Transcriber’s Note
Italic text displayed as: _italic_
[Illustration: SATAN’S INVISIBLE WORLD.]
_Satan’s_
INVISIBLE WORLD
DISCOVERED;
OR A CHOICE
COLLECTION OF MODERN RELATIONS,
PROVING EVIDENTLY,
AGAINST THE ATHEISTS OF THIS PRESENT AGE,
That there are
DEVILS, SPIRITS, WITCHES, AND APPARITIONS,
_From authentic Records, and Attestations of Witnesses
of undoubted veracity_.
To which is now added,
THAT MARVELLOUS HISTORY
OF
MAJOR WEIR AND HIS SISTER,
THE WITCHES OF
BARGARRAN, PITTENWEEM, CALDER, &c.
BY MR. GEORGE SINCLAIR,
_Late Professor of Philosophy in the College of Glasgow_.
LONDON:
PRINTED FOR THE BOOKSELLERS.
1814.
_James Clarke, Printer._
CONTENTS.
_Relation_ _Page_
1. Touching the troubles of Sir George Maxwell 1
2. Being a wonderful discovery of murder by an apparition 13
3. The witchcraft of Agnes Simpson 15
4. Proclamation over the market cross of Edinburgh 19
5. A miraculous cure of a Dutch Woman 20
6. Strange pranks played by the devil at Woodstock 22
7. An apparition appears to king James IV. and his courtiers 27
8. A major returns from death 28
9. Remarkable story of discovered witchcraft at Lauder 31
10. True narrative of the drummer of Tedworth 38
11. A very surprising story of the devil of Glenluce 51
12. Old mother Jackson’s witchcraft 65
13. King Duff, the 78 king of Scotland, bewitched 68
14. The apparition of Edward Avon, to his son in law 70
15. Anent Bessie Graham 74
16. The apparition of Sir George Villiers 82
17. Hataraick, an old Warlock 83
18. The apparition of the Ghost of Mrs. Bretton 87
19. The servant returns to his shop, after he had been
dead 89
20. Wonderful story of one Robert Churchman, 91
21. Touching Isobel Heriot 97
22. Anent a Magician at Antwerp 104
23. Concerning a Doctor of divinity that rose out of the
bier, 105
24. Concerning some Drunkards destroyed by the devil 106
25. Anent William Barton, a Warlock 107
26. Wonderful accident, which happened at Lyons,
France 110
27. Marvellous prank played by the devil at Hamelen 111
28. Strange witchcraft discovered in Monra, in Swedeland 112
29. Apparition seen at Gladsmuir, &c. 124
30. Concerning one Spalding in Dalkeith 126
31. Of the devil of Mascon, in France 128
32. Concerning Margaret Wilson 133
33. Information about Janet Douglas 135
34. Of Helen Elliot, burned at Culross 137
35. Prayers and charms, used in the Highlands 141
36. Lizzie Muidy at Haddington 145
37. Concerning Major Weir and his Sister 146
38. Apparition seen in a dwelling house, in Mary King’s
Close 158
39. Apparition of a deceased Wife to her Husband 164
40. Concerning some Witches in the shire of Renfrew 168
41. Concerning the witches of Pittenweem 170
42. Concerning the bewitching of a Child, in Ireland 172
43. Concerning the Witch of Calder 173
SATAN’S
_Invisible World Discovered_.
RELATION 1.—_Touching the troubles which Sir_ GEORGE MAXWELL _of
Pollock met with from the Devil and his Haggs_.
SIR, _Pollock, 24th June, 1684._
I send you herewith the true account, my father caused me write from
his own mouth, which is the surest relation I can give, either of
his own trouble, or what concerns Janet Douglas, first discoverer of
these pictures. There fell out some less material circumstances in
the family, during her abode there, whereby it fully appeared, That
she knew what was done in distant places, and understood languages.
For instance, when a chapter in the Greek New Testament was read,
she made us understand by signs what the purposes were, (for at
that time she was dumb, whether really or counterfeitly, it is hard
to determine,) and did exactly give an account to myself, what we
did at two miles distant from the place where she was, without any
information given to her which I knew of. I rest your affectionate
friend,
JOHN MAXWELL.
Upon the 14th of October 1676, my father was surprized at Glasgow, in
the night time, with a hot and fiery distemper; and coming home the
next day, he was fixed to his bed. The physician, fearing a pleurisy
and a fever, opened a vein, and the application of medicaments being
made, the fiery heat was abated; he remaining for seven weeks
together under a great pain, chiefly in his right side, though not
fixed to his bed. There had come to Pollock-town a young dumb girl,
but from whence was not known, who had remained there for four weeks
before, but seldom frequenting Sir George Maxwell’s house, till at
length she came to some more familiarity and converse with his two
daughters. And, having observed Sir George sick and weak in his body,
she signified unto them, That there was a woman, whose son had broke
his fruit-yard, that did prick him in the sides.
And seeing this woman one day in the hall of Pollock amongst a great
many other company, she assured his daughter, that this was the
woman; and the day following, she told the gentleman, That this woman
(whose name was Janet Mathie, relict of John Stewart, under-miller
in Shaw mill) had formed a wax picture with pins in the side, which
was to be found in her house, in a hole behind the fire, offering
to bring it unto them, providing she were accompanied with men to
protect her from violence. At first they hardly understood her, till
she went to one of the gentlewoman’s closets, and bringing thence a
little bee-wax, she plied it before the fire, shewing the dimensions
and quantity of the picture. The gentlewoman regarded not the
information, because they thought it fabulous; yet his two servants,
Laurence Pollock, and Andrew Martin, knowing how much the girl loved
their master, and knowing that his life was in hazard, if this
picture were not found, resolved at all adventures to try whether the
information were true or false; and therefore going along with her
to the said Janet Mathie’s house, one of them planted himself on
the one side of the fire, and the other on the other side, while in
the mean time, the little girl coming quickly by Laurence Pollock,
putteth her hand in the hole behind the fire, and then slips into
Andrew Martin beneath his cloak, the waxen effigy, which had two pins
in it, one in each side, but that in the right side, so long as to
pierce through to the other; that in the left was not so long, nor so
deeply thrust in. This picture being brought to Pollock, Sir George’s
son, without acquainting his father, apprehended Janet Mathie,
procuring the next day the Lord Ross’s order for conveying her to
prison. She, being interrogated touching the picture, after several
subterfuges, alleged, It was the deed of the “dumb girl.”
It was also enquired, whether Sir George or his Lady had given her at
any time provocation to this malice? But it was well known, they had
been courteous to her: and, upon her complaints, had rebuked some for
spreading bad reports upon her name, as not appearing sufficiently
well-founded to a conviction. Only upon the 14th of October, above
specified, before Sir George went to Glasgow, he had called before
him a servant in Pollock-town, that had broken his orchard in harvest
last, who confessed the fact, and that Hugh Stewart, a son of Janet
Mathie’s, was his accomplice. But a by-stander declared, That he
was not now in Pollock land, but in the Darnly. To whom Sir George
replied, I hope my fingers may reach him in Darnly. This was all
which could be thought a provocation to Mathie. No harm being done
in the meantime to her son, whom Sir George to this hour doth not so
much as know by the face, but hath suffered him all the time of his
sickness to live in his mother’s house, even since her imprisonment.
In the meantime Mathie remaining obstinate, was searched for
insensible marks before the Sheriff-depute of Renfrew, and many
famous witnesses, at Paisley, and very many found upon her.
After the finding of the picture of wax foresaid, there was some
abatement of Sir George’s sickness, but not to any observable degree,
so low was he brought. But upon the 4th of January following, his
sickness recurred with that violence, that for four or five days, his
friends and relations had no great confidence of his life. But they
were more amazed on the 7th of January, being the Sabbath-day, when
they had an express from the dumb girl, who was at Pollock-town, but
could not get over the water to the house, the river being so swelled
at that time, signifying, That John Stewart, Mathie’s eldest son,
had four days since formed an effigy of clay, for taking away Sir
George’s life. And when she was called for, she declared, it was in
his house, beneath the bolster, among the bedstraw.
The next day following, James Dunlop of Househill, and Ludowick
Stewart of Achinhood, with some of Sir George’s servants, went to
Stewart’s house, taking the little girl with them, resolving to make
a very exact trial, that it might not be said, that the dumb girl had
brought any thing hither. Wherefore they caused John Stewart himself
to light a candle and hold it, while Ludowick Stewart, and another
did, in his sight, lift the clay effigy from among the bedstraw,
beneath the bolster (the little girl all the while standing at a
distance from the place), but the picture having been made only three
or four days before, and not sufficiently hard, did break into two
pieces. In it were three pins, one in each side, and one in the
breast. Stewart had nothing to say for himself, but that he knew not
who had put that thing there. He was instantly apprehended, and so
was a little sister of his, lately entered into the fourteenth year
of her age, named Annabil Stewart, who was said to have whispered
before somewhat of the waxen effigy. This poor creature proved
thereafter, through God’s favour, a key to the detection of making
both the pictures.
At first she was very obstinate, but the next day she confessed,
“That being present in her brother’s house the 4th of January, while
the clay picture was formed, the Black Gentleman being present,
(which was the name she gave the devil) together with Bessie Weir,
Marjory Craig, Margaret Jackson, and her brother John.” But when
confronted with her brother, she did not with confidence adhere to
her confession. Upon the finding of this picture Sir George did very
observably recover in his health, and all the pain, which was in his
side did, by degrees, wear away.
John Stewart remained, notwithstanding his sister’s confession, above
measure obstinate, until he was searched the next day for insensible
marks, whereof he had great plenty. At the finding whereof, he was so
confounded, that immediately he confessed his paction with the devil,
and almost all the other heads exprest in his judicial confession
after-written; and declared, “That his accomplices who formed the
effigy with him were the same his sister had named.” She also came
to a free and full confession of her paction with the devil, and her
accession to the forming both of the waxen pictures in her mother’s
house, and of the clay one in her brother’s house.
Upon information of the premises, the Earl of Dundonald and the
Lord Ross, granted a warrant for apprehending Bessie Weir, Margaret
Jackson, and Marjory Craig, who had been fellow sisters in the
aforesaid sorcery.
Margaret Jackson, a woman aged about fourscore of years, after a day
or two, confessed paction with the devil, and her accession to the
making of both the pictures, and condescended upon the complices
above named. Many insensible marks were found on her body.
Upon the 17th of January last, a third portrait of clay was found
under Janet Mathie’s bolster in the prison house of Paisley, which
the dumb girl had given information of. But it seemed to be the
picture of some woman, and probably of some of the family of Pollock.
For Annabil Stewart did freely declare, “That their malice was
against the whole family of Pollock.” For turning to young Pollock
and his Lady, she said, “and against you also.” This portrait was
found before four famous witnesses.
The Lords of his Majesty’s privy council, being informed of these
pictures and effigies, the depositions of three confessing Witches
being sent, did grant a commission for their trial, and also for the
trial of the other three that were obstinate. And in regard of the
singularity of the case, they ordered the process to be very solemn,
commissioning for the trial some judicious gentlemen in the country,
viz. Sir Patrick Gauston of Gauston, James Brisbond of Bishoptoun,
Sir John Shaw younger of Greenock, and John Anderson younger of
Dovehill. To whom they added Mr. John Preston advocate, (a gentleman
well seen in criminals, and who exercised the office of justice
depute for several years), a _sine qua non_ in the commission. And
that the whole process might be the more exact, they appointed George
Lord Ross assessor, with power to vote and decide. And further
ordered Mr. Robert Martain, clerk to the justice court, to be clerk
to the process, which was to be recorded in the public books of
adjournal.
The commissioners of justiciary held their first court at Paisley,
the 27th of January; before whom Annibal Stewart deponed, “That in
harvest last, the devil, in the shape of a Black Man, had come to
her mother’s house, and required the deponent to give herself up to
him; and that the devil promised she should not want any thing that
was good: That being enticed by her mother Janet Mathie, and Bessie
Weir, who was officer to their several meetings, she did put her
one hand to the crown of her head, and the other to the sole of her
foot, and did give up her soul and body (wholesale here is bad sale)
to the devil: That her mother promised her a new coat for the doing
of it: That the new name the devil gave her was Annipy: That he took
her by the hand, and nipped her arm, which continued to be sore for
the space of half an hour: That the devil, in the shape of a Black
Man, lay with her in the bed, under the clothes: That she found him
cold: That thereafter he placed her nearest to himself: That she was
present in her mother’s house where the picture of wax was made; and
that it was made to represent Sir George Maxwell of Pollock: That the
Black Man, Janet Mathie her mother, whose name from the devil, was
Land’s Lady, Bessie Weir, whose name was Sopha, Marjory Craig, whose
name was Rigern, Margaret Jackson, whose name was Locas, were all
present at the forming and making of the said effigy: That they bound
it on a spit, and turned it about before the fire; and that it was
turned by Bessie Weir, saying, as she turned it, ‘Sir George Maxwell,
Sir George Maxwell,’ which was exprest by all of them: That this
picture was made in October last.”—“That upon the 3d day of January
following, Bessie Weir came to her mother’s house, and advertised
her to come to her brother John Stewart’s house, the following night
at 12 o’clock; and that accordingly she came to the place, where
she found Bessie Weir, Marjory Craig, Margaret Jackson, her brother
John Stewart, and a man with black clothes, a blue band, and white
hand-cuffs, with hoggars on his feet, and that his feet were cloven:
That she sat down at the fire-side with them, where they made the
picture of clay, and placed pins in the breast and in the sides: That
they did place pins into the picture of wax, one in every side: That
the Black Man did put the pins into the picture of wax, but is not
sure who did thrust them into the picture of clay: That the pictures
produced are the pictures she saw made: That the Black Man’s name was
Ejoal.”
This declaration was made before famous witnesses, subscribed by the
two notary public for her, Robert Park younger, Patrick Carswel in
Paisley, and subscribed by the commissioners.
John Stewart did judicially depone before the justices, “That upon
the 3d of January instant, Bessie Weir in Pollock-town, came to him
late at night. He being without doors at his own house, that she did
intimate unto him, that there was a meeting to be at his house, the
next night; and that the devil, in the shape of a Black Man, Margaret
Jackson, Marjory Craig, and the said Bessie Weir, were to be present;
and that Bessie Weir required him to be present, which he promised to
do: That the next night, after he had gone to bed, the Black Man came
in, and called him quietly by his name, upon which he arose from his
bed, and put on his clothes: That Margaret Jackson, Bessie Weir, and
Marjory Craig, did enter in at the window, in the gavel of his house;
and that the first thing that the Black Man required was, that he
should renounce his baptism, and deliver up himself wholly unto him,
putting one of his hands on the crown of his head, and the other to
the sole of his foot, and that he was tempted hereunto by the devil,
promising he should not want any pleasure; and that he should get his
heart sythe on all that should do him wrong: That the new name given
to him by the devil was Jonas: That thereafter the devil required
every one of their consents for the making an effigy of clay, for
taking away the life of Sir George Maxwell of Pollock, to revenge
the taking of his mother Janet Mathie: That every one of the persons
above named, did give their consent to the making of the said effigy;
and that they wrought the clay; and that the Black Man did make the
figure of the head and face, and the two arms to the said effigy:
That the devil set three pins in the same, one in each side, and one
in the breast; and that the said John did hold the candle all the
while the picture was a-making: That he observed one of the Black
Man’s feet to be cloven, and his apparel was black, and he had a blue
band about his neck, white hand-cuffs, and hoggars upon his legs
without shoes; and that the Black Man’s voice was hollow and ghostly:
That after they had begun to form the picture, his sister Annibal, (a
child of 13 or 14 years of age) came knocking to the door; and she
being let in by him, stayed with them a considerable time; but that
she went away before the rest, he having opened the door unto her:
That the rest went out at the window, through which they entered:
That the picture was placed by Bessie Weir in his bedstraw.” Further
confessed, “That she had envy and malice against the said Sir George,
her quarrel being, as she conceived, that Sir George had not entered
her husband to his harvest service: That the effigy was made upon the
4th of January last; and the devil’s name amongst them was Ejoal:
That the new name given to himself was Jonas, and Bessie Weir’s name,
who was officer, was Sopha; that Margaret Jackson’s name from the
devil was Locas; and that his sister’s name was Annipy; but doth not
remember what Marjory Craig’s name was.” This confession had the same
solemnities which the former had.
Margaret Jackson, did the same day judicially confess, “That she was
present at the making of the first effigy, which was made in Janet
Mathie’s house in October last; and that the devil, in the shape of
a Black Man, Janet Mathie, Bessie Weir, Marjory Craig, and Annabil
Stewart were present at the making of the said effigy, which was
made to represent Sir George Maxwell of Pollock, for taking away his
life: That forty years since, or thereby, she was in Pollock Shaw’s
croft, with some few sticks on her back: That the Black Man came to
her; and that she did give up herself to him from the top of her
head to the sole of her foot, having first renounced her baptism,
and the new name she had from the devil was Locas: That about the 3d
or 4th of January last, or thereby, in the night time, when she had
wakened, she found a man in the bed, whom she supposed had been her
husband, who had died twenty years before, or thereby; and that the
man did immediately disappear; and that this man was the devil; and
that this was the first time she knew him: That upon Thursday the
4th of January last, she was present in the house of John Stewart at
night, when and where the effigy of clay was made; and that she saw
the Black Man’s clothes were black, and that he had white hand-cuffs;
and that Bessie Weir in Pollock-town, and Annibal Stewart in Shaws,
and Marjory Craig, were present the foresaid time and place, at the
making of the foresaid effigy of clay: That she gave her consent
to the making of the same: That the devil’s name was Ejoal.” This
confession had the same solemnities which the two former had.
Upon the 15th of February 1677, the justices being convened again in
court at Paisley, John Stewart, and Annibal Stewart, with Margaret
Jackson, did adhere to their former judicial confession; but Janet
Mathie, Bessie Weir, and Marjory Craig did obstinately deny. One
remarkable passage there was concerning Janet Mathie. The justice
upon the 27th of January commanded the jailor to fix her feet in
the stocks, that she might not do violence to her own life. The man
declared, “That the next morning he had found her bolster, which the
night before was laid at least six yards distant from the stocks,
now placed beneath her; the stocks being so heavy, that two of the
strongest men in the country could hardly have carried them six
yards: He wondering, did ask her, How she had win to the bolster?”
she answered, “That she had crept alongst the floor of the room,
drawing the stocks to the same place.” And before the court, she
said, “She had gotten one foot free out of the hole, and with the
other had drawn the stocks;” a thing altogether impossible, the
stocks being so weighty, nor was she able to take her foot out of the
hole.
The justices having examined all witnesses in matters of fact,
touching the effigies, Sir George’s sickness, and the recovery of
his health, upon the finding of the same, considering also the bad
fame of those who were obstinate, and having confronted them with
the confessing witches, who in their faces avowed their accession,
in manner exprest in the confessions above written. Considering,
lastly, all other circumstances of their case, committed them to the
trial of a judicious inquest; who being found guilty, were condemned
to the fire to be burnt, and their effigies with them. Only Annabil,
in regard of her nonage, and the evidences she seemed to give of
her penitency, was reprieved by order of council, but to remain in
prison. In the mean time, both she and her brother John did seriously
exhort their mother to confession; and with tears, did Annabil put
her in mind of the many meetings she had with the devil in her own
house; and that a summer’s day would not be sufficient to relate
what she had seen pass between the devil and her; but nothing could
prevail with her obdured and hardened heart.
It is to be noted, the dumb girl, whose name was Janet Douglas, doth
now speak, not very distinctly, yet so as she may be understood; and
is a person that most wonderfully discovers things past, and doth
also understand the Latin tongue, which she never learned.
II.—_Being a Wonderful discovery of Murder by an Apparition._
About the year of our Lord 1632, near unto Chester in the street,
there lived one Walker, a yeoman of good estate, and a widower, who
had a young woman called Anna Walker to his kinswoman, that kept his
house, who was by the neighbours suspected to be with child; and was,
towards the dark of the evening, one night sent away with Mark Sharp,
who was a collier, or one that digged coals under ground, and who
had been born in Blackburn-hundred in Lancashire, and so she was not
heard of for a long time, and no noise or little was made about her.
In the winter time, one James Graham, being a miller, and living two
miles from the place where Walker lived, was one night alone very
late in the mill grinding corn; and about twelve or one o’clock at
night he came down the stairs, from having been putting corn in the
hopper, the mill-doors being shut, there stood a woman upon the midst
of the floor, with her hair about her head, hanging down and all
bloody, with five large wounds on her head. He being much affrighted
and amazed, began to bless himself; and at last asked her who she
was, and what she wanted? To whom she answered, “I am the spirit of
such a woman, who lived with Walker; and being got with child by
him, he promised to send me to a private place, where I should be
well look’d to, until I was brought to bed, and well recovered, and
then I should come home again, and keep his house. And accordingly,”
said the apparition, “I was one night late, sent away with one Mark
Sharp, who upon a muir (naming a plain which the miller knew) slew
me with a pick, such as men dig coals withal, and gave me these five
wounds, and after threw my body into a coal pit hard by, and hid
the pick under a bank; and his shoes and stockings being bloody, he
endeavoured to wash them, but seeing the blood would not wash out,
he hid them there.” And the apparition further told the miller,
“That he must be the man to reveal it, or else that she must still
appear and haunt him.” The miller returned home, very sad and heavy,
and spoke not one word of what he had seen, but shunned as much as
he could to stay in the mill after night without company, thinking
thereby to escape the seeing again that frightful apparition. But
notwithstanding, one night when it began to be dark, the apparition
met him again, and seemed very fierce and cruel; and threatened
him, that if he did not reveal the murder, she would continually
pursue and haunt him: Yet for all this, he concealed it, until some
few nights before Christmas; when being, soon after sunset, walking
in his garden, she appeared again, and then so threatened him, and
affrighted him, that he faithfully promised to reveal in the next
morning.
In the morning he went to a magistrate, and made the whole matter
known, with all the circumstances: And diligent search being made,
the body was found in a coal pit, with five wounds in the head, and
the pick, and shoes and stockings yet bloody, in every circumstance
as the apparition had related to the miller. Whereupon Walker and
Sharp were both apprehended, but would confess nothing. At the
assize following, viz. at Durham, they were arraigned, found guilty,
condemned, and executed; but would never confess the fact. There are
many persons yet alive that can remember this strange murder; and the
discovery of it; for it was, and sometimes yet is, as much discoursed
of in the North of England as any thing that almost hath ever been
heard of, and the relation was printed, though now not to be gotten.
III.—_Touching the Witchcraft of Agnes Simpson._
Though this be of too old a date to comply with the title of our
stories, yet being a true copy of record, as authentic, though not
so fresh, it may haply not be amiss briefly to name some effects,
kinds, and circumstances of her sorcery; as her skill in diseases;
that the sickness of William Black was an elf-shot; her taking the
sick parties pains and sicknesses upon herself for a time, and then
translating them to a third person; her usage of long scriptural
prayers and rhymes, containing the main points of Christianity, so
that she may seem to have been not so much a white witch, as an holy
woman; her using of such nonsensical rhymes for the instructing of
ignorant people, and teaching them to pray, as these two prayers,
the Black and White Pater Noster in metre, in set forms, to be used
morning and evening, and at other times, when occasion offereth.
_White Pater Noster._
GOD was my foster,
He fostered me
Under the book of palm-tree.
Saint Michael was my dame,
He was born at Bethlehem.
He was made of flesh and blood,
God send me my right food;
My right food, and dyne too,
That I may to yon kirk go,
To read upon yon sweet book,
Which the mighty God of heaven shook.
Open, open heaven’s yaits.
Steik, steik hell’s yaits.
All saints be the better,
That hear the White Prayer, Pater Noster.
_The Black Pater Noster runs thus_:
Four neuks in this house for haly angels,
A post in the midst, that Christ Jesus,
Lucas, Marcas, Matthew, Joannes,
God be into this house, and all that belang us.
But when she sought for an answer from the devil upon any occasion,
he appeared to her in the shape of a dog. But the way of dismissing
and conjuring him to go was thus: I charge thee to depart on the law
thou lives on, as she did, when she dismissed him after consulting
him about the old Lady Edmiston’s sickness. But the manner how she
raised the devil was with these words: Elva, come and speak to
me;—who came in the likeness of a dog. Her sailing with her kimmers
and fellow witches in a boat to a ship, is very remarkable, where the
devil caused her and them to drink good wine and beer without money;
she neither seeing the mariners, nor the mariners her; and after all,
the devil raised a wind, whereby the ship perished. Her baptizing and
using other ceremonies upon a cat, with other witches, to hinder
Queen Anne from coming into Scotland. Her raising of a spirit to
conjure a picture of wax for destroying Mr. John Moscrope.
But to be more particular, I shall give you her own confession to
King James. Item, Failied and convict of so much, that the devil, in
man’s likeness, met her going out to the fields from her own house
at Keith, betwixt five and six at even, being alone, and commanded
her to be at North Berwick kirk the next night. To which place she
came on horseback, conveyed by her good-son, called John Couper,
and lighted at the kirk yard, or a little before she came to it,
about eleven hours at even. They danced along the kirk yard, Geilie
Duncan playing on a trump, and John Fein muzzled led the king; the
said Agnes and her daughter followed next. Besides, there were Kate
Gray, George Moilis’s wife, Robert Grierson, Katherine Duncan, Bessie
Wright, Isobel Gilmour, John Graymail, Duncan Buchanan, Thomas
Barnhill, and his wife, Gilbert Mackgill, John Mackgill, Katharine
Mackgill, with the rest of their kimmers, above an 100 persons,
whereof there were six men, and all the rest women. The women made
first their courtesy to their master, and then the men. The men
turning nine times widdershines’ about, and the women six times. John
Fein blew up the kirk-doors, and blew in the lights, which were like
meikle black candles sticking round about the pulpit.
The devil started up himself in the pulpit like a meikle black man;
and calling the row, every one answered, Here. Mr. Rob. Grierson
being named, they all ran hirdie girdie, and were angry, for it was
promised he should be called Robert the Comptroller, _alias_ Robert
the Rower, for expriming of his name.
The first thing he demanded was, If they all kept promise, and had
been good servants, and what they had done since the last time they
had convened. At his command, they opened up three graves, two
within, and one out of the kirk, and cutted off from the dead corpses
the joints of their fingers, toes, and nose, and parted them amongst
them; and the said Agnes Simpson got, for her part, a winding-sheet
and two joints. The devil commanded them to keep the joints upon them
till they were dry, and then to make a powder of them, to do evil
withal. Then he commanded them to keep his commandments, which were
to do all the evil and mischief they could. Before they departed, and
were dismist, they behoved to kiss his arse, (with reverence to the
reader.) He had on him a gown and a coat, which were both black. And
they that were assembled, part stood and part sat. John Fein was ever
nearest the devil, at his left elbock. Graymail keeped the door.
That which is observable in John Fein is, that the devil appeared to
him, not in the black, but in white raiment; but proposed as hellish
a covenant to him as those fiends to appear in black. His skimming in
the sea in a boat, is remarkable, with those of his accomplices: and
his fortelling the leak in the Queen’s ship by the help of the devil.
His raising winds with the rest, when the king sailed into Denmark,
by casting a cat into the sea, which the devil delivered to them, and
taught them to cry, Hola, when they first cast it in. His raising a
mist at the king’s return from Denmark, by getting Satan to cast a
thing like a foot ball (it appearing to John like a wisp) into the
sea, which made a reek to arise, whereby the king’s majesty might
be cast upon the coast of England. His opening of locks by sorcery,
by mere blowing into a woman’s hand, while he sat by the fire. His
embarking in a boat with other witches, and all of them sailing over
sea, and entering within a ship, and drinking good wine and ale
there, and sinking the ship when they had done, with the persons
in it. His kissing Satan’s arse (with reverence) again at another
conventical. His being swiftly carried above in the air, in chasing
of a cat, to catch her to cast into the sea, thereby to raise winds,
according to the prescription of Satan. His pretending to tell any
man how long he should live, if he told him but the day of his birth.
IV.—_A Proclamation over the Market Cross of Edinburgh, at twelve
o’clock at night._
After that king James IV. had mustered his army in the Burrow-muir,
being at that time a large spacious field, and most pleasant and
delightful, by reason of many stately oaks which overshadowed the
place; about midnight, in the month of July, there was a proclamation
heard at the market-cross of the town, summoning a great many
burgesses, gentlemen, barons, and noblemen, to appear before the
tribunal of one Plotcock.
The provost of the town, standing in his own fore-stair, or gallery,
having heard his own name cited, cried out, “That he declined that
judicatory, and appealed to the mercy of God.” This was the army
which the king led into England, and were defeat at Flodden, on the
fatal day, Tuesday the 9th of September 1513, where the King, with
near about five thousand of the noblest and worthiest families of the
kingdom, did fall.
V.—_A miraculous Cure of a Dutch Woman, accompanied with an
Apparition._
The narrative taken by a Dutch merchant from her own mouth, begins
thus:—A miraculous cure upon Jesch Claes, a woman about fifty years
of age, for these many years well known to myself and the neighbours.
This woman for fourteen years had been lame of both her legs, one of
them being dead and without feeling, so that she could not go, but
creep upon the ground, or was carried in people’s arms as a child,
but now through the power of God Almighty she hath walked again,
which came to pass after this manner, as I have written it from her
own mouth.
In the year 1676, about the 13th or 14th of this month of October,
in the night, between one and two o’clock, Jesch Claes being in bed
with her husband, who was a boatman, she was three times pulled by
the arm, with which she awaked, and cried out, O Lord! what may this
be? Hereupon she heard an answer in plain words, “Be not afraid, I
am come in the name of God, to tell you, that your malady, which
hath been for many years upon you, shall depart, and it shall be
given you from God Almighty to walk again. But keep this to yourself
till further answer.” Whereupon she cried aloud, O Lord! that I had
a light that I might know what this is. Then had she this answer,
“There needs no light. Light shall be given you from God.” Then
came a light over all the room; and she saw a beautiful youth about
ten years of age, with curled yellow hair, in white raiment to
the feet, who went from the bed-head to the chimney with a light,
which a little after evanished. Hereupon did something gush from
her hip, or diffuse itself through her leg as a water, to her great
toe, where she found life rising up; and feeling it with her hand,
she cries out, “Lord give me now again my feeling, which I have not
had for so many years.” And she continued crying and praying to the
Lord according to her weak measure. Yet she continued that day being
Wednesday, and the next day Thursday, as before, till evening at six
o’clock; at which time she sat at the fire, dressing the food. Then
there came, as a rushing noise in both her ears, with which it was
said to her, “Stand, your walking is given you again.” Then did she
immediately stand up, that had for so many years crept, and went to
the door: her husband meeting her, was exceedingly afraid, and drew
back. In the mean while she cried out, “My dear husband, I can walk
again.” The man, thinking it was a spirit, drew back, saying, “You
are not my wife;” but his wife taking hold of him, said, “My dear
husband, I am the self-same that hath been married these thirty years
to you. The Almighty God hath made me to walk again.” But her husband
being amazed, drew back to the side of the room, till at last she
claspt her arms about his neck; and yet he doubted, and said to his
daughter, “Is this your mother?” She answered, “Yes, father, this is
my mother indeed, I have seen her walk also, before you came in.”
This person dwells upon Prince’s Island in Amsterdam. This relation
is attested by many famous witnesses.
VI.—_Strange pranks played by the Devil at Woodstock in England, anno
1649._
The commissioners, October 13, 1649, with their servants, being come
to the manor-house, they took up their lodging in the king’s own
rooms, the bed-chamber, and withdrawing room: the former whereof
they also made their kitchen; the council-hall their brew-house; the
chamber of presence, their place of sitting to dispatch business;
and a wood-house of the dining-room, where they laid the wood of
that ancient standard in the High Park, known of all by the name of
the King’s Oak, which (that nothing might remain that had the name
of King affixed to it) they digged up by the roots. October 14th
and 15th, they had little disturbance; but on the 16th there came,
as they thought, somewhat into the bed-chamber, where two of the
commissioners and their servants lay, in the shape of a dog, which
going under their beds, did, as it were, gnaw their bed cords; but on
the morrow finding them whole, and a quarter of beef, which lay on
the ground untouched, they began to entertain other thoughts.
October 17. Something, to their thinking, removed all the wood of
the King’s Oak, out of the dining-room to the presence-chamber, and
hurled the chairs and stools up and down that room: From whence it
came into the two chambers where the commissioners and their servants
lay, and hoisted up the feet of their beds so much higher than their
heads, that they thought they should have been turned over and over,
and then let them fall down with such force, that their bodies
rebounded from the bed a good distance, and then shook the bedsteads
so violently, that themselves confest their bodies were sore with it.
October 18. Something came into the bed-chamber, and walked up and
down, and fetching the warming-pan out of the withdrawing-room, made
so much noise, that they thought five bells could not have made more.
And October 19th, Trenchers were thrown up and down the dining-room,
and at them who lodged there; one of them being wakened, put forth
his head to see what was the matter, but had trenchers thrown at it.
October 20th. The curtains of the bed in the withdrawing-room were
drawn to and fro, and the bed-stead much shaken, and eight great
pewter dishes, and three dozen of trenchers, thrown about the
bed-chamber again. This night they also thought a whole armful of the
wood of the King’s Oak were thrown down in their chambers, but of
that in the morning they found nothing had been moved.
October 21st. The keeper of their ordinary, and his bitch lay in one
of the rooms with them, which night they were not disturbed at all.
But Oct. 22d, Though the bitch kennelled there again, to whom they
ascribed their former night’s rest, both they and the bitch were in a
pitiful taking, the bitch opening but once, and that with a whining
fearful yelp.
October 23. They had all their clothes pluck’d off them in the
withdrawing room, and the bricks fell out of the chimney into the
room.
On the 24th, They thought in the dining-room, that all the wood of
the King’s Oak had been brought thither, and thrown down close by
their bed-side; which being heard by those of the withdrawing-room,
one of them rose to see what was done, fearing indeed that his
fellow commissioners had been killed, but found no such matter.
Whereupon returning to his bed again, he found two or three dozen of
trenchers thrown into it, and handsomely covered with the bed clothes.
October 25. The curtains of the bed in the withdrawing-room were
drawn to and fro, and the bed-stead shaken as before; and in the
bed-chamber, glass flew about so thick (and yet not one lozen of
the chamber windows broken) that they thought it had rained money,
whereupon they lighted candles; but, to their grief, they found
nothing but glass.
October 29. Something going to the window opened and shut it; then
going into the bed-chamber, it threw great stones, for half an
hour’s time, some whereof lighted on the high-bed, others on the
truckle-bed, to the number in all of above fourscore. This night
there was also a very great noise, as if forty pieces of ordnance
had been shot off together. At two several knocks, it astonished all
the neighbouring dwellers, which is thought might have been heard a
great way off. During these noises, which were heard in both rooms
together, both commissioners and their servants were struck with so
great horror, that they cried out one to another for help: whereon
one of them recovering himself out of a strange agony he had been in,
snatched a sword, and had like to have killed one of his brethren
coming out of his bed in his shirt, whom he took for the spirit that
did the mischief. However, at length they got all together, yet the
noise continued so great and terrible, and shook the walls so much,
that they thought the whole manor would have fallen on their heads.
At its departure, it took all the glass of the windows away with it.
November 1. Something, as they thought, walked up and down the
withdrawing-room, and then made a noise in the dining-room. The
stones which were left before, and laid up in the withdrawing, room
were all fetched away this night, and a great deal of glass (not like
the former) thrown about again.
November 2. There came something into the withdrawing-room, treading
as they conceived, much like a bear, which first only walked about a
quarter of an hour; at length it made a noise about the table, and
threw the warming pan so violently, that it quite spoiled it. It
threw also a glass and great stones at them again, and the bones of
horses; and all so violently, that the bed-stead and the walls were
bruised by them. That night they planted candles all about the rooms,
and made fires up to the rantletrees of the chimneys, but were all
put out, no body knew how, the fire and burn-wood, which made it,
being thrown up and down the rooms; the curtains torn with the rods
from their beds, and the bed-posts pulled away, that the tester fell
down upon them, and the feet of the bed-stead cloven into two. And
upon the servants in the truckle-bed, who lay all the time sweating
for fear, there was first a little, which made them begin to stir,
but before they could get out, there came a whole tub-full, as it
were, of stinking ditch water down upon them, so green, that it made
their shirts and sheets of that colour too.
The same night the windows were all broken by throwing of stones, and
there was most terrible noises in three several places together, to
the extraordinary wonder of all that lodged near them. Nay, the very
rabbit-stealers, who were abroad that night, were so affrighted with
the dismal thundering, that for haste they left their ferrets in the
holes behind them, beyond Rosamond’s well. Notwithstanding of all
this, one of them had the boldness to ask, “In the name of God what
it was that it would have, and what they had done, that they should
be so disturbed after this manner?” To which no answer was given,
but it ceased for a while. At length it came again, and, as all of
them said, brought seven devils worse than itself. Whereupon one of
them lighted a candle again, and set it between the two chambers in
the door-way, on which another fixing his eyes, saw the similitude
of a hoof striking the candle and candlestick into the middle of the
bed-chamber, and afterwards making three scrapes on the snuff to put
it out. Upon this, the same person was so bold as to draw his sword,
but he had scarce got it out, when there was another invisible hand
had hold of it too, and tugged with him for it; and, prevailing,
struck him so violently, that he was stunned with the blow.
Then began violent noises again, insomuch that they called to one
another, got together, and went into the presence-chamber, where
they said prayers, and sung psalms: notwithstanding all which, the
thundering noise still continued in other rooms. After this, November
3d, they removed their lodging over the gate; and next day, being
Sunday, went to Ewelm, where how they escaped, the authors of the
relation knew not. But returning on Monday, the devil (for that was
the name they gave their nightly guest) left them not unvisited, nor
on the Tuesday following, which was the last day they stayed.
VII.—_An Apparition to King James the IV. and his Courtiers, in the
kirk of Linlithgow._
While the king stayed at Linlithgow, attending the gathering of his
army, which was defeat at Floudon, being full of care and perplexity,
he went into the church of St. Michael, to hear evening song, as
then it was called. While he was at his devotion, an ancient man
came in, his amber coloured hair hanging down about his shoulders,
his forehead high, and inclining to baldness, his garments of azure
colour, somewhat long, girded about with a towel, or table napkin,
of a comely and very reverent aspect. Having enquired for the king,
he intruded himself into the press, passing through till he came
to him, with a clownish simplicity, leaning over the canon’s seat,
where the king sat, “Sir (said he) I am sent hither to entreat you
to delay your expedition for this time, and proceed no farther in
your intended journey; for if you do, you shall not prosper in your
enterprise, nor any of your followers. I am further charged to warn
you, not to use the acquaintance, company, or counsel of woman, as
you tender your honour, life, and estate.” After this warning, he
withdrew himself back again into the press. When service was ended,
the King enquired earnestly for him, but he could be no where found,
neither could any of the bystanders (of whom divers did narrowly
observe him, resolving afterwards to have discoursed with him) feel
or perceive how, when, or where he passed from them, having in a
manner vanished in their hands.
VIII.—_Anent the Major who returned from death to tell the Captain
whether there was a GOD or not._