Chapter XXXVI

Churchmen subjected to the Onslaught of Demons--St. Maurus rebuking Evil Spirits--St. Romualdus' Conflict with Satan--St. Frances--St. Gregory--Monk in Purgatory--Institution of the Thirty Masses for the Dead--An Excommunicated Gentleman--St. Benedict and the Blackbird's Song--A Monk restored to Life--St. Benedict's Sister ascending to Heaven--St. Francis' Dominion over Living Creatures and the Elements--St. Catherine's Power--St. Stanislaus' Miracles--A Dead Man giving Evidence--The Dead refusing a Renewal of Life--St. Philip Nerius and Evil Spirits--Spirits ministering to St. Erasmus--St. Norbert--Story relating to Henry I.--St. Margaret's Triumph--St. Ignatius--St. Stephen--Satan's Hatred of St. Dominick--St. Donatus endowing a Corpse with Speech--St. Cyriacus, St. Largus, and St. Smaragdus, the Martyrs--St. Clare--St. Bernard's Power--St. Caesarius' Wonder-working Crook--St. Giles and the Hind--St. Euphemia's Guardian Angels--St. Francis' Spirit--St. Bridget--St. Denis' Spirit--St. Teresa and the Angels--St. Hilarian--St. Martin--St. Catherine's Body carried by Angels to Mount Sinai--St. Francis Xaverius' Belief in Virtue of Bells--St. Nicholas--St. Ambrose--St. Lucy raising her Mother from the Dead--St. Anastasia sustained by Bread from Heaven--St. Thomas enduring Martyrdom in Life and after Death--Penance of Henry II.--Barbarous Conduct of Henry VIII.--A Hungarian Legend 323

* * * * *

MAGIC AND ASTROLOGY.

CHAPTER XXXVII.

Magic a Study among the Learned--Plato and Pythagoras travelled to learn the Art, and taught it--Speakers made Eloquent by Magical Art--Virtue of Gems--How Jewels should be set--When they are to be Graven--Cures effected by Hippocrates--Democritus on Magic--Many Charms--Evil Spirits--Magicians sacrificing to the Planets--Magician's Power to produce Monstrous Creatures--Egyptian Magicians--Magical Circles--Throwing Old Shoes--Figures on Shoes--A Hangman's Soul--Directions for raising Ghosts and Spirits 339

CHAPTER XXXVIII.

Josephus' Account of Astrology--Antediluvians acquainted with Astrology--Astrology after the Flood--Magicians in various Nations--Compact and Confederation with Spirits--Feats of Magicians--A French Priest in compact with the Devil--Married to Venus--Turning Leather into Gold--A Novice in Magic destroyed by a Spirit--Principles of Magic--Lilly the Astrologer--Lilly consulted by Royalists--Astrological Predictions 349

CHAPTER XXXIX.

Judicial Astrology--Reading the Heavens--Lucky and Unlucky Days--Highland Superstitions--Climacterics--Astrologer and Charles IX.--Influence of the Moon--Official Air-gazers--Sacrificing to Planets--Dryden's Faith in Astrology--Dryden calculating the Nativity of his Children 356

* * * * *

DIVINATION AND ORACLES.

CHAPTER XL.

Divination--Heathen Gods giving Signs--Sortes Pr[oe]nestinae--St. Augustine's View of Divination--Sortes Sanctorum--Divination in the Greek and Latin Churches--Declarations of the Divine Will--How St. Consortia became a Nun--Hieroglyphic Texts--Divination among the Jews--Plutarch on Oracles--Malthus' Belief in Oracles--A Missionary's Opinion--Sibylline Oracles--Alectoromantia--Belomancy--Cleromancy--Napoleon's Belief in Cleromancy 362

* * * * *

SIGNS, OMENS, AND WARNINGS.

CHAPTER XLI.

Crying in Youth--Image of Opis--Man born to Trouble--Bacon's Belief in Presages--Dugdale's Foresight--Sir Thomas More's Power to judge of Passing Events--Erasmus at the Tomb of Becket--Sir Walter Raleigh's Predictions--What Tacitus foresaw--Solon's Predictions--Cicero's Predictions--Knox's Predictions--Queen Mary and Darnley--Death of Thomas Maitland and of Kirkaldy of Grange predicted--Regent Murray warned against going to Linlithgow--The Human Body a medium for discovering Future Events--Death Warnings--Appearance of Spirits 372

CHAPTER XLII.

Ornithomancy--Mohammed's Pigeons--Cock-crowing--Sacred Geese--Phenomenon at Rome--Divination by means of a Sieve--Capnomancy--Catoptromancy-- Dactyliomancy--Cledonism--Onomancy--Names--Romans toasting their Mistresses--How Success in War was ascertained--Loss of Ships' Colours--Regimental Standards--Consecrated Banners--Battle of the Standard--A Highland Superstition 380

CHAPTER XLIII.

Caution of our Ancestors--Magpies--Flight of Birds--Swarming of Bees--Howling of Dogs--Lowing of Cattle--Crowing of Cocks--Stockings wrong side out--Sign of a Letter coming--Sneezing of a Cat--Various Signs and Omens--How to prevent Ill Luck--Reputed Witches--Print of a Caldron, what it denoted--Unlucky to pass over a Balance--When not to pare your Nails--Touching a Dead Body--Funeral Processions--Storks--How to Sit--Marriages--A Prophetic Rhyme--Wedding Ring--Throwing Slippers, Besoms, Salt, and Rice after Newly-married Persons--Charms for Bridegrooms and Brides--Mothers and Children--Rules to be observed at Baptisms--How to treat Young Children 387

CHAPTER XLIV.

Sweeping Floors--New Year and Christmas--"First-Foots"--Weather Prognostications--How to secure Favourable Gales--Superstitious Customs--Corpse of one guilty of _Felo-de-se_--Finding of Persons who die unseen--Superstitious Belief of Russian Seamen--Ancient Customs of Scotland--Friday an Unlucky Day for commencing an Important Undertaking--Friday as a Marriage Day--Anecdote of a Ship called "Friday"--Loss of the Ship "Amazon"--Sunday a Favourable Day for commencing a Voyage--Lawyers and Clergymen, how looked upon by Sailors at Sea--Rats deserting a Ship--Whistling to raise the Wind--Legend of Vanderdecken or the Flying Dutchman--A Grandfather's Axe--Other Signs and Warnings 393

* * * * *

AMULETS AND CHARMS.

CHAPTER XLV.

Amulets and Charms among the Chaldeans, Jews, and Persians--Amulets among the Greeks and Romans--Ecclesiastics forbidden to wear Amulets and Phylacteries--Pericles' Amulet--Lord Bacon's Opinion of Charms--Effect of Music--Yawning and Laughing, Fear and Shame--Diseases cured by Charms--Philosophers' Opinions of Amulets--Mr. E. Chambers on Amulets--Poets on Enchantments--A Dairymaid's Charm--A Charm sent by a Pope to an Emperor 401

CHAPTER XLVI.

Ear-rings buried by Jacob--Solomon's Belief in Spells--Reginald Scot's Recipe for preserving Cattle--What Mr. Pennant says on Charms--Images Powerful Charms--The Egyptians' Confidence in Amulets and Charms--Evil Eye--Cold Iron--Holy Things used as Charms--Filing of St. Peter's Keys--Lustral Water--Uses of Snow--Keys of a Consecrated Building--Virtue of Consecrated Bread--Various Methods of securing Love--Indian Charms--Cure for Corns--Simple Plan for getting rid of a Troublesome Person--Curing the Hooping-cough, etc. 409

CHAPTER XLVII.

Horse Shoes used as Charms--Spitting on Money to secure Luck--Fortunate Persons to deal with--Professor Playfair on Superstition--The Lee Penny--Divers Charms--A Seer's Prescription--Grose on Sorcerers, Magicians, and Witches--Irish Shamrock--Praying to Swords--Irish Superstition--Smugglers and Brigands addicted to Superstition--Superstition in the East--Arab Charms--Ladies' Arts 415

CHAPTER XLVIII.

Earl of Derby's Death--A Queen Enchanted--Image of a young King--Belgrave on Charms--Childebert's Device for detecting Witches--Witch Burned--Witch Ointment--Men-Wolves--Church Authorities' Instructions to Inquisitors--Killing by a Look or Wish--The King of Sweden and his Witches--Witches' Help in War--Witches causing a Plague--Cattle Poisoned--Various Charms--An Angel's Charm to Pope Leo--Physicians' Faith in Charms--Inescation--Insemination--Egyptian Laws--Curing the King's Evil 421

CHAPTER XLIX.

Precious Stones regarded as Objects of Virtue--Extravagance in Jewellery accounted for--Abraham's Precious Stones--Altars called Living Stones--Rod of Moses--Sacred Rings and Belts--The Month of one's Nativity has connection with one or other of the Precious Stones--Kings of England hallowing Rings--Ring preserved in Westminster Abbey--Iona Relics--The Green Stone of Arran--A Crystal kept as a Charm--A Conjuring Beryl--Prophetic Stones--The Coronation Stone or Stone of Destiny 429

* * * * *

TRIALS BY ORDEAL.

CHAPTER L.

Trials by Ordeal resorted to in Ancient and Modern Times--Ordeal by means of Hot Iron--Plunging the Arm into Boiling Water or Oil--Walking Blindfold in Dangerous Places--Weighing a Witch--Extending the Arms before a Cross--Swallowing Consecrated Bread--Ordeal among the Hindoos--Touching a Dead Body--An Inquest, how conducted long ago--Dead Henry's Wounds--Sir George M'Kenzie's Opinion of Trial by Ordeal--Sir K. Digby on Trial by Ordeal 438

CHAPTER LI.

A Popular Story--Theatberge, wife of Lothaire--Forbes's Memoirs--Trial by Wager of Battle--When Trial by Wager of Battle ceased--Trial by Jury--Court of King's Bench deciding the Legality of Trial by Battle--Sir Walter Scott's Illustrations of Superstition and Trial by Battle in Olden Times 445

* * * * *

CURSES AND EVIL WISHES.

CHAPTER LII.

Curses, Excommunication, and Anathemas--Dirae, the Executioners of Vengeance--Interment of Excommunicated Persons--Excommunication among the Hebrews--Last Degree of Excommunication sometimes followed by Banishment or Death--Form of Excommunication used by Ezra and Nehemiah--The Greek Church annually excommunicates Roman Catholics--The Druids resorted to Excommunication--Bishops excommunicating Rats, Mice, Caterpillars, and other Insects and Vermin--The Pope's Claim--Napoleon I. excommunicated--Victor Emmanuel excommunicated--The Inquisition and its terrible Doings--The Pope's Fearful Curse--Mr. Donald Cargill excommunicating the King and Nobles--Indulgences, Pardons, and Penance 453

CHAPTER LIII.

St. Adelbert's Curse--Complexion of Blackamoors attributed to a Curse of Noah--False Accusation, and its Results--Ancestors of the Whelphs and Guelphs of Germany--An Interesting Legend--A Gipsy's Curse--A Cruel Father and Husband--Morrar-na-Shean--Restoration of Three Daughters--A Grateful Father--Ancestors of the Sinclairs of Caithness, and of the noble family of Keith--The Curse of Moy--A Cruel Chieftain of Clan Chattan--Swearing by the Hand of a Bride--Grant of Glenmorriston waiting his Doom--Death of a Father and Lover--Maledictions and Prediction--Lady leaping from a Lofty Tower--The Monroes of Foulis--End of a Relentless Tyrant 462

* * * * *

DREAMS AND VISIONS OF THE NIGHT.

CHAPTER LIV.

The Gift or Art of interpreting Dreams--Official Interpreters of Dreams--Sleep, how portrayed--Goddess of Dreams--Greeks soliciting the Inspiration of Dreams--Xenophon on Sleep--Prophetic Power of the Dying--AEsculapius's Discoveries in Dreams--Code of Menu--The Soma-drink--Josephus as a Seer--Dreadful Proposal by Josephus--His Fortunate Escape--An Eastern Conjuror--Reading a Sealed Letter--A Sultan warned of his Death in a Dream--Alexander's Death foretold in a Dream--Records of Dreams in Westminster Abbey--Lord Falkland's Dream--Rev. John Brown's Opinions--Early Christian Faith in Visions and Dreams--Death of a Friend foretold--The Devil's Sonata--Marriage of Queen Mary--Fatality of the Stuart Family--Death of Henry IV. of France 469

CHAPTER LV.

Dreaming Dictionaries--Dreaming of an Anchor--Sick Persons--Raiment--Fruit--Funerals--Dreams sometimes to be read contrariwise--Dreaming of Darkness--Jewellery--Losing and finding Property--Fowls and Eggs--Flying--Bagpipes, Dancing, and Banquets--Dreaming of Animals, Cakes, Corn, and Milk--Dreaming of Carrying and of being Carried--Angels, Spirits, and Children--Clergymen and Churches--A Broken Watch or Clock--Clouds--Falling--Flowers and Fruit--Sailors' Dreams--Running Streams and Still Water--Ploughed Ground and Green Fields--Presents--Glass, Hair, Fire, Cold, Tooth, Kisses, and Knives--Leaping, Climbing, and Writing--Linen--The Sun, Moon, and Stars, Rainbow, Snow, Thunder, and Lightning 475

* * * * *

LAWS AGAINST AND TRIALS OF WITCHES.

CHAPTER LVI.

Witchcraft treated with Severity--Cutting out the Tongue--Laws of AEthelstane--Witchcraft in England--Royal Writers--Sir Edward Cole's Opinion--Statute of Elizabeth against Sorcerers--Law of Mary Queen of Scotland against Witches--Law against Witches abolished--Sir George Mackenzie on Witchcraft--Extracts from Forbes's _Institute of the Law of Scotland_--Sir Matthew Hale a Believer in Witchcraft--Trial of Rose Cullender and Ann Duny--Punishment of Witches, by whom first countenanced--Pope John's Bull--Bishop Jewell--Lord Bacon and the Law against Witches--Fearful Slaughter of supposed Witches--_Malleus Maleficarum_, or Hammer for Witches--The last Persons executed in Scotland and England for Witchcraft--First German Printers condemned to be burned as Sorcerers--Reginald Scot on the Fables of Witchcraft--Mr. E. Chambers's Views of Witchcraft 482

CHAPTER LVII.

Witch-finders--Disasters ascribed to Witches--Witches' Familiars--John Kinnaird--Patrick Watson and his Wife pricked--The Devil's Sabbaths--Grandeur at Satan's Feasts--When Feasts ended--Transformation--A Witch-finder sent from Scotland to Newcastle--Complaints against Witches--Deception discovered--Trying Witches in Northumberland--Escape of a Witch-finder from Justice--Zeal of the Clergy in Scotland in condemning Witches--Witch burned within the Sea-mark--Extracts from Kirk-session Records of Perth relative to Witchcraft--Witches at Kirkcaldy--A Clerical Witch-finder 493

CHAPTER LVIII.

Hiring a Witch to detect a Witch--Clerical Witch-finders--Agnew, the Sturdy Beggar--A Distressed Family--Minister's Remonstrance and Advice--Fresh Afflictions--Prayer and Fasting--Spirits Speaking--Minister's Reply--Application to the Synod for Advice--Solemn Humiliation ordained by the Synod--Beggar suspected and hanged for Blasphemy--Bargarran Witches--An Esquire's Daughter bewitched--Physicians puzzled--Ministers' Visits to Bargarran--Presbytery ordering Days of Humiliation--Recourse to the Law--Catherine Campbell imprisoned--Girl's continued Affliction--Representation to His Majesty's Privy Council--Commission appointed to inquire into the case--Trial of Witches--Condemnation and Execution 500

CHAPTER LIX.

Victims of Superstition--Lady Glammis--Her Trial for causing the Death of her Husband and attempting to poison the King--Found Guilty, and Burned--Lady Fowlis an intended Victim--Image of the young Lady of Balnagowan--Elf Arrows--Consulting Egyptians--Hector Munro's connection with Witches--Charge against Sir John Colquhoun and Thomas Carlips for consulting Necromancers--Love Philters and Enchanted Tokens--Bewitching Sir George Maxwell--Witch-marks discovered before the Sheriff of Renfrewshire--Commission appointed by the Privy Council to try Witches--Witches Burned--Intercourse with Fairies--Another Witch Story 511

CHAPTER LX.

Edinburgh and Leith Witches--Black Catalogue--James VI. and the Witches--Complaint to the Scottish Privy Council of Barbarous Conduct--Relics of Superstition--Witch-finders in Edinburgh and Leith--Royal Commission to Magistrates and Ministers to search for and put Witches to Death--Wife of a Judge in Edinburgh meeting a Witch's Fate--Repeal of the Laws against Witchcraft--Opposition to Acts being Repealed--Judge of the Supreme Courts against a Change of the Law--James Reid--Potter-row Witch--Alexander Hamilton, the Warlock--The Devil and Hamilton burning a Provost's Mill--Bewitched Man--A habit-and-repute Witch--Young Laird of Duddingston--Major Weir and his Magical Staff--A Magical Distaff--Agnes Williamson, a Haddingtonshire Witch--Elizabeth Bathgate of Eyemouth--Isabella Young of Eastbarns burned at the Castlehill 519

CHAPTER LXI.

The Demon of Jedburgh--An Apparition--Witch shot in the form of a Cat--Auldearne Witch--Sabbath Meetings with Satan--Farmer Breadley--Disinterring Unbaptised Children--Singularly-constructed Plough and Team--Attempt to shoot a Minister--Borrowstounness Witches--A Pittenweem Witch--An Unearthly Horse--Merciful View of a Witch's Case--A Perthshire Witch--Water of Ruthven Well--A Changeling 524

CHAPTER LXII.

Witchcraft in Aberdeen--Dean of Guild rewarded for his Diligence in burning Witches--Expense of burning Witches--The Marquis of Huntly's Desire to punish Witches--Action of the Presbytery anent Witches--Man under the Protection of the Fairy Queen--Strathdown Witches--Riding on Brooms--Crossing the Spey in Riddles--Disappearance of Witches--Madge M'Donald of Tomintoul--Witches' Pool--A Mountain Tale--Girl controlling the Elements--Witch Burned--Caithness Witches--One of the Evil Sisterhood--Investigation by the Sheriff--Margaret Nin-Gilbert--Helen Andrew--Shetland Witches--An Orkney Lady--Mary Lamont of Innerkip 529

CHAPTER LXIII.

Neither Police nor Medical Men much required in Olden Times--Instrument of Torture--Torture declared Illegal--Berkly Witch--Attempt on the Life of Edward II.--Master John of Nottingham--Escape of Coventry Necromancers from Justice--Rutland Family bewitched--A Pendle Witch--Strange Narrative--Essex Witches--Witches of Northamptonshire--Bullet-proof Witch--Drawing Blood above the Temples--Anne Bodenham foretelling how a Law Plea would be decided--Strange Proceedings--Discovering Concealed Poison--Performing Spirits--Ride to London through the Air--Impenitent Witch 538

CHAPTER LXIV.

Paying Blackmail to Witches--Demon of Tedworth--A Persecuted Family prayed for--Unaccountable Sounds and Sights--Drummer found guilty of Sorcery--Raising Storms--A Wizard in Cromwell's Army--Aldermen's Children bewitched--Man kissed to Death--Witch unable to say the Lord's Prayer--A Taunton Witch--Bewitched Cattle--Mode of discovering a Witch--Selling a Soul to the Devil--Witch Executed--A Song of the Seventeenth Century 547

CHAPTER LXV.

Elizabeth Style's Confession--Signing a Covenant with Blood--Alice Duke, Anne Bishop, and Mary Penny--Somerset Witches--Running backwards round a Church--Compact with Satan--Accusation against Sarah Morduck--A Judge's Opinion of Witchcraft--Supposed Sufferer from Witchcraft prayed for in the Church, and a Subscription raised for him--Falsely accusing a Woman of Witchcraft--Witch and Stolen Plate--Charm for Sore Eyes--Flames issuing from a Bewitched Person's Mouth--Tormenting a Witch--Jane Wenham's Witchcrafts and Trial--The last Persons who suffered in England for Witchcraft--List of Persons who suffered as Witches 552

CHAPTER LXVI.

Scotchmen and Englishmen in America--Superstition in the Back Settlements--Witchcraft in New England--Rev. Cotton Mather's View of Witchcraft--Judges and Witnesses overawed by Witches--Bewitched Persons prayed for--Trial of Susan Martin--Absurd Evidence--Witchcraft in Sweden--Commission of Inquiry--Day of Humiliation appointed on account of Witchcraft--Threescore and Ten Witches in a Village--Children engaged in Witchery put to Death--The Devil bound with an Iron Chain--An Angel's Warning Voice--Witch assaulting Ministers--Witches' Imps--Butter of Witches--Witches Punished--Horse Burned 558

CHAPTER LXVII.

Superstition in France--Pope John XXII. celebrated in the History of Sorcery and Magic--A Bishop skinned alive and torn by Horses for Witchcraft--King Philippe and Superstition--Extracting Teeth without Pain--Berne Witch--Sorcerers in Navarre--Demoniacal Operations--Witches meeting their Deserts--Maria Renata's Witchcrafts--Nuns possessed of Devils--Jeanne D'Arc--Credulity of France and England--Fairies of Domremi--Charmed Tree--Sparkling Spring--Jeanne's Heavenly Mission--Maid at the head of Troops--Her Achievements--Siege of Orleans--Great Victories--Dauphin Crowned--Heroine Betrayed--Charmed Sword--Jeanne's Surrender--King's Ingratitude--Great Rejoicing at the Maid's Downfall--Attempt to Escape--Trial and Condemnation--Maid Burned--A White Dove rising from her Ashes 564

* * * * *

SUPERSTITION IN THE NINETEENTH CENTURY.

CHAPTER LXVIII.

Generality of Superstition--The Church and Superstition--St. Mourie--Various Modes of Superstition--Charms--Lucky and Unlucky Times--Sailors' and Fishermen's Delusions--Weddings, Funerals, and Baptisms--Spae-wives--May Dew--Holy-days--Kirk-session Records--Fort-William Fisherman--Dipping in Fountains--Lochmanur--Holy Well of Kilvullen--Well of Craiguck--Superstition in the Highlands--Warlock Willox--Superstition in Dundee 572

CHAPTER LXIX.

Ghost at Sea--Ghosts in Edinburgh--Fear of Ghosts in Glasgow--Fortune-telling--Choice of Lovers, how decided--Irish Story--How a Ghost settled a Land Question--Prophecy respecting the Argyll Family--Yetholm Gipsies--Curses--Superstition among Fishermen--Superstition among Seamen--Providing for the Dead--A Warning--Blood Stains--Hallow-e'en at Balmoral--Faith in Dreams, etc. 583

CHAPTER LXX.

Lizzie M'Gill, the Fifeshire Spae-wife--Predicting a Storm--Servants alarmed--Prediction fulfilled--Adam Donald, an Aberdeenshire Prophet--His Predictions and Cures--His Marriage--The Wise Woman of Kincardineshire--The Recruiting Sergeant--High-spirited Lady--Charmed Ring and its Effects--Elopement and Marriage--An Enraged Father--Life in America--Strong-minded Women 597

CHAPTER LXXI.

Superstition at Chelmsford--Woman Bewitched--Old Zadkiel--Incantation in Somerset--Turning the Bible and Key--Woman assuming the form of a Hare--Ruling the Stars--Superstition in London--How to preserve Children from Disease--Dreams fulfilled--Virtue of Holly and Ivy--Legend concerning the Tichborne Family--Romantic Divorce Case 608

CHAPTER LXXII.

Spiritualism--Spiritualism not a new Delusion--Phantoms at a _Seance_--Juggling of a Medium--Unsuccessful Effort at a Vulgar Deception--Spiritualists Exposed--A Medium's Deception discovered--Foolish Exhibitions--Russian Peasants and their House Spirits--Spirits' Care over Persons and Property--Death, Pestilence, War, and other Evils foretold by Spirits--A Suggestion 622

CHAPTER LXXIII.

Superstition in Roman Catholic Countries--Miracle-working Images, etc.--Image paying Homage to the Virgin Mary--Madonnas at Trastevere--Miraculous Cures--Superstitious Ceremony at Dieppe--Blessing the Neva--Superstitious Belief of Napoleon's Mother--Trust in Amulets--Zulu Superstition--Witchcraft forbidden by Great Britain--Eating Fetish--Superstition among the Ashantees--Endeavour to prevent the Advance of the British Army--Shah of Persia's Talismans--Indian Princes consulting Fortune-tellers--Procuring Rain in India--Mysterious Lights on the River St. Lawrence--The Queen of Hearts--Superstition in America--Superstitious Artists--Hogarth's last Picture, "The End of all Things" 629

THE RISE AND PROGRESS OF SUPERSTITION.