Chapter I: Part 1

Transcriber’s Note
Italic text displayed as: _italic_

_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._

Concerning the apparition of the Ghost of Major Geo. Sydenham (late of Dulverton, in the county of Somerset) to Captain William Dyke, (late of Skilgate in this county also, and now likewise deceased) be pleased to take the relation of it from a worthy and learned gentleman, Dr. Thomas Dyke, a near kinsman of the captain’s, thus: Shortly after the major’s death, the doctor was desired to come to the house to take care of a child that was sick there; and in his way thither he called on the captain, who was very willing to wait on him to the place, because he must, as he said, have gone thither that night, though he had not met with so encouraging, an opportunity. After their arrival there at the house, and the civility of the people shewn them in that entertainment, they were seasonably conducted to their lodging, which they desired might be together in the same bed; where, after they had lain a while, the captain knock’d, and bid the servants bring him two of the largest and highest candles lighted he could get; whereupon the doctor enquires what he meant by this? The captain answers, “You know, cousin, what disputes my major and I have had touching the being of God, and the immortality of the soul; in which points, we could never yet be resolved, though we so much sought for and desired it. And therefore it was at length fully agreed between us, that he who of us died first, should, the third night after his funeral, between the hours of twelve and one, come to the little house which is here in the garden, and there give a full account to the survivor, touching these matters, who should be sure to be present there at the set time, and to receive a full satisfaction. And this (says the captain) is the very night, and I am come on purpose to fulfil my promise.” The doctor dissuaded him, minding of the danger of following strange counsels, for which he could have no warrant; and that the devil might, by some cunning device, take such an advantage of this rash attempt, as might work his utter ruin. The captain replies, “That he had solemnly engaged, and that nothing should discourage him;” and adds, “That if the doctor would wake a while with him, he would thank him, if not, he might compose himself to rest; but for his own part, he was resolved to watch, that he might be sure to be present at the hour appointed.” To that purpose he sets his watch by him, and as soon as he perceived by it that it was half past eleven, he rises, and, taking a candle in each hand, goes out by a back door, of which he had before gotten the key, and walks into the garden-house, where he continued two hours and a half, and at his return, declared that he neither saw nor heard any thing more than what was usual. But I know, said he, that my major would surely have come had he been able.