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.