschell in Whyteside, - Andrew Johnstown in Pollmont, - David Ballanden in Redding, - James Gaff ther, - George Mureheid ther, - William Rwchat of Ruch-haugh, - John Grintown in Gillstown Loanfoote, - Henry Taylor in Whyteside, - John Purgat of Bruchtown Crag. - - - _Order and Warrand for Burning the Witches of Borrowstownes, Dec. 19, - 1679._ - - Forsameikle as Annabil Thomson widdow in Borrowstownes, Margaret - Pringle relict of the deceast John Campbell ther, Margaret Hamiltown - relict of the deceast James Pollwart ther, William Craw indweller - ther, Bessie Wicker relict of the deceast James Pennie ther, and - Margaret Hamiltown relict of the deceast Thomas Mitchell ther, - prisoners in the tolbuith of Borrowstownes, are found guiltie be ane - assyse, of the abominable cryme of witchcraft committed be them, in - maner mentioned in their dittayes, and are decerned and adjudged be - us under subscryvers (commissioners of justiciary speciallie - appoynted to this effect) to be taken to the west end of - Borrowstownes, the ordinar place of execution ther, upon Tuesday the - twentie-third day of December current, betwixt two and four a clock - in the efternoon, and ther to be wirried at a steack till they be - dead, and there-efter to have their bodies burnt to ashes. These - therefoir require and command the baylie principal off the regalitie - of Borrowstownes, and his deputts, to see the said sentance and doom - put to dew execution in all poynts, as yee will be answerable. Given - under our hands at Borrowstownes the nynteenth day of December 1679 - yeirs. - - W. DUNDAS, - RICH. ELPHINSTONE, - WA. SANDILANDS, - J. CORNWALL, - J. HAMILTON. - - - - - TRIAL - - OF - - ISOBEL ELLIOT, AND NINE OTHER WOMEN. - - _Records of Justiciary, September 13, 1678._ - - - In 1678, Isobel Elliot and nine other women were tried for witchcraft - in one day. The articles of indictment against all of them were - pretty much the same. Those exhibited against Isobel Elliot were as - follows: That about two years ago she staid at home from the _kirk_ - at the desire of her mistress, who was a witch, when the devil had a - meeting with the prisoner, her mistress, and two other witches; that - he kissed the prisoner, baptized her on the face _with an waff of his - hand like a dewing_, and offered to lie with her, but forbore because - she was with child; that after she was kirked the devil often met - her, and had _carnal copulation_ with her. The prisoner and the other - nine miserable women underwent all the legal forms incident to their - unhappy situation among that deluded and barbarous people. They had - been prosecuted by his Majesty's Advocate; they judicially - acknowledged their guilt, were convicted by the jury, condemned by - the judges, and burned by the executioner,--_for having had carnal - copulation with the devil_!!! - - - - - THE - - CONFESSIONS - - OF - - HELEN TAYLOR IN EYEMOUTH, - - AND - - _MENIE HALYBURTON IN DIRLTON_, - - ACCUSED OF WITCHCRAFT, 1649. - - WITH THE - - DECLARATION - - OF - - JOHN KINCAID, PRICKER. - - COPIED FROM THE ORIGINALS. - - - - - THE - - CONFESSIOUN - - OF - - HELENE TAILZEAR. - - - JUL 8, 1649. - - Being the Sabbath day, Mr Samuel Dowglas, preaching at Eymouth, after - sermon, Helen Tailzear desyred to speik with the said Mr Samuell, who - coming to hir, thair being also present Samuel Lauder and George - Halliday, she confessed these particularis, viz. _first_, at - Candilmas bygon two yeirs, scho cam into Isobell Brown's hous, quhair - the divill was sitting in the liknes of a gentill man at the tabill - drinking with Isobell Brown, who took hir in his armes without any - moir speiking at that tyme. - - _Secondlie_, Scho declairs, that after shee cam to Isobell Brown's - hous * * * * * whair the divill was in the same likness as befor, and - layd his hand upon hir head, and sayd, you sall be on of myne so long - as you live. And that he gave hir two dolleris, and when shoe cam - home they wer butt twa stanes. - - _Thirdlie_, Shee declairs, that shee was at ane meiting with Isobell - Brown, Alison Cairns, Margaret Dobson, and Beatrix Young, and that - thai went all along to William Burnettis hous, he lying sick, and - that coming to the hous, Margaret Dobson was in the liknes of ane - black hen, and went in at the chimley head, and Beatrix Young in the - liknes of a litill foall, and that hirself was in the liknes of ane - litill quhelp; Isobell Brown wes in hir owin liknes, with a long - tail'd courtshaw upon hir head, and Allison Cairns wes in hir owin - liknes; and that Isobell Brown desired her to go into William - Burnettis bot shee refuissed, quhairupon Isobell Brown did stryk her - * * * * * on the back. - - _Fourtlie_, Shee declairs that Marioun Robisson wes ane witch, and - that shee was William Burnit's death. - - (Signed) MR SAMUEL DOUGLAS, _Minister - at Coldinghame_. - S. LAUDER. - G. HALLIDAY. - - - - - THE - - DEPOSITION - - OF - - MENIE HALIBURTOUN. - - - _At Dirltoun, June, 1649._ - - Compeirit Menie Halliburton, prissoner within the Castle, suspect of - the cryme of witchcraft, delaitit guiltie be Agnes Clerkson, lait - sufferer for the said cryme; as also be Patrik Watsone, spouse to the - said Menie, who lykewisse sufferit thairfoir, and confessit, that - auchtein yeir syne, or thairby, hir dochter being seik, scho first - sent for Patrik Chrystison in Aberledie, to cum and cure hir dochter, - and he refuising, went hirself for him, who refused to cure hir; and - within * * * days after came the devill in liknes of a man into hir - hous, calling himself a physition, and said to her, that he had good - salves (and namelie oylispek), whairwith he would cure hir dochter; - and aggreing with him for some of his salves quhilk he gave hir, shee - gave him two Inglis shillings. He then departed, and promised to come - agane within eight dayis, whilk accordinglie he did, bot or he went - away the first tyme, shee gave him milk and breid; and Patrik - Watsone coming in, he sent for a pynt of ale; bot at his second - coming he stayit all night, and upon the morne airlie (Patrick being - furth), in cam the divill and lay doun with hir, scho being yitt in - bed, and had carnal copulatioun with hir, his nature being cald. He - desyrit hir to renunce Chryst and hir baptisme, and become his - servant, quhilk scho did. And sayis, that hir dochter had the wyte of - all hir wickit wissing, and wissing she had nevir beene borne. - - This deposition was renewed in all the particulars by the said Menie, - in the foresaid place, on Sunday the first of July, 1649, before - Alexander Levingston of Saltcoatts, James Borthwick chamberlane, - James Lawder, John Stalker baillie, Wm. Dalzell, and Mr John M'Ghie, - minister at Dirltoun. - - (Signed) J. MAKGHIE. - ALEX. LEVINGSTOUN, _witness_. - JA. BORTHWICK. - JAMES LAUDER. - JOHN STALKER. - W. DALZELL. - WALTER MARSHALL. - - - - - THE DECLARATION OF JOHN KINCAID. - - - JUNE, 1649. - - The whilk day, in presence of Alex. Levingston of Saltcoattis, James - Borthwick chalmerlain of Dirltoun, John Stalker baillie thairof, - James Foirman in Drem, Mr James Achieson in North-Berwick, and - William Dalzell notar, Patrick Watson in West Fenton, and Menie - Haliburtoun his spous, bruitted and long suspect of witchcraft, _of - thair awin frie will uncompellit_, heiring that I John Kincaid under - subscryvand wes in the toune of Dirltoune, and had some skill and - dexterity in trying of the divillis marke in the personis of such as - wer suspect to be witches, came to the broad hall in the Castell of - Dirltoune, and desyred me the said John Kincaid to use my tryall of - thame as I had done on utheris, whilk when I had done, I found the - divillis marke upon the bak syde of the said Patrik Watsone, a - littill under the point of his left shoulder, and upon the left syde - of the said Menie Halyburtoun hir neck a littill above her left - shoulder, whairof thay wer not sensible, neither cam furth thairof - any bloode after I had tryed the samin as exactlie as ever I did any - uthers. This I testifie to be of veritie upon my credit and - conscience. In witnes quhairof, I have subscryvit thir presentis with - my hand, day and place forsaid, befoir ther witnesses above - specifiet. - - J. K. - - ALEX. LEVINGSTOUN, _witness_. - JA. BORTHWICK, _witness_. - JOHN STALKER, _witness_. - JAMES FORMAN, _witness_. - JA. ACHESONE, _witness_. - W. DALZELL, _witness_. - - - - - THE TRIAL OF WILLIAM COKE AND ALISON DICK, FOR WITCHCRAFT. - - _Extracted from the Minutes of the Kirk-Session of Kirkaldy, A. D. - 1636._ - - - _September 6th, 1633._ - - The which day, compeared Alison Dick, challenged upon some speeches - uttered by her against William Coke, tending to witchcraft,--denied - the samyne. - - 1. Compeared Alexander Savage, Andrew Nicol, and George Tillie, - who being admitted and sworn, deponed as follows: The said - Alexander Savage, that he heard the said Alison Dick say to her - husband William Coke, 'Thou has put down many ships; it had been - gude for the people of Kirkaldie, that they had knit a stone - about thy neck and drowned thee.' - - 2. Andrew Nicol deponed, that he heard the said Alison say to - him, 'Thou has gotten the woman's song laid, as thou promised; - thou art over-long living; it had been gude for the women of - Kirkaldy, that thou had been dead long since. I shall cause all - the world wonder upon thee.' - - 3. George Tillie deponed, that he heard her say to him, 'It had - been gude for the women of Kirkaldy, to put him to death; and - that he had died seven years since.' - - Also compeared Jean Adamson, Kathrine Spens, Marion Meason, Isobel - Murison, Alison Kelloch, who being admitted and sworn, deponed as - follows: - - 4. Jean Adamson deponed, that she heard Alison Dick say to her - husband William Coke, 'Thief! Thief! what is this that I have - been doing? keeping the thretty years from meikle evil doing. - Many pretty men has thou putten down both in ships and boats; - thou has gotten the woman's song laid now. Let honest men puddle - and work as they like, if they please not thee well, they shall - not have meikle to the fore when they die.' - - 5. Kathrine Spens deponed, that she heard her say to him, 'Common - thief, I have hindered thee from many ill turns doing, both to - ships and boats.' - - 6. Marion Meason deponed, that she heard her say, 'Common thief, - mony ill turn have I hindered thee from doing thir thretty - years; mony ships and boats has thou put down; and when I would - have halden the string to have saved one man, thou wald not.' - - 7. Isobel Murison deponed, that she heard her say to him, 'Thief, - thief, I have keeped thee from doing many ill turnes. Thou has - now laid the woman's song.' - - - _September 24th, 1633._ - - 8. Compeared Janet Allan, relict of umquhile John Duncan fisher, - deponed, that Alison Dick came in upon a certain time to her - house, when she was lying in of a bairn, and craved some sour - bakes; and she denying to give her any, the said Alison said, - your bairns shall beg yet, (as they do.) And her husband being - angry at her, reproved her; and she abused him in language; and - when he strak her, she said, that she should cause him rue it; - and she hoped to see the powarts bigg in his hair; and within - half a year he was casten away, and his boat, and perished. - - 9. Janet Sauders, daughter-in-law to the said William Coke and - Alison Dick, deponed, that William Coke came in to her, and she - being weeping, he demanded the cause of it, she answered, it was - for her husband. The said William said, What ails thee? Thou wilt - get thy gudman again, but ye will get him both naked and bare; - and whereas there was no word of him for a long time before, he - came home within two days thereafter, naked and bare as he said; - the ship wherein he was being casten away. - - 4, 10. Jean Adamson deponed, that when her gudman sailed with - David Robertson, the said David having sent him home with a ship - to come for Scotland, there was a long time that there was no - word of that ship; so that David Robertson coming home, and the - other ship not come, nor no word from her, he said he would never - see her. The said Alison Dick came in to her, (she with her - bairns being weeping), and said, What ails ye Jean to weep? She - answered, We have all good cause to weep for my husband, whom we - will never see more. The said Alison said, hold your tongue, your - gudman and all the company are well enough; they are in Norway - loading their ship with timber to come home, they will be here - shortly. And so it fell out in every point as she said. - - 5, 11. Kathrine Spens deponed, that William Coke came in to her, - after that his wife had spoken so much evil to him, and said, - Kathrine, my wife has spoken meikle ill of me this day, but I - said nothing to her again. If I had spoken two words to her the - last time she was in the steeple, she would never have gotten out - of it. - - * * * * * - - Minutes of 24th September, ordains Mr James Miller to ride to - Preston for the man that tries the witches. The expence to be - paid by the Town and Session. - - - _September 8th,_ - - 12. Compeared Isobel Hay, spouse to Alexander Law, against Alison - Dick, who being sworn, deponed, that she having come in to her - house, her husband being newly sailed, she craved some money of - her, which she refused, and boasted her. The said Alison said, It - shall gang wair geats; and that same voyage, her husband had - great loss. And thereafter, the said Alison came in to her house, - she being furth, and took her sister by the hand, and since that - time, the maiden had never been in her right wits. - - 13. William Bervie declared, that Robert Whyt having once - stricken William Coke, Alison Dick his wife, came to the said - Robert, and said, Wherefore have ye stricken my husband? I shall - cause you rue it. The said Robert replying, What sayest thou? I - shall give you as much--you witch. She answered, 'Witches take - the wit and the grace from you;' and that same night, he was - bereft of his wits. - - 14. Janet Whyt, daughter to the said Robert, compearing, affirmed - the said dittay to be true upon her oath. And added, that she - went to the said Alison, and reproved her, laying the wyt of her - father's sickness upon her. Let him pay me then, and he will be - better; but if he pay me not, he will be worse; for there is none - that does me wrong, but I go to my god and complains upon them, - and within 24 hours I will get amends of them. The said Janet - Whyt declared, that Alison Dick said to her servant, Agnes - Fairlie, I have gotten a grip of your gudwife's thigh; I shall - get a grip of her leg next; the said Janet having burnt her thigh - before with lint: and thereafter she has taken such a pain in her - leg, that she can get no remedy for it. Whilk the said Agnes - Fairlie deponed upon her great oath to be true. - - 15. Alison Dick herself declared, that David Paterson, skipper, - having struck William Coke her husband, and drawn him by the - feet, and compelled him to bear his gear aboard, the said William - cursed the said David, and that voyage he was taken by the - Dunkirkers. Also, at another time thereafter, he compelled him to - bear his gear aboard, and a captain's who was with him, and when - the captain would have paid him, the said David would not suffer - him; but he himself gave him what he liked. The said William - cursed the said David very vehemently; and at that time he - himself perished, his ship, and all his company, except two or - three. Also she declared, that when his own son sailed in David - Whyt's ship, and gave not his father his bonnallie,[11] the said - William said, What? Is he sailed, and given me nothing? The devil - be with him; if ever he come home again, he shall come home naked - and bare; and so it fell out. For John Whyt, who had that ship - freighted to Norway, and another wherein himself was, declared, - that they had very foul weather; and the ship wherein the said - young William Coke was, perished; and he saved all the men in the - ship wherein he was himself. And albeit the storm increased two - days before the perishing of the said ship, and six days after, - yet the two hours space in which they were saving the men, it was - so calm in that part of the sea, that they rowed from one ship to - the other with two oars, and the sea was all troublesome about - them. And the said William Coke the younger, was the first man - that came a shipboard. - - [11] His farewell cup. - - * * * * * - - _Paction._--The same day, Alison Dick being demanded by Mr James - Simson, minister, when, and how, she fell in covenant with the - devil? She answered, her husband mony times urged her, and she - yielded only two or three years since. The manner was thus--He - gave her, soul and body, quick and quidder full to the devil, and - bade her do so. But she in her heart said, God guide me. And then - she said to him, I shall do any thing that ye bid me: and so she - gave herself to the devil in the foresaid words.--This she - confessed about four hours at even, freely, without compulsion, - before Mr James Simson, minister, William Tennent, baillie, - Robert French, town-clerk, Mr John Malcolme, schoolmaster, - William Craig, and me, the said Mr James Miller, writer hereof. - - - _October 15th._ - - 16. The which day, compeared Christian Ronaldson, against Alison - Dick, who, in her presence being sworn, deponed, that she having - set an house to the said Alison, and when the gudman came home he - was angry, and said, he would not have the devil to dwell above - him in the closs; and he went and struck up the door, and put - forth the chimney that she put in it. And thereafter, Alison came - to the said Christian, and chopped upon her shoulder, and said to - her, Christie, your gudman is going to sail, and he has ane stock - among his hands, but ere long, his stock shall be as short as - mine. And so it fell out, for he was casten away in David Whyt's - ship, and saved nothing. - - - _October 22d._ - - 17. Compeared Merjory Marshall, against Alison Dick, who being - sworn, deponed, that Alison having brought her gudman's cloaths - once from the Castle-haven,[12] she offered her 12d for her - labour, who would not have it; and she said to her, Alison, there - is not many of them. She answered, they shall be fewer the next - time; and the next voyage he was cast away in David Whyt's ship. - - [12] Probably Ravenscraig Castle, at the east end of Pathhead. - ED. - - 18. Compeared also Kathrine Wilson, who being sworn, deponed, - that she and Janet Whyt being sliding together, Alison Dick came - to them, and asked silver from Janet Whyt, who would give her - none, but fled her company into the said Kathrine's house, and - she followed, and she gave her a piece bread, and Janet Whyt bade - her give her a plack also, and she should pay her again. And when - she got it, she said, Is this all that she gives me? If she had - given me a groat, it would have vantaged her a thousand punds. - This is your doing, evil tidings come upon you. And she went down - the closs, and pissed at their meal-cellar door; and after that, - they had never meal in that cellar, (they being meal makers.) And - thereafter they bought a horse at 40 lib., and the horse never - carried a load to them but two, but died in the _batts, louping - to death_, so that every body said that he was witched. - - - _October 29th._ - - 19. Euphen Boswell being sworn, deponed, that her gudman being to - sail to the East country, loaden with salt, the said Alison Dick - having born some of the salt aboard, she came to her and craved - money from her, who gave her meat, but would give her no money, - saying to her, Alison, my gudman has paid you himself, and - therefore, I will give you nothing. She replied, Will ye give me - nothing? I hope in God it will be better sharp (cheaper) sold nor - it was bought: and so it fell out, for the ship sailed upon the - morn, and the day after that, she sank, salt and all, except the - men, who were saved by another ship that was near by them. - - 20. Thomas Mustard being sworn, deponed, that James Wilson going - once to sail, Alison Dick came to him, and desyred silver from - him, he would give her none; she abused him with language, and he - struck her; she said to him, that that hand should do him little - good that voyage; and within two days after, his hand swelled as - great as a pint-stoup, so that he could get little or nothing - done with it. The next time also when he was to sail, the said - Alison went betwixt him and the boat; and he said, Yon same witch - thief is going betwixt me and the boat, I must have blood of her; - and he went and struck her, and bled her, and she cursed him and - banned him; and that same voyage, he being in Caithness, standing - upon the shore cleithing a tow, and a boy with him, the sea came - and took him away, and he died; and the boy was well enough. - - * * * * * - - Desires Mr Robert Douglas[13] to go to the Archbishop with this - process, to get his approbation thereto, who takes upon him to do - the same. - - [13] Who preached the famous coronation sermon of Charles II. at - Scone, January 1st 1651. - - _Minute of November 19th._--5s. given for a load of coals to - Alison Dick;--14s. for her entertainment this week bygone, being - this day, with her husband William Coke, burnt for witchcraft. - - - _In the minute of 17th December, there is a particular account of the - Town and Session's extraordinary Debursements for William Coke and - Alison Dick, Witches._ - - _In primis._--To Mr James Miller, when - he went to Prestowne for - a man to try them, 47s. £2 7 - - _Item._--To the man of Culross, - (the executioner) when he - went away the first time, - 12s. 0 12 - - _Item._--For coals for the witches, - 24s. 1 4 - - _Item._--In purchasing the commission, 9 3 - - _Item._--For one to go to Finmouth - for the laird to sit upon - their assise as judge, 0 6 - - _Item._--For harden to be jumps to - them, 3 10 - - _Item._--For making of them, 0 8 - - ----- - Summa for the kirk's part £17 1 Scots. - - _The Town's part of Expenses Debursed extraordinarily upon - William Coke and Alison Dick._ - - _In primis._--For ten loads of coals to - burn them, 5 merks, £3 6 8 - - _Item._--For a tar barrel, 14s. 0 14 0 - - _Item._--For towes, 0 6 0 - - _Item._--To him that brought the - executioner, 2 18 0 - - _Item._--To the executioner for - his pains, 8 14 0 - - _Item._--For his expenses here, 0 16 4 - - _Item._--For one to go to Finmouth - for the laird, 0 6 0 - ------- - Summa town's part, £17 1 0 Scots. - Both, 34 11 0 - - - _The following account is a voucher of a payment made by - Alexander Louddon, a factor on the estate of Burncastle, the - proprietor being then a minor and infant. It is entered in the - factor's books thus:_ - - * * * * * - - Mair for Margarit Dunhome the time sche was in prison, and was - put to death, 065: 14: 4. - - * * * * * - - Count gifin out be Alexander Louddon in Lylstoun, in ye yeir of - God 1649 yeiris, for Margrit Dollmoune in Burncastell. - - * * * * * - - Item, in ye first, to Wm. Currie and Andrew Gray for the watching - of hir ye space of 30 days, inde ilk day, xxx sh inde - - xlv lib Scotts - - Item mair to Jon Kinked; for brodding of her[14] - - [14] See his declaration, page 111. - - vi lib Scotts - - Mair for meat and drink and wyne to him and his man - - iiij lib Scotts - - Mair for cloth to hir - - iij lib Scotts - - Mair for twa tare treis - - xl sh Scotts - - Item mair for twa treis, and ye making of them to the warkmen - - iij lib Scotts - - Item to ye hangman in Hadingtoun, and fetchin of him, thrie - dollores for his pens, is - - iiij lib xiiii sh - - Item mair for meit and drink and wyne for his intertinge - - iii lib Scotts - - Item mair fer ane man and twa horss, for ye fetcheing of him, and - taking of him hame agane - - xl sh Scotts - - Mair to hir for meit and drink ilk ane day, iiij sh the space of - xxx dayes, is - - vi lib Scotts - - Item mair to ye twa officers for yr fie ilk day sex shilline - aught pennes, is - - x lib Scotts - - Summa is iiij scoir xii lib xiiij sh - - GHILBERT LAUDER. - - UM. LAUDER BILZAURS. - - - Takin of this above written soume twentie-seaven pundis Scotis - qlk the said umql Margrit Dinham had of her ain. - - 92: 14: -- - 27: --: -- - ---------- - 65: 14: -- - - - - - MINUTES - - AND - - PROCEEDINGS OF THE SESSION - - OF - - TORRYBURN, IN FIFESHIRE, - - CONCERNING - - _WITCHCRAFT_. - - WITH THE - - CONFESSION - - OF - - LILLIAS ADIE. - - - TAKEN FROM THE SESSION RECORDS - - - - - MINUTES, &c. - - _Torry, June 30th, 1704._ - - SEDERUNT, WM. HUTTON, WM. DALGLISH, WM. REID, JOHN MITCHELL, - DAVID CURRY, GEO. TILLOCH, WITH THE MINISTER. - - - The session being called, _pro re nata_, upon a flagrant rumour, that - Jean Bizet, wife to James Tanochie, had been molested by Satan, and - had complained of some particular person of the devil's instruments - in that trouble that she lay under. Whereupon the minister ordered - the officer to cite the said Jean Bizet, also Lilias Adie and Janet - Whyte, whom she was said to complain of; and also to cite Mary - Wilson, who is said to have taken the charm by stroking up her head; - and also, he ordered the officer to cite Tanochie's daughter, with - James Tanochie, James Whyte and his wife, Helen Anderson, and Mary - Nielson, who are said to know something of the circumstances of that - affair. - - _1mo_, Jean Bizet being called, compeared not, upon which the - officer is ordered to cite her to the next. - - _2do_, There being a public report that Janet Whyte should have - threatened James Tanochie's family with a mischief, but - particularly his wife, before this befell; the said Janet was - called, and interrogate, if ever she threatened James Tanochie's - wife, she declares, that she never threatened any such thing, nor - thought so. Moreover, she said, that James his wife would not say - so, otherwise she would lay down her head upon a scaffold. She - said, that she was not at her since she took that distemper, and - saw her not since, but saw her on the Monday before, and her - husband's daughter, and Jean Archibald in Culross; but upon the - morrow the woman was troubled. James White being called, - declared, that Jean Bizet was in a distemper upon Tuesday the - 13th day of June, in Helen Anderson's house, betwixt 9 and 10 at - night, and seemed drunk. - - _3tio_, That she drank not a gill in that house, but before she - came to Helen's house, she was about half an hour in Mary - Wilson's. - - _4to_, She seemed to be strangely distempered, and he heard her - say, Agnes, beware lest Lilias Adie come upon you and your child. - - _2d_, She said to Mary Nielson, Lilias Adie thinks to use me as - she used your sister. - - _3tio_, She complained upon Mary Wilson, but none saw the said - Mary; as she went home, she cryed, _now, now, Jenny, I'll be - felled now, there three blew doublets_, frequently, and wringing - her hands. _Note_--She got a considerable sleep in Helen - Anderson's. - - _5to_, As she went home, he had let her go, and she not only - went freely, but did run violently, without stumbling in the - least, the breadth of Torry Park, and he had difficulty to - overtake her, notwithstanding there was both a dyke and furrows - in the way. - - _6to_, He declared, that he heard that the next day she was no - better. - - _7no_, He declared, that on the Monday before, Janet Whyte said - to him, before James Alexander in Drumfin, that she would make - Jean Bizet forethink what she had done to her in not paying her - two barrels of ale which she sold her, on this purpose she could - not get the maltman payed. - - _3tio_, Helen Anderson being called, declared, that Jean Bizet - was in her house, out of Mary Wilson's, about 5 or 6 at night the - foresaid day, and she seemed to be strangely distempered. _2dly_, - Her eyes raised, and could drink none. _3tio_, Ater she had - sleeped from 6 to near 9, and when she awaked, she cryed, _by God - he is going to take me! by Christ he is going to take me! O Lilly - with her blew doublet! O Mary, Mary Wilson!_ repeating _Christ - keep me!_ Upon which Helen said to her husband, did you ever see - her in this condition? He answered, never in my life, but she is - too much taken up with that company, but let me to her, I shall - ding the devil out of her. For this she appeals to James Tanochie - and his son, She and James Whyte declares both, that they are - clear to depone the same. - - Agnes Henderson, wife to James Whyte, called, compeared, declared, - that she was sent for to James Tanochie's wife the day foresaid, who - was in a great trouble, and never saw her in the like. _2d_, That she - sleept a while, and when she awoke, she cryed, _O God! O Christ! - there is Lily coming to take me, and three blew doublets! O Mary - Wilson keep me, she is coming!_ She adds, that Jean was in Mary - Wilson's before she came to Helen Anderson's, and she said, that she - desired her to go home, for Lilly will take you and the child both. - She heard her say to Mary Wilson, it was not to you that she did - evil, but to your sister, what aileth her at me, I never did her any - ill. And as she went home, she seemed raised, but went and spak very - well, and she went with her, she heard her speak often of Lilly by - the way, that she was coming to take her. And she adds, that as she - came first into the Newmiln, that she looked and spoke as heartsomely - as ever she saw her, and seemed no way disordered; and having carried - one of James Whyte's children from the Newmiln to James's house. And, - on the next day, being Wednesday, she went to see how she was, and - found her complaining of a sore head, and in a sweat, and she seemed - not right; and she says, she is clear to depone what she has - declared. - - Mary Nielson being called in, said, that when Jean Bizet came to her - mistress Helen Anderson her house, she was not within, but she was - within when she awoke out of her sleep. _2d_, She heard her say, _O - God! O Christ Jesus keep me!_ _3tio_, She heard her say, _O keep me! - keep me! there she is coming, Lilly Adie with her blew doublet!_ - _4to_, _O Mary Wilson! O Mary Wilson!_ _5to_, She said, as she went - away out of the house, she did no ill to you, but to your sister. She - is clear to depone all this. - - Jean Bizet being called in, declares, that on the foresaid Tuesday, - she came to the Newmiln in the forenoon, carrying James Whyte's son - on her back from the Craigmiln, and James Whyte was with her. _2d_, - She came first to Helen Anderson her house, and her husband being - upon business, she went to Helen Tilloch her house. _3tio_, She went - to Mary Wilson's house, where Lott Nicol, with Isobel Harlay, were - drinking in the room next to the door, and she went by them to the - room, where Mary Wilson filled a pint of ale and desired her to drink - of it. She took a drink, but did not drink beyond a gill of it; and - Helen Tilloch, and Jean Tilloch, came in and drank the rest, with - many others. _4to_, She could scarcely have been a quarter of an hour - there, and that she returned to Helen Anderson her house immediately. - - Mary Wilson called, said, when Jean Bizet came to her house, she - called for a choppin of ale, and stayed until that was drunk, and - another was filled, and a part of that was drunk. _2d_, There was - none but Helen Tilloch and Jean Bizet, and herself, at the drinking - of that ale. _3tio_, Euphan Nicol came in, and she took a drink of - it. _4to_, She declares, that Jean Tilloch was not within the door - then. _5to_, Robert Nicol and Catharine Mitchell, and Margaret - Nicol, sister to Robert Nicol, were drinking at the fire-side. _6to_, - She declares, that she seemeed no ways disordered with drink, nor any - other way. _7no_, She went up to her on Thursday afternoon, and she - found her lying on her bed, and straked her head, and whether she was - immediately the better of it, or not, she knew not; but she left her - sitting at the fire-side with her child on her knee. - - Jean Bizet says, Jean Tilloch was really there. _2d_, She says it was - Friday afternoon before she settled. - - - _Torryburn, 29th July, 1704.--After Prayer, Sederunt, Minister and - Elders._ - - Lillias Adie being accused of witchcraft by Jean Neilson, who is - dreadfully tormented, the said Lillias was incarcerate by Bailie - Williamson about ten of the night upon the 28th of July. - - Lillias being exhorted to declare the truth, and nothing but truth, - she replied, what I am to say shall be as true as the sun is in the - firmament. - - Being interrogate if she was in compact with the devil, she replied, - I am in compact with the devil, and have been so since before the - second burning of the witches in this place. She further declared, - that the first time she met with the devil was at the Gollet, between - Torryburn and Newmilne, in the harvest, before the sun set, where he - trysted to meet her the day after, which tryst she kept, and the - devil took her to a stook side, and caused her renounce her baptism; - the ceremony he used was, he put one hand on the crown of her head, - and the other on the soles of her feet, with her own consent, and - caused her say all was the devil's betwixt the crown of her head and - the soles of her feet; and there the devil lay with her carnally; and - that his skin was cold, and his colour black and pale, he had a hat - on his head, and his feet was cloven like the feet of a stirk, as she - observed when he went from her. - - The next time she saw him was at a meeting at the Barnrods, to which - she was summoned by Grissel Anderson in Newmilne, about Martinmas, - their number was about twenty or thirty, whereof none are now living - but herself. She adds, it was a moon-light night, and they danced - some time before the devil came on a ponny, with a hat on his head, - and they clapt their hands and cryed, _there our Prince, there our - Prince_, with whom they danced about an hour. - - The next time was at a meeting at the back of Patrick Sands his - house, in Valleyfield, where the devil came with a cap which covered - his ears and neck;--they had no moonlight. Being interrogate if they - had any light, she replied, she got light from darkness, and could - not tell what that light was, but she heard them say it came from - darkness, and went to darkness, and said, it is not so bright as a - candle, the low thereof being blue, yet it gave such a light as they - could discern others faces. There they abode about an hour, and - danced as formerly; she knew none at the meeting but Elspeth - Williamson, whom she saw at the close of the meeting coming down by - the dyke-side; and she said, she was also at another meeting in the - Haugh of Torry, where they were furnished with the former light, and - she saw Elspeth Williamson there also. - - - _July 31st, 1704._--_After Prayer, Sederunt, Minister and Elders._ - - Lillias Adie adhered to her former confession, and added, there were - many meetings she was not witness to, and was at many of which she - could give no particular account; and you will get more news after - this. Being interrogate if she knew any more witches in the place, - she replied, Agnes Currie is a witch, but she is a bold woman, and - will flee upon me if I should delate her. - - Being interrogate if the devil had a sword, she replied, she believed - he durst not use a sword; and called him a villain that promised her - many good things when she engaged with him, but never gave her any - thing but misery and poverty. - - The last meeting ever she was at, was 14 days after the Sacrament, in - the month of August 1701, upon the minister's glebe where the tent - stood, their number was 16 or 18, whereof Agnes Currie was one. She - added, that she made an apology to the meeting, because she could - not wait upon them all the time, being obliged to go to - Borrowstouness that morning's tide. She added, that she heard Jean - Neilson was possessed with a devil, and troubled with a fit of - distemper, but declared she never wronged her, though the devil may - do it in her likeness. - - Elspeth Williamson being called, came into the prison where the - session sate, and being interrogate if Lillias Adie had any envy at - her, she answered, she knew no envy she had at her. Lillias being - interrogate if Elspeth Williamson was guilty of witchcraft, she - replied, she is as guilty as I am, and my guilt is as sure as God is - in heaven. - - The next time she saw the devil was about half a year ago, as she - went to Culross, she saw him at the west end of the coal-fold. - - Upon the affair of Janet Whyte, James Alexander being called, - compeared, and declared that he never heard Janet Whyte threaten Jean - Bizet in the least. - - James White called, declared _ut ante_, but adds, that upon Friday - was eight days, the 21st of July, he heard a great screeching when he - was in the Craigmilne upon the bleaching green, beneath the said - milne, and heard a second screech much greater, and clapping of hands - and laughing, about twelve of the night, in the green on the other - side of the burn; and it was observed by the bleachers to be all - pastered, though there was no cloth at the burn, nor bleachers that - night. Also, on the second of August 1704, Lillias declared before - witnesses, that Grissel Anderson invited her to her house on that - Lammas day, the morning just before the last burning of the witches. - Grissel desired her to come and speak with a man there; accordingly - she went in there about day-break, where there was a number of - witches, some laughing, some standing, others sitting, but she came - immediately away, being to go to Lammas fair; and several of them - were taken shortly after, and Grissel Anderson among the rest, who - was burnt, and some of them taken that very week. She adds, that - Euphan Stirt warned her to the meeting at the Barnrod; and the said - Euphan was burnt afterward, though she had been no longer a witch - than a month before her death. She added, that she knew few of them - that were at those meetings, especially the young sort, because they - were masked like gentlewomen; and if Agnes Currie's heart would fall, - she could tell as much as any, being in the midst of the meeting, - where she saw her face by the blue low near Patrick Sands. - - - _At Torryburn, August 19th, 1704.--After Prayer, Sederunt, &c. - Minister and Elders._ - - Elspeth Williamson declared, that shortly after the last communion, - there came a woman to her door, and bade her go east the way, whom - she followed the length of the church-yard, and leaned upon the dyke, - and saw a bouroch of women, some with black heads, were sitting - where the tent stood. The woman that called her, went straight to the - meeting, and fell down upon her knees, whereat she wondered, and - hearkened if there was any reading or singing of psalms among them, - and when she heard none, she thought she was in the wrong place, and - did not think the woman would have taken her to the devil's meeting. - She thought the woman was Mary Wilson, but is not certain; and about - ten at night, some time after, a young lass came to her door, and - desired her to go westward a little, whom she followed, but knew not - the lass, she went so fast west the town before her, and was got the - length of the Gollet or she came to the west end of the town; and - when she was come west near the Gollet, she saw a meeting of women - and some men, and she stood at a little distance from them, and saw - them go through other for the space of near an hour, and removed - insensibly eastward from her, upon which she stole away. - - Lillias Adie confessed, that after she entered into compact with - Satan, he appeared to her some hundred of times, and that the devil - himself summoned her to that meeting which was on the glebe, he - coming into her house like a shadow, and went away like a shadow; and - added, that she saw Elspeth Williamson and Agnes Currie both there, - only Agnes was nearer the meeting than Elspeth, who was leaning on - the church-yard dike with her elbow. She added, that the devil bade - her attend many meetings that she could not attend, for age and - sickness; and though he appeared not to her when there was company - with her, yet he appeared to her like a shadow, so that none could - see him but herself. At another time, she said, that when she - renounced her baptism, the devil first spoke the words, and she - repeated them after him, and that as he went away she did not hear - his feet on the stubble. - - - _August 20th 1704.--After Prayer, Sederunt, Minister and Elders._ - - It is to be minded, that Lillias Adie appeared before the - congregation on the Lord's day, and being called up by the minister - and asked if she was guilty of witchcraft, she confessed freely that - she was, and had entered expressly into covenant with Satan, and - renounced her baptism, the devil putting one hand on the crown of her - head, and the other under the soles of her feet, and she gave over - all to the devil that was betwixt his two hands, and she was come - hither to confess her sins, and to get her renounced baptism back - again. She also desired all that had power with God to pray for her; - to this the minister and elders, and whole congregation, were - witnesses. - - It being reported, that Agnes Currie should have delated Bessie - Callander and Mary Wilson, guilty of witchcraft; Agnes being called, - compeared and declared, that Robert Currie told her Elspeth - Williamson told him that Bessie Callander and Mary Wilson, were - witches. - - George Stewart, solemnly sworn, purged of malice and partial counsel, - aged 27 years, married, deponed, that Agnes Currie said to him, I'll - tell you, but you must not let any of your folk know of it; he - replied, I believe in Christ, I hope the devil hath no power over me. - Ha, ha, said she, the devil hath done wrong to many, and he may wrong - your friends or goods. Elspeth Williamson told Robert Currie, and - Robert Currie told me, that Bessie Callander and Mary Wilson, are - guilty of witchcraft. And this is truth, as he shall answer.--_Causa - scientia._ - - _Sic subscribitur_, G. S. - - - James Paton, solemnly sworn, purged of malice and partial counsel, - aged between 22 and 23 years, depones, he was not requiring any thing - of her by way of confession of persons names to which she assented in - the mean time, but Agnes Currie said to him, there are two witches in - Newmilne, and one of them is at the Bridgend; upon which I replied, - you must tell me, for I have a sister there. Agnes replied, her name - begins with a B, George Marshall replied, is that our Bessie, she - answered, you are right enough, it's Bessie Callander. As to the - other person, she would not tell her name at first, but said, she is - be-east your house, but after owned the person to be Mary Wilson, but - desired him not to divulge it to your mother or sister, least these - persons do you ill. This is the truth, as he shall answer.--_Causa - scientia._ - - _Sic subscribitur_, JA. PATON. - - George Marshall, sworn, purged, &c. _ut supra_, aged 39 years, - married, declared, _ut supra_, and added, that she said, ye are - husbandmen, devulge it not, least your beasts get wrang; and said to - Alexander Drysdale, you go to sea, you have need to take head; and - she said, the other lived be-east James Paton's house, but he going - away, heard not her name. And this is the truth, as he shall answer. - _Causa scientia._ - - _Sic subscribitur_, G. M. - - - Agnes Currie assented to this in session; and that Robert Currie told - her, that Elspeth Williamson told him these things; and that Mary - Carmichael in Linlithgow, is a witch. - - Robert Currie called, compeared, and declared that Elspeth Williamson - delated to him Bessie Callander, Mary Wilson, and Mary Carmichael, as - witches, which the said Elspeth referred to the probation of the - witch. - - The foresaid day, Lillias Adie said to the minister, that the devil - was angry that she went to church, and said, that she might do as - well at home. Being interrogate if he was angry like, she said, that - he never looked pleasant like.--And closed with prayer. - - _August 29th, 1704._ - - - Lillias Adie declared, some hours before her death, in audience of - the minister, precentor, George Pringle, and John Paterson, that what - she had said of Elspeth Williamson and Agnes Currie, was as true as - the Gospel; and added, it is as true as the sun shines on that floor, - and dim as my eyes are, I see that. - - It being reported that William Wilson knew something of Agnes Currie - that was witchcraft, as also Janet Glass, they were called, and the - said William declared, that about 24 years ago, Helen Johnston having - overlaid her child the night after it was baptized, and the next day - he was lamenting the woman's case, Agnes Currie said to him, if I had - been her cummer, I could have advised her to take heed to her child; - and also, that the said William was desired some time ago to bring - some _slyk_[15] to a house that belonged to Agnes, and he answered, - that his mare was in the yoke all day and could not; Agnes said she - could not help it, and that same day his mare died in a stank. - - [15] Thin clay or mud. - - Janet Glass declared, that she came once into Agnes Currie's house, - having something to do with Agnes, who in the time was baking bread, - and broke three several bannocks, lying in three several places, and - gave it to the said Janet, and she with eating the same fell in a - fever. - - - _Torryburn, 3d of September, 1704.--After Prayer, Sederunt, - Minister and Elders, except Robert Baxter, John Weir and John - Wardlaw._ - - Agnes Currie being called, compeared, and confronted with Janet - Glass; Janet declared, that about twelve years ago, she brought her - cloth to her house, and Agnes was baking bread, and she broke three - several bannocks that were in three several places, and gave her a - piece of every bannock, and immediately she took the fever; and she - adds, that she gave her a little piece of every bannock, and it was - all one sort of bread. Janet declares that she is ready to swear it; - also adds, Helen Lawson was so used. - - Helen Lawson being called, declared, that a long time ago, Agnes - Currie broke three several bannocks, and gave her a piece of every - one, but she would not take the third piece; and adds, that she is - ready to swear it. - - Elspeth Williamson being brought in, and interrogate if she was a - witch, she answered, that she would not deny that. - - N. B.--Lillias Adie was buried within the seamark at Torryburn.[16] - - [16] Her grave is still to be seen at the west end of the town, - marked with a large stone.--ED. - - * * * * * - - William Cose being called, compeared, and owned, that on Sabbath - morning, anno 1704, it being moon-light, he saw Bessie Micklejohn, or - the devil in her stead, in James Chalmers's bark, then lying in - Leith, and he doubts not but she saw him; and adds, that she had a - green plaid about her head, as he offered to depone. The session - considering that the devil appeared in her likeness, it was no proof - against her, they judged it not necessary to regard that matter, and - thought William Cose should not be troubled, it appearing he had not - spoken it from malice, nor accused her of witchcraft formerly. - - _March 30th, 1709._ - - Margaret Humble called, declared, that Helen Key said, that when she - heard Mr Logan[17] speak against the witches, she thought that he was - daft, and she had up her stool to go out of the kirk: Also declared, - that Helen Key threatened to strike Mary Neilson. - - [17] The Reverend Allan Logan, the minister, is still famous all over - the country for his skill in discovering witches; and used, when - administering the Sacrament, to say, "You witch wife get up from the - table of the Lord," when some unhappy old woman would have risen, - imagining she was pointed at, and it was well if it did not - afterwards cost her her life. _Daft_ or not, he was certainly a most - wretched fanatic of the worst description.--ED. - - Jean Pearson declared, that she heard Helen Key say, that she would - strike Mary Neilson. The said Helen Key confessed what all the - witnesses declared. - - As to the affair of Helen Key, Mary Neilson called, declared, that - she heard Helen Key say, that she thought Mr Logan was not wise when - he was speaking against the witches; and she had one unseemly - expression that is not decent to be put on the records; and when - Margaret Humble rebuked her, she answered, it was not Margaret - Humble's part to speak in Mr Logan's favours, but she would not - express what Mr. Logan said of Margaret Humble to her. - - The session having found her convicted of prophane irreverent - language against the minister and his doctrine, without any shadow of - provocation, and of gross lying and prevaricating, both in private - and before the session, and of threatening to strike a person because - she had reported her impudent, Godless, and scandalous - language,--therefore, they appoint her to sit before the congregation - the next Lord's day, and to be rebuked after the afternoon's sermon. - - - THE END. - - - - - [Greek: DETTEROSKOPIA]; - - OR A - - BRIEF DISCOURSE - - CONCERNING THE - - SECOND SIGHT; - - _COMMONLY SO CALLED._ - - By the Reverend Mr John Frazer, Deceased, - late Minister of Teree and Coll, and Dean - of the Isles; - - AND - - _Published by Mr ANDREW SYMSON, with a Short - Account of the Author._ - - EDINBURGH: - - Printed by Mr ANDREW SYMSON, Anno Domini - MDCCVII. - - - - - TO THE - - RIGHT HONOURABLE, - - _Universally Learned, and my very Singular Good - Lord GEORGE, Earl of Cromartie, Viscount - of Tarbat, Lord Macleod and Castlehaven, - &c. Lord Justice General of the Kingdom - of Scotland, and one of her - Majesty's most Honourable - Privy Council_, - - This following Discourse, entituled [Greek: Dateroskopia], &c. written - by the Reverend Mr John Frazer, late Minister of Teree and Coll, and - Dean of the Isles, is, with all due respect and reverence, dedicated - by the printer and publisher hereof, his - - Lordship's most humble - And obedient servant in all duty, - ANDREW SYMSON. - - - - - THE - - PUBLISHER TO THE READER. - - - The Reverend author of the ensuing Discourse having married my near - kinswoman, and being in this city in November 1700, in order to the - settling of some of his affairs. As we were discoursing of several - things relating to the Highlands and Western Isles of Scotland, we - came to speak of the Second Sight, reported to be so common in these - parts; he told me, that as to the thing itself, it was most certain - and undeniable, and that he could give many instances of it; as also, - that he had written a short Discourse upon that subject. This he - promised to transmit to me; accordingly, on his return home, after a - tedious and troublesome voyage, both by sea and land, he sent me that - Discourse, written with his own hand, desiring me to publish the same - after some of his friends here had perused it: which being done, I, - at my own conveniency, put it to the press, but before it was - finished, I received an account that the author was dead, whereupon I - forbore the publishing of it, till I should get an account of several - passages concerning himself and family, designing to prefix the same - to the Discourse itself, which I conceived would be acceptable to - his friends, and not displeasing to the reader. And therefore I - dispatched a letter to one of his nearest relations, and that was - best acquainted with him, and with the passages of his life, that so - I might thereby be the better informed. In answer whereunto, I - received a paper containing several memoirs, from which I have - collected the following account. - - Mr John Frazer, the author of this Discourse, was born in the Isle of - Mull, in the year of our Lord one thousand six hundred and - forty-seven. - - His father, Mr Ferchard Frazer, was born in the north of Scotland, - near Stratharig, about the year 1606, and lineally descended of the - family of my Lord Lovat, but mediately of the family of Tober, one of - the Lairds of the name of Frazer. - - After he had taken his degrees at the University, and applied himself - to the study of Divinity, he was called by the bishop of the isles - (there being then few learned men able to preach in the Irish tongue) - to be minister of the Isles of Teree and Coll, (to which charge the - deanry of the Isles was annext.) He was the first master of arts that - preached constantly there as minister of the parish, there being then - there one Ewen M'Lean, who was appointed to catechise and convene the - people, there being few or none, as said is, able to serve the cure; - but being there, he was very diligent in his ministerial function in - teaching and instructing them, leaving them far better than he found - them; for at his first coming, there were but three heritable - gentlemen of the name of M'Lean that could subscribe their own - names, the time Mr Ferchard Frazer served as minister of the Isles of - Teree and Coll, which were conjoined in one parish, may be collected - from his epitaph, written by his son, our author, which is-- - - Epitaphium Magistri Ferchardi Frazer Decani Insularum; qui obiit 14 - die Februarii Anno Domini 1680. Aetatis 74. - - Pervigil et blandus; mitis, gravis atq. benignus; - - Doctus et Eloquii deterritate fluens: - - Pavicoves Christi pandens mysteria verbi; - - Exemplum vitæ præbuit ipse gregi. - - Luxfuerat populi lustris bis quinq. peractis, - - Sacradocens, sancto munere functus obit. - - Hic requiem tumulo corpus capit, inde regressus - - Spiritus ad Dominum, qui dedit ante, volat. - - Mr Johannes Frazerus, decanus insularum. - - His mother's name was Janet M'Lean, daughter to Lauchlan M'Lean of - Coll, an ancient family of that name and clan. His father, as he was - careful to instruct others, so he did not neglect his son, our - author, but having fitted him for the University, he sent him to the - College of Glasgow, and committed him to the care of Mr William - Blair, one of the regents there, who advanced him to the degree of - master of arts, between the twenty-fourth and twenty-fifth year of - his age. From thence he went to the Isle of Mull, and was chaplain to - Sir Allan M'Lean of Duart. Thereafter, viz. March 4th 1677, he was - married to Mary Symson, the only surviving daughter of Mr Matthias - Symson, some time minister of Stirling, who died November 1664. Two - or three years before his father's death, (being canonically ordained - presbyter,) he was admitted to his father's charge, in regard his - father, partly by age, and partly by sickness, was rendered very - unfit to serve the cure of these two islands, Teree and Coll, as also - of Icolmkiln, which was also annext to it, and at a greater distance; - however, such was his care and diligence in the work of the ministry, - that, by the blessing of God upon his endeavours, he converted to the - true Protestant faith 24 families in the Isle of Coll, (the laird - himself being then ring-leader), that were deluded by Father O'Donald - and others, his father not being able to oversee his flock, by reason - of his foresaid condition. - - His father dying in the year 1680, he served the cure thereafter, by - constant and diligent preaching, baptizing, marrying, visiting the - sick, and exercising all other duties incumbent on him; but at - length, because his principles would not allow all the demands of the - Synod of Argyle, his charge was declared vacant, and his stipend - taken from him; notwithstanding whereof, there being no minister sent - to oversee these islands, he went about the exercise of his ministry - as formerly, being supplied by the charity and benevolence of his - parishioners, who had an entire kindness for him; but his stipend, as - said is, was taken from him and bestowed some other way. And thus he - continued till about a month before his death, which was on the 25th - day of August 1702, in which he changed this troublesome life for a - better, leaving behind him a desolate poor widow, with several - children, both sons and daughters, as also a sorrowful people, who - were now wholly deprived of a spiritual pastor, and of such a one as - was every way qualified for that charge; for he was not only a good - and learned man, but was master of their language, being born and - bred up in the Isles, understood their humours, conditions, and - manners of life, and being a wise and sagacious person, complaisant, - and of a winning deportment; all which good qualifications he was - endowed with, as all which were acquainted with him, can sufficiently - testify. - - As for the subject of the following Discourse, (commonly called the - Second Sight) though I think it might be more fitly called the First - Sight, (because it for the most part sees things before they are), I - shall not undertake to defend all the notions that he has of it, and - whether they will agree with true philosophy, but shall refer that to - others of a higher reach and deeper understanding than I ever durst - pretend to; but this I will say in his defence, that, considering the - place where it was written, even among the remote Isles, _vervecum in - patria_, where he wanted the converse of learned men, and the benefit - of books, two necessary qualifications for one that writes on such an - abstruse subject; I humbly conceive, that the great clerks of this - age, who have the benefit of books and converse, should not - superciliously undervalue him that wants them. However, although I - shall not pretend to maintain all that he writes, as to the causes, - &c. of this Second Sight, nor do I believe all the stories that I - have heard concerning it, yet the thing itself, or that there is such - a thing as is commonly called the Second Sight, I do firmly believe, - being induced thereto by the relations that I have received from - persons of known integrity, and such as I suppose are wiser than to - be imposed upon, and honester than to impose fables instead of - truths, upon others. Among the relations that I have been told - concerning this subject, I shall only single out one or two, and then - I shall conclude. - - A noble peer of this nation being one morning in his bed-chamber, and - attended by several persons, when his servant had put a new coat upon - his Lord, a gentleman standing by, presently cry'd out, for God's - sake, my Lord, put off that coat; and being asked the reason, he - replied, that he saw a whinger or poinard, stick in the breast of it. - The noble peer esteeming this as a mere fancy, replied, 'this coat is - honestly come by, and I see no reason why I may not wear it.' The - gentleman still entreated, and earnestly craved, that it might be put - off: upon which debate, the noble peer's lady being not far off, came - in, and being informed of the whole affair, intreated her Lord to - comply with the gentleman's desire, which he did; mean time one of - the servants standing by, desired the lady to give it him, and he - would wear it. She granted his request, who put it on, and ere night - he was stabbed by a poniard, in that very place which the gentleman - had pointed to in the morning. This relation I had from a very - ingenuous and understanding gentleman, who was grand-child to the - said noble peer. - - I shall add another strange story, which I had from a reverend - minister of the gospel, and my intimate acquaintance. 'Tis thus--In - the year 1665, Alexander Wood, eldest son to the Laird of Nether - Benholm, in Angus, having ended his prentiship with a merchant in - Edinburgh, told Mr James Walker, that (in the year 1662 or 1663), he - had been employed by his master to go to the Lewis to make up - herring; and being there, and having a good tack of herring, their - salt and casks were all made use of, and then they being idle, he - began to fret that his master had delayed so long to supply them; and - being one day drinking in a country house, and complaining, he went - to the door of the house, and there followed him a country man, who - said to him, If you will give me a small hire, I'll tell you what is - become of the ship you are looking for; and without more ado, he set - his foot upon the gentleman's foot, in which time he saw the ship in - a great storm, ready to perish, and the seamen casting out their - lading to lighten the ship; but when the country man's foot was off - his he saw nothing. The ship at that time was about 100 miles from - them, and about 48 hours thereafter, she came into the same harbour, - and had been in the same condition he saw her in at that time the - country man's foot was on his foot. It would be tedious to add any - more stories that I have had from persons of undoubted veracity; and - therefore, Reader, I shall only subscribe myself - - Your humble servant in all duty, - ANDREW SYMSON. - - - - - A - - SHORT ADVERTISEMENT - - TO THE - - READER. - - - COURTEOUS READER, - - You may be surprised to meet with such an abstruse theme (handled in - specie by few or none), from the pen of a person in my circumstances, - lying at a great distance from the Universities and centre of the - kingdom, and consequently may be justly supposed to want that - ordinary help of books and conference with the learned, that others - may enjoy. - - In the _first_ place, believe that I am so far from affecting vain - singularity, (a hateful vice in the schools as well as the pulpit), - that nothing of that kind moved me to treat of the subject of the - following Discourses. But for my own satisfaction I drew up the - following heads, and did not resolve at the first to expose them to - public view, (justly fearing the censure of presumption); but I was, - by the persuasion of some serious friends, prevailed with to commit - myself to the favourable judgment of the learned, (who might sooner - commend my endeavours than censure my failings), rather than suppress - such a fine subject, which probably might be more fully and largely - treated of by others after the perusal of this Discourse. Take this - pamphlet then in the rude dress that I could give; at least it may - excite thy thoughts, if not to approve of what is here deduced, yet - to propone of thine own a more satisfying method of explaining this - remarkable phenomenon, which is the genuine design and wish of, - - SIR, - Your humble servant, - The AUTHOR. - - - - - [Greek: DETTEROSKOPIA]; - - OR, - - A BRIEF DISCOURSE - - CONCERNING THE - - SECOND SIGHT, - - _Commonly so Called_. - - - Many have undertaken to treat of the nature and operation of Spirits; - as also of the various manners of divination among the Gentiles, (and - but too much used among Christians,) likewise of the perturbation and - deception of the fancy, caused by melancholy; and very many speak in - ordinary discourses of this called the Second Sight, and the - consequences of it, but none that I know handle it _in titulo_. - - That such representations are made to the eyes of men and women, is - to me out of all doubt, and that effects follow answerable thereto, - as little questionable. But I have found so many doubt the matter of - fact; which I take to be the reason that so little has been written - of it, that I think it necessary to say something briefly, that may - put the existency of it beyond all scruple. If I should insert all - the clear instances that I have had of this matter, it would be - tedious and unnecessary, therefore I will content myself, and I hope - will satisfy the reader, with four or five instances, as follows. - - The first instance is by a servant of my own, who had the trust of my - barn, and nightly lay in the same. One day he told me he would not - any longer lie there, because nightly he had seen a dead corps in his - winding sheets straighted beside him, particularly at the south side - of the barn. About an half year thereafter, a young man that had - formerly been my servant, fell dangerously sick, and expecting death, - would needs be carried near my house; and shortly thereafter he died, - and was laid up a night before he was buried in the same individual - barn and place that was foretold; and immediately the servant that - foretold this came to me and minded me of the prediction, which was - clearly out of my mind till he spoke of it. - - The second instance is after this manner. I was resolved to pay a - visit to an English gentleman, Sir William Sacheverill, who had a - commission from the English Court of Admiralty, to give his best - trial to find out gold or money, or any other thing of note, in one - of the ships of the Spanish armada, that was blown up in the bay of - Topper-Mory, in the Sound of Mull. And having condescended upon the - number of men that were to go with me, one of the number was a - handsome boy that waited upon my own person; and, about an hour - before I made sail, a woman, that was also one of my own servants, - spoke to one of the seamen, and bade him dissuade me to take that boy - along with me, or if I did, I should not bring him back alive; the - seaman answered, he had not confidence to tell me such unwarrantable - trifles. I took my voyage, and sailed the length of Topper-Mory; and - having stayed two or three nights with that liberal and ingenuous - gentleman, who himself had collected many observations of the Second - Sight in the Isle of Man, and compared his notes and mine together, I - then took leave of him. In the mean time, my boy grew sick of a - vehement bloody flux,--the winds turn'd cross, that I could neither - sail nor row,--the boy died with me the eleventh night from his - decumbiture,--the next morning the wind made fair, and the seaman to - whom the matter was foretold, related the whole story when he saw it - verified. I carried the boy's corps aboard with me, and after my - arrival, and his burial, I called suddenly for the woman, and asked - at her what warrant she had to foretell the boy's death; she said, - that she had no other warrant but that she saw, two days before I - took my voyage, the boy walking with me in the fields, sewed up in - his winding sheets from top to toe, and that she had never seen this - in others, but she found that they shortly thereafter died; and - therefore concluded that he would die too, and that shortly. - - The third instance was thus. Duncan Campbell, brother-german to - Archibald Campbell of Invera, a gentleman of singular piety and - considerable knowledge, especially in Divinity, told me a strange - thing of himself. That he was at a time in Kintyre, having then some - employment there, and one morning walking in the fields, he saw a - dozen of men carrying a bier, and knew them all but one, and when he - looked again, all was vanished. The very next day, the same company - came the same way, carrying a bier, and he going to meet them, found - that they were but eleven in number, and that himself was the - twelfth, though he did not notice it before; and it is to be - observed, that this gentleman never saw any thing of this kind before - or after, till his dying day. Moreover, that he was of such solid - judgment and devote conversation, that his report deserves an - unquestionable credit. - - The fourth instance I had, to my great grief, from one John M'Donald, - a servant of Lauchlan M'Lean of Coll, who was then newly returned - from Holland, having the charge of a captain. This gentleman came one - afternoon abroad to his past-time in the fields, and this John - M'Donald meets him, and saw his clothes shining like the skins of - fishes, and his periwig all wet, though indeed the day was very fair; - whereupon he told privately, even then, to one of Coll's gentlemen, - that he feared he should be drowned. This gentleman was Charles - M'Lean, who gave me account of it. The event followed about a year - thereafter, for the Laird of Coll was drowned in the water of Lochy - in Lochaber. I examined both Charles M'Lean and John M'Donald, and - found, that the prediction was as he told me; and the said M'Donald - could produce no other warrant, than that he found such signs - frequently before to forgo the like events. This man indeed was known - to have many visions of this kind, but he was none of the strictest - life. - - The fifth instance is strange, and yet of certain truth, and known to - the whole inhabitants of the Island of Eigg, lying in the latitude of - 56 degrees 20 minutes; and longitude 14 degrees. There was a tenant - in this island, a native, that was a follower of the Captain of - Clanrannold, that lived in a town called Kildonan, the year of God - eighty-five, who told publicly to the whole inhabitants, upon the - Lord's day, after divine service, performed by Father O'Rain, then - priest of that place, that they should all flit out of that Isle, and - plant themselves some where else; because that people of strange and - different habits, and arms, were to come to the Isle, and to use all - acts of hostility, as killing, burning, tirling, and deforcing of - women; finally, to discharge all that the hands of an enemy could do; - but what they were, or whence they came, he could not tell. At the - first there was no regard had to his words; but frequently - thereafter, he begged of them to notice what he said, otherwise they - should repent it, when they could not help it; which took such an - impression upon some of his near acquaintance, as that severals of - them transported themselves and their families, even then; some to - the Isle of Cannay, some to the Isle of Rum. Fourteen days before the - enemy came thither, under the command of one Major Ferguson and - Captain Pottinger, whilst there was no word of their coming, or any - fear of them conceived. In the month of June 1689, this man fell - sick, and Father O'Rain came to see him, in order to give him the - benefit of absolution and extreme unction, attended with several - inhabitants of the Isle, who, in the first place, narrowly questioned - him before his friends, and begged of him to recant his former folly - and his vain prediction; to whom he answered, that they should find - very shortly the truth of what he had spoken, and so he died. And - within 14 or 15 days thereafter, I was eye witness (being then - prisoner with Captain Pottinger), to the truth of what he did - foretel; and being before-hand well instructed of all that he said, I - did admire to see it particularly verified, especially that of the - different habits and arms, some being clad with red coats, some with - white coats and grenadier caps, some armed with sword and pike, and - some with sword and musket. Though I could give many more proofs, as - unquestionable as these, yet I think what is said, is sufficient to - prove the being of such a thing as the same in hand; and I cannot but - wonder, that men of knowledge and experience should be so shy to - believe that there may be visions of this kind administered by good - or bad angels; there being nothing more certain, than that good - angels suggested visions to the prophets of the Lord, before the - coming of Christ in the flesh, and particularly to the apostle St - John, after the ascension of our Lord; likewise that evil angels - presented visions, as well as audible voices, to the 450 false - prophets of Ahab; the 400 prophets of the Groves, is as little to be - doubted; it being as easy, if not easier, to work upon the sight, as - well as upon the hearing. We know but too well, that necromancers and - magicians themselves, have not only seen the shapes and forms of - things, but likewise have allowed others to see the same, who had no - skill of their art. A precedent for which, is the Witch of Endor. - - I remember, about 23 years ago, there was an old woman in my parish, - in the Isle of Teree, whom I heard was accustomed to give responses, - and likewise averred, that she had died and been in heaven, but - allowed to come back again. And because she could not come to church, - I was at the pains to give her a visit, attended with two or three of - the most intelligent of my parish. I questioned her first whether she - said she was in heaven; and she freely confessed she was, and that - she had seen Jesus Christ, but not God the Father, or the Holy Ghost; - that she was kindly entertained with meat and drink, and that she had - seen her daughter there, who died about a year before;--that her - daughter told her, though she was allowed to go there, that she - behooved to come back and serve out her prentiship on earth, but - would shortly be called for, and remain there for ever. She could - very hardly be put out of this opinion, till I enquired more narrowly - of her children, if she fell at any time in a syncope; which they - told me she did, and continued for a whole night, so that they - thought that she was truly dead; and this is the time she alleged she - was in heaven. The devil took an advantage in the ecstasy to present - to her fancy a map of heaven, as if it had been a rich earthly - kingdom, abounding with meat, drink, gold, and silver. By the - blessing of God, I prevailed with her to be persuaded that this was - but a vision presented to her fancy by the devil, the father of lies; - and that she might deprehend the falsehood of it from this one head, - that she imagined her body was there, as well as her soul, and that - she did eat and drink, and was warmed, while, as her own children, - and the neighbours that watched her, did see, and did handle her body - several times that night, so that it could not be with her in heaven. - I did further examine her what warrant she had for the responses she - gave, which were found very often true, even in future contingent - events. She freely confessed, that her father upon his death-bed, - taught her a charm, compiled of barbarous words, and some - unintelligible terms, which had the virtue, when repeated, to - present, some few hours after the proposition of a question, the - answer of the same in live images before her eyes, or upon the wall; - but the images were not tractable, which she found by putting too her - hand, but could find nothing. I do not think fit to insert the charm, - knowing that severals might be inclined to make an unwarrantable - trial of it. This poor woman was got reclaimed, and was taught fully - the danger and vanity of her practice, and died peaceably about a - year after, in extreme old age. - - I know assuredly, that Janet Douglas, that was first a dumbie, yet - spoke thereafter, who had given many responses by signs and words, - and foretold many future events, being examined by Mr Gray, one of - the ministers of the city of Glasgow, denied any explicitor implicit - paction, and declared freely, that the answers of the questions - proponed to her were represented by a vision in lively images, - representing the persons concerned, and acting the thing, before her - eyes. This Mr Gray exchanged several discourses in write with Sir - James Turner, concerning her. - - By this time, you may see that this theme deserves the consideration - of the learned: _First_, to enquire how much of this may come from a - natural constitution and temperament, when confounded with a flatuous - or melancholic distemper; and what influence an external agent, - namely, an angel, good or bad, may have upon the organ of the eye and - the fancy, and how far the medium between the organ of the eye and an - object visible, may be disposed for their purpose, namely, the air - and light; and what connexion may be found betwixt the - representations made to the eye or fancy, and the future contingent - events that experience teaches do follow thereupon: as for example, a - man is seen bleeding, or sewed up in his winding sheets, who is - shortly to be wounded, or assuredly to die. - - As for the first, all the learned physicians of the world know too - well by experience what great labour they have to cure the deceptions - of the fancy, especially in hypochondriac diseases; nay, patients - cannot be persuaded but they see men, women, fowls, and four-footed - beasts, walking abroad or in their chambers. Seldom it is, that a man - passes any great and turbulent fever, without the trouble of some - such representations. It is memorable, that a gentleman, that had - been a great proficient in physic himself, imagined at length that - there was a quick frog in his belly; and after he had travelled over - a good part of Italy, and consulted with the doctors of Padua, yet - could not be cured, or dissuaded. He came at length to the learned - physician Platerus, in Bazil, who told him, that a frog by certain - experience is known not to live above three years, so that his - distemper continuing longer than three years, could not be caused by - the frog, that could not live so long. Moreover, that his stomach - would strangle the frog, and that the frog could not live any - considerable time out of its own element, the water; so that the - properest and most specific medicines being made use of, it were a - shame for him to be so obstinate. At last he was persuaded, and his - fancy satisfied. This story is no less renowned of what befell - Andreas Osiander, a man learned in most languages. When he was a - young man, and being troubled with a quartan ague, a little before - the fit he could not be persuaded that he was in the house at all, - but that he was in a wood, and much molested with wild beasts and - serpents of all kinds; neither could he be prevailed with that this - was false, till Facius Cardanus was called for to him, who cured him - for the time, so that he knew his friends that were sitting beside - him, and the chamber to be his own chamber; but after Facius had left - him, he was troubled with the same opinion and distemper, even till - the ague had quiet him. I have myself seen a neighbour of my own, and - my parishioner too, John M'Phale, that lived to the age of fourscore - years, a man that was truly very sagacious by nature; and though his - sight was much decayed, the seat of his judgment was nothing touched; - and as he grew weaker, merely by old age, without any remarkable - distemper, I made frequent visits to him. One day as I was coming - away from him, he told me he had something of consequence to ask at - me, and desired all to remove except his wife and another gentleman, - that was a friend of his. This done, Sir, says he, I desire to know - by what warrant or commission so many of my friends, that are dead - long ago, are allowed to come and discourse with me, and drink before - me, and yet are not so civil as give me a tasting of it? I told him, - that it was only the trouble of his fancy, and his frequent thinking - of the world to come and his friends that were gone before him; and - he replied to me very smartly, Sir, says he, I perceive it is the - work of the fancy, for since I cannot see yourself, (for only by your - voice I know you) how could I see them? It was strange that he saw - them the very mean time that others were in the house with him, and - asked several questions at them, but got no answer. And, for all - this, the seat of his wit was as entire as ever: moreover, this - trouble left him a little before he died. - - Many such illusions are reported of eremites, caused merely by the - confusion of the brains, bred by their fasting and unwholesome food, - which I shall not trouble the reader with. - - If you will ask how cometh this to pass, take notice of the following - method, which I humbly offer to your consideration. Advert, in the - _first_ place, that visible ideas, or species, are emitted from every - visible object to the organ of the eye; representing the figure and - colour of the object, and bearing along with it the proportion of the - distance, for sure the objects enter not the eye, nor the interjacent - distant tract of ground; and a third thing different from the eye and - the object, and the distant ground, must inform the eye. These - species are conveyed to the brain by the optic nerve, and are laid up - in the magazine of the memory, otherwise we should not remember the - object any longer than it is in our presence; and a remembering of - these objects is nothing else but the fancies reviewing, or more - properly the soul of man, by the fancy reviewing of these intentional - species formerly received from the visible object unto the organ of - the eye, and reconducted unto the seat of the memory. Now, when the - brain is in a serene temper, these species are in their integrity, - and keep their rank and file as they were received; but when the - brain is filled with gross and flatuous vapours, and the spirits and - humour enraged, these ideas are sometimes multiplied as an army, by - mist; sometimes magnified, sometimes misplaced, sometimes confounded - by other species of different objects, perhaps by half and half, so - that the fancy has two for one, one bigger than two of itself, and - sometimes the half of one and the half of another, represented in - one; and this deception is not only incident to the fancy, but even - to the external senses, particularly the seeing and hearing; for the - visus, or seeing, is nothing else but the transition of the - intentional species through the crystalline humour to the retiform - coat of the eye, and judged by the common sense, and conveyed by the - optic nerve to the fancy. - - Of this we have a clear demonstration from the representation of - external objects through a crystal in glass, upon any lucid, smooth, - and solid reflectant, placed before the glass in a dark chamber, - which is one of the noblest experiments in the whole optics. - - Now, if these species formerly received and laid up in the brain, - will be reversed back from the same to the retiform coat and - crystalline humour as formerly, these is in effect a lively seeing - and perception of the object represented by these species, as if, _de - novo_, the object had been placed before the eye; for the organ of - the eye had no more of it before, than now it has; just so with the - hearing, it is nothing else but the receiving of the audible species - to that part of the ear that is accommodated for hearing, so that - when the species are retracted from the brain to their proper organs, - for example, the ear and the eye, hearing and seeing are perfected, - as if the objects had been present to influence the organs _de novo_. - And it is not to be thought that this is a singular opinion, for - Cardanus, an eminent author of great and universal learning and - experience, maintains this reversion of the species, and attributes - his own vision of trees, wild beasts, men, cities, and instructed - battles, musical and martial instruments, from the fourth to the - seventh year of his age, to the species of the objects he had seen - formerly, now retracted to the organ of the eye, and cites Averroes, - an author of greater renown for the same opinion. _See Cardanus de - subtilitate rerum pagina trecentesima prima._ - - And it seems truly to be founded upon relevant grounds. I have - observed a sick person, that complained of great pain and molestation - in his head, and particularly of piping and sweating in his ears, - which seems to have been caused by the species of piping and singing - which he had formerly heard, but were now, through the plethory of - his head, forced out of the brain to the organ of the ear, through - the same nerves by which they were received formerly; and why may not - the same befall the visible species as well as the audible? which - seems to be confirmed by the optic experiment. Take a sheet of - painted paper and fix it in your window, looking steadfastly to it - for a considerable time, for example, some few minutes, then close - your eyes very strait, and place a sheet of clean paper before your - eyes, and open your eyes suddenly, you will see the painting almost - as lively as they were in the painted sheet with the lively colours. - This compression of the eyes by consent, causes a compression of the - whole brain, which forces back the visible species of the painted - sheet to the organ of the eye, through the optic nerve, which will - presently vanish, if the reflectant did not help to preserve them. - You may see then how much of these representations may be within - ourselves, abstracting from any external agent or object without the - eye, to influence the same. - - The second thing that comes under consideration is, the influence and - operation of external agents, namely, an angel, good or bad. It is - not to be denied, but good angels may help and dispose all our - faculties, excite, elevate, and set them upon edge and action; - likewise, that evil angels may perturb, confound, and hurt, our - external and internal senses, (when permitted) particularly by - stirring the spirits, humours, and vapours, which of themselves, when - so stirred, help to make many shapes and representations, either - regular or irregular, (as has been formerly observed) and withal, - they can colorate external objects far beyond any painter, insensibly - to the beholder, _repente applicando activa passivis_; and that they - can alter the medium interposed between our senses and the objects, - by making it grosser or thinner, opaque or lucid, is a thing not to - be questioned. For a clear proof of this I hope any rational man will - allow me. - - That even the evil angels, who were created in a degree above us, - must have a more penetrating wit than ours is, and having experienced - from their creation, to this very day, and can be present to every - experiment found out, or that is committed to writing by the art of - man; and withal, being not subject to oblivion as man is, (for they - have no material faculty to be obliterated), I say any rational man - will allow me, that they can do as much, and beyond what the art of - man is able to do; but so it is, that painters can make one object - more pleasant than another, distorted and worse favoured than - another,--that any smoke may engross the air,--that a cloud removed - on or off the face of the sun, give way to the beams of it to - illuminate the air, or to eclipse its light,--that vapours and - exhalations, from sea and land, multiply and magnify objects, - misshapes and distorts them, and makes them of diverse figures, all - in an instant, which is observable in hot summer days, especially in - the end of the canicular days, for you may readily see about three or - four in the afternoon, the same hills (providing they are situated at - a considerable distance from you) to be of diverse shapes, forms, and - figures, changing very suddenly from one shape to another, for - example, from a globe to a pyramid, from a pyramid to a quadrangular - figure, &c. All which our ordinary multiplying, magnifying, and - distorting glasses, produce. Moreover, that physicians can administer - such medicines as may provoke a man to madness and rage, yea, to - fantastic or hypochondriac fits; so also medicines that move pleasant - and unpleasant dreams, by exciting the melancholic or sanguine - humours, raging or peaceable dreams, by moving the choleric or - phlegmatic humour. - - How much more can the prince of the air do, and his retinue, who is - better seen in the nature of the elements and their compounds; who - is better seen in the nature of trees, plants, minerals, stones, the - secret qualities of springs and fountains, rivers and lochs, and the - influence of celestial bodies, &c. and who is better seen in the - constitution of every man, his customs and inclinations, and his - present state and bygone circumstances; I say, in all these, he is - better seen than any man, and can accommodate them to his purpose - beyond the greatest virtuoses. - - Let us therefore consider, that an evil angel being permitted - thereunto, can muster in our brain the latent intentional species of - external absent objects, and can present the same to the fancy in the - methods best fitting his purpose, and not only so in time of our - sleep, (for then indeed the fancy sticks with more tenacity to what - it apprehends), but also when we are not sleeping, he can deduce - these species by forcing them out of the rooms or cells of the brain, - to the organ of the eye and ear, and so of necessity a man either - sitting or going in the high-way, will hear and see such things as - these species do represent; and seeing that naturally it may be done, - as would appear from what is above spoken from the strength and force - of medicines to operate upon the spirits and humours of man to work - strange things, why may not a good or bad angel excite nature to it? - or by an immediate impulse force these material qualities to the - organs of the external senses, as well as they can move their - vehicles, which are the spirits and humours. - - The third thing proposed was, the connexion of these representations - with the future contingent events that are observed to follow them, - as for example, a second sighted man sees a winding sheet upon his - neighbour, or blood running down his face, shoulders, or arms, he - concludes that he must die, or be wounded in the face, shoulders, or - arms. If you will ask what warrant he has for this, he will tell, he - has found by experience, that whenever he saw the like of this, that - he found death or wounds to follow. _Quaeritur_, then, what connexion - can this representation have with an effect or contingent event not - yet existant? For answer to this, God, who knoweth all things, no - doubt imparteth much of the foreknowledge of things, not only to good - angels, but also evil angels, for reasons well known to himself, - particularly that they might give some true signs, and so have way to - deceive in many things besides; and though the signs foretold should - surely come to pass, it does not infer that the doctrine of evil - angels, and their lies that they would suggest to mankind, should be - credited. This is clear from the 13th of Deuteronomy, 1, 2, and 3, - verses, If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, - and giveth thee a sign or a wonder, and the sign or the wonder come - to pass whereof he spake unto thee, saying, let us go after other - gods, (which thou has not known), and let us serve them; thou shalt - not hearken to the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams, - for the Lord your God proveth you, to know whether you love the Lord - your God, with all your heart, and with all your soul. And this is - very just with God when men give themselves over to a reprobate and - wicked mind, and evil and unwarrantable practices, expressly against - the Lord's commands; I say it is just with God to let evil angels or - spirits delude them, and give way to these spirits in order to - confirm their lies; to appoint signs before hand, which signs, by - God's appointment, may come to pass, answerable to the prediction. It - may rationally, and very probably be concluded, that Ahab's false - prophets, in number 400, have often foretold truth; and this - purposely by God's appointment, that they might be the better - believed, and more easily persuade to lay siege to Ramoth Gilead; and - it is hard to conceive that Ahab should give them so much credit, or - they themselves so extraordinary confident, if they had not had many - truths suggested to them, and made proof of the same to Ahab. It is - not for nought that we are commanded to try the spirits, and that - rather by their doctrines, than their signs and wonders, or fair and - smooth pretences. Therefore, suppose these evil angels to know a - contingent future event, either by a revelation, or natural or moral - causes, they may, in the method foresaid make the representation of - them to the eyes or ears; as for example, an angel, good or bad, - finds that either the lungs, heart, stomach, liver, or brain, are - under such a consumption, as may against such a time kill a man; or - that he knows the secret contrivance of a potent party that is - resolved to wound or kill him, or that it is revealed to him it - should be so (which may very well be, as has been above noted), he - can easily represent these before hand, though the event should - follow but a considerable time thereafter; he has no more to do than - to reverse the species of these things from a man's brain to the - organ of the eye. - - Here ariseth a question from what has just been said, whether it be - more probable that good angels make this representation (because men - having this second sight are found to tell truth, and to be innocent - in their lives, and free of any paction, either implicit or explicit, - likewise free of any fraudulent design, and sound enough in the - necessary articles of their salvation), or that it be done by evil - angels for the trial of men and women, juggling with their fancy and - external organs, and so have a patent way to tell lies among some - truths. For answer to this question, I shall not be ready positively - to determine these things, but I humbly conceive, that as the - representations are oft done by evil angels, so likewise it is - probable that it may be done by good angels. I cannot be so - uncharitable to several men that I have known to be of considerable - sense, and pious and good conversation, as to conclude them to be - given over to be deluded continually by an evil angel: Moreover, I - conceive that there are many good Christians, if they would advert - well, that have some secret tokens and signs of notable alterations - to come, suggested to them before hand; and that these signs, some of - them are common to them with others, as dreaming, which are often - observed to be completely fulfilled, and that some of the signs and - warnings are peculiar to some persons, which fail not to answer to - the things signified; as for example, I have certainly known a man, - that when he found an unvoluntary motion in such a member of his - body, particularly his right hand or right eye, that was sure that - some matter of joy would shortly come to his hearing; and that if he - found the same motion in the left eye or hand, it signified - infallibly grief: And that which is more wonderful, the thing to come - signified by these signs and warnings keeped an exact proportion with - the continuance or vehemency of the motion; if the motion continued - long, so did the joy or the grief; if the motion was snell or - vehement, so was the matter of grief or joy; and finding that this - man was both a good man, and of a right penetrating wit, and had art - enough, it moved me to use freedom with several other good men that - had knowledge and sense enough to examine circumstances to a hair. I - found very many to acknowledge the very same thing, yet signified by - different signs, (which shows they are not _signa naturalia_, but _ex - instituto_), which puts me in mind of Dr Brown's observation to the - same purpose, in his inquiry into vulgar errors, where he concludes - several presentations to be acted in us by our tutelary angels that - have the charge of us at the time. Mark this, though the signs be - different in themselves, yet to each particular person, his own sign - is still significative of the same thing; and why might not this of - the second sight be counted amongst one of these? I likewise humbly - conceive, that God might compense the want of many other gifts to - poor men, by giving them this minor sort of knowledge. But I would - advise all of them that have the second sight, to examine themselves, - and to pray earnestly to God that no evil angel should have power to - abuse their senses, because the devil still strives to imitate what - God, or his good angels, communicates to his own children. I know - that the common opinion of some philosophers and divines will be - objected, and that is, that angels, good or bad, may condense the - air, figurate and colorate the same, and make it of what figure or - shape they please, so that this representation is made by external - objects in effect emitting visible species to the eye; and - consequently, that it is not the reversion of the species formerly - received; though, as I have observed before, that good and bad angels - can alter the medium in a strange way, and can work great alteration - on the elements and their compounds, I think it very improbable that - any created power can bring the air to that solidity, and actually - condense it, colorate, and figurate it, as to represent a man by a - beast, or Peter by Paul, especially at such a distance as from one - side of a chamber to the other. The miracles done by the magicians of - Egypt is their Achillean argument; but in short, I say, that what was - done by the magicians of Egypt, has neither been a delusion of the - senses, (as some would have it) much less that the devil could - produce the creatures _de novo_ of condensed air, and that for the - following reasons: _First_, thence it would follow that Moses and - Aaron were deluded as well as the Egyptians; but the last is false, - therefore the first: _Secondly_, it would follow, that the fashioning - and framing of Adam's body of clay, was but a mean act of creation in - comparison of these creatures, if they should be fashioned and framed - of condense air, which is naturally a fluid element, not so easily - stigmatized as the earth. I do not deny but the devil can snatch dead - and quick bodies from one place to another, and that insensibly to - the beholders, by pressing their optic nerves, as Franciscus Valesius - has observed in his _Sacra Philosophia_, and I conclude with Abraham - Couley, (no contemptible author) that the magicians of Egypt were - after this manner served by the devil, to imitate God's power in the - hands of Moses and Aaron. Mark, finally, if it were within the sphere - of angelical power to take bodies of condense air, what needed them - assume such material and earthly bodies as these angels that came to - Abraham and Lot assumed? whose bodies could be touched and handled, - and whose bodies were not found to yield to the touch, as the most - condensed air must do; and it is very consisting with reason, that - the angels, good or bad, should rather assume bodies of the element - of the earth, which is a great deal more easily brought to the figure - and fashion of a body, than the air. Some curious spirits, perhaps, - may desire to know whether this second sight be hereditary or - propagable from father to son; and I think no wonder that some would - think so, because the sanative gift of the king's evil is lineally - traduced to the natural heirs of the crown of England; and there is a - whole family in Spain, that has a sanative gift of some particular - diseases, which gift is propagated from the father to the son; - neither is it diminished or augmented by the morality or immorality - of the persons, as has been observed by that famous philosopher and - physician, Franciscus Valesius, who lived in that kingdom, and had - time and opportunity to examine the truth of this affair. In short, I - answer, that it is not propagable from father to son, neither - peculiar to any particular family; and as I have observed many honest - men, free of all scandal that ever I could learn, to have it; so I - have observed many vicious persons to have it who foretold truth oft - enough. - - Perhaps it may be doubted what should make this second sight more - frequent here than in the heart of the kingdom; I answer, that it is - the lack of observation and inquiry that it should not be found there - as well as here. _Secundo_, that it passes under a great odium and - disgrace with the most of men, which causes those that see it, - conceal it. _Thirdly_, I confess that credulity and ignorance give - occasion to evil spirits to juggle more frequently, than otherwise - they would have done. But sure it is, that men of little learning and - education may be recompensed by notable presentations, not so obvious - to others of greater parts. I remember of a nobleman in Spain, that - was deaf and dumb from his infancy, and yet was taught by a monk to - speak, and understand what was spoken to him, only by observing the - motion of his lips that spoke to him. Sir Kenelm Digby saw him, as he - tells in his Treatise of Bodies, and the monk that taught him, was a - cousin of Franciscus Valesius. This was more than ordinary sagacity - and docility, and it is found, that many dumb persons foretel many - things before hand, and it is a hard measure to conclude all to be - from evil spirits. In fine, as I noted before, as questionless Satan - may, and often does, deceive after this manner, so it is as sure, it - may be allowed, that good angels may forewarn this way, as well as by - other signs and tokens, as Dr Brown observes. - - It is observed, that those who have the second sight, have this - representation at any time of the day, but indeed more ordinarily in - the morning and evening, and with candle light. - - The design of these weak conceptions on this sublime theme, is not to - impose upon any man, freely leaving every man to follow his own - judgment in things that offend not church or state, but that others - of greater capacity may be stimulated to prosecute the same in a - better method, humbly submitting myself to the judgment of my - betters, to whose hands perhaps this pamphlet may come. - - - - - FINIS. - - EDINBURGH, - - Printed by Thomas Webster. - - - * * * * * - - - Transcriber's note: - - Text enclosed by underscores is in italics (_italics_). - - Small capital text has been replaced with all capitals. - - Variations in spelling, punctuation and hyphenation have been - retained except in obvious cases of typographical error. - - Page 92: "here is a gentleman that will fee you"--The transcriber has - changed "fee" to "see". fee you - - Page 98: Blank spaces have been replaced with dashes to indicate - words left out. - - For the eBook version of this book the cover was created by the - transcriber, and is placed in the public domain. - - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of A Collection of Rare and Curious -Tracts on Witchcraft and the Second Sight, by Unknown - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TRACTS ON WITCHCRAFT *** - -***** This file should be named 41928-8.txt or 41928-8.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/4/1/9/2/41928/ - -Produced by Chris Curnow and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was -produced from images generously made available by The -Internet Archive) - - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions -will be renamed. - -Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no -one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation -(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without -permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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Thus, we do not necessarily -keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. - -Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: - - www.gutenberg.org - -This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, -including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to -subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. - diff --git a/41928-8.zip b/41928-8.zip Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index f698175..0000000 --- a/41928-8.zip +++ /dev/null diff --git a/41928-h.zip b/41928-h.zip Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index bf21dc2..0000000 --- a/41928-h.zip +++ /dev/null diff --git a/41928-h/41928-h.htm b/41928-h/41928-h.htm index 2df0112..2d12876 100644 --- a/41928-h/41928-h.htm +++ b/41928-h/41928-h.htm @@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ <html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> <head> - <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=UTF-8" /> <meta http-equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css" /> <title> The Project Gutenberg eBook of A Collection of Rare and Curious Tracts on Witchcraft and the Second Sight, by David Webster. @@ -186,46 +186,7 @@ div.fn { <link rel="coverpage" href="images/coverpage.jpg"/> </head> <body> - - -<pre> - -The Project Gutenberg EBook of A Collection of Rare and Curious Tracts on -Witchcraft and the Second Sight, by Unknown - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with -almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included -with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org - - -Title: A Collection of Rare and Curious Tracts on Witchcraft and the Second Sight - With an Original Essay on Witchcraft - -Author: Unknown - -Release Date: January 27, 2013 [EBook #41928] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TRACTS ON WITCHCRAFT *** - - - - -Produced by Chris Curnow and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was -produced from images generously made available by The -Internet Archive) - - - - - - -</pre> +<div>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 41928 ***</div> <div id="title_page"> @@ -4115,7 +4076,7 @@ Dick, Witches.</em></p> <div class="center"> <table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="Coke"> -<tr><td align="left"><em>In primis.</em>—To Mr James Miller, when he went to Prestowne for a man to try them,</td><td align="right">47s.</td><td align="right">£2 7</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><em>In primis.</em>—To Mr James Miller, when he went to Prestowne for a man to try them,</td><td align="right">47s.</td><td align="right">£2 7</td></tr> <tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: 2em;"><em>Item.</em>—To the man of Culross, (the executioner) when he went away the first time,</span></td><td align="right">12s.</td><td align="right">0 12</td></tr> <tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: 2em;"><em>Item.</em>—For coals for the witches,</span></td><td align="right">24s.</td><td align="right">1 4</td></tr> <tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: 2em;"><em>Item.</em>—In purchasing the commission,</span></td><td> </td><td align="right">9 3</td></tr> @@ -4123,7 +4084,7 @@ Dick, Witches.</em></p> <tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: 2em;"><em>Item.</em>—For harden to be jumps to them,</span></td><td> </td><td align="right">3 10</td></tr> <tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: 2em;"><em>Item.</em>—For making of them,</span></td><td> </td><td align="right">0 8</td></tr> <tr><td> </td><td> </td><td align="right">——</td></tr> -<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: 1em;">Summa for the kirk's part</span></td><td> </td><td align="right">£17 1</td><td>Scots.</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: 1em;">Summa for the kirk's part</span></td><td> </td><td align="right">£17 1</td><td>Scots.</td></tr> </table></div> <hr class="tb" /> <p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[124]</a></span></p> @@ -4135,7 +4096,7 @@ upon William Coke and Alison Dick.</em></p></blockquote> <div class="center"> <table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="Town"> -<tr><td align="left"><em>In primus</em>—For ten loads of coals to burn them, 5 merks,</td><td align="right">£3</td><td align="right">6</td><td align="right">8</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><em>In primus</em>—For ten loads of coals to burn them, 5 merks,</td><td align="right">£3</td><td align="right">6</td><td align="right">8</td></tr> <tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: 2.5em;"><em>Item.</em>—For a tar barrel, 14s.</span></td><td align="right">0</td><td align="right">14</td><td align="right">0</td></tr> <tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: 2.5em;"><em>Item.</em>—For towes,</span></td><td align="right">0</td><td align="right">6</td><td align="right">0</td></tr> <tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: 2.5em;"><em>Item.</em>—To him that brought the executioner,</span></td><td align="right">2</td><td align="right">18</td><td align="right">0</td></tr> @@ -4143,7 +4104,7 @@ upon William Coke and Alison Dick.</em></p></blockquote> <tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: 2.5em;"><em>Item.</em>—For his expenses here,</span></td><td align="right">0</td><td align="right">16</td><td align="right">4</td></tr> <tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: 2.5em;"><em>Item.</em>—For one to go to Finmouth for the laird,</span></td><td align="right">0</td><td align="right">6</td><td align="right">0</td></tr> <tr><td align="left"> </td><td align="right">——</td><td align="right">——</td><td align="right">——</td></tr> -<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">Summa town's part,</span></td><td align="right">£17</td><td align="right">1</td><td align="right">0</td><td align="left">Scots.</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">Summa town's part,</span></td><td align="right">£17</td><td align="right">1</td><td align="right">0</td><td align="left">Scots.</td></tr> <tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: 4.5em;">Both,</span></td><td align="right">34</td><td align="right">11</td><td align="right">0</td></tr> </table></div> @@ -5030,7 +4991,7 @@ Insularum; qui obiit 14 die Februarii Anno Domini <p>Pavicoves Christi pandens mysteria verbi;</p> -<p>Exemplum vitæ præbuit ipse gregi.</p> +<p>Exemplum vitæ præbuit ipse gregi.</p> <p>Luxfuerat populi lustris bis quinq. peractis,</p> @@ -6210,384 +6171,6 @@ description.—<span class="smcap">Ed.</span></p></div></div> </div> - - - - - - - -<pre> - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of A Collection of Rare and Curious -Tracts on Witchcraft and the Second Sight, by Unknown - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TRACTS ON WITCHCRAFT *** - -***** This file should be named 41928-h.htm or 41928-h.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/4/1/9/2/41928/ - -Produced by Chris Curnow and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was -produced from images generously made available by The -Internet Archive) - - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions -will be renamed. - -Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no -one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation -(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without -permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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Thus, we do not necessarily -keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. - -Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: - - www.gutenberg.org - -This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, -including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to -subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. - - - -</pre> - +<div>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 41928 ***</div> </body> </html> diff --git a/41928.txt b/41928.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 838a498..0000000 --- a/41928.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,5025 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of A Collection of Rare and Curious Tracts on -Witchcraft and the Second Sight, by Unknown - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with -almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included -with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org - - -Title: A Collection of Rare and Curious Tracts on Witchcraft and the Second Sight - With an Original Essay on Witchcraft - -Author: Unknown - -Release Date: January 27, 2013 [EBook #41928] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ASCII - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TRACTS ON WITCHCRAFT *** - - - - -Produced by Chris Curnow and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was -produced from images generously made available by The -Internet Archive) - - - - - - - - - - A - - Collection - - OF - - _RARE AND CURIOUS TRACTS_ - - ON - - WITCHCRAFT - - AND THE - - SECOND SIGHT; - - WITH AN - - _Original Essay on Witchcraft_. - - Edinburgh: - PRINTED FOR D. WEBSTER, 35, WEST COLLEGE STREET. - 1820. - - - - - EDINBURGH: - - Printed by Thomas Webster. - - - - - CONTENTS. - - - _Page_ - - An Original Essay on Witchcraft, 5 - - News from Scotland, 13 - - To the Reader, 15 - - A True Discourse of the Damnable Life of - Doctor Fian, and Sundry other Witches, - lately taken in Scotland, 17 - - Another Account of the Foregoing Transactions, - from Sir James Melvill's Memoirs, 36 - - Advertisement, 40 - - Extracts from King James's Daemonologie concerning - Sorcery and Witchcraft, 42 - - Notice to the Reader, 68 - - Answer of a Letter from a Gentleman in Fife, - to a Nobleman, containing an Account of - the Barbarous and Illegal Treatment of the - Witches in Pittenweem, 69 - - Another Letter concerning the Witches of Pittenweem, 73 - - A Just Reproof to the False Reports contained - in the two Foregoing Letters, 79 - - A Copy of the Indictment and Precept for - Summoning the Jury and Witnesses, with - the Warrant for the Execution, of the - Witches at Borrowstouness, 95 - - Trial of Isobel Elliot and others, 104 - - Confession of Helen Taylor, 107 - - Deposition of Manie Haliburton, 109 - - Declaration of John Kincaid, the Pricker, 111 - - Trial of William Coke and Allison Dick, 113 - - Amount of the Kirk's Share of Expense for - Burning the said William Coke and Allison - Dick, 123 - - Town's part on the above occasion, 124 - - Account of the Expense of Burning Margaret - Denham, 125 - - Minutes and Proceedings of the Kirk-Session - of Torryburn, and the Confession of Lillias - Adie, 129 - - Frazer on the Second Sight, 147 - - The Publisher to the Reader, 150 - - Short Advertisement to the Reader, 157 - - A Brief Discourse concerning the Second Sight, - commonly so called, 159 - - - - - AN - - ORIGINAL ESSAY - - ON - - WITCHCRAFT. - - - If we wish to form a just estimate of the human character in its - progress through the various stages of civilization, from ignorance - and barbarism, to science and refinement, we must search into the - natural causes that actuate the human mind. The life of man is - prolonged to a remoter period, but subjected to more casualities, and - greater vicissitudes of fortune, than most other animals. From these - causes arises his anxious solicitude about futurity, and an eager - desire to know his destiny; and thus man becomes the most - superstitious of all other creatures. In every nation there have been - multitudes of oracles, augurs, soothsayers, diviners, - fortune-tellers, witches, sorcerers, &c. whose business has been to - communicate intelligence respecting futurity, to the rest of mankind. - If we attend to history, we shall find this theory sufficiently - confirmed by experience. The most superstitious part of the species - are soldiers and sailors, who are more exposed to accidents than any - other class. History is full of the superstitious observances of the - Roman armies; their regard to omens; the entrails of victims; the - flight of birds, &c. and there are thousands of brave sailors of the - present day, who would not sail in the finest ship of the British - navy, without a horse-shoe were nailed on the main-mast. This passion - of diving into futurity, naturally produced a number of '_dealers in - destiny's dark council_,' who soon found it turn out a very lucrative - profession. From knowing the secrets, it was naturally inferred, that - they were the favourites of those powers who are supposed to have the - future happiness of mankind at their disposal. This we apprehend is - the real source of that power which the priesthood hath ever - exercised over the human mind. Pleasure and pain are the two great - principles of human action which has given rise to the good and evil - principle common to all nations. Those who held communication and - commerce with the evil principle, are witches, wizzards, sorcerers, - &c. Although we have various laws and injunctions against witchcraft - in scripture, yet we are still as much in the dark as ever, as no - definition is given of it, nor is the particular actions which - constitute witchcraft enumerated, so as we can say wherein it - consists. The story of the witch of Endor, is a case that throws more - light on the subject than any other. But she appears to have acted - more in the character of one of our second sighted seers, than one of - our modern witches. According to our notions and ideas of witchcraft - (as laid down by that _sapient_ monarch James VI.), it is a poor - ignorant old woman, who, through misery or malice, gives herself to - the devil, soul and body, and renounces her baptism; for which - considerations Satan engages to assist her with his power to work a - number of petty mischiefs on such as she has a spite at; and - sometimes he advances a little of the '_needful_,' which, - unfortunately for the poor _old hag_, turns out to be 'naething but - _sklate stanes_,' and this most unaccountable contract is generally - sealed by '_carnal copulation_!' And yet, after believing this, we - call ourselves _rational creatures_, and other animals we term - _brutes_!! Many people have wondered, how so exalted a personage as - the devil formerly was in days of yore, should latterly have taken up - with such low company as our modern witches. He who tempted the very - fathers of the church in so many various ways; who kept the whole - priesthood of the Catholic church constantly on the _alert_ with holy - water, exorcisms, &c. only to keep him in _check_; who often attacked - Luther and our other reformers, in very ungentlemanly disguises; and - had even the audacity to insult our covenanted saints, by bellowing - like a bull, grunting like a pig, or groaning like a dying man. These - were pranks something worthier of a devil than the tricks played off - by the witches. Our King James gives the reason, because 'the - consumation of the world, and our deliverance drawing neere, makes - Satan so rage the more in his instruments, knowing his kingdom to be - so neere an end.' James was a little out in his reckoning here, 'the - consumation of the world' not having taken place as yet, and the - devil's kingdom turning out to be rather better established than his - own. So far was it from being near an end, that it was on the - increase, caused chiefly by the absurd and stupid laws that were - enacted against it by himself and successors. The devil's kingdom is - not to be destroyed by acts of parliament and burning of witches; - these expedients have been tried in vain all over Europe and America, - without effect; but now, when every person can bewitch with impunity, - not a witch is to be found; and the devil, though left at large, has - retreated to the Highlands and islands, where he is seldom seen, even - by those who have the second sight. The true engines for battering - the strong holds of Satan, and driving him and his imps into utter - darkness, are science and philosophy; these are the weapons that have - compelled him to retrograde movements, after lavishing rivers of holy - water in vain. Thus the terrific claws of the devil, when seen by the - distempered eyes of ignorant bigotry, appear to us truly horrible, - but when viewed through philosophical spectacles, look as harmless as - the lamb-skin gloves of a fine lady. - - These stories, however, convey a strong likeness of the times in - which they were acted. In our day, it is almost impossible to - believe, that human beings could give credit to such gross - absurdities as we have laid before the public in this little work, - were the evidence not indubitable. Far less, that judges, lawyers, - and divines, should unite in murdering such numbers of poor ignorant - helpless creatures, for such mad chimeras, when it is hard to say, - whether the poor victim, or the insane judges, were under the greater - delusion. These wonderful tales of the doings of the devil with the - witches, are taken from their own confessions, and from their - _delating_ of one another, as it is called. To us it does not appear - improbable, but that too many of the poor deluded wretches actually - imagined themselves to be witches. Nor will this appear so very - surprizing, if we consider the circumstances of the case. At that - period, any person who doubted of witchcraft, was looked upon as an - athiest, and worse than mad; the whole country, from one end to the - other, was continually ringing with tales of witches, devils, and - fairies, with such other trash. Is it not then most likely, that - people should dream about them? and is there any thing unnatural in - supposing, that they should mistake these dreams for realities? as is - evidently proved in several cases, and then confess, not the actions - they really did, but the effects of their own disordered imagination. - Moreover, when confined for this imaginary crime, they were tortured - in all manner of ways, deprived of sleep, flung into water, and - _brodit,_ as they called it, being striped naked and searched for the - devil's mark, in the most indecent manner. These confessions, after - they were made, were nothing more than the wild ravings of a - distempered imagination; and such a tissue of inconsistencies, as no - person of the present day would listen to. An old woman in the Isle - of Teree (as related by Mr Frazer, page 165), took in her head that - she was in heaven no less, and had eat and drank there; and so - firmly had the poor creature imbibed the notion, that it was with - some difficulty she could be undeceived. A curious account of a - pretended meeting with the devil, is given by a gentleman of - Normandy, in the Memoirs of Literature for November 1711. - - "The pretended meeting, about which those who believe they have been - at it, relate so many extravagant things, is only in their - imagination. I own, that some country people, especially shepherds, - do now and then rub their skin with some narcotick grease or - ointments, which cast them into a sound sleep, and fill their - imagination with a thousand visions. When they are thus asleep, they - fancy they see every thing that was told them concerning the devil's - meeting, by their fathers, who were also shepherds, or wizards, if - you will have me to call them so. Whereupon I will inform you of what - I have been told by a country friend of mine, who pretended to have a - mind to go to the devil's meeting with his own shepherd, who had the - reputation of being a great sorcerer. Having frequently urged that - shepherd to carry him thither, at last he obtained his desire. He - went to him in the night at the appointed time. The shepherd - immediately gave him something to grease himself withal. He took the - grease as if he had a mind to rub his skin with it; but he desired - that the shepherd's son, who was to go to the devil's meeting with - his father, should anoint himself first. Which being done, that - gentleman told the shepherd, that he should be glad to know what - would become of the young man. Not long after, the young man fell - fast asleep, and when he awaked, though he had not stirred from that - place, he gave an account of every thing he thought he had seen at - the devil's meeting; and even named several persons whom he pretended - to have seen there. My friend perceived then, that what is commonly - said of the devil's meeting was a mere fancy. I have told you this - story, that you may impart it to your brethren, who being prepossest - with popular errors about witchcraft, do frequently hang and burn - poor wretches, whose crime does only consist in the weakness of their - imagination." - - A thousand more instances might be produced to show, that the devil - hath no meetings any where, but in the perturbed brain of ignorant - credulity. The history of superstition is however of great use; we - there see its dangerous influence upon the peace and happiness of - society--its degrading effects upon the character and manners of - nations, in morality, literature, jurisprudence, and science. - Theology seems to have been particularly infected with this - pestiferous contagion. The clergy were generally in the front rank of - witch-hunters, and through their influence, the most of them were put - to death. In places where the minister was inflamed with a _holy - zeal_ against the devil and his emissaries, such as Pittenweem and - Torryburn, the parish became a perfect hot-bed for the rearing of - witches; and so plentiful a crop did it produce, that it appeared - nothing else could thrive. But in places where the minister had some - portion of humanity, and a little common sense, the devil very - rarely set foot on his territories, and witchcraft was not to be - found. Since the repeal of the statutes against witchcraft, several - prosecutions have been instituted against witches, who were convicted - and punished; but it was bewitching silly ignorant people out of - their money, goods, and common sense, by pretending a knowledge of - futurity--a power of relieving maladies in man or beast--or procuring - the affection of some favourite swain to a love-sick maiden. The - dupes of these impostors do not altogether escape, as they are made - the laughing stock of their neighbours; and by these means even this - trade is now nearly annihilated. Happily for our times, the refulgent - brightness of philosophy and science, hath dispelled these dark - clouds of benighted superstition, and left us in possession only of - our natural powers and faculties, which are quite enough. - - EDITOR. - - - - - News from Scotland: - - DECLARING THE - DAMNABLE LIFE OF DOCTOR FIAN, - A - _NOTABLE SORCERER_, - WHO WAS - _Burned at Edenbrough in Januarie last, 1591_. - - WHICH DOCTOR WAS REGISTER TO THE DEVILL THAT - SUNDRIE TIMES PREACHED AT NORTH BARRICKE - KIRKE TO A NUMBER OF NOTORIOUS WITCHES. - WITH THE - TRUE EXAMINATIONS OF THE SAID DOCTOR - AND WITCHES, AS THEY UTTERED THEM - IN THE PRESENCE OF THE SCOTTISH KING. - - DISCOVERING - - HOW THEY PRETENDED TO BEWITCH AND DROWNE - HIS MAJESTIE IN THE SEA COMMING FROM DENMARKE; - WITH SUCH OTHER WONDERFULL - MATTERS AS THE LIKE HATH NOT BEIN - HEARD AT ANIE TIME. - - _Published according to the Scottish Copie._ - - PRINTED FOR WILLIAM WRIGHT. - - EDINBURGH: - RE-PRINTED FOR D. WEBSTER, 35, WEST COLLEGE STREET. - - 1820. - - - - - TO THE READER. - - - The manifold untruths which are spred abroad concerning the - detestable actions and apprehension of those witches whereof this - historie following truely entreateth, hath caused me to publish the - same in print, and the rather for that sundrie written coppies are - lately dispersed thereof, containing that the said witches were first - discovered by meanes of a poore pedlar travelling to the towne of - Trenent; and that by a wonderfull manner hee was in a moment conveyed - at midnight from Scotland to Burdeux in France (being places of no - small distance), into a merchant's sellar there; and after being sent - from Burdeux into Scotland by certaine Scottish merchants to the - King's Majestie, that he discovered those witches, and was the cause - of their apprehension; with a number of matters miraculous and - incredible: all which in truth are most false. Nevertheless, to - satisfie a number of honest mindes, who are desirous to be informed - of the veritie and truth of their confessions, which for certaintie - is more stranger than the common reporte runneth, and yet with more - truth. I have undertaken to publish this short Treatise which - declareth the true discourse of all that happened, and as well what - was pretended by those wicked and detestable witches against the - King's Majestie; as also by what means they wrought the same. - - All which examinations (gentle reader) I have here truly published as - they were taken and uttered in the presence of the King's Majestie, - praying thee to accept of it for veritie, the same being so true as - cannot be reproved. - - - - - A - - TRUE DISCOURSE - - OF THE - - APPREHENSION OF SUNDRIE WITCHES LATELY TAKEN - IN SCOTLAND; WHEREOF SOME ARE EXECUTED, - AND SOME ARE YET IMPRISONED.--WITH A PARTICULAR - RECITALL OF THEIR EXAMINATIONS, - TAKEN IN THE PRESENCE OF THE KING'S MAJESTIE. - - - God, by his omnipotent power, hath at all times, and daily dooth take - such care, and is so vigilant for the weale and preservation of his - owne, that thereby he disappointeth the wicked practices and evil - intents of all such as by any means whatsoever seeke indirectly to - conspire any thing contrary to his holy will: Yea, and by the same - power he hath lately overthrowne and hindered the intentions and - wicked dealings of a great number of ungodly creatures, no better - than devils; who suffering themselves to be allured and enticed by - the Devil whom they served, and unto whom they were privately sworne, - entered into the detestable art of witchcraft, which they studied and - practised so long time, that in the ende they had seduced by their - sorcerie a number of others to be as bad as themselves, dwelling in - the bounds of Lowthen, which is a principall shire or part of - Scotland, where the Kinges Majestie useth to make his cheifest - residence or abode; and to the ende that their detestable wickednesse - which they prively had pretended against the Kinges Majestie, the - commonweale of that countrie, with the nobilitie and subjects of the - same, should come to light. God of his unspeakable goodness did - reveale and laie it open in verie strange sorte, thereby to make - known to the world that their actions were contrarie to the lawe of - God and the naturall affection which we ought generally to beare one - to another. The manner of the revealing whereof was as followeth. - - Within the towne of Trenent, in the kingdome of Scotland, there - dwelleth one David Seaton, who being deputie bailiffe in the said - towne, had a maid called Geillies Duncane, who used secretlie to - absent and lie forth of her maisters house every other night. This - Geillies Duncane tooke in hand to helpe all such as were troubled or - grieved with anie kinde of sickness or infirmitie, and in short space - did performe many matters most miraculous; which things, forasmuche - as she began to do them upon a sodaine, having never done the like - before, made her maister and others to be in great admiration, and - wondered thereat: by meanes whereof the saide David Seaton had his - maide in great suspition that shee did not those things by naturall - and lawfull waies, but rather supposed it to be done by some - extraordinarie and unlawfull meanes. - - Whereupon her maister began to grow verie inquisitive, and examined - her which way and by what meanes shee was able to performe matters of - so great importance; whereat shee gave him no aunswere: nevertheless, - her maister to the intent that hee might the better trie and finde - out the truth of the same, did with the help of others torment her - with the torture of the pilliwinkes upon her fingers, which is a - griveous torture, and binding or wrinching her head with a cord or - roape, which is a most cruel torment also, yet would shee not confess - anie thing; whereupon they suspecting that shee had beene marked by - the devill (as commonly witches are,) made diligent search about her, - and found the enemies mark to be in her fore crag, or fore part of - her throate; which being found, shee confessed that all her doings - was done by the wicked allurements and entisements of the devil, and - that shee did them by witchcraft. - - After this her confession, shee was committed to prison, where shee - continued a season, where immediately shee accused these persons - following to bee notorious witches, and caused them forthwith to be - apprehended, one after another, viz. Agnes Sampson, the eldest witche - of them all, dwelling in Haddington; Agnes Tompson of Edenbrough; - Doctor Fian, alias John Cuningham, master of the schoole at Saltpans - in Lowthian, of whose life and strange acts you shall heare more - largely in the end of this discourse. - - These were by the saide Geillies Duncane accused, as also George - Motts' wife, dwelling in Lowthian; Robert Grierson, skipper; and - Jannet Blandilands; with the potters wife of Seaton; the smith at the - Brigge Hallies, with innumerable others in those parts, and dwelling - in those bounds aforesaid, of whom some are alreadie executed, the - rest remaine in prison to receive the doome of judgement at the - Kinges Majesties will and pleasure. - - The saide Geillies Duncane also caused Ewphame Mecalrean to bee - apprehended, who conspired and performed the death of her godfather, - and who used her art upon a gentleman, being one of the Lordes and - Justices of the Session, for bearing good-will to her daughter. Shee - also caused to be apprehended one Barbara Naper, for bewitching to - death Archbalde lait Earle of Angus, who languished to death by - witchcraft, and yet the same was not suspected; but that he died of - so strange a disease as the phisition knewe not how to cure or - remedie the same. But of all other the said witches, these two last - before recited, were reputed for as civil honest women as anie that - dwelled within the cittie of Edenbrough, before they were - apprehended. Many other besides were taken dwelling in Lieth, who are - detayned in prison until his Majesties further will and pleasure be - knowne; of whose wicked dooings you shall particularly heare, which - was as followeth. - - This aforesaide Agnes Sampson, which was the elder witche, was taken - and brought to Haliriud House before the Kinges Majestie, and sundrie - other of the nobilitie of Scotland, where shee was straytly examined; - but all the persuasions which the Kinges Majestie used to her, with - the rest of his councell, might not provoke or induce her to confess - any thing, but stoode stiffley in the deniall of all that was layde - to her charge; whereupon they caused her to be conveyed away unto - prison, there to receive such torture as hath been lately provided - for witches in that countrie; and for as muche as by due examination - of witchcraft and witches in Scotland, it hath lately beene founde - that the devill dooth generally marke them with a privie marke, by - reason the witches have confessed themselves, that the devill doth - licke them with his tong in some privie part of their bodie, before - he dooth receive them to bee his servants, which marke commonlie is - given them under the haire in some part of their bodie, whereby it - may not easily be found out or seene, although they bee searched; and - generally so long as the marke is not seene to those which search - them, so long the parties which have the marke will never confess - anie thing. Therefore by special commandment this Agnes Sampson had - all her haire shaven off, n each part of her bodie, and her head - thrawane with a rope according to the custome of that countrie, being - a payne most grieveous, which they continued almost an hower, during - which time shee would not confess anie thing untill the divel's marke - was founde upon her privities, then shee immediately confessed - whatsoever was demaunded of her, and justifiying those persons - aforesaide to be notorious witches. - - _Item_, the said Agnes Sampson was after brought againe before the - Kinges Majestie and his councell, and being examined of the meeting - and detestable dealings of those witches, shee confessed, that upon - the night of Allhallow Even last, shee was accompanied as well with - the persons aforesaide, as also with a great many other witches, to - the number of two hundreth, and that all they together went to sea, - each one in a riddle or cive, and went into the same very - substantially, with flaggons of wine, making merrie and drinking by - the way in the same riddles or cives, to the Kirke of North Barrick - in Lowthian, and that after they had landed, tooke hands on the lande - and daunced this reill or short daunce, singing all with one voice, - - _Commer goe ye before, commer goe ye, - Gif ye will not goe before, commer let me._ - - At which time shee confessed, that this Geillies Duncane did goe - before them playing this reill or daunce, uppon a small trumpe, - called a Jewes trumpe, untill they entred into the Kirke of North - Barricke. - - These confessions made the Kinge in a wonderfull admiration, and sent - for the saide Geillie Duncane, who upon the like trumpe did play the - saide daunce before the Kinges Majestie, who in respect of the - strangeness of these matters, tooke great delight to be present at - their examinations. - - _Item_, the said Agnes Sampson confessed, that the devill, being then - at North Barricke Kirke attending their coming, in the habit or - likeness of a man, and seeing that they tarried over long, hee at - their coming enjoined them all to a pennance, which was, that they - should kiss his buttockes, in sign of duty to him; which being put - over the pulpit bare, every one did as he had enjoined them: and - having made his ungodly exhortations, wherein he did greatly inveigh - against the Kinge of Scotland, he received their oathes for their - good and true service towards him, and departed; which done, they - returned to sea, and so home again. - - At which time the witches demaunded of the devill why he did beare - such hatred to the Kinge? Who answered, by reason the Kinge is the - greatest enemie hee hath in the world.[1] All which their confessions - and depositions are still extant upon record. - - [1] James, who boasted that he was born in 'the purest church on - earth,' and whose courtiers called him 'the Childe of God,' was no - doubt highly gratified at this declaration of the devil's hatred, - 'because he was his greatest enemie on earth.' This was such a piece - of flattery as suited the meridian of the monarch's intellects. ED. - - _Item_, the saide Agnes Sampson confessed before the Kinges Majestie - sundrie things, which were so miraculous and strange, as that his - Majestie saide they were all extreme liars; whereat shee answered, - shee would not wish his Majestie to suppose her words to be false, - but rather to believe them, in that shee would discover such matters - unto him as his Majestie should not anie way doubt of. - - And thereupon taking his Majestie a little aside, shee declared unto - him the verie wordes which passed between the Kinges Majestie and his - Queene at Upslo in Norway the first night of marriage, with the - answere ech to other; whereat the Kinges Majestie wondered greatly, - and swore by the living God, that he believed all the devills in hell - could not have discovered the same, acknowledging her words to be - most true, and therefore gave the more credit to the rest that is - before declared. - - Touching this Agnes Sampson, shee is the onlie woman who by the - devill's perswasion should have intended and put in execution the - Kinges Majesties death in this manner. - - Shee confessed that shee tooke a blacke toade, and did hang the same - up by the heeles three daies, and collected and gathered the venome - it dropped and fell from it in ane oister shell, and kept the same - venome close covered, untill shee should obtaine anie part or peece - of foule linnen cloth that had appertained to the Kinges Majestie, as - shirt, handkercher, napkin, or anie other thing, which shee practised - to obtaine by meanes of one John Kers, who being attendant in his - Majesties chamber, desired him for old acquaintance between them, to - help her to one or a peece of such a cloth as is aforesaide, which - thing the saide John Kers denyed to helpe her to, saying he coulde - not helpe her unto it. - - And the saide Agnes Sampson by her depositions since her - apprehension, saith, that if shee had obtayned anie one peece of - linnen cloth which the Kinge had worne and fowlede, shee had - bewitched him to death, and put him to such extraordinarie paines, as - if he had been lying upon sharp thornes and endes of needles. - - Moreover shee confessed, that at the time when his Majestie was in - Denmarke, shee being accompanied by the parties before speciallie - named, tooke a cat and christened it, and afterwarde bounde to each - part of that cat, the cheefest part of a dead man, and several joynts - of his bodie; and that in the night following, the saide cat was - convayed into the middest of the sea by all the witches, sayling in - their riddles or cives, as is aforesaid, and so left the saide cat - right before the towne of Lieth in Scotland. This doone, there did - arise such a tempest in the sea, as a greater hath not beene seene; - which tempest was the cause of the perishing of a boat or vessel - coming over from the towne of Brunt Islande to the towne of Lieth, - wherein was sundrie jewelles and rich giftes, which should have been - presented to the now Queene of Scotland at her Majesties coming to - Lieth. - - Againe it is confessed, that the said christened cat was the cause - that the Kinges Majesties shippe at his coming forth of Denmarke had - a contrarie winde to the rest of his shippes then being in his - companie, which thing was most strange and true as the Kinges - Majestie acknowlegeth, for when the rest of the shippes had a faire - and good winde, then was the winde contrarie and altogether against - his Majestie; and further, the sayde witche declared, that his - Majestie had never come safely from the sea, if his faith had not - prevayled above their intentions.[2] - - [2] It no doubt required the penetration of a witch to discover the - strength of James's faith, which prevailed against their - incantations, and saved him from perishing at sea. Those who - conducted the examination of the witches, no doubt knew well enough - how to extract this little piece of delicate flattery from the hags, - so gratifying to the palate of their master. ED. - - Moreover, the saide witches being demaunded how the divell would use - them when he was in their companie, they confessed, that when the - divel did recyeve theme for his serventes, and that they had vowed - themselves unto him, then he woulde carnally use them, albeit to - their little pleasure, in respect to his colde nature,[3] and would - doe the like at sundrie other times. - - [3] In the records of the kirk-session of Torryburn, in Fifeshire, so - late as 1703, is the confession of one Lillias Eddie, a supposed - witch, who immediately after she had been initiated in the infernal - mysteries, was taken behind a stook, it (being harvest time), and - carressed by the devil. She likewise complains that his embraces were - cold and unsatisfactory. The gross indelicacy of such stories are - only to be equalled by their absurdity. What a picture does it - present to readers of the present day, of the manners of that age, - when such topics could be gravely discussed by the King in - councill!! - - As touching the aforesaide Doctor Fian, alias John Cunningham, the - examination of his actes since his apprehension, declareth the great - subteltie of the divell, and therefore maketh thinges to appeare the - more miraculous; for being apprehended by the accusation of the saide - Geillies Duncane aforesaide, who confessed he was their register, and - that there was not one man suffered to come to the divel's readinges - but onlie hee, the saide Doctor was taken and imprisoned, and used - with the accustomed paine provided for those offences, inflicted upon - the rest as is aforesaide. - - _First_, by thrawing of his head with a rope, whereat he would - confess nothing. - - _Secondly_, hee was persuaded by faire meanes to confesse his - follies, but that would prevail as little. - - _Lastly_, hee was put to the most severe and cruell paine in the - worlde, called the bootes, who, after he had received three strokes, - being inquired if hee would confess his damnable actes and wicked - life, his toong would not serve him to speake, in respect whereof the - rest of the witches willed to searche his toong, under which was - found two pinnes thurst up into the heade; whereupon the witches did - say, now is the charm stinted, and shewed, that those charmed pinnes - were the cause he could not confesse any thing: then was he - immediately released of the bootes, brought before the King, his - confession was taken, and his own hand willingly set thereunto, which - contained as followeth: - - _First_, that at the generall meetinges of those witches, he was - always present,--that he was clarke to all those that were in - subjection to the divel's service, bearing the name of witches,--that - always hee did take their oathes for their true service to the divel, - and that he wrote for them such matters as the divel still pleased to - command him. - - _Item_, hee confessed that by his witchcraft hee did bewitch a - gentleman dwelling neare to the Saltpans, where the said Doctor kept - schoole, only for being enamoured of a gentlewoman whome he loved - himself; by meanes of which his sorcery, witchcraft, and divelish - practices, hee caused the said gentleman that once in xxiiii howers - he fell into a lunacy and madness, and so continued one whole hower - together; and for the veritie of the same, he caused the gentleman - to be brought before the Kinges Majestie, which was upon the xxiiii - day of December last, and being in his Majesties chamber, suddenly - hee gave a great scritch, and fell into madness, sometime bending - himself, and sometime capering so directly up, that his heade did - touch the seeling of the chamber, to the great admiration of his - Majestie and others then present; so that all the gentlemen in the - chamber were not able to hold him, untill they called in more helpe, - who together bound him hand and foot; and suffering the said - gentleman to lie still until his furie were past, hee within an hower - came againe to himselfe, when being demaunded by the Kinges Majestie - what he saw or did all that while, answered, that he had been in a - sounde sleepe. - - _Item_, the saide Doctor did also confesse, that hee had used meanes - sundrie times to obtaine his purpose and wicked intent of the same - gentlewoman, and seeing himselfe disappointed of his intention, hee - determined by all wayes hee might to obtaine the same, trusting by - conjuring, witchraft, and sorcerie, to obtaine it in this manner. - - It happened this gentlewoman being unmarried, had a brother who went - to schoole with the saide Doctor, and calling the saide scholler to - him, demaunded if hee did lie with his sister, who answered he did, - by meanes whereof he thought to obtain his purpose, and therefore - secretly promised to teach him without stripes, so he woulde obtaine - for him three hairs of his sister's privitees, at such time as hee - should spie best occasion for it; which the youth promised - faithfully to performe, and vowed speedily to put it in practice, - taking a piece of conjured paper of his maister to lap them in when - hee had gotten them; and thereupon the boy practised nightly to - obtaine his maister's purpose, especially when his sister was asleep. - - But God, who knoweth the secret of all harts, and revealeth all - wicked and ungodly practices, would not suffer the intents of this - divelish Doctor to come to that purpose which hee supposed it woulde, - and therefore to declaire that hee was heavily offended with his - wicked intent, did so work by the gentlewoman's own meanes, that in - the ende the same was discovered and brought to light; for shee being - one night asleep, and her brother in bed with her, sodainly cried out - to her mother, declaring that her brother woulde not suffer her to - sleepe; whereupon, her mother having a quicke capacitie, did - vehemently suspect _Doctor Fian's_ intention, by reason shee was a - witch of herself, and therefore presently arose, and was very - inquisitive of the boy to understand his intent, and the better to - know the same, did beat him with sundrie stripes, whereby hee - discovered the truth unto her. - - The mother, therefore, being well practised in witchcraft, did thinke - it most convenient to meete with the Doctor in his owne arte, and - thereupon took the paper from the boy wherein hee would have put the - same haires, and went to a yong heyfer which never had borne calf, - nor gone unto the bull, and with a paire of sheeres clipped off three - haires from the udder of the cow, and wrapt them in the same paper, - which shee again delivered to the boy, then willing him to give the - same to his saide maister, which hee immediately did. - - The schoole maister, so soone as he did recieve them, thinking them - indeede to be the maids haires, went straight and wrought his arte - upon them: But the Doctor had no sooner done his intent to them, but - presently the hayfer cow, whose haires they were indeede, came unto - the door of the church wherein the schoole maister was, into the - which the hayfer went, and made towards the schoole maister, leaping - and dancing upon him, and following him forth of the church, and to - what place soever he went, to the great admiration of all the - townsmen of Saltpans, and many others who did behold the same. - - The report whereof made all men imagine that hee did worke it by the - divel, without whome it coulde never have been so sufficiently - effected; and thereupon the name of the saide Doctor Fian (who was - but a young man), began to grow common among the people of Scotland, - that he was secretly nominated for a notable conjurer. - - All which, although in the beginning he denied, and woulde not - confesse, yet having felt the paine of the bootes,[4] (and the charme - stinted as aforesaide) hee confessed all the aforesaide to be most - true, without producing any witnesses to justifie the same; and - thereupon before the Kings Majestie hee subscribed the sayd - confessione with his owne hande, which for truth remaineth upon - record in Scotland. - - [4] We have no doubt that the bootes were a most efficacious engine - to procure a confession, and the Doctor would most likely have - confessed that he had the moon in his pocket by the same means. ED. - - After that the depositions and examinations of the sayd Doctor Fian, - alias Cuningham, was taken, as alreddie is declared, with his own - hand willingly set thereunto, hee was by the maister of the prison - commited to ward, and appointed to a chamber by himselfe, where - foresaking his wicked wayes, acknowledging his most ungodly life, - shewing that hee had too much followed the allurements and - enticements of Sathan, and fondly practised his conclusions by - conjuring, witchcraft, inchantment, sorcerie, and such like, he - renounced the divel and all his wicked workes, vowed to lead the lyfe - of a Christian, and seemed newly converted towards God. - - The morrow after, upon conference had with him, hee granted that the - divel had appeared unto him in the night before, appareled all in - blacke, with a white wande in his hande; and that the divel demanded - of him if hee woulde continue his faithfull service, according to his - first oath and promise made to that effect. Whome (as hee then - saide), hee utterly renounced to his face, and said unto him in this - manner, avoide, Satan, avoide, for I have listened too much unto - thee, and by the same thou hast undone me, in respect whereof I - utterly forsake thee: To whome the divel answered, that once ere thou - die thou shalt bee mine; and with that (as hee sayd), the divel - brake the white wande, and immediately vanished forth of his sight. - - Thus all the daie this Doctor Fian continued verie solitarie, and - seemed to have a care of his owne soule, and would call upon God, - shewing himselfe penitent for his wicked lyfe; nevertheless, the same - night hee found such meanes that he stole the key of the prison doore - and chamber in which he was, which in the night he opened and fled - awaie to the Saltpans, where he was alwayes resident, and first - apprehended. Of whose sodaine departure when the Kings Majestie had - intelligence, hee presently caused dilligent inquirie to be made for - his apprehension; and for the better effecting thereof, hee sent - public proclamations into all parts of his land to the same effect. - By meanes of whose hot and harde pursuite he was again taken and - brought to prison; and then being called before the Kings Highness, - he was reexamined as well touching his departure, as also touching - all that had before happened. - - But this Doctor, notwithstanding that his owne confession appeareth - remaining in recorde under his owne hande writting, and the same - thereunto fixed in the presence of the Kings Majestie and sundrie of - his councill, yet did he utterly denie the same. - - Thereupon the Kings Majestie percieving his stubborne willfullness, - concieved and imagined that in the time of his absence hee had - entered into newe conference and league with the _divell_ his - maister; and that hee had beene again newely marked, for the which - he was narrowly searched, but it coulde not in anie waie be founde; - yet for more tryal of him to make him confesse, he was commanded to - have a most strange torment, which was done in this manner following. - - His nails upon all his fingers were riven and pulled off with an - instrument called in Scottich a Turkas, which in England we call a - payre of pincers, and under everie nayle there was thrust in thro - needels over even up to the heads. At all which torments - notwithstanding the Doctor never shronke anie whit, neither would he - then confesse it the sooner for all the tortures inflicted upon him. - - Then was hee with all convenient speede, by commandment, convaied - againe to the torment of the bootes, wherein hee continued a long - time, and did abide so many blows in them, that his legges were - crusht and beaten together as small as might bee, and the bones and - flesh so bruised, that the blood and marrow spouted forth in great - abundance, whereby they were made unserviceable for ever. And - notwithstanding all these grievous paines and cruel torments hee - woulde not confesse anie thing, so deeply had the _divel_ entered - into his hart, that hee utterly denied that which he before avouched, - and would saie nothing thereunto but this, that what hee had done and - sayde before, was only done and sayde for fear of paynes which he had - endured. - - Upon great consideration, therefore, taken by the Kings Majestie and - his councell, as well for the due execution of justice upon such - detestable malefactors, as also for examples sake, to remayne a - terrour to all others hereafter that shall attempt to deale in the - lyke wicked and ungodlye actions, as witchcraft, sorcerie, - cunjuration, and such lyke, the saide Doctor Fian was soon after - arraigned, condemned, and adjudged by the law to die, and then to be - burned according to the lawe of that lande provided in that behalfe. - Whereupon he was put into a carte, and being first stranguled, hee - was immediately put into a great fire, being readie provided for that - purpose, and there burned in the Castile Hill of Edenbrough, on a - Saterdaie in the ende of Januarie last past, 1591. - - The rest of the witches which are not yet executed, remayne in prison - till farther triall and knowledge of his Majesties pleasure. - - * * * * * - - This strange discourse before recited, may perhaps give some occasion - of doubt to such as shall happen to reade the same, and thereby - conjecture that the Kings Majestie would hazzarde himselfe in the - presence of such notorious witches, least thereby might have ensued - great danger to his person and the general state of the land, which - thing in truth might wel have beene feared. But to answer generally - to such let this suffice; that first it is well known that the King - is the child and servant of God, and they but the servants to the - devil; he is the Lord's anointed, and they but vesseles of God's - wrath; hee is a true Christian, and trusteth in God; they worse than - infidels, for they only trust in the divel, who daily serve them, - till hee have brought them to utter destruction. But hereby it - seemeth that his Highness carried a magnanimous and undaunted mind, - not feared with their inchantments, but resolute in this, that so - long as God is with him hee feareth not who is against him; and - trulie, the whole scope of this Treatise dooth so plainlie laie open - the wonderfull Providence of the Almightie, that if hee had not been - defended by his omnipotence and power, his Highness had never - returned alive in his voiage from Denmarke, so there is no doubt but - God woulde as well defend him on the land as on the sea, where they - pretended their damnable practice. - - FINIS. - - - - - ANOTHER - - ACCOUNT - - OF THE - - FOREGOING TRANSACTIONS, - - _Extracted from_ SIR JAMES MELVIL'S _Memoirs_, page 388, octavo - edition. - - - About this time many witches were taken in Lothian, who deposed - concerning some design of the Earl of Bothwell's against his - Majesty's person. Which coming to the said Earl's ears, he entered in - ward within the Castle of Edinburgh, desiring to be tried, alledging - that the devil, who was a liar from the beginning, ought not to be - credited, nor yet the witches, his sworn servants. Especially a - renowned midwife called Amy Simson affirmed, that she, in company - with nine other witches, being convened in the night beside - Prestonpans, the devil their master being present, standing in the - midst of them, a body of wax, shapen and made by the said Amy Simson, - wrapped within a linnen cloth, was first delivered to the devil; who, - after he had pronounced his verdict, delivered the said picture to - Amy Simson, and she to her next neighbour, and so every one round - about, saying, _This is King_ James VI. _ordered to be consumed at - the instance of a nobleman_, Francis Earl Bothwell. Afterward again - at their meeting by night in the kirk of North Berwick, where the - devil, clad in a black gown, with a black hat upon his head, preached - unto a great number of them out of the pulpit, having light candles - round about him. - - The effect of his language was to know what hurt they had done; how - many they had gained to their opinion since the last meeting; what - success the melting of the picture had, and such other vain things. - And because an old silly poor ploughman, called Gray Meilt, chanced - to say, that nothing ailed the King yet, God be thanked, the devil - gave him a great blow. Thus divers among them entred in reasoning, - marvelling that all their devilry could do no harm to the King, as it - had done to divers others. The devil answered, _il est un homme de - Dieu_, certainly he is a man of God, and does no wrong wittingly, but - he is inclined to all Godliness, justice, and vertue, therefore God - hath preserved him in the midst of many dangers.[5] Now, after that - the devil had ended his admonitions, he came down out of the pulpit, - and caused all the company come kiss his arse; which they said was - cold like ice, his body hard like iron, as they thought who handled - him, his face was terrible, his nose like the beak of an eagle, great - burning eyes, his hands and his legs were hoary, with claws upon his - hands and feet like the griffin;--he spoke with a low voice. - - [5] It was certainly very kind in the devil thus to vouch for James's - being 'a man of God, and one who did no wrong wittingly, but was - inclined to all Godliness, Justice, and Virtue.' This is a most - excellent character. But posterity are inclined to be of Earl - Bothwell's opinion, that the devil is a liar, and ought not to be - credited. ED. - - The tricks and tragedies he played then among so many men and women - in this country, will hardly get credit by posterity; the history - whereof, with their whole depositions, was written by Mr James - Carmichael, minister of Haddington.[6] Among other things, some of - them did shew, that there was a westland man, called Richard Graham, - who had a familiar spirit, the which Richard they said could both do - and tell many things, chiefly against the Earl of Bothwell. Whereupon - the said Richard Graham was apprehended and brought to Edinburgh; - and, being examined before his Majesty, I being present, he granted - that he had a familiar spirit which shewed him sundrie things, but he - denied that he was a witch, or had any frequentation with them. But - when it was answered again, how that Amy Simson had declared, that he - caused the Earl of Bothwell address him to her, he granted that to be - true, and that the Earl of Bothwell had knowledge of him by Effe - Machalloun and Barbary Napier, Edinburgh women. Whereupon he was sent - for by the Earl Bothwell, who required his help to cause the Kings - Majesty his master to like well of him. And to that effect he gave - the said Earl some drug or herb, willing him at some convenient time - to touch therewith his Majesty's face. Which being done by the said - Earl ineffectually, he dealt again with the said Richard to get his - Majesty wrecked, as Richard alledged; who said, he could not do such - things himself, but that a notable midwife, who was a witch, called - Amy Simson, could bring any such purpose to pass. Thus far the said - Richard Graham affirmed divers times before the council; - nevertheless, he was burnt with the said Simson, and many other - witches. This Richard alledged, that it was certain what is reported - of the fairies, and that spirits may take a form, and be seen, though - not felt. - - [6] This probably is the author of the foregoing 'True Discourse.' - ED. - - - - - ADVERTISEMENT. - - - From the foregoing '_True Discourse_,' it will be seen what an active - part James took in the examination of Doctor Fian and the other - witches. From this source he most probably collected those materials - which he has wrought up into a _Daemonologie_, a work which no doubt - contributed to obtain for him from the English bishops, the - appelation of '_the British Solomon_.' In this work he appears to be - more intimately acquainted with the internal polity of the _Devil's_ - kingdom, than he was with his own. The kingdom of _Sathan_ was then - in its zenith of power; but, like other states and kingdoms, it has - sunk into great weakness and debility. The '_horn'd diel_,' who could - then make the greatest personages shake in their shoes, cannot now - frighten a child; and the '_roaring lion_,' who used to be going - about seeking whom he might devour, must surely be a better - housekeeper than formerly, as he is never seen abroad, even by an old - woman. - - From the _Daemonologie_ we have made copious extracts, that our - readers may have an idea of the days of '_langsyne_,' when there was - plenty of _diels_, _witches_, _fairies_, _and water kelpies_, all - over the country. Those, therefore, who are anxious to know how - affairs are managed in the '_kingdom of darkness_,' and can rely on - the word of a king for the truth of it, will be here amply gratified. - - So, courteous reader, I bid thee farewell, - - The EDITOR. - - - - - EXTRACTS - - FROM - - KING JAMES'S DAEMONOLOGIE, - - CONCERNING - - _SORCERY AND WITCHCRAFT_. - - - _The First Entresse and Prentiship of them that give themselves to - Witchcraft._ - - The persons that give themselves to witchcraft, are of two sorts, - rich and of better accompt, poore and of baser degree. These two - degrees answere to the passions in them, which the divell uses as - meanes to entice them to his service; for such of them as are in - great miserie and povertie, he allures to follow him, by promising - unto them great riches and worldly commoditie. Such as though rich, - yet burne in a desperate desire of revenge, he allures them by - promises to get their turne satisfied to their hearts contentment. It - is to be noted now, that that olde and craftie enemie of ours - assailes none, though touched with any of these two extremities, - except he first finde an entresse ready for him, either by the great - ignorance of the person he deales with, joyned with an evill life, or - else by their carelessnesse and contempt of God. And finding them in - an utter despaire, he prepares the way by feeding them craftely in - their humour, and filling them further and further with despaire, - while hee finde the time proper to discover himself unto them. At - which time, either upon their walking solitarie in the fieldes, or - else lying pausing in their bed, but alwaies without the company of - any other, hee, either by a voyce, or in likenesse of a man, inquires - of them what troubles them, and promiseth them a suddaine and - certaine way of remedie, upon condition, on the other part, that they - follow his advise, and doe such things as he will require of them. - Their mindes being prepared beforehand, they easily agree unto that - demand of his, and syne sets another tryist where they may meete - againe. At which time, before hee proceede any further with them, hee - first perswades them to addict themselves to his service, which being - easily obtained, he then discovers what he is unto them, makes them - to renounce their God and baptisme directly, and gives them his marke - upon some secret place of their bodie, which remaines soare unhealed - while his next meeting with them, and thereafter ever insensible, - howsoever it be nipped or pricked by any, as is daily prooved, to - give them a proofe thereby, that as in that doing he could hurt and - heale them, so all their ill and well doing thereafter must depend - upon him; and, besides that, the intolerable dolour that they feele - in that place where he hath marked them, serves to waken them, and - not to let them rest, while their next meeting againe; fearing lest - otherwaies they might either forget him, being as new prentises, and - not well enough founded yet in that fiendly follie; or else - remembering of that horrible promise they made him at their last - meeting, they might skunner at the same, and presse to call it backe. - At their third meetinge, hee makes a shew to be carefull to performe - his promises, either by teaching them waies how to get themselves - revenged, if they be of that sort, or else by teaching them lessons - how by most vile and unlawfull meanes they may obtaine gaine and - worldly commoditie, if they be of the other sort. - - * * * * * - - _The Witches actions divided into two parts--The actions proper to - their own persons--The forme of their Conventions and adoring of - their Master._ - - Their actions may be divided into two parts; the actions of their - owne persons, and the actions proceeding from them towards any other; - and this division being well understood, will easily resolve what is - possible to them to doe. For although all that they confesse is no - lie upon their part, yet doubtlesly, in my opinion, a part of it is - not indeede according as they take it to be, for the divell illudes - the senses of these schollers of his in many things. - - To the effect that they may performe such services of their false - master as he employs them in, the devill, as God's ape, counterfeits - in his servants this service and forme of adoration that God - prescribed and made his servants to practise; for as the servants of - God publikely use to conveene for serving of him, so makes he them in - great numbers to conveene (though publikely they dare not), for his - service. As none conveenes to the adoration and worshipping of God, - except they be marked with his seale, the sacrament of baptisme; so - none serves Satan, and conveenes to the adoring of him, that are not - marked with that marke whereof I alreadie spake. As the minister sent - by God teacheth plainely at the time of their publike conventions, - how to serve him in spirit and trewth, so that unclean spirit, in his - owne person, teacheth his disciples at the time of their conveening, - how to worke all kind of mischiefe, and craves coumpt of all their - horrible and detestable proceedings passed for advancement of his - service: Yea, that hee may the more vilely counterfeit and scorne - God, he oft times makes his slaves to conveene in these very places - which are destinate and ordained for the conveening of the servants - of God, (I meane by churches.) But this farre which I have yet said, - I not onely take it to be trew in their opinions, but even so to be - indeed; for the forme that he used in counterfeiting God amongst the - Gentiles, makes me so to think; as God spake by his oracles, spake he - not so by his? As God had as well bloodie sacrifices, as others - without blood, had not he the like? As God had churches sanctified to - his service, with altars, priests, sacrifices, ceremonies, and - prayers, had he not the like polluted to his service? As God gave - responses by _Urim_ and _Thummim_, gave he not his responses by the - intralles of beasts, by the singing of fowles, and by their actions - in the aire? As God by visions, dreames, and extasies, revealed what - was to come, and what was his will unto his servants, used hee not - the like meanes to forewarne his slaves of things to come? Yea, even - as God loved cleanenesse, hated vice and impuritie, and appointed - punishments therefore, used he not the like, (though falsly I grant, - and but in eschewing the lesse inconvenience, to draw them upon a - greater), yet dissimulated he not, I say, so farre as to appoint his - priests to keepe their bodies cleane and undefiled, before their - asking responses of him? And fained he not God, to be a protectour of - every vertue, and a just revenger of the contrarie? This reason then - mooves me, that as he is that same divell, and as crafty now as he - was then, so will he not spare as pertly in these actions that I have - spoken of concerning the witches' persons; but further, witches oft - times confesse, not only his conveening in the church with them, but - his occupying of the pulpit: Yea, their forme of adoration to be the - kissing of his hinder parts, which, though it seeme ridiculous, yet - may it likewise be trew, seeing we reade that in Calicute he appeared - in forme of a goat-bucke, hath publikely that unhonest homage done - unto him by every one of the people. So ambitious is he, and greedy - of honour, (which procured his fall) that he will even imitate God in - that part where it is said, that Moyses could see but the _hinder - parts of God for the brightnesse of his glory_. - - * * * * * - - _What are the wayes possible whereby the Witches may transport - themselves to places farre distant?--And what are impossible and - meere illusions of Satan?_ - - PHI.--But by what way say they, or thinke yee it possible, they can - come to these unlawfull conventions?[7] - - [7] The Daemonologie is written by way of dialogue, in which - Philomathes and Epistemon reason the matter. - - EPI.--There is the thing which I esteeme their senses to be deluded - in, and though they lie not in confessing of it, because they thinke - it to be trew, yet not to be so in substance or effect; for they say, - that by divers meanes they may conveene, either to the adoring of - their master, or to the putting in practise any service of his - committed unto their charge; one way is naturall, which is naturall - riding, going, or sailing, at what houre their master comes and - advertises them; and this way may be easily beleeved; another way is - somewhat more strange, and yet it is possible to bee trew, which is, - by being caried by the force of the spirit, which is their conducter, - either above the earth, or above the sea, swiftly to the place where - they are to meet; which I am perswaded to bee likewise possible, in - respect, that as Habakkuk was carried by the angel in that forme to - the den where Daniel lay, so I thinke the divell will be readie to - imitate God as well in that as in other things; which is much more - possible to him to doe, being a spirit, then to a mighty wind, being - but a naturall meteore to transport from one place to another a - solide body, as is commonly and daily seene in practise; but in this - violent forme they cannot be caried but a short bounds, agreeing with - the space that they may retain their breath, for if it were longer, - their breath could not remain unextinguished, their body being caried - in such a violent and forcible manner; as by example, if one fall off - a small height, his life is but in perill, according to the hard or - soft lighting; but if one fall from an high and stay rocke, his - breath will be forcibly banished from the body before he can win to - the earth, as is oft seene by experience; and in this transporting - they say themselves, that they are invisible to any other, except - amongst themselves, which may also be possible in my opinion; for if - the devill may forme what kinde of impressions he pleases in the - aire, why may he not farre easilier thicken and obscure so the aire - that is next about them, by contracting it straite together, that the - beames of any other man's eyes cannot pierce throw the same to see - them? But the third way of their comming to their conventions is that - wherein I thinke them deluded; for some of them say, that being - transformed in the likenesse of a little beast or foule, they will - come and pierce through whatsoever house or church, though all - ordinarie passages be closed, by whatsoever open the aire may enter - in at; and some say, that their bodies lying still, as in an extasie, - their spirits will be ravished out of their bodies, and caried to - such places; and for verifying thereof, will give evident tokens, as - well by witnesses that have seene their body lying senseless in the - mean time, as by naming persons with whom they met, and giving tokens - what purpose was amongst them, whom otherwise they could not have - known; for this forme of journeying they affirme to use most, when - they are transported from one countrey to another. - - PHI.--But the reasons that moove me to thinke that these are meere - illusions, are these--first, for them that are transformed in - likenesse of beasts or foules, can enter through so narrow passages, - although I may easily beleeve that the divell could by his - workmanship upon the aire, make them appeare to be in such formes, - either to themselves, or to others; yet how can he contract a solide - body within so little room? I think it is directly contrary to - itselfe; for to be made so little, and yet not diminished; to be so - straitly drawn together, and yet feele no paine, I thinke it is so - contrary to the qualitie of a naturall bodie, and so like to the - little transubstantiate god in the Papists masse, that I can never - beleeve it. So to have a quantitie, is so proper to a solide body, - that as all philosophers conclude, it cannot be any more without one, - then a spirit can have one; for when Peter came out of the prison, - and the doores all locked, it was not by any contracting of his body - in so little roome, but by the giving place of the doore, though - unespied by the gaylors; and yet is there no comparison, when this is - done, betwixt the power of God and of the divel. As to their forme of - extasie and spirituall transporting, it is certaine the soules going - out of the body, is the onely definition of naturall death; and who - are once dead, God forbid we should thinke that it should lie in the - power of all the divels in hell to restore them to their life again, - although he can put his owne spirit in a dead body, for that is the - office properly belonging to God; and, besides that, the soule once - parting from the body, cannot wander any longer in the world, but to - the owne resting place must it goe immediately, abiding the - conjunction of the body again at the latter day. And what Christ or - the prophets did miraculously in this case, it can in no Christian - man's opinion be made common with the divel. As for any tokens that - they give for proving of this, it is very possible to the divel's - craft to perswade them to these meanes; for he being a spirit, may he - not so ravish their thoughts, and dull their senses, that their body - lying as dead, he may object to their spirits, as it were in a - dreame, and represent such formes of persons, of places, and other - circumstances, as he pleases to illude them with? Yea, that he may - deceive them with the greater efficacie, may he not, at the same - instant, by fellow angels of his, illude such other persons so in - that same fashion, with whom hee makes them to beleeve that they - mette, that all their reports and tokens, though severally examined, - may every one agree with another? And that whatsoever actions, either - in hurting men or beasts, or whatsoever other thing that they falsly - imagine at that time to have done, may by himselfe or his marrowes at - that same time be done indeed; so as if they would give for a token - of their being ravished at the death of such a person within so short - a space thereafter, whom they beleeve to have poisoned or witched at - that instant, might he not at that same houre have smitten that same - person, by the permission of God, to the farther deceiving of them, - and to moove others to beleeve them? And this is surely the likelyest - way, and most according to reason, which my judgement can finde out - in this and whatsoever other unnatural points of their confession. - - * * * * * - - _Witches actions towards others--Why there are more Women of that - Craft then Men--What things are possible to them to effectuate by the - power of their Master--What is the surest remedy of the harmes done - by them._ - - PHI.--FORSOOTH your opinion in this seems to cary most reason with - it; and since ye have ended then the actions belonging properly to - their owne persons, say forward now to their actions used towards - others. - - EPI.--In their actions used towards others, three things ought to be - considered; first, the manner of their consulting thereupon; next, - their part as instruments; and, last, their master's part, who puts - the same in execution. As to their consultations thereupon, they use - them oftest in the churches, where they conveene for adoring; at - which time their master enquiring at them what they would be at, - every one of them propones unto him what wicked turne they would have - done, either for obtaining of riches, or for revenging them upon any - whom they have malice at; who granting their demaund, as no doubt - willingly he will, since it is to doe evill, hee teacheth them the - meanes whereby they may doe the same. As for little trifling turnes - that women have adoe with, he causeth them to joynt dead corpses, and - to make powders thereof, mixing such other things thereamongst as he - gives unto them. - - PHI.--But before ye goe further, permit me, I pray you, to interrupt - you one word, which ye have put me in memorie of by speaking of - women; What can be the cause that there are twentie women given to - that craft where there is one man? - - EPI.--The reason is easie, for as that sexe is frailer than man is, - so is it easier to be intrapped in these grosse snares of the divell, - as was over-well prooved to be trew, by the serpent's deceiving of - Eve at the beginning, which makes him the homelier with that sexe - sensine. - - PHI.--Returne now where ye left. - - EPI.--To some others at these times he teacheth how to make pictures - of waxe or clay, that by the roasting thereof, the persons that they - beare the name of may be continually melted or dried away by - continuall sicknesse. To some he gives such stones or pouders as will - helpe to cure or cast on diseases; and to some hee teacheth kindes of - uncouth poysons, which mediciners understand not; not that any of - these meanes which he teacheth them (except the poysons, which are - composed of things naturall), can of themselves helpe any thing to - these turnes that they are employed in, but onely being God's ape, as - well in that, as in all other things. Even as God by his sacraments, - which are earthly of themselves, workes a heavenly effect, though no - waves by any cooperation in them; and as Christ by clay and spettle - wrought together, _opened the eyes of the blinde man_, suppose there - was no vertue in that which he outwardly applied, so the divel will - have his outward meanes to be shewes as it were of his doing, which - hath no part or cooperation in his turnes with him, how farre that - ever the ignorants be abused in the contrarie. And as to the effects - of these two former parts, TO WIT, the consultations and the outward - meanes, they are so wonderfull, as I dare not alledge any of them - without joyning a sufficient reason of the possibilitie thereof; for - leaving all the small trifles among wives, and to speake of the - principall points of their craft, for the common trifles thereof, - they can doe without converting well enough by themselves, these - principall points, I say, are these--they can make men or women to - love or hate other, which may be very possible to the divel to - effectuate, seeing he being a subtile spirit, knowes well enough how - to perswade the corrupted affection of them whom God will permit him - to deal with,--they can lay the sicknesse of one upon another, which - likewise is very possible unto him; for since by God's permission he - laide sicknesse upon Job, why may he not farre easilier lay it upon - any other? For as an old practitian, hee knowes well enough what - humour domines most in any of us, and as a spirit he can subtillie - waken up the same, making it peccant, or to abound, as hee thinkes - meet, for troubling of us, when God will so permit him. And for the - taking off of it, no doubt he will be glad to relieve such of present - paine as he may thinke by these meanes to perswade to be catched in - his everlasting snares and fetters. They can bewitch and take the - life of men or women, by roasting of the pictures, as I spake of - before, which likewise is verie possible to their master to performe; - for although that instrument of waxe have no vertue in that turne - doing, yet may he not very well, even by the same measure that his - conjured slaves melts that waxe at the fire, may he not, I say, at - these same times, subtily as a spirit, so weaken and scatter the - spirits of life of the patient, as may make him on the one part, for - faintnesse, to sweat out the humour of his bodie, and on the other - part, for the not concurrence of these spirits, which causes his - digestion, so debilitate his stomacke, that this humour radicall - continually, sweating out on the one part, and no new good sucke - being put in the place thereof, for lacke of digestion on the other, - he at last shall vanish away, even as his picture will doe at the - fire? And that knavish and cunning workeman, by troubling him onely - at sometimes, makes a proportion so neere betwixt the working of the - one and the other, that both shall end as it were at one time. They - can raise stormes and tempests in the aire, either upon sea or land, - though not universally, but in such a particular place and prescribed - bounds, as God will permit them so to trouble. Which likewise is very - easy to be discerned from any other naturall tempests that are - meteores, in respect of the sudden and violent raising thereof, - together with the short induring of the same. And this is likewise - very possible to their master to doe, hee having such affinitie with - the aire, as being a spirit, and having such power of the forming and - mooving thereof; for in the Scripture, that stile of the _prince of - the aire_, is given unto him. They can make folkes to become - phrenticque or maniacque, which likewise is very possible to their - master to doe, since they are but naturall sicknesses, and so he may - lay on these kindes as well as any others. They can make spirits - either to follow and trouble persons, or haunt certaine houses, and - affray oftentimes the inhabitants, as hath been knowne to be done by - our witches at this time. And likewise, they can make some to bee - possessed with spirits, and so to become very demoniacques; and this - last sort is very possible likewise to the divel their master to doe, - since he may easily send his owne angels to trouble in what forme he - pleases any whom God will permit him so to use. - - PHI.--But will God permit these wicked instruments, by the power of - the devill their master, to trouble by any of these meanes any that - beleeve in him? - - EPI.--No doubt, for there are three kindes of folkes whom God will - permit so to be tempted or troubled; the wicked for their horrible - sinnes, to punish them in the like measure; the godly that are - sleeping in any great sinnes or infirmities, and weaknesse in faith, - to waken them up the faster by such an uncouth forme; and even some - of the best, that their patience may be tried before the world, as - Job's was. For why may not God use any kinde of extraordinarie - punishment, when it pleases him, as well as the ordinarie rods of - sicknesse or other adversities? - - PHI.--Who then may be free from these devilish practises? - - EPI.--No man ought to presume so farre as to promise any impunitie to - himselfe; for God hath before all beginnings, preordinated as well - the particular sorts of plagues, as of benefites, for every man, - which in the owne time he ordaines them to be visited with; and yet - ought we not to be the more afraide for that, of any thing that the - divell and his wicked instruments can doe against us, for we daily - fight against the divell in a hundreth other wayes; and therefore, as - a valiant captaine affraies no more being at the combate, nor stayes - from his purpose for the rummishing shot of a canon, nor the small - clacke of a pistolet, suppose he be not certaine what may light upon - him; even so ought we boldly to goe forward in fighting against the - divell, without any great terrour for these his rarest weapons, nor - for the ordinary, whereof we have daily the proofe. - - PHI.--Is it not lawfull then, by the helpe of some other witch, to - cure the disease that is casten on by that craft? - - EPI.--No wayes lawfull, for it is an axiome of theologie, that we are - not to doe evil, that good maie come of it. - - PHI.--How then may these diseases be lawfully cured? - - EPI.--Only by earnest prayer unto God, by amendment of their lives, - and by sharpe pursuing every one, according to his calling of these - instruments of Satan, whose punishment to the death will be a - salutarie sacrifice for the patient. And this is not onely the - lawfull way, but likewise the most sure; for by the devil's meanes - _can never the devill be casten out_, as Christ sayth; and when such - a cure is used, it may well serve for a short time, but at the last - it will doubtlesly tend to the utter perdition of the patient, both - in body and soule. - - - _What sort of Folkes are least or most subject to receive harm by - Witchcraft--What power they have to harme the Magistrate, and upon - what respects they have any power in prison--And to what end may or - will the Devill appeare to them therein--Upon what respects the - Devill appeares in sundry shapes to sundry of them at any time._ - - PHI.--But who dare take upon him to punish them, if no man can be - sure to be free from their unnatural invasions? - - EPI.--Wee ought not the more of that restraine from vertue, that the - way whereby we clime thereunto be straight and perillous; but, - besides that, as there is no kinde of persons so subject to receive - harme of them, as these that are of infirme and weake faith, so have - they so small power over none, as over such as zealously and - earnestly pursue them. - - PHI.--Then they are like the pest which smites these sickarest that - flies it farthest? - - EPI.--It is even so with them, for neither is it able to them to use - any false cure upon a patient, except the patient first beleeve in - their power, and so hazard the tinsell of his owne soule, nor yet can - they have lesse power to hurt any, nor such as contemne most their - doings, so being it comes of faith, and not of any vaine arrogancie - in themselves. - - PHI.--But what is their power against the Magistrate? - - EPI.--Lesse or greater, according as he deales with them; for if hee - be slothfull towards them, God is very able to make them instruments - to waken and punish his sloth; but if he be the contrary, hee, - according to the just law of God, and allowable law of all nations, - will be diligent in examining and punishing of them, God will not - permit their master to trouble or hinder so good a worke. - - PHI.--But fra they be once in hands and firmance, have they any - further power in their craft? - - EPI.--That is according to the forme of their detention; if they be - but apprehended and deteined by any private person, upon other - private respects, their power no doubt, either in escaping, or in - doing hurt, is no lesse nor ever it was before; but if, on the other - part, their apprehending and detention be by the lawfull magistrate, - upon the just respects of their guiltinesse in that craft, their - power is then no greater than before that ever they medled with their - master; for where God begins justly to strike by his lawfull - lieutenants, it is not in the devil's power to defraud or bereave him - of the office, or effect of his powerful and revenging scepter. - - PHI.--But will never their master come to visite them fra they be - once apprehended and put in firmance? - - EPI.--That is according to the estate that these miserable wretches - are in, for if they be obstinate in still denying, he will not spare, - when hee findes time to speake with them, either if he finde them in - any comfort, to fill them more and more with the vaine hope of some - manner of reliefe, or else if he finde them in a deepe despaire, by - all meanes to augment the same, and to perswade them by some - extraordinarie meanes to put themselves downe, which very commonly - they doe; but if they be penitent and confesse, God will not permit - him to trouble them any more with his presence and allurements. - - PHI.--It is not good using his counsell I see then; but I would - earnestly know, when he appeares to them in prison, what formes uses - he then to take? - - EPI.--Divers formes, even as hee uses to doe at other times unto - them; but ordinarily in such a forme as they agree upon among - themselves; or, if they be but prentises, according to the qualitie - of their circles or conjurations: yet to these capped creatures he - appeares as he pleases, and as he findes meetest for their humours; - for even at their publicke conventions, hee appeares to divers of - them in divers formes, as we have found by the difference of their - confessions in that point; for he deluding them with vaine - impressions in the aire, makes himselfe to seeme more terrible to the - grosser sort, that they may thereby be mooved to feare and reverence - him the more, and lesse monstrous and uncouth like againe to the - craftier sort, lest otherwise they might sturre and skunner at his - uglinesse. - - PHI.--How can he then be felt, as they confesse they have done, if - his body be but of aire? - - EPI.--I heare little of that amongst their confessions, yet may he - make himselfe palpable, either by assuming any dead bodie, and using - the ministerie thereof, or else by deluding as well their sense of - feeling as seeing, which is not impossible to him to doe, since all - our senses, as wee are so weake, and even by ordinarie sicknesses, - will be oftentimes deluded. - - PHI.--But I would speere one word further yet concerning his - appearing to them in prison, which is this, may any other that - chances to be present at that time in the prison see him as well as - they? - - EPI.--Sometimes they will, and sometimes not, as it pleases God. - - - _Of the Tryall and Punishment of Witches--What sort of Accusation - ought to be admitted against them--What is the cause of the - increasing so farre of their number in this age._ - - PHI.--Then to make an end of our conference, since I see it drawes - late, what forme of punishment thinke yee merit these witches? - - EPI.--They ought to be put to death according to the law of God, the - civill and imperial law, and municipall law of all Christian nations. - - PHI.--But what kinde of death I pray you? - - EPI.--It is commonly used by fire, but that is an indifferent thing - to be used in every countrey, according to the law or custome - thereof. - - PHI.--But ought no sexe, age, nor ranke, to be exempted? - - EPI.--None at all, (being so used by the lawfull magistrate), for it - is the highest point of idolatry wherein no exception is admitted by - the law of God. - - PHI.--Then barnes may not be spared? - - EPI.--Yea, not a haire the lesse of my conclusion, for they are not - that capable of reason as to practise such things; and for any being - in company, and not reveiling thereof, their less and ignorant age - will no doubt excuse them. - - PHI.--I see ye condemne them all that are of the counsell of such - craftes. - - EPI.--No doubt the consulters, trusters in, overseers, interteiners, - or stirrers up of these craftes folkes, are equally guiltie with - themselves that are the practisers. - - PHI.--Whether may the prince then, or supreme magistrate, spare or - oversee any that are guilty of that craft, upon some great respects - knowen to him? - - EPI.--The prince or magistrate, for further trials cause, may - continue the punishing of them such a certaine space as he thinkes - convenient, but in the end to spare the life, and not to strike when - God bids strike, and so severely punish in so odious a fault and - treason against God, it is not onely unlawfull, but doubtlesse no - lesse sinne in that magistrate, nor it was in Saules sparing of Agag; - and so comparable to the sinne of witchcraft itselfe, as Samuel - alledged at that time. - - PHI.--Surely then, I think since this crime ought to be so severely - punished, judges ought to beware to condemne any but such as they are - sure are guiltie, neither should the clattering report of a carling - serve in so weightie a case. - - EPI.--Judges ought indeede to beware whom they condemne, for it is as - great a crime (as Solomon saith), to condemne the innocent as to let - the guilty escape free, neither ought the report of any one infamous - person be admitted for a sufficient proof which can stand of no law. - - PHI.--And what may a number of guilty persons confessions worke - against one that is accused? - - EPI.--The assise must serve for interpretour of our law in that - respect, but in my opinion, since in a matter of treason against the - prince, barnes or wives, or never so diffamed persons, may of our - law serve for sufficient witnesses and proofes, I thinke surely that - by a farre greater reason such witnesses may be sufficient in matters - of high treason against God; for who but witches can be prooves, and - so witnesses of the doings of witches? - - PHI.--Indeed, I trow they will be loath to put any honest man upon - their counsell; but what if they accuse folke to have been present at - their imaginar conventions in the spirit, when their bodies lye - senseless, as ye have said? - - EPI.--I thinke they are not a haire the less guiltie; for the divell - durst never have borrowed their shadow or similitude to that turne, - if their consent had not beene at it; and the consent in these turnes - is death of the lawe. - - PHI.--Then Samuel was a witch, for the divell resembled his shape, - and played his person in giving response to Saul. - - EPI.--Samuel was dead as well before that, and so none could slaunder - him with medling in that unlawful arte; for the cause why, as I take - it, that God will not permit Satan to use the shapes of similitudes - of any innocent persons at such unlawfull times is, that God will not - permit that any innocent persons shall be slandered with that vile - defection, for then the divell would finde waies anew to calumniate - the best; and this we have in proofe by them that are carried with - the _pharie_, who never see the shadowes of any in that court but of - them that thereafter are tryed to have beene brethren and sisters of - that craft. And this was likewise prooved by the confession of a - young lasse troubled with spirits, laid on her by witchcraft; that - although she saw the shapes of divers men and women troubling her, - and naming the persons whom these shadowes represent; yet never one - of them are founde to be innocent, but all clearely tryed to be most - guiltie, and the most part of them confessing the same. And, besides - that, I thinke it hath beene seldome heard tell of, that any whom - persons guiltie of that crime accused, as having knowen them to be - their marrows by eye-sight, and not by hearesay, but such as were so - accused of witchcraft, could not be clearely tried upon them, were at - the least publikely knowen to be of a very evill life and reputation; - so jealous is God of the fame of them that are innocent in such - causes. And, besides that, there are two other good helps that may be - used for their triall; the one is, the finding of their marke, and - the trying the insensibleness thereof; the other is their fleeting on - the water, for as in a secret murther, if the dead carkasse be at any - time thereafter handled by the murtherer, it will gush out of bloud, - as if the bloud were crying to the heaven for revenge of the - murtherer, God having appointed that secret supernaturall signe for - triall of that secret unnatural crime, so it appeares that God hath - appointed (for a supernatural signe of the monstrous impietie of - witches), that the water shall refuse to receive them in her bosome - that have shaken off them the sacred water of baptisme, and wilfully - refused the benefitie thereof. No, not so much as their eyes are able - to shed teares (threaten and torture them as ye please), while first - they repent, (God not permitting them to dissemble their obstinacie - in so horrible a crime) albeit the women kind especially, be able - otherwayes to shed teares at every light occasion when they will, - yea, although it were dissemblingly like the crocodiles. - - PHI.--Well, wee have made this conference to last as long as leisure - would permit; and to conclude then, since I am to take my leave of - you, I pray God to purge this countrey of these divellish practises, - for they were never so rife in these parts as they are now. - - EPI.--I pray God that so be too; but the causes are over manifest - that make them to be so rife; for the great wickedness of the people - on the one hand, procures this horrible defection, whereby God justly - punisheth sinne by a greater iniquitie; and on the other part, the - consummation of the world and our deliverance drawing neere, makes - Satan to rage the more in his instruments, knowing his kingdome to be - so neere an end.--And so farewell for this time. - - - THE END - - - - - AN - - ANSWER - - OF A - - LETTER - - FROM A - - Gentleman in Fife, - - TO - - A NOBLEMAN, - - CONTAINING A - - BRIEF ACCOUNT OF THE BARBAROUS AND ILLEGAL - TREATMENT THESE POOR WOMEN ACCUSED OF - WITCHCRAFT MET WITH FROM THE BAILLIES OF - PITTENWEEM AND OTHERS--WITH SOME OBSERVATIONS - THEREON. - - To which is added, - - _An Account of the Horrid and Barbarous Murder, - in a Letter from a Gentleman in Fife to his Friend - in Edinburgh, February 5th, 1705._ - - PRINTED IN THE YEAR 1705. - - - - - The two following Tracts give an account of the witches of Pittenweem - in 1705. The first is a concise relation of facts, in which the - minister and magistrates are placed in no very favourable point of - view. The second is an answer to the first, and seems chiefly - intended to obviate the charges that are preferred against the - minister and baillies, but in our opinion with no great success, as - the principal facts are admitted, and the only defence set up is, - that the women were in reality witches. We have given this author's - story in his own words, with such of his remarks as bear upon the - narrative of the other pamphlet, which is all that is necessary at - the present day. - - EDITOR. - - - - - AN - - ANSWER - - OF - - A LETTER FROM A GENTLEMAN IN FIFE, &c. - - - MY LORD, - - I reckon myself very much honoured by your Lordship's letter, - desiring me to write you an account of that horrible murder committed - in Pittenweem. I doubt not, but by this time, your Lordship has seen - the gentleman's letter to his friend thereanent; I refer you to it, - the author thereof being so well informed, and so ingenous, that I'll - assure you, there is nothing in it but what is generally talked and - believed to be true. - - All I can contribute to your Lordship's further information, shall be - by way of a brief narrative of the minister and baillies - unwarrantable imprisoning, and barbarous treating of the poor women. - - I need not write your Lordship a character of Patrick Morton, being - now sufficiently known for a cheat. - - It was upon his accusation allennarly the minister and baillies - imprisoned these poor women, and set a guard of drunken fellows about - them, who by pinching and pricking some of them with pins and - elsions, kept them from sleep for several days and nights together, - the marks whereof were seen by severals a month thereafter. This - cruel usage made some of them learn to be so wise as acknowledge - every question that was asked them; whereby they found the minister - and baillies well pleased, and themselves better treated. - - Notwithstanding of all this, some of the more foolish continued, as - the minister said, hardened in the devil's service, such as White, - Jack, Wallace, Patrick, and others; all which, save the first, were - ordered to the stocks, where they lay for several weeks. - - All this while Patrick Morton's melancholly fancy (to give it no - harsher term), being too much encouraged by severals, and - particularly by the minister's reading to him the case of - Barrgarran's daughter, continued roving after a wonderful manner, - accusing for his tormentors some of the most considerable mens' wives - in the town, but such as the minister and baillies durst not venture - to imprison.--By this your Lordship may see, it was only the weakest - that went to the walls. - - My Lord Rothes, accompanied with several gentlemen of good sense and - reputation, came to Pittenweem, where finding these poor womens' - confessions no wise satisfying, and Patrick Morton a cheat, informed - the privy council thereof, who sent an order to send Patrick over to - them. This turn being given, and Patrick finding that things were not - likely to go so favourably with him as he before fancied, began to - draw to his breeches, and in a short time recovered his former - health, in which he still continues. By this time the baillies began - to be as earnest in emptying their prisons, as ever they were forward - in filling them; so after a long and serious deliberation, they set - them at liberty: but that their last step might be as illegal as - their first, obliged each of them to pay the town-officer the sum of - 8 lib. Scots; to pay which, some of them were forced to sell some - linnen they had reserved for their dead shirts and wynding sheets. - - I beg your Lordship's further patience a little to read these few - following observations: _Obs. 1st_, The baillies and minister sent - and brought several of these women from places without their - jurisdiction--one from Anstruther, and another from the country at - six miles distance. - - _Obs. 2d_, What good could the minister propose to Patrick Morton by - reading to him the book intituled the case of Barrgarran's daughter? - - _Obs. 3d_, After so much injustice done to these poor women, the - baillies and minister obliged them to pay the town-officer eight - pound Scots, is worthy of your Lordship and the rest of the Lords of - the privy council's considerations; and it would be the height of - charity to fall on a method to oblige the minister and baillies to - refound it seven-fold. - - _Obs. 4th_, One Thomas Brown, the only man accused by Patrick Morton, - and imprisoned by the minister and baillies, after a great deal of - hunger and hardship, died in prison, so as this poor woman's murder - was not the first, neither will it be the last, unless by severe - punishments prevented. - - _Obs. 5th_, The baillies in a manner justified these two murthers, by - not allowing them Christian burial, but burying them like dogs, - scarce covering them from the ravens. - - _Obs. 6th_, You may wonder why all along I should say the minister - and baillies? The reason is, because during all this narrative he - exercised more of the civil authority than any of the baillies, and - so continues to do, as you may see by the following late instance. - - The baillies of Pittenweem being conveened before the Lords of Privy - Council on the 14th or 15th of February, I am informed gave in to - them a subscribed account of the murther; and to justify themselves, - assert they had imprisoned several of the murtherers before they left - Pittenweem. It is very true they did so, but they were not long from - the town when the minister set them at liberty. This, I think, is - exercising the office of a civil magistrate: perhaps the minister may - say he did it by the magistrates' order left behind them; then I - think the magistrates were mightily in the wrong to give in to the - Lords of the privy council an account they knew to be false. - - My Lord, this is not the tenth part of what may be said upon this - subject, I hope some other person will be more particular. - - I am, - My LORD, - Your Lordship's - Most humble servant. - - - - - AN - - ACCOUNT - - OF AN - - HORRID AND BARBAROUS MURDER, - - IN A - - - _Letter from a Gentleman in Fife to his Friend in Edinburgh_. - - I doubt not of your being exceedingly surprized with this short and - just account I give you of a most barbarous murder committed in - Pittenweem the 30th of January last. One Peter Morton, a blacksmith - in that town, after a long sickness, pretended that witches were - tormenting him--that he did see them and know them--and, from time to - time, as he declared such and such women to be witches, they were by - order of the magistrates and minister of Pittenweem, apprehended as - such, to a very considerable number, and put into prison. This man, - by his odd postures and fits, which seemed to be very surprizing at - first, wrought himself into such a credit with the people of that - place, that unless the Earl of Rothes, our sheriff, had discovered - his villany, and discouraged that practice, God knows how fatal it - might have proved to many honest families of good credit and - respect. Sir, however, at first many were deceived, yet now all men - of sense are ashamed for giving any credit to such a person; but how - hard it is to root out bad principles once espoused by the rabble, - and how dangerous a thing it is to be at their mercy, will appear by - the tragical account I give you of one of these poor women, Janet - Corphat. - - After she was committed prisoner to the tolbooth, upon a suspicion of - her being a witch, she was well guarded with a number of men, who, by - pinching her, and pricking her with pins, kept her from sleep many - days and nights, threatening her with present death, unless she would - confess herself guilty of witchcraft; which at last she did. This - report spreading abroad, made people curious to converse with her - upon the subject, who found themselves exceedingly disappointed. The - Viscount of Primrose being in Fife occasionally, inclined to satisfy - his curiosity in this matter, the Earl of Kellie, my Lord Lyon, the - Laird of Scotstarvat, and the Laird of Randerston, were with his - Lordship in Pittenweem. Three of the number went to the tolbooth and - discoursed with her, to whom she said, that all that she had - confessed, either of herself or her neighbours, were lies, and cried - out, _God forgive the minister_, and said, that he had beat her one - day with his staff when she was telling him the truth. They asked her - how she came to say any thing that was not true; she cryed out, - _alas, alas, I behoved to say so, to please the minister and - baillies_; and, in the mean time, she begged for Christ's sake not - to tell that she had said so, else she would be murdered. Another - time, when the Laird of Glenagies and Mr Bruce of Kinross, were - telling her, she needed not deny what they were asking her, for she - had confessed as much as would infallibly burn her; she cried out, - _God forbid!_ and to one of the two she said, that from which he - might rationally conclude, she insinuate she had assurance from the - minister her life should not be taken. - - A little before harvest, Mr Ker of Kippilaw, a writer to the signet, - being in Pittenweem, Mr Robert Cook, advocate, went with him to - prison to see this poor woman; Mr Cook, among other questions, asked - her, if she had not renounced her baptism to the devil; she answered, - she never renounced her baptism but to the minister. These were her - words, what she meant by them I know not. The minister having got - account of this from Mr Cook, he sent for her, and in presence of Mr - Cook and Mr Ker in the church, he threatened her very severely, and - commanded the keeper to put her into some prison by herself under the - steeple, least (as he said) she should pervert those who had - confessed. The keeper put her into a prison in which was a low - window, out of which it was obvious that any body could make an - escape; and, accordingly, she made her escape that night. - - Next day when they missed her, they made a very slight search for - her, and promised ten pound Scots to any body that would bring her - back. Mr Gordon, minister at Leuchars, hearing she was in his - parish, eight miles distant from Pittenweem, caused apprehend her, - and sent her prisoner, under custody of two men, on the 30th of - January, to Mr Cowper, minister of Pittenweem, without giving any - notice to the magistrates of the place. When she came to Mr Cowper, - she asked him if he had any thing to say to her? he answered, No. She - could get lodging in no house but with one Nicolas Lawson, one of the - women that had been called witches.--Some say a baillie put her - there. - - The rabble hearing she was in town, went to Mr Cowper, and asked him - what they should do with her? he told them he was not concerned, they - might do what they pleased with her. They took encouragement from - this to fall upon the poor woman, those of the minister's family - going along with them, as I hear; they fell upon the poor creature - immediately, and beat her unmercifully, tying her so hard with a - rope, that she was almost strangled; they dragged her through the - streets, and alongst the shore, by the heels. A baillie, hearing of a - rabble near his stair, came out upon them, which made them - immediately disappear. But the magistrates, though met together, not - taking care to put her into close custody for her safety, the rabble - gathered again immediately, and stretched a rope betwixt a ship and - the shore, to a great height, to which they tied her fast; after - which they swinged her to and fro, from one side to another, in the - mean time throwing stones at her from all corners, until they were - weary; then they loosed her, and with a mighty swing threw her upon - the hard sands, all about being ready in the mean time to receive - her with stones and staves, with which they beat her most cruelly. - Her daughter, in the time of her mother's agony, though she knew of - it, durst not adventure to appear, lest the rabble had used her after - the same manner, being in a house, in great concern and terror, out - of natural affection for her mother, (about which the author was - misinformed in the first edition.) They laid a heavy door upon her, - with which they prest her so sore, that she cried out, to let her up - for Christ's sake, and she would tell the truth. But when they did - let her up, what she said could not satisfy them, and therefore, they - again laid on the door, and with a heavy weight of stones on it, - prest her to death; and to be sure it was so, they called a man with - a horse and a sledge, and made him drive over her corpse backward and - forward several times. When they were sure she was killed outright, - they dragged her miserable carcase to Nicolas Lawson's house, where - they first found her. - - There was a motion made to treat Nicolas Lawson after the same manner - immediately; but some of them being wearied with three hours sport, - as they called it, said it would be better to delay her for another - day's divertisement; and so they all went off. - - It is said that Mr Cowper, in a letter to Mr Gordon, gave some rise - to all this; and Mr Cowper, to vindicate himself, wrote to Mr Gordon, - whose return says, if he were not going to Edinburgh, he would give - him a double of his letter. It's strange he sent him not the - principal. In the postscript, he assures him, he shall conceal it to - meeting. - - 'Tis certain, that Mr Cowper, preaching the Lord's day immediately - after, in Pittenweem, took no notice of the murder, which at least - makes him guilty of sinful silence. Neither did Mr Gordon, in his - letter to Mr Cowper, make any regret for it; and this some construe - to be a justifying of the horrid wickedness in both. - - We are perswaded the government will examine this affair to the - bottom, and lay little stress upon what the magistrates or minister - of Pittenweem will say to smooth over the matter, seeing it's very - well known, that either of them could have quashed the rabble, and - prevented that murder, if they had appeared zealous against it. - - I am sorry I have no better news to tell you, God deliver us from - those principles that tend to such practices. - - I am, - SIR, - Your humble servant. - - - - - A - - JUST REPROOF - - TO THE - - FALSE REPORTS and UNJUST CALUMNIES, - - IN THE - - _FOREGOING LETTERS._ - - - About the month of March last year, one Beatrix Laing, a woman of - very bad fame, who had formerly been under process for using charms, - and refusing to be reconciled to her neighbours, was debarred from - the Lord's table, came to one Patrick Morton, a blacksmith, desiring - him to make some nails, which he refused to do, because otherwise - employed at that time. Upon which she went off muttering some - threatening expressions. A little after, the said Patrick Morton, - with another person in company, carrying some fish by the said - Beatrix Laing's door, they saw a vessel with water placed at the - door, with a burning coal in it. Upon which he was presently strucken - with an impression that it was a charm designed against him, and upon - this a little after he sickened. In this sickness he languished for a - long time; physicians that saw him, could not understand his - distemper, yet tried various medicines, till at length his trouble - increased, and he began to be seized with some unusual fits, which - made them give over. He forbore all this while any accusation of the - person whom he all along suspected for his trouble, at least he made - no mention of it to the minister, who frequently visited him while - under it. But his trouble still increasing, he at length began to - drop some apprehensions of the cause of it. Upon which Beatrix Laing - was called, and by the magistrates, in the said Patrick Morton's - father's house, examined in presence of a great multitude of people, - and owned, that she had placed that vessel with water, and the coal - in it, there; but at that time would give no account of the reason of - it. Being dismissed by the magistrates, she went home, and that same - night, when she was challenged by Katharine Marshal, in her own - house, before Nicolas Lawson, about the lad's trouble, she answered, - that he might blame his own ill tongue for what had befallen him, and - that it was an evil spirit that was troubling him; which was in her - face maintained by the said persons next day, in presence of the - magistrates. Then the boy began to complain of her tormenting him, - and fell into grievous fits of trouble upon her entering the house. - Upon all which she being imprisoned, after some time did acknowledge - to magistrates and minister, in presence of many witnesses, without - threat or torture, (of which we shall speak more afterwards) that she - was displeased with Patrick Morton for his refusing to make some - nails; that she designed to be avenged upon him for it; and that she - used that charm of the coal in the water against him; and that she - renounced her baptism, entered into a compact with the devil some - twelve years before; condescending upon time, place, and her - inducements to engage in his service; and that she, with Nicholas - Lawson, had made a wax picture to torment him, and put pins in it; - which the said Nicolas likewise confessed afterwards, and so - justified the boy's account of the rise of his trouble. - - After this the boy's trouble daily increased, in which there were - many strange things; first his belly, for some time, then his breast, - frequently heaved up to a prodigious height, and instantly went off - again, by a blowing at the mouth like a bellows; frequently he cried - out that such persons as he named were pinching him in his arms, - breast, or some other places of his body, his hands lying all the - while above the clothes, at a distance from one another, in the view - of many of the spectators; and when they looked the places of which - he complained, they saw distinctly the print of nails. Again, he was - frequently cast into swooning fits, became insensible, which was - tried by exquisite pinching the more sensible parts of his body, of - which he complained afterwards when he came out of the fits, though - he took no notice of them, nor felt them, in the time while he was in - these fits. The strongest who essayed to lift his head from the - pillow, were not able to move it, though both his feet and head were - perfectly free of the bed, which was exactly tried: Yea, sometimes - while the trunk of his body and his head were thus rigid and could - not be raised from the pillow, his legs were loose, and any might - move them as they pleased. Sometimes these fits were not so great as - at other times, and then, or when he was falling in, or coming out of - them, several persons lifted him with little difficulty; but when he - was in the depth of the fit, the strongest that essayed it could not - raise him up. Again, when any of the women whom he accused touched - him, and sometimes on their coming into the room he fell into - grievous fits of trouble, and cried out, that such a person was - tormenting him, condescending on their names; and this he did very - frequently, before multitudes of people of different ranks, ready to - attest the same. And commonly such care was taken to prevent his - having any notice, either of the womens' entry, or which of them was - there, that there was no place left for any rational suspicion of - trick or cheat in the matter. He was carefully hoodwinked with - several plies of cloth--the women were brought in with the utmost - secrecy--innocent persons present in the room laid their hands on - him, but yet he never shewed the least concern, save when the accused - persons touched him. Several times gentlemen that seemed jealous that - there was somewhat of an imposture in the case, were allowed and - invited to make the nicest trial, and found it hold. Several pitiful - cavils have been used about this, and other instances of the boy's - trouble, which proceed either from ignorance of the circumstances of - matter of fact, or gross inadvertency in not observing the several - variations of the boy's case; which, had they been considered, they - would have been so far from giving any countenance to the conclusion - aimed at by these objectors, that they would strongly have enforced a - conviction of something preter-natural in the case. - - The author then proceeds to give an account of Janet Corphat, the - woman who was murdered. She was a person of very bad fame, who of a - long time was reputed a witch, frequently used charms, and was wont - commonly to threaten persons who disobliged her, and such - consequences sometimes followed, as made her the terror of many, both - of the town and country, which might be verified by particular - instances, if it were necessary. She was not at first delated by - Patrick Morton, though afterwards he complained of her as one of his - tormentors; but she, with several others, being in company with the - devil, whereof Isabel Adam was one, in pursuance of a quarrel which - Beatrix Laing, formerly mentioned, had with one Alexander M'Grigor, a - fisher in the town, made an attempt to murder the said M'Grigor in - bed; which was prevented by his awakening and wrestling against them. - This attempt was acknowledged by Isabel Adam, of whose confession a - more full account shall be given afterwards, who had been taken up on - that man's delation, and some other informations against her, and not - on the lad's. As likewise, the said Janet was accused by Nicolas - Lawson, another person present at that attempt; and Nicolas accused - her of being at another meeting in the Loan of Pittenweem; at both - which meetings they confessed the devil was present.--All which she - herself afterwards freely confessed. - - The manner of this woman's confession was very remarkable.--After she - had obstinately some while denied, and with a subtility beyond what - might be expected from one of her education, shifted all questions - put to her, she, with Isobel Adam aforesaid, being brought to the - house where the tormented lad lay, and he discovering her at her - entry into the room, notwithstanding the utmost precaution was used - to conceal it from him, and he falling into grievous fits of trouble, - did cry out of her as one of his tormentors; at which she was so - stunned, that instantly she fell a trembling. The magistrates and - minister observing her in such a confusion, asked if she was willing - to commune with them, in reference to the matters whereof she had - been accused; she declaring herself willing, went with them to - another place, and when desired to be ingenuous, she again fell a - trembling, and said she would confess all, but was afraid the devil - would tear the soul out of her body if she did, and said, if you will - pray, and cause all good folk pray for me, I will confess, and she - then desired the minister to pray; and, after prayer, confessed she - was bodily present at both the meetings aforesaid with the devil and - the witches, and gave a circumstantiat account of the renounciation - of her baptism, naming time, place, and inducements which led her to - it, and the shape the devil appeared to her in.--She likewise told - the reason of their attempt to murder M'Grigor was, that he did not - hire a house which belonged to Beatrix Laing. - - Again, on a Thursday, after she had been hearing sermon, she desired - to speak with the minister, and sent one to acquaint him with this - desire; on which he went to her, and she, before several witnesses, - renewed her former confession, and condescended on all the persons - the other confessing witches had accused, as being present at the two - foresaid meetings; adding withal, that there were others present whom - she knew not. This confession she renewed before the presbytery, in - presence of a great many country gentleman, and other spectators; as - likewise in the face of a numerous congregation on the Lord's day. - - It is owned, that when Beatrix Laing and Nicolas Lawson were first - imprisoned, they were ill used by some of the guard, without the - knowledge of magistrates or minister, of which the women made - complaint to the minister, whereof he presently acquainted the - magistrates, who, with the minister, went to the prison, and - threatened the guard if they offered the least disturbance to persons - in custody. And the minister, on the Lord's day thereafter, took - occasion in sermon to discover the wickedness of that practice, as - being against the light of nature, Scripture, and the just laws of - the land. After this, we heard of no more disturbances they met with. - Now, it was not till after this precaution used to prevent their - trouble, that Janet Corphat was imprisoned; and, from the time of her - imprisonment, till the time that she confessed, which was some ten - or twelve days, she was not in company with the rest, nor with the - guard, save one or two days, but was alone in a separate prison, and - nothing to disturb her. - - Now, it is remarkable, that neither of these persons who were ill - used, of which Janet Corphat was none, did ever make any - acknowledgement to these persons who used them ill, nor till some - days after they were quite freed of this trouble. And when they did - confess, it was to magistrates and minister, whom they owned to be - careful to preserve them from such abuses; nor did magistrates or - minister ever use any threatening to extort a confession, or any - other argument, but what the gospel requires to be made use of to - bring impenitent sinners to a confession of their sins.[8] - - [8] We should like to know what threatenings the gospel requires - ministers to make use of to such impenitent sinners as will not - confess sins they could not commit. ED. - - The author of the letter tells us, 'she was put in a low prison, out - of which it was obvious that any body could make an escape, and - accordingly she made her escape that night.' Here are but two - assertions, and both of them false, for the prison was the second - story, and her escape was by breaking an old iron grate in the - window; nor was it that night after that she broke the prison, for it - was on Friday these gentlemen discoursed her, and on the Lord's day - at night she broke the prison.[9] - - [9] This just reprover begins very fairly by wilfully perverting his - opponent's language, 'a prison with a low window,' he makes 'a low - prison.' We very much suspect the minister himself had a hand in this - pamphlet. - - Here follows the author of the 'Just Reproofs' way of telling the - story of the barbarous and cruel murder of Janet Corphat. She came to - town under cloud of night with two men, and went straight to an inn - where her daughter was serving. After some stay there, the two men - brought her to the minister's house, who was visiting a sick child of - one James Cook, a present bailie, where his servant came to him with - Mr Gordon's letter; and, as soon as he had perused it, he bid his - servant go tell them, he would have nothing to do with her, but since - they had brought her to the town, let them take her to the - magistrates; which answer, two men then present, have attested under - their hands. On this, the men brought her to Bailie Cook's house, - where the minister was, and the men meeting him coming down stairs, - pressed him to take her off their hands, which he refused to do, but - called the two next magistrates, and advised them instantly to set - her off safe out of the town. On which the two bailies sent for their - officer immediately, and the minister went off straight to his own - house, and saw no appearance of a rabble, nor did hear of it, till - the rabble had gone a considerable length; and after a little, he - heard that the woman was got safe out of their hands, and the rabble - dissipate, and he knew nothing of her death till the next morning. - - When the officer came to the magistrates, they, on deliberation among - themselves, resolved to imprison her till the next morning; and - accordingly ordered their officer to do it. And as the officer was - executing the magistrates' orders, the rabble gathered upon them, - attacked the officer, and took the woman from him, with which, it is - said, he did not acquaint the magistrates, that they might have taken - other measures for the woman's safety. - - This rabble did not flow from the inclinations of the people of the - place, which is evident from the peaceable and safe residence two - confessing witches had for two months time in the place since they - were set at liberty, but from an unhappy occasional concourse of a - great many strangers, some Englishmen, some from Orkney, and other - parts, who were forward in it, and have since taken guilt on them by - their flight. - - As to the assertion with regard to those of Mr Cowper's family going - along with the rabble, Mr Cowper urged to have his servants examined - among the first, and they have declared before the magistrates, that - they stole out in a clandestine way, that their master might not know - of it, and he indeed knew nothing of it, and they returned very - quickly and made no stay; nor do any of the witnesses examined - insinuate any accusation of their having the least accession to any - injury she met with, nor were they any other way concerned, than by - looking on a short while with some hundreds of other spectators. - - Again, it is said, 'that they first found her at Nicolas Lawson's - house, and that she was killed out-right when they dragged her there - again,' is as ill grounded as the rest of our author's assertions; - for they found her not at Nicolas Lawson's house, and some of the - persons examined have declared, that after she was brought to that - door, she arose and put on head cloaths, and called to Nicolas Lawson - to let her in; which, if she had done, she in all appearance had met - with no more disturbance; but after this, we hear _that some few of - the rabble stole up secretly and murdered her_. - - The author of the Second Letter accuses the minister of encouraging - Patrick Morton in carrying on the cheat, by reading to him the case - of Bargarran's daughter. In answer to which, we shall give a short, - but candid, account of matter of fact. In the month of May last, the - minister, with a preacher, and a great many other people, attending - all night in the room where Patrick Morton lay, and he lying - meanwhile in a swooning fit, which was then tried by exquisite - pinching, the minister and probationer falling into some discourse - about Bargarran's daughter, took out the book, and for their own - satisfaction, read only two sentences, and stopt. Several weeks - after, when the minister was again attending in the night time, the - lad being insensible, the minister, for his own diversion, read the - preface, and some part of the process, against the witches, but had - no reason to think he heard any thing, but on the contrary. And it is - to be observed, when the committee of the privy council did - accurately examine the boy in reference to this story, he still - declared he never heard any thing of Bargarran's daughter's case - read. - - What he says of 'their obliging them to pay eight pound Scots to the - town-officer,' is in many ways false. It is false that they were - ordered by the magistrates to pay such a sum. It is false that they - paid all alike. It is also untruth that any of them gave what they - had provided for their winding sheets. Nicolas Lawson, one of the - confessing witches, her husband voluntarily gave a small piece of - unbleached linen to the officer for his fees; and this is all the - ground for the story of their winding-sheets. - - The author of the Just Reproof then proceeds to give an account of - Mrs White and Isobel Adam. The woman brought from Anstruther was a - Mrs White, an inhabitant of Pittenweem, who, through fear of being - apprehended, fled thither to her daughter's house. This woman, whose - cause is now warmly espoused by some, with no advantage to their - reputation, and who is now insisting against the magistrates in a - process for wrongous imprisonment, has been for many years a person - of very bad fame. Some eighteen years ago, she pursued a woman before - the session, in Mr Bruce the late Episcopal incumbents time, for - calling her a witch, and succumbing in the probation. Mr Bruce urged - her to be reconciled with the woman,--she obstinately refused,--using - most Unchristian and revengeful expressions, which are to be seen in - the session-register. Since the revolution, she desired admission to - the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper, which was then denied her, - because she still refused to be reconciled to that woman. Her - scandalous carriage in refusing to cohabit with her husband to this - day, who is a sober honest man, is generally known. This woman being - accused by the boy as one of his tormentors, and delated by two - confessing witches, and other presumptions of her guilt, the - magistrates one morning sent their officer to the magistrates of - Anstruther, desiring them on these grounds to send Mrs White to them, - and the grounds of her imprisonment were sent in write to her, in her - daughter Mrs Lindsay's house; and she being brought to Pittenweem, - the two women which delated her, were confronted with her, in - presence of the magistrates, a great many gentlemen and ministers, - where they did accuse her to her face, and charged her particularly - with being at a meeting in the Loan with the devil and the witches, - and gave some binding tokens to convince her. By all which it - appears, how little ground there is to accuse the magistrates for - invading their neighbours jurisdiction, or load the minister with any - concernment in the matter. - - As to the other instance of one brought to Pittenweem at six miles - distance, this was the young woman Isobel Adam. About the middle of - May, one Alexander M'Grigor delated her for an attempt to murder him - in his own house in the night-time, with several others whom he knew - not; and there being some surmises of other presumptions of - witchcraft against her, the minister hearing she was occasionally in - the town, called for her, and advised her, before her father, if - innocent, to take proper measures for her own vindication, which she - undertook to do, and promised to return for that end on - advertisement, which her father engaged to give. The noise about her - still increasing, her father was desired, according to promise, to - call her to the place, which he declined, growing jealous of her - guilt; on which the minister advertised her, but in case she refused, - a letter was sent to be delivered to the gentleman on whose ground - she lived, desiring him to send her. So soon as the advertisement was - given, she came voluntarily to her father's house in Pittenweem, and - so there was no occasion for force. - - When she came, she confessed her converse with the devil at Thomas - Adamson's house, on the first day of January 1704; she was confronted - with M'Grigor, and he accused her of the above mentioned attempt on - him, which she then refused; on which she was imprisoned, and the two - following days, she did with tears, and more than ordinary concern, - make a free and large confession. - - She said Beatrix Laing aforesaid, a confessing witch, had been - dealing with her to engage in her service, which she refused; and - that some time thereafter, this Beatrix came for her, and desired her - to go along to her house; when she came there, they sat down at the - fire, and she saw a man in black cloaths, with a hat on his head, - sitting at the table; and Beatrix said to her, since you will not - engage with me, here is a gentleman that will see you; whereupon he - told her, he knew she was discontented with her lot, and if she would - serve him, he promised she should want for nothing; to which she - yielded to serve him, and he came forward and kissed her; and she - said, he was fearsome like, and his eyes sparkled like candles, on - which she knew he was the devil. - - Again, she told, that being employed to spin in Thomas Adamson's - house in Pittenweem, while she was lying awake in her bed in the - night time, the devil appearing to her, where she did expressly - renounce her baptism to the devil, by putting her hand on her head, - and the other to her feet, the other maid lying in the bed with her - being at the time asleep, as the maid declared before the session. - About a fortnight after this, Beatrix Laing came to visit her, and - asked her, if she had met with the gentleman? She answered she had, - and also engaged with him, on which Beatrix said, I have then got my - work wrought, and went away. And she confessed, she came to that - meeting at M'Grigor's with the devil and several witches, viz. - Beatrix Laing, Nicolas Lawson, Janet Corphat, Thomas Brown, and - several others she knew not, designing to murder M'Grigor; but since - the man awakened and prayed to God for himself, they could not do it. - She confessed also converse with the devil at other times. All which - is in her two confessions, signed by the magistrates, and transmitted - to Edinburgh. Now, we desire to know what the author of this letter - can quarrel in the magistrates or minister's conduct in this matter. - - As for what he says 'about the magistrates and minister refounded the - imprisoned womens' money seven-fold.' We find this author very - charitable on other mens' purses, but when the magistrates and - minister design to bestow their charity, they will choose more - deserving objects. And the Lords of Her Majesty's privy counsel - understands themselves better than to take their measures as to what - is just from the daring prescriptions of this author. - - What he says about Thomas Brown is also false, he was accused by the - lad, and delated by three confessing witches, as being accessory to - the attempt on M'Grigor. It is false he was starved, for his daughter - brought him his diets punctually. Our author's fears of more murders - are altogether groundless, and we appeal to all men of candour, - whether this author's impudent and unjust accusation against - magistrates and minister of murdering Thomas Brown, deserves not - severer punishment than any thing he can charge them with. - - He again tells us, "the bailies justified the murder, by denying - Christian burial." The bailies gave no order thereabout. As for - Thomas Brown, his son-in-law, with some others, buried him. Our - author by his next may prove, that Janet Corphat, a woman that had so - frequently and so solemnly confessed the renounciation of her baptism - to the devil, deserved Christian burial. - - - THE END. - - - - - A - - COPY - - OF THE - - INDICTMENT OF THE WITCHES AT BORROWSTOUNESS--THE PRECEPT FOR - SUMMONING THE JURY AND WITNESSES--WITH THE WARRANT FOR THEIR - EXECUTION. - - - _Copy of the Indytment._ - - Annaple Thomsone, widow in Borrowstownes, - - Margaret Pringle, relict of the deceast John Campbell sive-wright - there, &c. - - Yee, and ilk ane of yow ar indytted and accwsed, that where, - notwithstanding, be the law of God, particularlie sett down in the 20 - chapter of Leviticus, and eighteen chap. of Dewtronomie, and be the - lawes and actes of parliament of this kingdome, and constant practiq; - thereof, particularlie be the 73 act, 29 parliament Q. Marie, the - cryme of witchcraft is declaired to be ane horreid, abominable and - capitall cryme, punishable with the paines of death and confiscatiown - of moveables. Never the less it is of veritie, that you have - comitted, and ar gwyltie of the said cryme of witchcraft, in swa far - ye have entered in pactiown with the devill, the enemie of your - salvatiown, and have renownced our Blissed Lord and Savior, and your - baptizme, and have given your selffes, both soulles and bodies to the - devil, and have bein severall mettings with the devill, and swndrie - wyth witches in diverse places; and particularlie, ye the said - Annaple Thomsone had a metting with the devill the tyme of your - weidowhood, befoer yow was maried to your last husband, in your - cwming betwixt Linlithgow and Borrowstownes, where the devil, in the - lyknes of ane black man, told yow, that you wis ane poore puddled - bodie, and had ane evill lyiff, and difficultie to win throw the - world; and promesed, iff yee wald followe him, and go alongst with - him, yow should never want, bot have ane better lyiff: and, abowt - fyve wekes therefter, the devill appeired to yow when yow wis goeing - to the coal-hill abowt sevin a clock in the morning. Having renewed - his former tentatiown, you did condeschend thereto, and declared - yowrselff content to follow him, and becwm his servant; wherewpon the - devill threw yow to the grownd, and had carnal copwlatiown with yow; - and ye, and each persone of yow, wis at several mettings with the - devill in the Linkes of Borrowstowness, and in the howss of yow - Bessie Vickar, and ye did eatt and drink with the devill, and with on - another, and with witches in hir howss in the night tyme; and the - devill and the said Wm Craw browght the ale which ye drank, extending - to abowt sevin gallons, from the howss of Elizabeth Hamilton; and yow - the said Annaple had ane other metting abowt fyve wekes ago, when you - wis goeing to the coal-hill of Grange, and he inveitted yow to go - alongest and drink with him in the Grange-pannes; and yow the said - Margaret Pringil have bein ane witch thir many yeeres bygane; hath - renowncid yowr baptisme, and becwm the devill's servant, and promeis - to follow him; and the devill had carnall copwlatiown with yow, and - tuik you by the right hand, whereby it was, for eight dayes, - grevowslie pained; but having it twitched of new againe, it - imediatlie becam haill: and yow the said Margaret Hamilton has bein - the devill's servant these eight or nyne yeres bygane; and he appered - and conversed with yow at the toun-well of Borrowstownes, and several - tymes in yowr awin howss, and drank severall choppens of ale with - you, and thereafter had carnall copwlatiown with yow; and the devill - gave yow ane fyve merk peice of gold, whilk a lyttil efter becam ane - sklaitt stone; and yow the said Margaret Hamilton, relict of James - Pollwart, has bein ane witch, and the devil's servant thertie yeres - since, haith renowncid yowr baptizme as said is, and has had carnall - copwlatiown with the devill in the lyknes of ane man, bot he removed - from yow in the lyknes of ane black dowg: and ye, and ilk ane of yow - wis at ane metting with the devill and wther witches at the Croce of - Murestaine above Kinneil, upon the threttein of October last, where - yow all danced, and the devill acted the pyiper, and where yow - endevored to have distroyed Androw Mitchell, sone to John Mitchell, - elder in Dean of Kinneill. - - - _Precept_ qra _Witches, and the Witnesses and Assyissers, 1679_. - - ---- Cochran of Barbbachlay, Richard Elphinstown of ----, Saindelands - of Hilderstown, ---- Cornwal of Bonhard, Robert Hamilton of Dechmont, - baillzie of the regallitie of Borrowstownes, Sir John Harper advocat, - Mr William Dundas, and Mr John Prestowne advocats, commissioners of - justiciarie, speciallie constitwte, nominat, and appoynted by the - lordes off his majestie's most honowrable privie cownsell for the - tryall and jwdging of the persones after namit; To our lovitts ---- - messengers, macers, and officers of cowrt, owr shirriffs in that - pairt, conjunctlie and severallie, speciallie constitwte, greitting: - For sameikillais the ---- day of ----is appoynted by ws for the - trying and judging off Anabill Thomson widow in Borrowstownes, - Margaret Pringle relict of the decist John Campbell sive-wright ther, - Margaret Hamilton relict of the deceist James Pollwart ther, Wm. Craw - indweller ther, Bessie Viccar relict of the deceist James Pennie - indweller ther, and Margarett Hamilton relict of the deceist Thomas - Mitchell, who are apprehendit and imprisoned in the tolbuith of - Borrowstownes, as suspect gwilty of the abominable cryme of - witchcraft, by entering into pactiown with the devill, renwncing - their baptism and comitting of _malificies_: Wherefoir nescessary it - is, that the saides persons should be summonded to wnderlye the lawe - for the samen, and that witness and assyssers should be cited against - them, to the effect, and under the paines efter specifiet. HEREFOIR, - this precept sein, we chairge you passe, and in owr soveraigne lordes - name and authority, and owrs, comand and chairge the saides persones - above compleaned upon, to compeir befoir ws, or any three of us (who - are by our said commissiown declaired to be a quorum), within the - said tolbuith of Borrowstownes, the nyneteen day of December nixt, in - the howr of cawse, ther to wnderlye the lawe, for the crymes above - specifiet, and that under the paines contained in the new acts of - parliament: And sicklyik, summon, wairne and chairge ane assyse of - honest and famous persones, not exceeding the number of fortie-five, - togither with such witnesses who best know the veritie of the - persones above compleaned upon ther gwiltynes, to compeir befoir us, - day and place foirsaid, in the howr of cawse, the persones of[10] - witness, to bear leall and soothfast witnessing in the premiss, and - the inqueist to passe upon the assyse each persone, under the paine - of ane hundreth merks, according to justice, ais ye will answer to us - therwpon: the whilk to doe commits to you, conjunctlie and severalie, - our fwll power, be thir our lettres, delyvering them be you dewllie - execut and indorset againe to the beirer. Given under our hands at - Borrowstownes, the twentie-nynt day of November, ane thousande six - hunder and seventie nyne yeirs. - - [10] This word is interlined, and the word inqueist scored out. - - (_Sic Subscribitur_) - - R. HAMILTON, - J. CORNWALL, - RICH. ELPHENSTONE, - W. DUNDAS. - - - _Ane List of the Persones to be warned to passe upon the Assyse for - Judging the Witches in Borrowstownes._ - - _Barronie of Carridin._ - - Robert Ballendin elder in Northbank, - Alex. Brown in Bonhard, - John Irwyne there, - James Lamb there, - George Storie in Mure-edge, - Thomas Knox wiver in Littill Carridin, - John Meldrum ther, - George Yowng in Murrayes, - John Brown oversman ther, - George Smyth ther, - John Robertsone in Bonhard-panns, - John Daviesone ther, - John Pooll ther. - - _Town of Borrowstownes._ - - George Bennet, - James Cassilles elder, skipper, - Alex. Drysdaill skipper, - James Hardie glover, - Alex. Randie baxter - Richard Carss, - James Hamilton elder, - James Hwtton baxter, - Andrew Hamilton, - Thomas Downie, - James Mwngill wiver, - Rob. Downie. - - _Barronie of Kinneill._ - - George Gib in Kinneil Carss, - Alex. Gib in Inneraven, - John Glen ther - John Baird ther - James Dobbie in Nether Kinneil, - Patrick Hardie ther, - John Dick in Woodheid, - John Wilson in Over Kinneil, - James Thomson ther, - James Lithgow in Balderstown, - John Hardie, maltman in Burrowstown, - James Thomson ther. - - _Barronie of Pollmont._ - - James Burn of Clerkstoun, - James Monteth of Myln-hall, - Alex. Whyte in Hill, - Patrick Ballanden of Parkend, - John Mairschell in Whyteside, - Andrew Johnstown in Pollmont, - David Ballanden in Redding, - James Gaff ther, - George Mureheid ther, - William Rwchat of Ruch-haugh, - John Grintown in Gillstown Loanfoote, - Henry Taylor in Whyteside, - John Purgat of Bruchtown Crag. - - - _Order and Warrand for Burning the Witches of Borrowstownes, Dec. 19, - 1679._ - - Forsameikle as Annabil Thomson widdow in Borrowstownes, Margaret - Pringle relict of the deceast John Campbell ther, Margaret Hamiltown - relict of the deceast James Pollwart ther, William Craw indweller - ther, Bessie Wicker relict of the deceast James Pennie ther, and - Margaret Hamiltown relict of the deceast Thomas Mitchell ther, - prisoners in the tolbuith of Borrowstownes, are found guiltie be ane - assyse, of the abominable cryme of witchcraft committed be them, in - maner mentioned in their dittayes, and are decerned and adjudged be - us under subscryvers (commissioners of justiciary speciallie - appoynted to this effect) to be taken to the west end of - Borrowstownes, the ordinar place of execution ther, upon Tuesday the - twentie-third day of December current, betwixt two and four a clock - in the efternoon, and ther to be wirried at a steack till they be - dead, and there-efter to have their bodies burnt to ashes. These - therefoir require and command the baylie principal off the regalitie - of Borrowstownes, and his deputts, to see the said sentance and doom - put to dew execution in all poynts, as yee will be answerable. Given - under our hands at Borrowstownes the nynteenth day of December 1679 - yeirs. - - W. DUNDAS, - RICH. ELPHINSTONE, - WA. SANDILANDS, - J. CORNWALL, - J. HAMILTON. - - - - - TRIAL - - OF - - ISOBEL ELLIOT, AND NINE OTHER WOMEN. - - _Records of Justiciary, September 13, 1678._ - - - In 1678, Isobel Elliot and nine other women were tried for witchcraft - in one day. The articles of indictment against all of them were - pretty much the same. Those exhibited against Isobel Elliot were as - follows: That about two years ago she staid at home from the _kirk_ - at the desire of her mistress, who was a witch, when the devil had a - meeting with the prisoner, her mistress, and two other witches; that - he kissed the prisoner, baptized her on the face _with an waff of his - hand like a dewing_, and offered to lie with her, but forbore because - she was with child; that after she was kirked the devil often met - her, and had _carnal copulation_ with her. The prisoner and the other - nine miserable women underwent all the legal forms incident to their - unhappy situation among that deluded and barbarous people. They had - been prosecuted by his Majesty's Advocate; they judicially - acknowledged their guilt, were convicted by the jury, condemned by - the judges, and burned by the executioner,--_for having had carnal - copulation with the devil_!!! - - - - - THE - - CONFESSIONS - - OF - - HELEN TAYLOR IN EYEMOUTH, - - AND - - _MENIE HALYBURTON IN DIRLTON_, - - ACCUSED OF WITCHCRAFT, 1649. - - WITH THE - - DECLARATION - - OF - - JOHN KINCAID, PRICKER. - - COPIED FROM THE ORIGINALS. - - - - - THE - - CONFESSIOUN - - OF - - HELENE TAILZEAR. - - - JUL 8, 1649. - - Being the Sabbath day, Mr Samuel Dowglas, preaching at Eymouth, after - sermon, Helen Tailzear desyred to speik with the said Mr Samuell, who - coming to hir, thair being also present Samuel Lauder and George - Halliday, she confessed these particularis, viz. _first_, at - Candilmas bygon two yeirs, scho cam into Isobell Brown's hous, quhair - the divill was sitting in the liknes of a gentill man at the tabill - drinking with Isobell Brown, who took hir in his armes without any - moir speiking at that tyme. - - _Secondlie_, Scho declairs, that after shee cam to Isobell Brown's - hous * * * * * whair the divill was in the same likness as befor, and - layd his hand upon hir head, and sayd, you sall be on of myne so long - as you live. And that he gave hir two dolleris, and when shoe cam - home they wer butt twa stanes. - - _Thirdlie_, Shee declairs, that shee was at ane meiting with Isobell - Brown, Alison Cairns, Margaret Dobson, and Beatrix Young, and that - thai went all along to William Burnettis hous, he lying sick, and - that coming to the hous, Margaret Dobson was in the liknes of ane - black hen, and went in at the chimley head, and Beatrix Young in the - liknes of a litill foall, and that hirself was in the liknes of ane - litill quhelp; Isobell Brown wes in hir owin liknes, with a long - tail'd courtshaw upon hir head, and Allison Cairns wes in hir owin - liknes; and that Isobell Brown desired her to go into William - Burnettis bot shee refuissed, quhairupon Isobell Brown did stryk her - * * * * * on the back. - - _Fourtlie_, Shee declairs that Marioun Robisson wes ane witch, and - that shee was William Burnit's death. - - (Signed) MR SAMUEL DOUGLAS, _Minister - at Coldinghame_. - S. LAUDER. - G. HALLIDAY. - - - - - THE - - DEPOSITION - - OF - - MENIE HALIBURTOUN. - - - _At Dirltoun, June, 1649._ - - Compeirit Menie Halliburton, prissoner within the Castle, suspect of - the cryme of witchcraft, delaitit guiltie be Agnes Clerkson, lait - sufferer for the said cryme; as also be Patrik Watsone, spouse to the - said Menie, who lykewisse sufferit thairfoir, and confessit, that - auchtein yeir syne, or thairby, hir dochter being seik, scho first - sent for Patrik Chrystison in Aberledie, to cum and cure hir dochter, - and he refuising, went hirself for him, who refused to cure hir; and - within * * * days after came the devill in liknes of a man into hir - hous, calling himself a physition, and said to her, that he had good - salves (and namelie oylispek), whairwith he would cure hir dochter; - and aggreing with him for some of his salves quhilk he gave hir, shee - gave him two Inglis shillings. He then departed, and promised to come - agane within eight dayis, whilk accordinglie he did, bot or he went - away the first tyme, shee gave him milk and breid; and Patrik - Watsone coming in, he sent for a pynt of ale; bot at his second - coming he stayit all night, and upon the morne airlie (Patrick being - furth), in cam the divill and lay doun with hir, scho being yitt in - bed, and had carnal copulatioun with hir, his nature being cald. He - desyrit hir to renunce Chryst and hir baptisme, and become his - servant, quhilk scho did. And sayis, that hir dochter had the wyte of - all hir wickit wissing, and wissing she had nevir beene borne. - - This deposition was renewed in all the particulars by the said Menie, - in the foresaid place, on Sunday the first of July, 1649, before - Alexander Levingston of Saltcoatts, James Borthwick chamberlane, - James Lawder, John Stalker baillie, Wm. Dalzell, and Mr John M'Ghie, - minister at Dirltoun. - - (Signed) J. MAKGHIE. - ALEX. LEVINGSTOUN, _witness_. - JA. BORTHWICK. - JAMES LAUDER. - JOHN STALKER. - W. DALZELL. - WALTER MARSHALL. - - - - - THE DECLARATION OF JOHN KINCAID. - - - JUNE, 1649. - - The whilk day, in presence of Alex. Levingston of Saltcoattis, James - Borthwick chalmerlain of Dirltoun, John Stalker baillie thairof, - James Foirman in Drem, Mr James Achieson in North-Berwick, and - William Dalzell notar, Patrick Watson in West Fenton, and Menie - Haliburtoun his spous, bruitted and long suspect of witchcraft, _of - thair awin frie will uncompellit_, heiring that I John Kincaid under - subscryvand wes in the toune of Dirltoune, and had some skill and - dexterity in trying of the divillis marke in the personis of such as - wer suspect to be witches, came to the broad hall in the Castell of - Dirltoune, and desyred me the said John Kincaid to use my tryall of - thame as I had done on utheris, whilk when I had done, I found the - divillis marke upon the bak syde of the said Patrik Watsone, a - littill under the point of his left shoulder, and upon the left syde - of the said Menie Halyburtoun hir neck a littill above her left - shoulder, whairof thay wer not sensible, neither cam furth thairof - any bloode after I had tryed the samin as exactlie as ever I did any - uthers. This I testifie to be of veritie upon my credit and - conscience. In witnes quhairof, I have subscryvit thir presentis with - my hand, day and place forsaid, befoir ther witnesses above - specifiet. - - J. K. - - ALEX. LEVINGSTOUN, _witness_. - JA. BORTHWICK, _witness_. - JOHN STALKER, _witness_. - JAMES FORMAN, _witness_. - JA. ACHESONE, _witness_. - W. DALZELL, _witness_. - - - - - THE TRIAL OF WILLIAM COKE AND ALISON DICK, FOR WITCHCRAFT. - - _Extracted from the Minutes of the Kirk-Session of Kirkaldy, A. D. - 1636._ - - - _September 6th, 1633._ - - The which day, compeared Alison Dick, challenged upon some speeches - uttered by her against William Coke, tending to witchcraft,--denied - the samyne. - - 1. Compeared Alexander Savage, Andrew Nicol, and George Tillie, - who being admitted and sworn, deponed as follows: The said - Alexander Savage, that he heard the said Alison Dick say to her - husband William Coke, 'Thou has put down many ships; it had been - gude for the people of Kirkaldie, that they had knit a stone - about thy neck and drowned thee.' - - 2. Andrew Nicol deponed, that he heard the said Alison say to - him, 'Thou has gotten the woman's song laid, as thou promised; - thou art over-long living; it had been gude for the women of - Kirkaldy, that thou had been dead long since. I shall cause all - the world wonder upon thee.' - - 3. George Tillie deponed, that he heard her say to him, 'It had - been gude for the women of Kirkaldy, to put him to death; and - that he had died seven years since.' - - Also compeared Jean Adamson, Kathrine Spens, Marion Meason, Isobel - Murison, Alison Kelloch, who being admitted and sworn, deponed as - follows: - - 4. Jean Adamson deponed, that she heard Alison Dick say to her - husband William Coke, 'Thief! Thief! what is this that I have - been doing? keeping the thretty years from meikle evil doing. - Many pretty men has thou putten down both in ships and boats; - thou has gotten the woman's song laid now. Let honest men puddle - and work as they like, if they please not thee well, they shall - not have meikle to the fore when they die.' - - 5. Kathrine Spens deponed, that she heard her say to him, 'Common - thief, I have hindered thee from many ill turns doing, both to - ships and boats.' - - 6. Marion Meason deponed, that she heard her say, 'Common thief, - mony ill turn have I hindered thee from doing thir thretty - years; mony ships and boats has thou put down; and when I would - have halden the string to have saved one man, thou wald not.' - - 7. Isobel Murison deponed, that she heard her say to him, 'Thief, - thief, I have keeped thee from doing many ill turnes. Thou has - now laid the woman's song.' - - - _September 24th, 1633._ - - 8. Compeared Janet Allan, relict of umquhile John Duncan fisher, - deponed, that Alison Dick came in upon a certain time to her - house, when she was lying in of a bairn, and craved some sour - bakes; and she denying to give her any, the said Alison said, - your bairns shall beg yet, (as they do.) And her husband being - angry at her, reproved her; and she abused him in language; and - when he strak her, she said, that she should cause him rue it; - and she hoped to see the powarts bigg in his hair; and within - half a year he was casten away, and his boat, and perished. - - 9. Janet Sauders, daughter-in-law to the said William Coke and - Alison Dick, deponed, that William Coke came in to her, and she - being weeping, he demanded the cause of it, she answered, it was - for her husband. The said William said, What ails thee? Thou wilt - get thy gudman again, but ye will get him both naked and bare; - and whereas there was no word of him for a long time before, he - came home within two days thereafter, naked and bare as he said; - the ship wherein he was being casten away. - - 4, 10. Jean Adamson deponed, that when her gudman sailed with - David Robertson, the said David having sent him home with a ship - to come for Scotland, there was a long time that there was no - word of that ship; so that David Robertson coming home, and the - other ship not come, nor no word from her, he said he would never - see her. The said Alison Dick came in to her, (she with her - bairns being weeping), and said, What ails ye Jean to weep? She - answered, We have all good cause to weep for my husband, whom we - will never see more. The said Alison said, hold your tongue, your - gudman and all the company are well enough; they are in Norway - loading their ship with timber to come home, they will be here - shortly. And so it fell out in every point as she said. - - 5, 11. Kathrine Spens deponed, that William Coke came in to her, - after that his wife had spoken so much evil to him, and said, - Kathrine, my wife has spoken meikle ill of me this day, but I - said nothing to her again. If I had spoken two words to her the - last time she was in the steeple, she would never have gotten out - of it. - - * * * * * - - Minutes of 24th September, ordains Mr James Miller to ride to - Preston for the man that tries the witches. The expence to be - paid by the Town and Session. - - - _September 8th,_ - - 12. Compeared Isobel Hay, spouse to Alexander Law, against Alison - Dick, who being sworn, deponed, that she having come in to her - house, her husband being newly sailed, she craved some money of - her, which she refused, and boasted her. The said Alison said, It - shall gang wair geats; and that same voyage, her husband had - great loss. And thereafter, the said Alison came in to her house, - she being furth, and took her sister by the hand, and since that - time, the maiden had never been in her right wits. - - 13. William Bervie declared, that Robert Whyt having once - stricken William Coke, Alison Dick his wife, came to the said - Robert, and said, Wherefore have ye stricken my husband? I shall - cause you rue it. The said Robert replying, What sayest thou? I - shall give you as much--you witch. She answered, 'Witches take - the wit and the grace from you;' and that same night, he was - bereft of his wits. - - 14. Janet Whyt, daughter to the said Robert, compearing, affirmed - the said dittay to be true upon her oath. And added, that she - went to the said Alison, and reproved her, laying the wyt of her - father's sickness upon her. Let him pay me then, and he will be - better; but if he pay me not, he will be worse; for there is none - that does me wrong, but I go to my god and complains upon them, - and within 24 hours I will get amends of them. The said Janet - Whyt declared, that Alison Dick said to her servant, Agnes - Fairlie, I have gotten a grip of your gudwife's thigh; I shall - get a grip of her leg next; the said Janet having burnt her thigh - before with lint: and thereafter she has taken such a pain in her - leg, that she can get no remedy for it. Whilk the said Agnes - Fairlie deponed upon her great oath to be true. - - 15. Alison Dick herself declared, that David Paterson, skipper, - having struck William Coke her husband, and drawn him by the - feet, and compelled him to bear his gear aboard, the said William - cursed the said David, and that voyage he was taken by the - Dunkirkers. Also, at another time thereafter, he compelled him to - bear his gear aboard, and a captain's who was with him, and when - the captain would have paid him, the said David would not suffer - him; but he himself gave him what he liked. The said William - cursed the said David very vehemently; and at that time he - himself perished, his ship, and all his company, except two or - three. Also she declared, that when his own son sailed in David - Whyt's ship, and gave not his father his bonnallie,[11] the said - William said, What? Is he sailed, and given me nothing? The devil - be with him; if ever he come home again, he shall come home naked - and bare; and so it fell out. For John Whyt, who had that ship - freighted to Norway, and another wherein himself was, declared, - that they had very foul weather; and the ship wherein the said - young William Coke was, perished; and he saved all the men in the - ship wherein he was himself. And albeit the storm increased two - days before the perishing of the said ship, and six days after, - yet the two hours space in which they were saving the men, it was - so calm in that part of the sea, that they rowed from one ship to - the other with two oars, and the sea was all troublesome about - them. And the said William Coke the younger, was the first man - that came a shipboard. - - [11] His farewell cup. - - * * * * * - - _Paction._--The same day, Alison Dick being demanded by Mr James - Simson, minister, when, and how, she fell in covenant with the - devil? She answered, her husband mony times urged her, and she - yielded only two or three years since. The manner was thus--He - gave her, soul and body, quick and quidder full to the devil, and - bade her do so. But she in her heart said, God guide me. And then - she said to him, I shall do any thing that ye bid me: and so she - gave herself to the devil in the foresaid words.--This she - confessed about four hours at even, freely, without compulsion, - before Mr James Simson, minister, William Tennent, baillie, - Robert French, town-clerk, Mr John Malcolme, schoolmaster, - William Craig, and me, the said Mr James Miller, writer hereof. - - - _October 15th._ - - 16. The which day, compeared Christian Ronaldson, against Alison - Dick, who, in her presence being sworn, deponed, that she having - set an house to the said Alison, and when the gudman came home he - was angry, and said, he would not have the devil to dwell above - him in the closs; and he went and struck up the door, and put - forth the chimney that she put in it. And thereafter, Alison came - to the said Christian, and chopped upon her shoulder, and said to - her, Christie, your gudman is going to sail, and he has ane stock - among his hands, but ere long, his stock shall be as short as - mine. And so it fell out, for he was casten away in David Whyt's - ship, and saved nothing. - - - _October 22d._ - - 17. Compeared Merjory Marshall, against Alison Dick, who being - sworn, deponed, that Alison having brought her gudman's cloaths - once from the Castle-haven,[12] she offered her 12d for her - labour, who would not have it; and she said to her, Alison, there - is not many of them. She answered, they shall be fewer the next - time; and the next voyage he was cast away in David Whyt's ship. - - [12] Probably Ravenscraig Castle, at the east end of Pathhead. - ED. - - 18. Compeared also Kathrine Wilson, who being sworn, deponed, - that she and Janet Whyt being sliding together, Alison Dick came - to them, and asked silver from Janet Whyt, who would give her - none, but fled her company into the said Kathrine's house, and - she followed, and she gave her a piece bread, and Janet Whyt bade - her give her a plack also, and she should pay her again. And when - she got it, she said, Is this all that she gives me? If she had - given me a groat, it would have vantaged her a thousand punds. - This is your doing, evil tidings come upon you. And she went down - the closs, and pissed at their meal-cellar door; and after that, - they had never meal in that cellar, (they being meal makers.) And - thereafter they bought a horse at 40 lib., and the horse never - carried a load to them but two, but died in the _batts, louping - to death_, so that every body said that he was witched. - - - _October 29th._ - - 19. Euphen Boswell being sworn, deponed, that her gudman being to - sail to the East country, loaden with salt, the said Alison Dick - having born some of the salt aboard, she came to her and craved - money from her, who gave her meat, but would give her no money, - saying to her, Alison, my gudman has paid you himself, and - therefore, I will give you nothing. She replied, Will ye give me - nothing? I hope in God it will be better sharp (cheaper) sold nor - it was bought: and so it fell out, for the ship sailed upon the - morn, and the day after that, she sank, salt and all, except the - men, who were saved by another ship that was near by them. - - 20. Thomas Mustard being sworn, deponed, that James Wilson going - once to sail, Alison Dick came to him, and desyred silver from - him, he would give her none; she abused him with language, and he - struck her; she said to him, that that hand should do him little - good that voyage; and within two days after, his hand swelled as - great as a pint-stoup, so that he could get little or nothing - done with it. The next time also when he was to sail, the said - Alison went betwixt him and the boat; and he said, Yon same witch - thief is going betwixt me and the boat, I must have blood of her; - and he went and struck her, and bled her, and she cursed him and - banned him; and that same voyage, he being in Caithness, standing - upon the shore cleithing a tow, and a boy with him, the sea came - and took him away, and he died; and the boy was well enough. - - * * * * * - - Desires Mr Robert Douglas[13] to go to the Archbishop with this - process, to get his approbation thereto, who takes upon him to do - the same. - - [13] Who preached the famous coronation sermon of Charles II. at - Scone, January 1st 1651. - - _Minute of November 19th._--5s. given for a load of coals to - Alison Dick;--14s. for her entertainment this week bygone, being - this day, with her husband William Coke, burnt for witchcraft. - - - _In the minute of 17th December, there is a particular account of the - Town and Session's extraordinary Debursements for William Coke and - Alison Dick, Witches._ - - _In primis._--To Mr James Miller, when - he went to Prestowne for - a man to try them, 47s. L2 7 - - _Item._--To the man of Culross, - (the executioner) when he - went away the first time, - 12s. 0 12 - - _Item._--For coals for the witches, - 24s. 1 4 - - _Item._--In purchasing the commission, 9 3 - - _Item._--For one to go to Finmouth - for the laird to sit upon - their assise as judge, 0 6 - - _Item._--For harden to be jumps to - them, 3 10 - - _Item._--For making of them, 0 8 - - ----- - Summa for the kirk's part L17 1 Scots. - - _The Town's part of Expenses Debursed extraordinarily upon - William Coke and Alison Dick._ - - _In primis._--For ten loads of coals to - burn them, 5 merks, L3 6 8 - - _Item._--For a tar barrel, 14s. 0 14 0 - - _Item._--For towes, 0 6 0 - - _Item._--To him that brought the - executioner, 2 18 0 - - _Item._--To the executioner for - his pains, 8 14 0 - - _Item._--For his expenses here, 0 16 4 - - _Item._--For one to go to Finmouth - for the laird, 0 6 0 - ------- - Summa town's part, L17 1 0 Scots. - Both, 34 11 0 - - - _The following account is a voucher of a payment made by - Alexander Louddon, a factor on the estate of Burncastle, the - proprietor being then a minor and infant. It is entered in the - factor's books thus:_ - - * * * * * - - Mair for Margarit Dunhome the time sche was in prison, and was - put to death, 065: 14: 4. - - * * * * * - - Count gifin out be Alexander Louddon in Lylstoun, in ye yeir of - God 1649 yeiris, for Margrit Dollmoune in Burncastell. - - * * * * * - - Item, in ye first, to Wm. Currie and Andrew Gray for the watching - of hir ye space of 30 days, inde ilk day, xxx sh inde - - xlv lib Scotts - - Item mair to Jon Kinked; for brodding of her[14] - - [14] See his declaration, page 111. - - vi lib Scotts - - Mair for meat and drink and wyne to him and his man - - iiij lib Scotts - - Mair for cloth to hir - - iij lib Scotts - - Mair for twa tare treis - - xl sh Scotts - - Item mair for twa treis, and ye making of them to the warkmen - - iij lib Scotts - - Item to ye hangman in Hadingtoun, and fetchin of him, thrie - dollores for his pens, is - - iiij lib xiiii sh - - Item mair for meit and drink and wyne for his intertinge - - iii lib Scotts - - Item mair fer ane man and twa horss, for ye fetcheing of him, and - taking of him hame agane - - xl sh Scotts - - Mair to hir for meit and drink ilk ane day, iiij sh the space of - xxx dayes, is - - vi lib Scotts - - Item mair to ye twa officers for yr fie ilk day sex shilline - aught pennes, is - - x lib Scotts - - Summa is iiij scoir xii lib xiiij sh - - GHILBERT LAUDER. - - UM. LAUDER BILZAURS. - - - Takin of this above written soume twentie-seaven pundis Scotis - qlk the said umql Margrit Dinham had of her ain. - - 92: 14: -- - 27: --: -- - ---------- - 65: 14: -- - - - - - MINUTES - - AND - - PROCEEDINGS OF THE SESSION - - OF - - TORRYBURN, IN FIFESHIRE, - - CONCERNING - - _WITCHCRAFT_. - - WITH THE - - CONFESSION - - OF - - LILLIAS ADIE. - - - TAKEN FROM THE SESSION RECORDS - - - - - MINUTES, &c. - - _Torry, June 30th, 1704._ - - SEDERUNT, WM. HUTTON, WM. DALGLISH, WM. REID, JOHN MITCHELL, - DAVID CURRY, GEO. TILLOCH, WITH THE MINISTER. - - - The session being called, _pro re nata_, upon a flagrant rumour, that - Jean Bizet, wife to James Tanochie, had been molested by Satan, and - had complained of some particular person of the devil's instruments - in that trouble that she lay under. Whereupon the minister ordered - the officer to cite the said Jean Bizet, also Lilias Adie and Janet - Whyte, whom she was said to complain of; and also to cite Mary - Wilson, who is said to have taken the charm by stroking up her head; - and also, he ordered the officer to cite Tanochie's daughter, with - James Tanochie, James Whyte and his wife, Helen Anderson, and Mary - Nielson, who are said to know something of the circumstances of that - affair. - - _1mo_, Jean Bizet being called, compeared not, upon which the - officer is ordered to cite her to the next. - - _2do_, There being a public report that Janet Whyte should have - threatened James Tanochie's family with a mischief, but - particularly his wife, before this befell; the said Janet was - called, and interrogate, if ever she threatened James Tanochie's - wife, she declares, that she never threatened any such thing, nor - thought so. Moreover, she said, that James his wife would not say - so, otherwise she would lay down her head upon a scaffold. She - said, that she was not at her since she took that distemper, and - saw her not since, but saw her on the Monday before, and her - husband's daughter, and Jean Archibald in Culross; but upon the - morrow the woman was troubled. James White being called, - declared, that Jean Bizet was in a distemper upon Tuesday the - 13th day of June, in Helen Anderson's house, betwixt 9 and 10 at - night, and seemed drunk. - - _3tio_, That she drank not a gill in that house, but before she - came to Helen's house, she was about half an hour in Mary - Wilson's. - - _4to_, She seemed to be strangely distempered, and he heard her - say, Agnes, beware lest Lilias Adie come upon you and your child. - - _2d_, She said to Mary Nielson, Lilias Adie thinks to use me as - she used your sister. - - _3tio_, She complained upon Mary Wilson, but none saw the said - Mary; as she went home, she cryed, _now, now, Jenny, I'll be - felled now, there three blew doublets_, frequently, and wringing - her hands. _Note_--She got a considerable sleep in Helen - Anderson's. - - _5to_, As she went home, he had let her go, and she not only - went freely, but did run violently, without stumbling in the - least, the breadth of Torry Park, and he had difficulty to - overtake her, notwithstanding there was both a dyke and furrows - in the way. - - _6to_, He declared, that he heard that the next day she was no - better. - - _7no_, He declared, that on the Monday before, Janet Whyte said - to him, before James Alexander in Drumfin, that she would make - Jean Bizet forethink what she had done to her in not paying her - two barrels of ale which she sold her, on this purpose she could - not get the maltman payed. - - _3tio_, Helen Anderson being called, declared, that Jean Bizet - was in her house, out of Mary Wilson's, about 5 or 6 at night the - foresaid day, and she seemed to be strangely distempered. _2dly_, - Her eyes raised, and could drink none. _3tio_, Ater she had - sleeped from 6 to near 9, and when she awaked, she cryed, _by God - he is going to take me! by Christ he is going to take me! O Lilly - with her blew doublet! O Mary, Mary Wilson!_ repeating _Christ - keep me!_ Upon which Helen said to her husband, did you ever see - her in this condition? He answered, never in my life, but she is - too much taken up with that company, but let me to her, I shall - ding the devil out of her. For this she appeals to James Tanochie - and his son, She and James Whyte declares both, that they are - clear to depone the same. - - Agnes Henderson, wife to James Whyte, called, compeared, declared, - that she was sent for to James Tanochie's wife the day foresaid, who - was in a great trouble, and never saw her in the like. _2d_, That she - sleept a while, and when she awoke, she cryed, _O God! O Christ! - there is Lily coming to take me, and three blew doublets! O Mary - Wilson keep me, she is coming!_ She adds, that Jean was in Mary - Wilson's before she came to Helen Anderson's, and she said, that she - desired her to go home, for Lilly will take you and the child both. - She heard her say to Mary Wilson, it was not to you that she did - evil, but to your sister, what aileth her at me, I never did her any - ill. And as she went home, she seemed raised, but went and spak very - well, and she went with her, she heard her speak often of Lilly by - the way, that she was coming to take her. And she adds, that as she - came first into the Newmiln, that she looked and spoke as heartsomely - as ever she saw her, and seemed no way disordered; and having carried - one of James Whyte's children from the Newmiln to James's house. And, - on the next day, being Wednesday, she went to see how she was, and - found her complaining of a sore head, and in a sweat, and she seemed - not right; and she says, she is clear to depone what she has - declared. - - Mary Nielson being called in, said, that when Jean Bizet came to her - mistress Helen Anderson her house, she was not within, but she was - within when she awoke out of her sleep. _2d_, She heard her say, _O - God! O Christ Jesus keep me!_ _3tio_, She heard her say, _O keep me! - keep me! there she is coming, Lilly Adie with her blew doublet!_ - _4to_, _O Mary Wilson! O Mary Wilson!_ _5to_, She said, as she went - away out of the house, she did no ill to you, but to your sister. She - is clear to depone all this. - - Jean Bizet being called in, declares, that on the foresaid Tuesday, - she came to the Newmiln in the forenoon, carrying James Whyte's son - on her back from the Craigmiln, and James Whyte was with her. _2d_, - She came first to Helen Anderson her house, and her husband being - upon business, she went to Helen Tilloch her house. _3tio_, She went - to Mary Wilson's house, where Lott Nicol, with Isobel Harlay, were - drinking in the room next to the door, and she went by them to the - room, where Mary Wilson filled a pint of ale and desired her to drink - of it. She took a drink, but did not drink beyond a gill of it; and - Helen Tilloch, and Jean Tilloch, came in and drank the rest, with - many others. _4to_, She could scarcely have been a quarter of an hour - there, and that she returned to Helen Anderson her house immediately. - - Mary Wilson called, said, when Jean Bizet came to her house, she - called for a choppin of ale, and stayed until that was drunk, and - another was filled, and a part of that was drunk. _2d_, There was - none but Helen Tilloch and Jean Bizet, and herself, at the drinking - of that ale. _3tio_, Euphan Nicol came in, and she took a drink of - it. _4to_, She declares, that Jean Tilloch was not within the door - then. _5to_, Robert Nicol and Catharine Mitchell, and Margaret - Nicol, sister to Robert Nicol, were drinking at the fire-side. _6to_, - She declares, that she seemeed no ways disordered with drink, nor any - other way. _7no_, She went up to her on Thursday afternoon, and she - found her lying on her bed, and straked her head, and whether she was - immediately the better of it, or not, she knew not; but she left her - sitting at the fire-side with her child on her knee. - - Jean Bizet says, Jean Tilloch was really there. _2d_, She says it was - Friday afternoon before she settled. - - - _Torryburn, 29th July, 1704.--After Prayer, Sederunt, Minister and - Elders._ - - Lillias Adie being accused of witchcraft by Jean Neilson, who is - dreadfully tormented, the said Lillias was incarcerate by Bailie - Williamson about ten of the night upon the 28th of July. - - Lillias being exhorted to declare the truth, and nothing but truth, - she replied, what I am to say shall be as true as the sun is in the - firmament. - - Being interrogate if she was in compact with the devil, she replied, - I am in compact with the devil, and have been so since before the - second burning of the witches in this place. She further declared, - that the first time she met with the devil was at the Gollet, between - Torryburn and Newmilne, in the harvest, before the sun set, where he - trysted to meet her the day after, which tryst she kept, and the - devil took her to a stook side, and caused her renounce her baptism; - the ceremony he used was, he put one hand on the crown of her head, - and the other on the soles of her feet, with her own consent, and - caused her say all was the devil's betwixt the crown of her head and - the soles of her feet; and there the devil lay with her carnally; and - that his skin was cold, and his colour black and pale, he had a hat - on his head, and his feet was cloven like the feet of a stirk, as she - observed when he went from her. - - The next time she saw him was at a meeting at the Barnrods, to which - she was summoned by Grissel Anderson in Newmilne, about Martinmas, - their number was about twenty or thirty, whereof none are now living - but herself. She adds, it was a moon-light night, and they danced - some time before the devil came on a ponny, with a hat on his head, - and they clapt their hands and cryed, _there our Prince, there our - Prince_, with whom they danced about an hour. - - The next time was at a meeting at the back of Patrick Sands his - house, in Valleyfield, where the devil came with a cap which covered - his ears and neck;--they had no moonlight. Being interrogate if they - had any light, she replied, she got light from darkness, and could - not tell what that light was, but she heard them say it came from - darkness, and went to darkness, and said, it is not so bright as a - candle, the low thereof being blue, yet it gave such a light as they - could discern others faces. There they abode about an hour, and - danced as formerly; she knew none at the meeting but Elspeth - Williamson, whom she saw at the close of the meeting coming down by - the dyke-side; and she said, she was also at another meeting in the - Haugh of Torry, where they were furnished with the former light, and - she saw Elspeth Williamson there also. - - - _July 31st, 1704._--_After Prayer, Sederunt, Minister and Elders._ - - Lillias Adie adhered to her former confession, and added, there were - many meetings she was not witness to, and was at many of which she - could give no particular account; and you will get more news after - this. Being interrogate if she knew any more witches in the place, - she replied, Agnes Currie is a witch, but she is a bold woman, and - will flee upon me if I should delate her. - - Being interrogate if the devil had a sword, she replied, she believed - he durst not use a sword; and called him a villain that promised her - many good things when she engaged with him, but never gave her any - thing but misery and poverty. - - The last meeting ever she was at, was 14 days after the Sacrament, in - the month of August 1701, upon the minister's glebe where the tent - stood, their number was 16 or 18, whereof Agnes Currie was one. She - added, that she made an apology to the meeting, because she could - not wait upon them all the time, being obliged to go to - Borrowstouness that morning's tide. She added, that she heard Jean - Neilson was possessed with a devil, and troubled with a fit of - distemper, but declared she never wronged her, though the devil may - do it in her likeness. - - Elspeth Williamson being called, came into the prison where the - session sate, and being interrogate if Lillias Adie had any envy at - her, she answered, she knew no envy she had at her. Lillias being - interrogate if Elspeth Williamson was guilty of witchcraft, she - replied, she is as guilty as I am, and my guilt is as sure as God is - in heaven. - - The next time she saw the devil was about half a year ago, as she - went to Culross, she saw him at the west end of the coal-fold. - - Upon the affair of Janet Whyte, James Alexander being called, - compeared, and declared that he never heard Janet Whyte threaten Jean - Bizet in the least. - - James White called, declared _ut ante_, but adds, that upon Friday - was eight days, the 21st of July, he heard a great screeching when he - was in the Craigmilne upon the bleaching green, beneath the said - milne, and heard a second screech much greater, and clapping of hands - and laughing, about twelve of the night, in the green on the other - side of the burn; and it was observed by the bleachers to be all - pastered, though there was no cloth at the burn, nor bleachers that - night. Also, on the second of August 1704, Lillias declared before - witnesses, that Grissel Anderson invited her to her house on that - Lammas day, the morning just before the last burning of the witches. - Grissel desired her to come and speak with a man there; accordingly - she went in there about day-break, where there was a number of - witches, some laughing, some standing, others sitting, but she came - immediately away, being to go to Lammas fair; and several of them - were taken shortly after, and Grissel Anderson among the rest, who - was burnt, and some of them taken that very week. She adds, that - Euphan Stirt warned her to the meeting at the Barnrod; and the said - Euphan was burnt afterward, though she had been no longer a witch - than a month before her death. She added, that she knew few of them - that were at those meetings, especially the young sort, because they - were masked like gentlewomen; and if Agnes Currie's heart would fall, - she could tell as much as any, being in the midst of the meeting, - where she saw her face by the blue low near Patrick Sands. - - - _At Torryburn, August 19th, 1704.--After Prayer, Sederunt, &c. - Minister and Elders._ - - Elspeth Williamson declared, that shortly after the last communion, - there came a woman to her door, and bade her go east the way, whom - she followed the length of the church-yard, and leaned upon the dyke, - and saw a bouroch of women, some with black heads, were sitting - where the tent stood. The woman that called her, went straight to the - meeting, and fell down upon her knees, whereat she wondered, and - hearkened if there was any reading or singing of psalms among them, - and when she heard none, she thought she was in the wrong place, and - did not think the woman would have taken her to the devil's meeting. - She thought the woman was Mary Wilson, but is not certain; and about - ten at night, some time after, a young lass came to her door, and - desired her to go westward a little, whom she followed, but knew not - the lass, she went so fast west the town before her, and was got the - length of the Gollet or she came to the west end of the town; and - when she was come west near the Gollet, she saw a meeting of women - and some men, and she stood at a little distance from them, and saw - them go through other for the space of near an hour, and removed - insensibly eastward from her, upon which she stole away. - - Lillias Adie confessed, that after she entered into compact with - Satan, he appeared to her some hundred of times, and that the devil - himself summoned her to that meeting which was on the glebe, he - coming into her house like a shadow, and went away like a shadow; and - added, that she saw Elspeth Williamson and Agnes Currie both there, - only Agnes was nearer the meeting than Elspeth, who was leaning on - the church-yard dike with her elbow. She added, that the devil bade - her attend many meetings that she could not attend, for age and - sickness; and though he appeared not to her when there was company - with her, yet he appeared to her like a shadow, so that none could - see him but herself. At another time, she said, that when she - renounced her baptism, the devil first spoke the words, and she - repeated them after him, and that as he went away she did not hear - his feet on the stubble. - - - _August 20th 1704.--After Prayer, Sederunt, Minister and Elders._ - - It is to be minded, that Lillias Adie appeared before the - congregation on the Lord's day, and being called up by the minister - and asked if she was guilty of witchcraft, she confessed freely that - she was, and had entered expressly into covenant with Satan, and - renounced her baptism, the devil putting one hand on the crown of her - head, and the other under the soles of her feet, and she gave over - all to the devil that was betwixt his two hands, and she was come - hither to confess her sins, and to get her renounced baptism back - again. She also desired all that had power with God to pray for her; - to this the minister and elders, and whole congregation, were - witnesses. - - It being reported, that Agnes Currie should have delated Bessie - Callander and Mary Wilson, guilty of witchcraft; Agnes being called, - compeared and declared, that Robert Currie told her Elspeth - Williamson told him that Bessie Callander and Mary Wilson, were - witches. - - George Stewart, solemnly sworn, purged of malice and partial counsel, - aged 27 years, married, deponed, that Agnes Currie said to him, I'll - tell you, but you must not let any of your folk know of it; he - replied, I believe in Christ, I hope the devil hath no power over me. - Ha, ha, said she, the devil hath done wrong to many, and he may wrong - your friends or goods. Elspeth Williamson told Robert Currie, and - Robert Currie told me, that Bessie Callander and Mary Wilson, are - guilty of witchcraft. And this is truth, as he shall answer.--_Causa - scientia._ - - _Sic subscribitur_, G. S. - - - James Paton, solemnly sworn, purged of malice and partial counsel, - aged between 22 and 23 years, depones, he was not requiring any thing - of her by way of confession of persons names to which she assented in - the mean time, but Agnes Currie said to him, there are two witches in - Newmilne, and one of them is at the Bridgend; upon which I replied, - you must tell me, for I have a sister there. Agnes replied, her name - begins with a B, George Marshall replied, is that our Bessie, she - answered, you are right enough, it's Bessie Callander. As to the - other person, she would not tell her name at first, but said, she is - be-east your house, but after owned the person to be Mary Wilson, but - desired him not to divulge it to your mother or sister, least these - persons do you ill. This is the truth, as he shall answer.--_Causa - scientia._ - - _Sic subscribitur_, JA. PATON. - - George Marshall, sworn, purged, &c. _ut supra_, aged 39 years, - married, declared, _ut supra_, and added, that she said, ye are - husbandmen, devulge it not, least your beasts get wrang; and said to - Alexander Drysdale, you go to sea, you have need to take head; and - she said, the other lived be-east James Paton's house, but he going - away, heard not her name. And this is the truth, as he shall answer. - _Causa scientia._ - - _Sic subscribitur_, G. M. - - - Agnes Currie assented to this in session; and that Robert Currie told - her, that Elspeth Williamson told him these things; and that Mary - Carmichael in Linlithgow, is a witch. - - Robert Currie called, compeared, and declared that Elspeth Williamson - delated to him Bessie Callander, Mary Wilson, and Mary Carmichael, as - witches, which the said Elspeth referred to the probation of the - witch. - - The foresaid day, Lillias Adie said to the minister, that the devil - was angry that she went to church, and said, that she might do as - well at home. Being interrogate if he was angry like, she said, that - he never looked pleasant like.--And closed with prayer. - - _August 29th, 1704._ - - - Lillias Adie declared, some hours before her death, in audience of - the minister, precentor, George Pringle, and John Paterson, that what - she had said of Elspeth Williamson and Agnes Currie, was as true as - the Gospel; and added, it is as true as the sun shines on that floor, - and dim as my eyes are, I see that. - - It being reported that William Wilson knew something of Agnes Currie - that was witchcraft, as also Janet Glass, they were called, and the - said William declared, that about 24 years ago, Helen Johnston having - overlaid her child the night after it was baptized, and the next day - he was lamenting the woman's case, Agnes Currie said to him, if I had - been her cummer, I could have advised her to take heed to her child; - and also, that the said William was desired some time ago to bring - some _slyk_[15] to a house that belonged to Agnes, and he answered, - that his mare was in the yoke all day and could not; Agnes said she - could not help it, and that same day his mare died in a stank. - - [15] Thin clay or mud. - - Janet Glass declared, that she came once into Agnes Currie's house, - having something to do with Agnes, who in the time was baking bread, - and broke three several bannocks, lying in three several places, and - gave it to the said Janet, and she with eating the same fell in a - fever. - - - _Torryburn, 3d of September, 1704.--After Prayer, Sederunt, - Minister and Elders, except Robert Baxter, John Weir and John - Wardlaw._ - - Agnes Currie being called, compeared, and confronted with Janet - Glass; Janet declared, that about twelve years ago, she brought her - cloth to her house, and Agnes was baking bread, and she broke three - several bannocks that were in three several places, and gave her a - piece of every bannock, and immediately she took the fever; and she - adds, that she gave her a little piece of every bannock, and it was - all one sort of bread. Janet declares that she is ready to swear it; - also adds, Helen Lawson was so used. - - Helen Lawson being called, declared, that a long time ago, Agnes - Currie broke three several bannocks, and gave her a piece of every - one, but she would not take the third piece; and adds, that she is - ready to swear it. - - Elspeth Williamson being brought in, and interrogate if she was a - witch, she answered, that she would not deny that. - - N. B.--Lillias Adie was buried within the seamark at Torryburn.[16] - - [16] Her grave is still to be seen at the west end of the town, - marked with a large stone.--ED. - - * * * * * - - William Cose being called, compeared, and owned, that on Sabbath - morning, anno 1704, it being moon-light, he saw Bessie Micklejohn, or - the devil in her stead, in James Chalmers's bark, then lying in - Leith, and he doubts not but she saw him; and adds, that she had a - green plaid about her head, as he offered to depone. The session - considering that the devil appeared in her likeness, it was no proof - against her, they judged it not necessary to regard that matter, and - thought William Cose should not be troubled, it appearing he had not - spoken it from malice, nor accused her of witchcraft formerly. - - _March 30th, 1709._ - - Margaret Humble called, declared, that Helen Key said, that when she - heard Mr Logan[17] speak against the witches, she thought that he was - daft, and she had up her stool to go out of the kirk: Also declared, - that Helen Key threatened to strike Mary Neilson. - - [17] The Reverend Allan Logan, the minister, is still famous all over - the country for his skill in discovering witches; and used, when - administering the Sacrament, to say, "You witch wife get up from the - table of the Lord," when some unhappy old woman would have risen, - imagining she was pointed at, and it was well if it did not - afterwards cost her her life. _Daft_ or not, he was certainly a most - wretched fanatic of the worst description.--ED. - - Jean Pearson declared, that she heard Helen Key say, that she would - strike Mary Neilson. The said Helen Key confessed what all the - witnesses declared. - - As to the affair of Helen Key, Mary Neilson called, declared, that - she heard Helen Key say, that she thought Mr Logan was not wise when - he was speaking against the witches; and she had one unseemly - expression that is not decent to be put on the records; and when - Margaret Humble rebuked her, she answered, it was not Margaret - Humble's part to speak in Mr Logan's favours, but she would not - express what Mr. Logan said of Margaret Humble to her. - - The session having found her convicted of prophane irreverent - language against the minister and his doctrine, without any shadow of - provocation, and of gross lying and prevaricating, both in private - and before the session, and of threatening to strike a person because - she had reported her impudent, Godless, and scandalous - language,--therefore, they appoint her to sit before the congregation - the next Lord's day, and to be rebuked after the afternoon's sermon. - - - THE END. - - - - - [Greek: DETTEROSKOPIA]; - - OR A - - BRIEF DISCOURSE - - CONCERNING THE - - SECOND SIGHT; - - _COMMONLY SO CALLED._ - - By the Reverend Mr John Frazer, Deceased, - late Minister of Teree and Coll, and Dean - of the Isles; - - AND - - _Published by Mr ANDREW SYMSON, with a Short - Account of the Author._ - - EDINBURGH: - - Printed by Mr ANDREW SYMSON, Anno Domini - MDCCVII. - - - - - TO THE - - RIGHT HONOURABLE, - - _Universally Learned, and my very Singular Good - Lord GEORGE, Earl of Cromartie, Viscount - of Tarbat, Lord Macleod and Castlehaven, - &c. Lord Justice General of the Kingdom - of Scotland, and one of her - Majesty's most Honourable - Privy Council_, - - This following Discourse, entituled [Greek: Dateroskopia], &c. written - by the Reverend Mr John Frazer, late Minister of Teree and Coll, and - Dean of the Isles, is, with all due respect and reverence, dedicated - by the printer and publisher hereof, his - - Lordship's most humble - And obedient servant in all duty, - ANDREW SYMSON. - - - - - THE - - PUBLISHER TO THE READER. - - - The Reverend author of the ensuing Discourse having married my near - kinswoman, and being in this city in November 1700, in order to the - settling of some of his affairs. As we were discoursing of several - things relating to the Highlands and Western Isles of Scotland, we - came to speak of the Second Sight, reported to be so common in these - parts; he told me, that as to the thing itself, it was most certain - and undeniable, and that he could give many instances of it; as also, - that he had written a short Discourse upon that subject. This he - promised to transmit to me; accordingly, on his return home, after a - tedious and troublesome voyage, both by sea and land, he sent me that - Discourse, written with his own hand, desiring me to publish the same - after some of his friends here had perused it: which being done, I, - at my own conveniency, put it to the press, but before it was - finished, I received an account that the author was dead, whereupon I - forbore the publishing of it, till I should get an account of several - passages concerning himself and family, designing to prefix the same - to the Discourse itself, which I conceived would be acceptable to - his friends, and not displeasing to the reader. And therefore I - dispatched a letter to one of his nearest relations, and that was - best acquainted with him, and with the passages of his life, that so - I might thereby be the better informed. In answer whereunto, I - received a paper containing several memoirs, from which I have - collected the following account. - - Mr John Frazer, the author of this Discourse, was born in the Isle of - Mull, in the year of our Lord one thousand six hundred and - forty-seven. - - His father, Mr Ferchard Frazer, was born in the north of Scotland, - near Stratharig, about the year 1606, and lineally descended of the - family of my Lord Lovat, but mediately of the family of Tober, one of - the Lairds of the name of Frazer. - - After he had taken his degrees at the University, and applied himself - to the study of Divinity, he was called by the bishop of the isles - (there being then few learned men able to preach in the Irish tongue) - to be minister of the Isles of Teree and Coll, (to which charge the - deanry of the Isles was annext.) He was the first master of arts that - preached constantly there as minister of the parish, there being then - there one Ewen M'Lean, who was appointed to catechise and convene the - people, there being few or none, as said is, able to serve the cure; - but being there, he was very diligent in his ministerial function in - teaching and instructing them, leaving them far better than he found - them; for at his first coming, there were but three heritable - gentlemen of the name of M'Lean that could subscribe their own - names, the time Mr Ferchard Frazer served as minister of the Isles of - Teree and Coll, which were conjoined in one parish, may be collected - from his epitaph, written by his son, our author, which is-- - - Epitaphium Magistri Ferchardi Frazer Decani Insularum; qui obiit 14 - die Februarii Anno Domini 1680. Aetatis 74. - - Pervigil et blandus; mitis, gravis atq. benignus; - - Doctus et Eloquii deterritate fluens: - - Pavicoves Christi pandens mysteria verbi; - - Exemplum vitae praebuit ipse gregi. - - Luxfuerat populi lustris bis quinq. peractis, - - Sacradocens, sancto munere functus obit. - - Hic requiem tumulo corpus capit, inde regressus - - Spiritus ad Dominum, qui dedit ante, volat. - - Mr Johannes Frazerus, decanus insularum. - - His mother's name was Janet M'Lean, daughter to Lauchlan M'Lean of - Coll, an ancient family of that name and clan. His father, as he was - careful to instruct others, so he did not neglect his son, our - author, but having fitted him for the University, he sent him to the - College of Glasgow, and committed him to the care of Mr William - Blair, one of the regents there, who advanced him to the degree of - master of arts, between the twenty-fourth and twenty-fifth year of - his age. From thence he went to the Isle of Mull, and was chaplain to - Sir Allan M'Lean of Duart. Thereafter, viz. March 4th 1677, he was - married to Mary Symson, the only surviving daughter of Mr Matthias - Symson, some time minister of Stirling, who died November 1664. Two - or three years before his father's death, (being canonically ordained - presbyter,) he was admitted to his father's charge, in regard his - father, partly by age, and partly by sickness, was rendered very - unfit to serve the cure of these two islands, Teree and Coll, as also - of Icolmkiln, which was also annext to it, and at a greater distance; - however, such was his care and diligence in the work of the ministry, - that, by the blessing of God upon his endeavours, he converted to the - true Protestant faith 24 families in the Isle of Coll, (the laird - himself being then ring-leader), that were deluded by Father O'Donald - and others, his father not being able to oversee his flock, by reason - of his foresaid condition. - - His father dying in the year 1680, he served the cure thereafter, by - constant and diligent preaching, baptizing, marrying, visiting the - sick, and exercising all other duties incumbent on him; but at - length, because his principles would not allow all the demands of the - Synod of Argyle, his charge was declared vacant, and his stipend - taken from him; notwithstanding whereof, there being no minister sent - to oversee these islands, he went about the exercise of his ministry - as formerly, being supplied by the charity and benevolence of his - parishioners, who had an entire kindness for him; but his stipend, as - said is, was taken from him and bestowed some other way. And thus he - continued till about a month before his death, which was on the 25th - day of August 1702, in which he changed this troublesome life for a - better, leaving behind him a desolate poor widow, with several - children, both sons and daughters, as also a sorrowful people, who - were now wholly deprived of a spiritual pastor, and of such a one as - was every way qualified for that charge; for he was not only a good - and learned man, but was master of their language, being born and - bred up in the Isles, understood their humours, conditions, and - manners of life, and being a wise and sagacious person, complaisant, - and of a winning deportment; all which good qualifications he was - endowed with, as all which were acquainted with him, can sufficiently - testify. - - As for the subject of the following Discourse, (commonly called the - Second Sight) though I think it might be more fitly called the First - Sight, (because it for the most part sees things before they are), I - shall not undertake to defend all the notions that he has of it, and - whether they will agree with true philosophy, but shall refer that to - others of a higher reach and deeper understanding than I ever durst - pretend to; but this I will say in his defence, that, considering the - place where it was written, even among the remote Isles, _vervecum in - patria_, where he wanted the converse of learned men, and the benefit - of books, two necessary qualifications for one that writes on such an - abstruse subject; I humbly conceive, that the great clerks of this - age, who have the benefit of books and converse, should not - superciliously undervalue him that wants them. However, although I - shall not pretend to maintain all that he writes, as to the causes, - &c. of this Second Sight, nor do I believe all the stories that I - have heard concerning it, yet the thing itself, or that there is such - a thing as is commonly called the Second Sight, I do firmly believe, - being induced thereto by the relations that I have received from - persons of known integrity, and such as I suppose are wiser than to - be imposed upon, and honester than to impose fables instead of - truths, upon others. Among the relations that I have been told - concerning this subject, I shall only single out one or two, and then - I shall conclude. - - A noble peer of this nation being one morning in his bed-chamber, and - attended by several persons, when his servant had put a new coat upon - his Lord, a gentleman standing by, presently cry'd out, for God's - sake, my Lord, put off that coat; and being asked the reason, he - replied, that he saw a whinger or poinard, stick in the breast of it. - The noble peer esteeming this as a mere fancy, replied, 'this coat is - honestly come by, and I see no reason why I may not wear it.' The - gentleman still entreated, and earnestly craved, that it might be put - off: upon which debate, the noble peer's lady being not far off, came - in, and being informed of the whole affair, intreated her Lord to - comply with the gentleman's desire, which he did; mean time one of - the servants standing by, desired the lady to give it him, and he - would wear it. She granted his request, who put it on, and ere night - he was stabbed by a poniard, in that very place which the gentleman - had pointed to in the morning. This relation I had from a very - ingenuous and understanding gentleman, who was grand-child to the - said noble peer. - - I shall add another strange story, which I had from a reverend - minister of the gospel, and my intimate acquaintance. 'Tis thus--In - the year 1665, Alexander Wood, eldest son to the Laird of Nether - Benholm, in Angus, having ended his prentiship with a merchant in - Edinburgh, told Mr James Walker, that (in the year 1662 or 1663), he - had been employed by his master to go to the Lewis to make up - herring; and being there, and having a good tack of herring, their - salt and casks were all made use of, and then they being idle, he - began to fret that his master had delayed so long to supply them; and - being one day drinking in a country house, and complaining, he went - to the door of the house, and there followed him a country man, who - said to him, If you will give me a small hire, I'll tell you what is - become of the ship you are looking for; and without more ado, he set - his foot upon the gentleman's foot, in which time he saw the ship in - a great storm, ready to perish, and the seamen casting out their - lading to lighten the ship; but when the country man's foot was off - his he saw nothing. The ship at that time was about 100 miles from - them, and about 48 hours thereafter, she came into the same harbour, - and had been in the same condition he saw her in at that time the - country man's foot was on his foot. It would be tedious to add any - more stories that I have had from persons of undoubted veracity; and - therefore, Reader, I shall only subscribe myself - - Your humble servant in all duty, - ANDREW SYMSON. - - - - - A - - SHORT ADVERTISEMENT - - TO THE - - READER. - - - COURTEOUS READER, - - You may be surprised to meet with such an abstruse theme (handled in - specie by few or none), from the pen of a person in my circumstances, - lying at a great distance from the Universities and centre of the - kingdom, and consequently may be justly supposed to want that - ordinary help of books and conference with the learned, that others - may enjoy. - - In the _first_ place, believe that I am so far from affecting vain - singularity, (a hateful vice in the schools as well as the pulpit), - that nothing of that kind moved me to treat of the subject of the - following Discourses. But for my own satisfaction I drew up the - following heads, and did not resolve at the first to expose them to - public view, (justly fearing the censure of presumption); but I was, - by the persuasion of some serious friends, prevailed with to commit - myself to the favourable judgment of the learned, (who might sooner - commend my endeavours than censure my failings), rather than suppress - such a fine subject, which probably might be more fully and largely - treated of by others after the perusal of this Discourse. Take this - pamphlet then in the rude dress that I could give; at least it may - excite thy thoughts, if not to approve of what is here deduced, yet - to propone of thine own a more satisfying method of explaining this - remarkable phenomenon, which is the genuine design and wish of, - - SIR, - Your humble servant, - The AUTHOR. - - - - - [Greek: DETTEROSKOPIA]; - - OR, - - A BRIEF DISCOURSE - - CONCERNING THE - - SECOND SIGHT, - - _Commonly so Called_. - - - Many have undertaken to treat of the nature and operation of Spirits; - as also of the various manners of divination among the Gentiles, (and - but too much used among Christians,) likewise of the perturbation and - deception of the fancy, caused by melancholy; and very many speak in - ordinary discourses of this called the Second Sight, and the - consequences of it, but none that I know handle it _in titulo_. - - That such representations are made to the eyes of men and women, is - to me out of all doubt, and that effects follow answerable thereto, - as little questionable. But I have found so many doubt the matter of - fact; which I take to be the reason that so little has been written - of it, that I think it necessary to say something briefly, that may - put the existency of it beyond all scruple. If I should insert all - the clear instances that I have had of this matter, it would be - tedious and unnecessary, therefore I will content myself, and I hope - will satisfy the reader, with four or five instances, as follows. - - The first instance is by a servant of my own, who had the trust of my - barn, and nightly lay in the same. One day he told me he would not - any longer lie there, because nightly he had seen a dead corps in his - winding sheets straighted beside him, particularly at the south side - of the barn. About an half year thereafter, a young man that had - formerly been my servant, fell dangerously sick, and expecting death, - would needs be carried near my house; and shortly thereafter he died, - and was laid up a night before he was buried in the same individual - barn and place that was foretold; and immediately the servant that - foretold this came to me and minded me of the prediction, which was - clearly out of my mind till he spoke of it. - - The second instance is after this manner. I was resolved to pay a - visit to an English gentleman, Sir William Sacheverill, who had a - commission from the English Court of Admiralty, to give his best - trial to find out gold or money, or any other thing of note, in one - of the ships of the Spanish armada, that was blown up in the bay of - Topper-Mory, in the Sound of Mull. And having condescended upon the - number of men that were to go with me, one of the number was a - handsome boy that waited upon my own person; and, about an hour - before I made sail, a woman, that was also one of my own servants, - spoke to one of the seamen, and bade him dissuade me to take that boy - along with me, or if I did, I should not bring him back alive; the - seaman answered, he had not confidence to tell me such unwarrantable - trifles. I took my voyage, and sailed the length of Topper-Mory; and - having stayed two or three nights with that liberal and ingenuous - gentleman, who himself had collected many observations of the Second - Sight in the Isle of Man, and compared his notes and mine together, I - then took leave of him. In the mean time, my boy grew sick of a - vehement bloody flux,--the winds turn'd cross, that I could neither - sail nor row,--the boy died with me the eleventh night from his - decumbiture,--the next morning the wind made fair, and the seaman to - whom the matter was foretold, related the whole story when he saw it - verified. I carried the boy's corps aboard with me, and after my - arrival, and his burial, I called suddenly for the woman, and asked - at her what warrant she had to foretell the boy's death; she said, - that she had no other warrant but that she saw, two days before I - took my voyage, the boy walking with me in the fields, sewed up in - his winding sheets from top to toe, and that she had never seen this - in others, but she found that they shortly thereafter died; and - therefore concluded that he would die too, and that shortly. - - The third instance was thus. Duncan Campbell, brother-german to - Archibald Campbell of Invera, a gentleman of singular piety and - considerable knowledge, especially in Divinity, told me a strange - thing of himself. That he was at a time in Kintyre, having then some - employment there, and one morning walking in the fields, he saw a - dozen of men carrying a bier, and knew them all but one, and when he - looked again, all was vanished. The very next day, the same company - came the same way, carrying a bier, and he going to meet them, found - that they were but eleven in number, and that himself was the - twelfth, though he did not notice it before; and it is to be - observed, that this gentleman never saw any thing of this kind before - or after, till his dying day. Moreover, that he was of such solid - judgment and devote conversation, that his report deserves an - unquestionable credit. - - The fourth instance I had, to my great grief, from one John M'Donald, - a servant of Lauchlan M'Lean of Coll, who was then newly returned - from Holland, having the charge of a captain. This gentleman came one - afternoon abroad to his past-time in the fields, and this John - M'Donald meets him, and saw his clothes shining like the skins of - fishes, and his periwig all wet, though indeed the day was very fair; - whereupon he told privately, even then, to one of Coll's gentlemen, - that he feared he should be drowned. This gentleman was Charles - M'Lean, who gave me account of it. The event followed about a year - thereafter, for the Laird of Coll was drowned in the water of Lochy - in Lochaber. I examined both Charles M'Lean and John M'Donald, and - found, that the prediction was as he told me; and the said M'Donald - could produce no other warrant, than that he found such signs - frequently before to forgo the like events. This man indeed was known - to have many visions of this kind, but he was none of the strictest - life. - - The fifth instance is strange, and yet of certain truth, and known to - the whole inhabitants of the Island of Eigg, lying in the latitude of - 56 degrees 20 minutes; and longitude 14 degrees. There was a tenant - in this island, a native, that was a follower of the Captain of - Clanrannold, that lived in a town called Kildonan, the year of God - eighty-five, who told publicly to the whole inhabitants, upon the - Lord's day, after divine service, performed by Father O'Rain, then - priest of that place, that they should all flit out of that Isle, and - plant themselves some where else; because that people of strange and - different habits, and arms, were to come to the Isle, and to use all - acts of hostility, as killing, burning, tirling, and deforcing of - women; finally, to discharge all that the hands of an enemy could do; - but what they were, or whence they came, he could not tell. At the - first there was no regard had to his words; but frequently - thereafter, he begged of them to notice what he said, otherwise they - should repent it, when they could not help it; which took such an - impression upon some of his near acquaintance, as that severals of - them transported themselves and their families, even then; some to - the Isle of Cannay, some to the Isle of Rum. Fourteen days before the - enemy came thither, under the command of one Major Ferguson and - Captain Pottinger, whilst there was no word of their coming, or any - fear of them conceived. In the month of June 1689, this man fell - sick, and Father O'Rain came to see him, in order to give him the - benefit of absolution and extreme unction, attended with several - inhabitants of the Isle, who, in the first place, narrowly questioned - him before his friends, and begged of him to recant his former folly - and his vain prediction; to whom he answered, that they should find - very shortly the truth of what he had spoken, and so he died. And - within 14 or 15 days thereafter, I was eye witness (being then - prisoner with Captain Pottinger), to the truth of what he did - foretel; and being before-hand well instructed of all that he said, I - did admire to see it particularly verified, especially that of the - different habits and arms, some being clad with red coats, some with - white coats and grenadier caps, some armed with sword and pike, and - some with sword and musket. Though I could give many more proofs, as - unquestionable as these, yet I think what is said, is sufficient to - prove the being of such a thing as the same in hand; and I cannot but - wonder, that men of knowledge and experience should be so shy to - believe that there may be visions of this kind administered by good - or bad angels; there being nothing more certain, than that good - angels suggested visions to the prophets of the Lord, before the - coming of Christ in the flesh, and particularly to the apostle St - John, after the ascension of our Lord; likewise that evil angels - presented visions, as well as audible voices, to the 450 false - prophets of Ahab; the 400 prophets of the Groves, is as little to be - doubted; it being as easy, if not easier, to work upon the sight, as - well as upon the hearing. We know but too well, that necromancers and - magicians themselves, have not only seen the shapes and forms of - things, but likewise have allowed others to see the same, who had no - skill of their art. A precedent for which, is the Witch of Endor. - - I remember, about 23 years ago, there was an old woman in my parish, - in the Isle of Teree, whom I heard was accustomed to give responses, - and likewise averred, that she had died and been in heaven, but - allowed to come back again. And because she could not come to church, - I was at the pains to give her a visit, attended with two or three of - the most intelligent of my parish. I questioned her first whether she - said she was in heaven; and she freely confessed she was, and that - she had seen Jesus Christ, but not God the Father, or the Holy Ghost; - that she was kindly entertained with meat and drink, and that she had - seen her daughter there, who died about a year before;--that her - daughter told her, though she was allowed to go there, that she - behooved to come back and serve out her prentiship on earth, but - would shortly be called for, and remain there for ever. She could - very hardly be put out of this opinion, till I enquired more narrowly - of her children, if she fell at any time in a syncope; which they - told me she did, and continued for a whole night, so that they - thought that she was truly dead; and this is the time she alleged she - was in heaven. The devil took an advantage in the ecstasy to present - to her fancy a map of heaven, as if it had been a rich earthly - kingdom, abounding with meat, drink, gold, and silver. By the - blessing of God, I prevailed with her to be persuaded that this was - but a vision presented to her fancy by the devil, the father of lies; - and that she might deprehend the falsehood of it from this one head, - that she imagined her body was there, as well as her soul, and that - she did eat and drink, and was warmed, while, as her own children, - and the neighbours that watched her, did see, and did handle her body - several times that night, so that it could not be with her in heaven. - I did further examine her what warrant she had for the responses she - gave, which were found very often true, even in future contingent - events. She freely confessed, that her father upon his death-bed, - taught her a charm, compiled of barbarous words, and some - unintelligible terms, which had the virtue, when repeated, to - present, some few hours after the proposition of a question, the - answer of the same in live images before her eyes, or upon the wall; - but the images were not tractable, which she found by putting too her - hand, but could find nothing. I do not think fit to insert the charm, - knowing that severals might be inclined to make an unwarrantable - trial of it. This poor woman was got reclaimed, and was taught fully - the danger and vanity of her practice, and died peaceably about a - year after, in extreme old age. - - I know assuredly, that Janet Douglas, that was first a dumbie, yet - spoke thereafter, who had given many responses by signs and words, - and foretold many future events, being examined by Mr Gray, one of - the ministers of the city of Glasgow, denied any explicitor implicit - paction, and declared freely, that the answers of the questions - proponed to her were represented by a vision in lively images, - representing the persons concerned, and acting the thing, before her - eyes. This Mr Gray exchanged several discourses in write with Sir - James Turner, concerning her. - - By this time, you may see that this theme deserves the consideration - of the learned: _First_, to enquire how much of this may come from a - natural constitution and temperament, when confounded with a flatuous - or melancholic distemper; and what influence an external agent, - namely, an angel, good or bad, may have upon the organ of the eye and - the fancy, and how far the medium between the organ of the eye and an - object visible, may be disposed for their purpose, namely, the air - and light; and what connexion may be found betwixt the - representations made to the eye or fancy, and the future contingent - events that experience teaches do follow thereupon: as for example, a - man is seen bleeding, or sewed up in his winding sheets, who is - shortly to be wounded, or assuredly to die. - - As for the first, all the learned physicians of the world know too - well by experience what great labour they have to cure the deceptions - of the fancy, especially in hypochondriac diseases; nay, patients - cannot be persuaded but they see men, women, fowls, and four-footed - beasts, walking abroad or in their chambers. Seldom it is, that a man - passes any great and turbulent fever, without the trouble of some - such representations. It is memorable, that a gentleman, that had - been a great proficient in physic himself, imagined at length that - there was a quick frog in his belly; and after he had travelled over - a good part of Italy, and consulted with the doctors of Padua, yet - could not be cured, or dissuaded. He came at length to the learned - physician Platerus, in Bazil, who told him, that a frog by certain - experience is known not to live above three years, so that his - distemper continuing longer than three years, could not be caused by - the frog, that could not live so long. Moreover, that his stomach - would strangle the frog, and that the frog could not live any - considerable time out of its own element, the water; so that the - properest and most specific medicines being made use of, it were a - shame for him to be so obstinate. At last he was persuaded, and his - fancy satisfied. This story is no less renowned of what befell - Andreas Osiander, a man learned in most languages. When he was a - young man, and being troubled with a quartan ague, a little before - the fit he could not be persuaded that he was in the house at all, - but that he was in a wood, and much molested with wild beasts and - serpents of all kinds; neither could he be prevailed with that this - was false, till Facius Cardanus was called for to him, who cured him - for the time, so that he knew his friends that were sitting beside - him, and the chamber to be his own chamber; but after Facius had left - him, he was troubled with the same opinion and distemper, even till - the ague had quiet him. I have myself seen a neighbour of my own, and - my parishioner too, John M'Phale, that lived to the age of fourscore - years, a man that was truly very sagacious by nature; and though his - sight was much decayed, the seat of his judgment was nothing touched; - and as he grew weaker, merely by old age, without any remarkable - distemper, I made frequent visits to him. One day as I was coming - away from him, he told me he had something of consequence to ask at - me, and desired all to remove except his wife and another gentleman, - that was a friend of his. This done, Sir, says he, I desire to know - by what warrant or commission so many of my friends, that are dead - long ago, are allowed to come and discourse with me, and drink before - me, and yet are not so civil as give me a tasting of it? I told him, - that it was only the trouble of his fancy, and his frequent thinking - of the world to come and his friends that were gone before him; and - he replied to me very smartly, Sir, says he, I perceive it is the - work of the fancy, for since I cannot see yourself, (for only by your - voice I know you) how could I see them? It was strange that he saw - them the very mean time that others were in the house with him, and - asked several questions at them, but got no answer. And, for all - this, the seat of his wit was as entire as ever: moreover, this - trouble left him a little before he died. - - Many such illusions are reported of eremites, caused merely by the - confusion of the brains, bred by their fasting and unwholesome food, - which I shall not trouble the reader with. - - If you will ask how cometh this to pass, take notice of the following - method, which I humbly offer to your consideration. Advert, in the - _first_ place, that visible ideas, or species, are emitted from every - visible object to the organ of the eye; representing the figure and - colour of the object, and bearing along with it the proportion of the - distance, for sure the objects enter not the eye, nor the interjacent - distant tract of ground; and a third thing different from the eye and - the object, and the distant ground, must inform the eye. These - species are conveyed to the brain by the optic nerve, and are laid up - in the magazine of the memory, otherwise we should not remember the - object any longer than it is in our presence; and a remembering of - these objects is nothing else but the fancies reviewing, or more - properly the soul of man, by the fancy reviewing of these intentional - species formerly received from the visible object unto the organ of - the eye, and reconducted unto the seat of the memory. Now, when the - brain is in a serene temper, these species are in their integrity, - and keep their rank and file as they were received; but when the - brain is filled with gross and flatuous vapours, and the spirits and - humour enraged, these ideas are sometimes multiplied as an army, by - mist; sometimes magnified, sometimes misplaced, sometimes confounded - by other species of different objects, perhaps by half and half, so - that the fancy has two for one, one bigger than two of itself, and - sometimes the half of one and the half of another, represented in - one; and this deception is not only incident to the fancy, but even - to the external senses, particularly the seeing and hearing; for the - visus, or seeing, is nothing else but the transition of the - intentional species through the crystalline humour to the retiform - coat of the eye, and judged by the common sense, and conveyed by the - optic nerve to the fancy. - - Of this we have a clear demonstration from the representation of - external objects through a crystal in glass, upon any lucid, smooth, - and solid reflectant, placed before the glass in a dark chamber, - which is one of the noblest experiments in the whole optics. - - Now, if these species formerly received and laid up in the brain, - will be reversed back from the same to the retiform coat and - crystalline humour as formerly, these is in effect a lively seeing - and perception of the object represented by these species, as if, _de - novo_, the object had been placed before the eye; for the organ of - the eye had no more of it before, than now it has; just so with the - hearing, it is nothing else but the receiving of the audible species - to that part of the ear that is accommodated for hearing, so that - when the species are retracted from the brain to their proper organs, - for example, the ear and the eye, hearing and seeing are perfected, - as if the objects had been present to influence the organs _de novo_. - And it is not to be thought that this is a singular opinion, for - Cardanus, an eminent author of great and universal learning and - experience, maintains this reversion of the species, and attributes - his own vision of trees, wild beasts, men, cities, and instructed - battles, musical and martial instruments, from the fourth to the - seventh year of his age, to the species of the objects he had seen - formerly, now retracted to the organ of the eye, and cites Averroes, - an author of greater renown for the same opinion. _See Cardanus de - subtilitate rerum pagina trecentesima prima._ - - And it seems truly to be founded upon relevant grounds. I have - observed a sick person, that complained of great pain and molestation - in his head, and particularly of piping and sweating in his ears, - which seems to have been caused by the species of piping and singing - which he had formerly heard, but were now, through the plethory of - his head, forced out of the brain to the organ of the ear, through - the same nerves by which they were received formerly; and why may not - the same befall the visible species as well as the audible? which - seems to be confirmed by the optic experiment. Take a sheet of - painted paper and fix it in your window, looking steadfastly to it - for a considerable time, for example, some few minutes, then close - your eyes very strait, and place a sheet of clean paper before your - eyes, and open your eyes suddenly, you will see the painting almost - as lively as they were in the painted sheet with the lively colours. - This compression of the eyes by consent, causes a compression of the - whole brain, which forces back the visible species of the painted - sheet to the organ of the eye, through the optic nerve, which will - presently vanish, if the reflectant did not help to preserve them. - You may see then how much of these representations may be within - ourselves, abstracting from any external agent or object without the - eye, to influence the same. - - The second thing that comes under consideration is, the influence and - operation of external agents, namely, an angel, good or bad. It is - not to be denied, but good angels may help and dispose all our - faculties, excite, elevate, and set them upon edge and action; - likewise, that evil angels may perturb, confound, and hurt, our - external and internal senses, (when permitted) particularly by - stirring the spirits, humours, and vapours, which of themselves, when - so stirred, help to make many shapes and representations, either - regular or irregular, (as has been formerly observed) and withal, - they can colorate external objects far beyond any painter, insensibly - to the beholder, _repente applicando activa passivis_; and that they - can alter the medium interposed between our senses and the objects, - by making it grosser or thinner, opaque or lucid, is a thing not to - be questioned. For a clear proof of this I hope any rational man will - allow me. - - That even the evil angels, who were created in a degree above us, - must have a more penetrating wit than ours is, and having experienced - from their creation, to this very day, and can be present to every - experiment found out, or that is committed to writing by the art of - man; and withal, being not subject to oblivion as man is, (for they - have no material faculty to be obliterated), I say any rational man - will allow me, that they can do as much, and beyond what the art of - man is able to do; but so it is, that painters can make one object - more pleasant than another, distorted and worse favoured than - another,--that any smoke may engross the air,--that a cloud removed - on or off the face of the sun, give way to the beams of it to - illuminate the air, or to eclipse its light,--that vapours and - exhalations, from sea and land, multiply and magnify objects, - misshapes and distorts them, and makes them of diverse figures, all - in an instant, which is observable in hot summer days, especially in - the end of the canicular days, for you may readily see about three or - four in the afternoon, the same hills (providing they are situated at - a considerable distance from you) to be of diverse shapes, forms, and - figures, changing very suddenly from one shape to another, for - example, from a globe to a pyramid, from a pyramid to a quadrangular - figure, &c. All which our ordinary multiplying, magnifying, and - distorting glasses, produce. Moreover, that physicians can administer - such medicines as may provoke a man to madness and rage, yea, to - fantastic or hypochondriac fits; so also medicines that move pleasant - and unpleasant dreams, by exciting the melancholic or sanguine - humours, raging or peaceable dreams, by moving the choleric or - phlegmatic humour. - - How much more can the prince of the air do, and his retinue, who is - better seen in the nature of the elements and their compounds; who - is better seen in the nature of trees, plants, minerals, stones, the - secret qualities of springs and fountains, rivers and lochs, and the - influence of celestial bodies, &c. and who is better seen in the - constitution of every man, his customs and inclinations, and his - present state and bygone circumstances; I say, in all these, he is - better seen than any man, and can accommodate them to his purpose - beyond the greatest virtuoses. - - Let us therefore consider, that an evil angel being permitted - thereunto, can muster in our brain the latent intentional species of - external absent objects, and can present the same to the fancy in the - methods best fitting his purpose, and not only so in time of our - sleep, (for then indeed the fancy sticks with more tenacity to what - it apprehends), but also when we are not sleeping, he can deduce - these species by forcing them out of the rooms or cells of the brain, - to the organ of the eye and ear, and so of necessity a man either - sitting or going in the high-way, will hear and see such things as - these species do represent; and seeing that naturally it may be done, - as would appear from what is above spoken from the strength and force - of medicines to operate upon the spirits and humours of man to work - strange things, why may not a good or bad angel excite nature to it? - or by an immediate impulse force these material qualities to the - organs of the external senses, as well as they can move their - vehicles, which are the spirits and humours. - - The third thing proposed was, the connexion of these representations - with the future contingent events that are observed to follow them, - as for example, a second sighted man sees a winding sheet upon his - neighbour, or blood running down his face, shoulders, or arms, he - concludes that he must die, or be wounded in the face, shoulders, or - arms. If you will ask what warrant he has for this, he will tell, he - has found by experience, that whenever he saw the like of this, that - he found death or wounds to follow. _Quaeritur_, then, what connexion - can this representation have with an effect or contingent event not - yet existant? For answer to this, God, who knoweth all things, no - doubt imparteth much of the foreknowledge of things, not only to good - angels, but also evil angels, for reasons well known to himself, - particularly that they might give some true signs, and so have way to - deceive in many things besides; and though the signs foretold should - surely come to pass, it does not infer that the doctrine of evil - angels, and their lies that they would suggest to mankind, should be - credited. This is clear from the 13th of Deuteronomy, 1, 2, and 3, - verses, If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, - and giveth thee a sign or a wonder, and the sign or the wonder come - to pass whereof he spake unto thee, saying, let us go after other - gods, (which thou has not known), and let us serve them; thou shalt - not hearken to the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams, - for the Lord your God proveth you, to know whether you love the Lord - your God, with all your heart, and with all your soul. And this is - very just with God when men give themselves over to a reprobate and - wicked mind, and evil and unwarrantable practices, expressly against - the Lord's commands; I say it is just with God to let evil angels or - spirits delude them, and give way to these spirits in order to - confirm their lies; to appoint signs before hand, which signs, by - God's appointment, may come to pass, answerable to the prediction. It - may rationally, and very probably be concluded, that Ahab's false - prophets, in number 400, have often foretold truth; and this - purposely by God's appointment, that they might be the better - believed, and more easily persuade to lay siege to Ramoth Gilead; and - it is hard to conceive that Ahab should give them so much credit, or - they themselves so extraordinary confident, if they had not had many - truths suggested to them, and made proof of the same to Ahab. It is - not for nought that we are commanded to try the spirits, and that - rather by their doctrines, than their signs and wonders, or fair and - smooth pretences. Therefore, suppose these evil angels to know a - contingent future event, either by a revelation, or natural or moral - causes, they may, in the method foresaid make the representation of - them to the eyes or ears; as for example, an angel, good or bad, - finds that either the lungs, heart, stomach, liver, or brain, are - under such a consumption, as may against such a time kill a man; or - that he knows the secret contrivance of a potent party that is - resolved to wound or kill him, or that it is revealed to him it - should be so (which may very well be, as has been above noted), he - can easily represent these before hand, though the event should - follow but a considerable time thereafter; he has no more to do than - to reverse the species of these things from a man's brain to the - organ of the eye. - - Here ariseth a question from what has just been said, whether it be - more probable that good angels make this representation (because men - having this second sight are found to tell truth, and to be innocent - in their lives, and free of any paction, either implicit or explicit, - likewise free of any fraudulent design, and sound enough in the - necessary articles of their salvation), or that it be done by evil - angels for the trial of men and women, juggling with their fancy and - external organs, and so have a patent way to tell lies among some - truths. For answer to this question, I shall not be ready positively - to determine these things, but I humbly conceive, that as the - representations are oft done by evil angels, so likewise it is - probable that it may be done by good angels. I cannot be so - uncharitable to several men that I have known to be of considerable - sense, and pious and good conversation, as to conclude them to be - given over to be deluded continually by an evil angel: Moreover, I - conceive that there are many good Christians, if they would advert - well, that have some secret tokens and signs of notable alterations - to come, suggested to them before hand; and that these signs, some of - them are common to them with others, as dreaming, which are often - observed to be completely fulfilled, and that some of the signs and - warnings are peculiar to some persons, which fail not to answer to - the things signified; as for example, I have certainly known a man, - that when he found an unvoluntary motion in such a member of his - body, particularly his right hand or right eye, that was sure that - some matter of joy would shortly come to his hearing; and that if he - found the same motion in the left eye or hand, it signified - infallibly grief: And that which is more wonderful, the thing to come - signified by these signs and warnings keeped an exact proportion with - the continuance or vehemency of the motion; if the motion continued - long, so did the joy or the grief; if the motion was snell or - vehement, so was the matter of grief or joy; and finding that this - man was both a good man, and of a right penetrating wit, and had art - enough, it moved me to use freedom with several other good men that - had knowledge and sense enough to examine circumstances to a hair. I - found very many to acknowledge the very same thing, yet signified by - different signs, (which shows they are not _signa naturalia_, but _ex - instituto_), which puts me in mind of Dr Brown's observation to the - same purpose, in his inquiry into vulgar errors, where he concludes - several presentations to be acted in us by our tutelary angels that - have the charge of us at the time. Mark this, though the signs be - different in themselves, yet to each particular person, his own sign - is still significative of the same thing; and why might not this of - the second sight be counted amongst one of these? I likewise humbly - conceive, that God might compense the want of many other gifts to - poor men, by giving them this minor sort of knowledge. But I would - advise all of them that have the second sight, to examine themselves, - and to pray earnestly to God that no evil angel should have power to - abuse their senses, because the devil still strives to imitate what - God, or his good angels, communicates to his own children. I know - that the common opinion of some philosophers and divines will be - objected, and that is, that angels, good or bad, may condense the - air, figurate and colorate the same, and make it of what figure or - shape they please, so that this representation is made by external - objects in effect emitting visible species to the eye; and - consequently, that it is not the reversion of the species formerly - received; though, as I have observed before, that good and bad angels - can alter the medium in a strange way, and can work great alteration - on the elements and their compounds, I think it very improbable that - any created power can bring the air to that solidity, and actually - condense it, colorate, and figurate it, as to represent a man by a - beast, or Peter by Paul, especially at such a distance as from one - side of a chamber to the other. The miracles done by the magicians of - Egypt is their Achillean argument; but in short, I say, that what was - done by the magicians of Egypt, has neither been a delusion of the - senses, (as some would have it) much less that the devil could - produce the creatures _de novo_ of condensed air, and that for the - following reasons: _First_, thence it would follow that Moses and - Aaron were deluded as well as the Egyptians; but the last is false, - therefore the first: _Secondly_, it would follow, that the fashioning - and framing of Adam's body of clay, was but a mean act of creation in - comparison of these creatures, if they should be fashioned and framed - of condense air, which is naturally a fluid element, not so easily - stigmatized as the earth. I do not deny but the devil can snatch dead - and quick bodies from one place to another, and that insensibly to - the beholders, by pressing their optic nerves, as Franciscus Valesius - has observed in his _Sacra Philosophia_, and I conclude with Abraham - Couley, (no contemptible author) that the magicians of Egypt were - after this manner served by the devil, to imitate God's power in the - hands of Moses and Aaron. Mark, finally, if it were within the sphere - of angelical power to take bodies of condense air, what needed them - assume such material and earthly bodies as these angels that came to - Abraham and Lot assumed? whose bodies could be touched and handled, - and whose bodies were not found to yield to the touch, as the most - condensed air must do; and it is very consisting with reason, that - the angels, good or bad, should rather assume bodies of the element - of the earth, which is a great deal more easily brought to the figure - and fashion of a body, than the air. Some curious spirits, perhaps, - may desire to know whether this second sight be hereditary or - propagable from father to son; and I think no wonder that some would - think so, because the sanative gift of the king's evil is lineally - traduced to the natural heirs of the crown of England; and there is a - whole family in Spain, that has a sanative gift of some particular - diseases, which gift is propagated from the father to the son; - neither is it diminished or augmented by the morality or immorality - of the persons, as has been observed by that famous philosopher and - physician, Franciscus Valesius, who lived in that kingdom, and had - time and opportunity to examine the truth of this affair. In short, I - answer, that it is not propagable from father to son, neither - peculiar to any particular family; and as I have observed many honest - men, free of all scandal that ever I could learn, to have it; so I - have observed many vicious persons to have it who foretold truth oft - enough. - - Perhaps it may be doubted what should make this second sight more - frequent here than in the heart of the kingdom; I answer, that it is - the lack of observation and inquiry that it should not be found there - as well as here. _Secundo_, that it passes under a great odium and - disgrace with the most of men, which causes those that see it, - conceal it. _Thirdly_, I confess that credulity and ignorance give - occasion to evil spirits to juggle more frequently, than otherwise - they would have done. But sure it is, that men of little learning and - education may be recompensed by notable presentations, not so obvious - to others of greater parts. I remember of a nobleman in Spain, that - was deaf and dumb from his infancy, and yet was taught by a monk to - speak, and understand what was spoken to him, only by observing the - motion of his lips that spoke to him. Sir Kenelm Digby saw him, as he - tells in his Treatise of Bodies, and the monk that taught him, was a - cousin of Franciscus Valesius. This was more than ordinary sagacity - and docility, and it is found, that many dumb persons foretel many - things before hand, and it is a hard measure to conclude all to be - from evil spirits. In fine, as I noted before, as questionless Satan - may, and often does, deceive after this manner, so it is as sure, it - may be allowed, that good angels may forewarn this way, as well as by - other signs and tokens, as Dr Brown observes. - - It is observed, that those who have the second sight, have this - representation at any time of the day, but indeed more ordinarily in - the morning and evening, and with candle light. - - The design of these weak conceptions on this sublime theme, is not to - impose upon any man, freely leaving every man to follow his own - judgment in things that offend not church or state, but that others - of greater capacity may be stimulated to prosecute the same in a - better method, humbly submitting myself to the judgment of my - betters, to whose hands perhaps this pamphlet may come. - - - - - FINIS. - - EDINBURGH, - - Printed by Thomas Webster. - - - * * * * * - - - Transcriber's note: - - Text enclosed by underscores is in italics (_italics_). - - Small capital text has been replaced with all capitals. - - Variations in spelling, punctuation and hyphenation have been - retained except in obvious cases of typographical error. - - Page 92: "here is a gentleman that will fee you"--The transcriber has - changed "fee" to "see". fee you - - Page 98: Blank spaces have been replaced with dashes to indicate - words left out. - - For the eBook version of this book the cover was created by the - transcriber, and is placed in the public domain. - - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of A Collection of Rare and Curious -Tracts on Witchcraft and the Second Sight, by Unknown - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TRACTS ON WITCHCRAFT *** - -***** This file should be named 41928.txt or 41928.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/4/1/9/2/41928/ - -Produced by Chris Curnow and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was -produced from images generously made available by The -Internet Archive) - - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions -will be renamed. - -Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no -one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation -(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without -permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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