place whence the voice seemed to come, to try if they could see or
find any thing. After diligent search, nothing being found, the
gentlemen began to say, “We think this voice speaks out of the
children, for some of them were in their beds.” The spirit answered,
“You lie, God shall judge you for your lying, and I and my father
will come and fetch you to hell with warlock thieves;” and so the
devil discharged the gentlemen to speak any thing, saying, “Let him
speak that hath a commission, (meaning the minister) for he is the
servant of God.” The gentlemen returning back with the minister, sat
down near the place where the voice seemed to come; and he opening
his mouth, spake to them after this manner, “The Lord will rebuke
this spirit in his own time, and cast him out.” The devil answering,
said, “It is written in Mark, chap. ix. that the disciples could
not cast him out.” The minister replied, “What the disciples could
not do, yet the Lord having heightened the parent’s faith, for
his own glory, did cast him out, and so shall he thee.” The devil
replied, “It is written in Luke, chap. iv. that he departed and left
him for a season.” The minister said, “The Lord in the days of his
humiliation, not only got the victory over Satan in that assault in
the wilderness, but when he came again, his success was no better:
for it is written, John xiv. Behold, the prince of this world cometh
and hath nothing in me, and being now in glory, he will fulfill his
promise,—and God shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly,” Rom.
xvi. The devil answered, “It is written, Math. xxv. There were ten
virgins, five wise and five foolish, and when the bridegroom came,
the foolish virgins had no oil in their lamps, and went to the wise
to seek oil; and the wise said, go and buy for yourselves; and while
they went the bridegroom came, and entered in, and the door was shut,
and the foolish virgins were sent to hell’s fire.” The minister
answered, “The Lord knows the sincerity of his servants, and though
there be sin and folly in us here, yet there is a fountain opened to
the house of David for sin and uncleanness; when he hath washen us
from our sins for his name’s sake, he will cast the unclean spirit
out of the land.” The devil answered and said, “Sir, you should have
cited for that place of scripture, Zech. xiii. and he began at the
first verse, and repeated several verses, and concluded with these
words: “In that day I will cause the prophet and unclean spirit pass
out of the land;” but afterwards it is written, “I will smite the
shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered.” The minister answered
and said, “We know that our blessed shepherd was smitten, and thereby
hath bruised thy head. And albeit in the hour of his sufferings, his
disciples forsook him, Matth. xxvi. Yet now having ascended on high,
he sits in glory, and is preserving, gathering in, and turning his
hand upon his little ones, and will save his poor ones in this family
from thy malice.” The minister returning back a little, and standing
upon the floor, the devil said, “I knew not these scriptures till
my father taught me them.” Then the minister conjured him to tell
whence he was. The foul fiend replied, “That he was an evil spirit
come from the bottomless pit of hell to vex this house, and that
Satan was his father.” And presently there appeared a naked hand, and
an arm from the elbow down, beating upon the floor till the house
did shake again, and also he uttered a most fearful and loud cry,
saying, “Come up, my father, come up; I will send my father among
you; see there he is behind your backs.” Then the minister said, “I
saw indeed a hand, and an arm, when the stroke was given and heard.”
The devil said to him, “Saw you that? it was not my hand, it was
my father’s; my hand is more black in the loof.” “O (said Gilbert
Campbell) that I may see thee as well as I hear thee!” “Would you see
me (says the foul thief) put out the candle, and I shall come butt
the house among you like fireballs. I shall let you see me indeed.”
Alexander Bailie of Dunragged says to the minister, Let us go then,
and see if there be any hand to be seen. The devil answered, “No, let
him come then alone; he is a good honest man, his single word may be
believed.” About this time the devil abused Mr. Robert Hay, a very
honest gentleman, very ill with his tongue, calling him witch and
warlock. A little after, the devil cries (it seems out of purpose and
in of purpose) “A witch, a witch, there is a witch sitting upon the
ruist, take her away;” he meant a hen sitting upon the balk of the
house.—These things being past, all went to prayer, during which time
he was silent; prayer being ended, the devil answered and said, “If
the goodman’s son’s prayers at the College of Glasgow did not prevail
with God, my father and I had wrought a mischief here ere now.” To
which Alexander Bailie of Dunragged replied, “Well, well, I see
you confess there is a God, and that prayer prevails with him; and
therefore we must pray to God, and commit the event to him.” To whom
the devil replied, “Yea, Sir, you speak of prayer with your broad
lipped hat, (for the gentleman had lately gotten a hat in the fashion
with broad lips) I’ll bring a pair of sheers from my father which
will clip the lips of it a little.” Whereupon he presently imagined
that he heard and felt a pair of sheers going round about his hat,
which caused him lift it to see if the foul thief had meddled with it.
During this time, several things, but of less moment, passed; as
that he would have Tom a merchant, Rob a smith, John a minister, and
Hugh a lawyer, all which in some measure came to pass. As to Janet
the goodman’s daughter, he cries to her, “Janet Campbell, Janet
Campbell, wilt thou cast me thy belt?” Quoth she, “What a widdy wilt
thou do with my belt?” “I would fain (says he) fasten my loose bones
close together with it.” A younger daughter sitting busking her
poppies, as young girls use to do, being threatened by the fiend,
that he would ding out her harns, that is brain her, She answered,
without being concerned, “No, if God be to the fore;” and so fell to
the work again. The goodwife of the house having brought out some
bread, was breaking it to give every one of the company a piece. He
cries, “Grisel Wyllie, Grisel Wyllie, give me a piece of that hard
bread, (for so they call their oat-cakes) I have gotten nothing this
day, but a bit from Marrit;” that is, as they spake in that country,
Margaret. The minister said, “Beware of that; for it is a sacrificing
to the devil.” The girl was called for, and asked, if she gave him
any hard bread? “No,” says she; “but when I was eating my due-piece
this morning, something came and clicked it out of my hand.”
The evening being now far spent, it was thought fit, that every
one should withdraw to his own home. Then did the devil cry out
fearfully, “Let not the minister go home, I shall burn the house if
he go;” and many other ways did he threaten. After the minister had
gone forth, Gilbert Campbell was very instant with him to tarry,
whereupon he returned, all the rest going home. When he came into the
house, the devil gave a great gaff of laughter. “You have now, Sir,
done my bidding.” “Not thine,” answered the other, “but in obedience
to God have I returned, to bear this man company, whom thou dost
afflict.” Then did the minister call upon God. And when the prayer
was ended, he discharged the weaver, and all the persons of the
family, to speak a word to the devil; and when he spake, that they
should only kneel down and pray to God. The devil then roared out
mightily, and cried out, “What, will ye not speak to me? I shall
strike the bairns, and do all manner of mischief.” But after that
time no answer was made to him, and so for a long time no speech was
heard. Several times he hath beat the children in their beds, and
the claps of his loof upon their buttocks would have been heard, but
without any trouble to them. While the minister and gentlemen were
standing at the door, ready to go home, the minister’s wife and the
goodwife were within; then cried Satan, “Grisel, put out the candle.”
Says she to the minister’s wife, “Shall I do it?” “No; (says the
other,) for then you shall obey the devil.” Upon this he cries again
with a louder shout, “Put out the candle.” The candle still burns.
The third time he cries, “Put out the candle;” and no obedience being
given to him, he did so often reiterate these words, and magnify his
voice, that it was astonishing to hear him, which made them stop
their ears: they thinking the sound was just at their ears; at last
the candle was put out. “Now, (says he) I’ll trouble you no more this
night.” I must here insert what I heard from one of the ministers of
the presbytery, who, with the rest, were appointed to meet at the
weaver’s house for prayer and other exercises of that kind. When the
day came, five only met; but before they went in, they stood a while
in the croft which lies round about the house, considering what to
do. They resolved upon two things, First, There should be no words
of conjuration used, as commanding him in the name of God to tell
whence he was, or to depart from the family; for which they thought
they had no call from God. Secondly, That when the devil spoke, none
should answer him, but hold on in their worshipping of God, and the
duties they were called to. When all of them had prayed by turns,
and three of them had spoken a word or two from the Scripture, they
prayed again, and then ended without any disturbance. When that
brother who informed me had gone out, one Hugh Nisbet, one of the
company, came running after him, desiring him to come back, for he
had begun to whistle. “No, (says the other) I tarried as long as
God called me; but go in again, I will not.” After this the said
Gilbert suffered much loss, and had many sad nights, not two nights
in one week free, and thus it continued till April. From April to
July he had some respite and ease; but after he was molested with
new assaults; even their victuals were so abused, that the family
was in hazard of starving; and that which they ate gave them not the
ordinary satisfaction they were wont to find.
In this sore and sad affliction, Gilbert Campbell resolved to make
his address to the synod of Presbyters, for advice and counsel
what to do, which was appointed to convene in Oct. 1655, namely
Whether to forsake the house or not? The synod, by their committee,
appointed to meet to Glenluce in Feb. 1656, thought it fit that a
solemn humiliation should be kept through all the bounds of the
synod; and, amongst other causes, to request God on behalf of that
afflicted family; which being done carefully, the event was, that
his trouble grew less till April, and from April to August he was
altogether free. About which time the devil began with new assaults;
and taking the ready meat which was in the house, did sometimes hide
it in holes by the door-posts, and at other times hid it under the
beds, and sometimes among the bed-clothes, and under the lines, and
at last did carry it quite away, till nothing was left there save
bread and water.—This minds me of a small pasage as a proof of what
is said.—The goodwife one morning making pottage for the children’s
breakfast, had the tree-plate, wherein the meal lay, snatched from
her quickly. “Well (says she) let me have my plate again.” Whereupon
it came flying at her, without any skaith done. It is like, if she
had sought the meal too, she might have got it: Such is his civility
when he is entreated, a small homage will please him ere he want all.
After this he exercised his malice and cruelty against all persons
in the family, in wearying them in the night-time, by stirring and
moving through the house; so that they had no rest for noise, which
continued all the month of August after this manner. After which
time the devil grew yet worse, by roaring and terrifying them, by
casting of stones, by striking them with staves on their bed in the
night-time. And (September 18,) about midnight, he cried out with a
loud voice, “I will burn the house.” And about three or four nights
after, he set one of the beds on fire, which was soon put out,
without any prejudice, except the bed itself.——Thus I have written a
short and true account of all the material passages which occurred.
To write every particular, especially of lesser moment, would fill a
large volume. The goodman lived several years after this in the same
house; and it seems, by some conjuration or other, the devil suffered
himself to be put away, and gave the weaver a peaceable habitation.
This weaver has been a very old man, that endured so long these
marvellous disturbances.
XII.—_Anent Mother Jackson her Witchcraft._
This story hath as much certainty with it as any human story can
have. The author that writes it is a famous minister of the gospel,
and it is attested by famous witnesses. This woman was arraigned and
condemned at Newgate, for bewitching one Mary Glover, a merchant’s
daughter in Thames Street. One Dr. Boncraft did inform Judge
Anderson, then lord chief justice, That the said Mother Jackson was
wronged; and that the maid did counterfeit; whereupon the lord chief
justice gave orders to Sir John Crook, then recorder of London, to
make trial of them in his chamber at the Temple. The maid being sent
for, came with her mother and divers of the neighbours; and about
an hour after the witch was sent for, and was brought in disguised
like a country-market woman, with a mufflet hiding her face, and an
old hat, and a short cloak spattered with mire. When she entered
the chamber, the maid suddenly fell down backward upon the floor,
with her eyes drawn into her head, her tongue towards her throat,
her mouth drawn up to her ear, her body be came stiff and senseless.
Her lips being shut close, a plain and audible voice came out of her
nostrils, saying, “Hang her, hang her.” Then did the recorder cry for
a candle, and a sheet of paper, and held the paper flaming to her
hand, till her hand did blister; the blister did break, and water
came out which dropt down upon the floor, the maid lying still and
senseless as a dead body, with the voice coming out of her nostrils,
saying, “Hang her, hang her.” Then the recorder called for a long
pin, which he held in the flame of the candle till it was very hot,
and thrust the head of it into her nostrils, to see if that would
make her sneeze, wink, or bend her brows, or stir her head, which she
did not, but lay still as one dead and senseless. Then I told the
recorder (said my author), that I had often prayed with the maid, and
that when I did conclude with the Lord’s prayer, the maid, as soon
as I said, “but deliver us from evil,” was tost up and shaken, as if
a mastiff dog should take a little cur into his mouth and shake him.
Then the recorder bade the witch say the Lord’s prayer, which she
did, till she came to these words, “but deliver us from evil,” which
she skipt over, and would by no means be brought to say them. Then
they bade her rehearse the articles of the Christian faith, which she
did till she came to these words, “our Lord,” that Jesus Christ was
our Lord. I told the recorder also, that when the maid was in her
senseless and dead fits, if the witch did but lay her hand upon her,
she was tost and thrown towards her. Thereupon the recorder caused
the maid to be taken up and laid upon a bed, and clothes to be laid
upon her, especially her head, because she should not see nor hear.
Then he made signs to the women to stand round about the bed, and
that the witch should stand among them, and that every one should lay
hands upon her softly, which they did; and the maid did not stir till
the witch laid her hand upon her, then all the clothes were thrown
off and the maid tost towards her. Whereupon the recorder, looking
upon the witch, said, “Lord have mercy upon thee, woman!” and sent
her to Newgate. Then as soon as she was gone, the voice that came
out of the maid’s nostrils ceased, and she came to herself; and went
home with her mother. About three weeks or a month after the witch
was condemned, the maid continued every second day in most strange
and fearful fits and torments. The recorder hearing of it, did blame
me and all the ministers of London; and told me, That we might all be
ashamed to see a child of God in the claws of the devil, without any
hope of deliverance, but by such means as God hath appointed, viz.
fasting and prayer. Within few days after, it pleased God to make
me an instrument to draw five ministers, and other good Christians
together, to set apart, and to join with me in that holy exercise,
wherein we continued from morning till after candle lighting. Then on
a sudden, after a fearful conflict, which did much amaze some, and
caused them to cry with a confused noise, “Jesus save, Jesus help,”
the maid did start out of a wand chair, where she sat, and with her
strength did lift me up with her. I kneeling behind her, and holding
her in my arms, she did throw white froth out of her throat and mouth
round about the chamber, and on a sudden fell down into the chair
as one truly dead, with her head hanging down into the chair, her
neck and arms limber and souple, which before were stiff as a frozen
thing; then suddenly life came into her whole body, and her eyes,
which were drawn into her head, and her tongue, which was pulled into
her throat, came into their right place. Then she looked up with a
cheerful countenance round about the chamber, and with a loud voice
spake, saying, “O he is come, he is come, the Comforter is come, the
Comforter is come, I am delivered.” Her father hearing these words,
wept for joy, and with a faultering voice, said, “O these were her
grandfather’s words when he was at the stake, the fire crackling
about him.” It seems he died a martyr in Queen Mary’s time. Then she
kneeled down, and offered a sweet evening sacrifice of thanks and
praise to God for her deliverance, till her voice grew weak. Then
did the minister speak to her to forbear, and let one of them end
the day with thanksgiving. And in regard that I (said the minister)
had begun the day with prayer, the company desired me to make it end
with thanksgiving. This being done, care was had of her to put her to
some minister for a year, least Satan should assault her again; and,
by common consent, she was put to me; and I took her home to my own
house for being my servant for that time, and her mother and sister,
and lodged them at my house in great Saint Helen’s, which then was
my living. This relation was published in the year 1642, by the
minister, whose name is Lewis Hughes, and is yet to be seen in print.
XIII.—_King Duff, the 78th King of Scotland, bewitched._
Though this be well known to all who read our Scots Histories, yet
it will not be amiss to insert it here, as in its own place, for
their sakes especially who have not heard of it. While the king was
about the settling of the country, and punishing the troublers of
the peace, he began to be sore afflicted in his body with a new and
unheard of disease, no causes of his sickness appearing in the least.
At length, after several remedies and cures were made use of to no
purpose, a report was spread, the authors thereof being uncertain,
that the king was brought to that sickness and trouble by witches.
The suspicion arose from an unusual sweating he was under, his body
pining and withering away by little and little, and his strength
failing day by day; and since all his physicians had done their
utmost, and yet no appearance of recovery, it was supposed his case
was extraordinary. Therefore all men being vehemently intent upon
the event, news came to the court, that night-meetings were kept
at Forres, a town in Murray, for taking away the life of the king.
This was presently received and believed for truth, because no other
thing did occur for the present more probable. Whereupon trusty and
faithful men are presently sent away to one Donald, governor of the
castle there, in whom the king had the greatest trust and confidence.
This man having gotten some knowledge of the business from a certain
young wench, whose mother was under a bad report of being skilful in
this black art, found out and discovered the whole matter. The young
harlot is taken, because she had spoken some words rashly anent the
king’s sickness, and that within a few days his life would be at an
end. Some of the guard being sent, found the lass’s mother, with some
haggs such as herself, roasting before a small moderate fire, the
king’s picture made of wax. The design of this horrid act was, that
as the wax by little and little did melt away, so the king’s body, by
a continual sweating, might at last totally decay. The waxen image
being found and broken, and those old haggs punished with death, the
king did in that same moment recover. Compare this with the first
relation, and you will find them jump and agree exactly.
XIV.—_The Apparition of Edward Avon to his Son-in-law, Thomas
Goddard._