for the space of four or five dayes there were no remarkable assaults as before The Minister hearing thereof shewed him the evil of such a course and assured him that if he repented not and called back his Children he might not expect that his trouble would end in a right way The Children that were nigh by being brought home no trouble followed till one of his Sons called Thomas that was farest off came home Then did the Devil begin a fresh for upon the Lords day following in the afternoon the House was set on Fire but by the help of some Neighbours going home from Sermon the Fire was put out and the house saved not much loss being done And Munday after being spent in Private prayer and fasting the house was again set on Fire upon the Tuesday about nine a clock in the morning yet by the speedy help of Neighbors it was saved litle skaith being done The Weaver being thus vexed and wearied both day and night went to the Minister of the Parish an Honest and Godly in andesiring him to let his Son Thomas abide with him for a time who condescended but withal assured him that he would find himself deceived and so it came to pass for notwithstanding that the Lad was without the Family yet were they that remained in it sore troubled both in the day time and night season so that they were forced to wake till Mid-night and sometimes all the night over during which time the persons within the Family suffered many losses as the cutting of their Cloaths the throwing of Piets the pulling down of Turff and Feal from the Roof and Walls of the house and the stealling of their Cloaths and the Pricking of their Flesh and Skin with Pins Some Ministers about having conveened at the place for a solemn Humiliation perswaded Gilbert Campbel to call back his Son Thomas Notwithstanding of whatsoever hazard might follow The Boy returning home affirmed that he heard a voice speak to him forbidding him to enter within the House or in any other place where his Fathers Calling was exercised Yet he entered but was sore abused till he was forced to return to the Ministers house again Vpon Munday the 12 of February the rest of the Family began to hear a voice speak to them but could not well know from whence it came Yet from Evening till Mid-night too much vain discourse was kept up with Satan and many idle and impertinent questions proposed without that due fear of God that should have been upon their Spirits under so rare and extraordinary a Trial. They came that length in familiar discourse with the Foul-Thief that they were no more afrayed to keep up the Clash with him than to speak to one another In this they pleased him well for he desired no better than to have Sacrifices offered to him The Minister hearing of this went to the house upon the Tuesday being accompanied with some Gentlemen one James Bailie of Carphin Alexander Bailie of Dunraged Mr. Robert Hay and a Gentlewoman called Mistris Douglas whom the Ministers Wife did accompanie At their first in-coming the Devil says Quum Literarum is good Latine These are the first words of the Latine Rudiments which Schollars are taught when they go to the Grammar School He crys again a Dog The Minister thinking that he had spoken it to him said he took it not ill to be reviled by Satan since his Master had troden that path before him Answered Satan it was not you Sir I spoke it to I meant by the Dog there for there was a Dog standing behind backs This passing they all went to Prayer which being ended they heard a voice speaking out of the ground from under a Bed in the proper Countrey Dialect which he did counterfeit exactly saying Would you know the Witches of Glenluce I will tell you them and so related four or five Persons namâ—s that went under a bad report The Weaver informed the Company that one of them was dead long ago The Devil answered and said It is true she is dead long ago but her Spirit is living with us in the World The Minister replied saying though it was not convenient to speak to such an excommunicat and intercommuned person the Lord rebuke thee Satan and put thee to silence we are not to receive Information from thee whatsoever fame any person goes under Thou art seeking but to seduce this Family for Satans kingdom is not divided against it self After which all went to Prayer again which being ended for during the time of Prayer no noise or trouble was made except once that a loud fearful youel was heard at a distance The Devil with many threatnings boasted and terrified the Lad Tom who had come back that day with the Minister that if he did not depart out of the house he would set all on fire The Minister answered and said the Lord will preserve the house and the Lad too seeing he is one of the Family and hath GODS Warrant to tarry in it The Fiend answered he shall not get liberty to tarry he was once put out already and shal not abide here though I should pursue him to the end of the world The Minister replyed the Lord will stop thy malice against him And then they all went to prayer again which being ended the Devil said give me a Spade and a Shovel and depart from the house for seven days and I will make a Grave and ly down in it and shall trouble you no more The good man answered not so much as a Straw shal be given thee through Gods assistance even though that would do it The Minister also added God shal remove thee in due time The Spirit answered I will not remove for you I have my Commission from Christ to tarry and vex this Family The Minister answered a Permission thou hast indeed but God will stop it in due time The Devil replied I have Sir a Commission which perhaps will last longer than your own The Minister dyed in the year 1655 in December The Devil had told them that he had given his commission to Tom to keep The Company enquired at the Lad who said there was something put into his pocket but it did not tarry After this the Minister and the Gentlemen arose and went to the place whence the voice seemed to come to try if they could see or find any thing After diligent search nothing being found the Gentlemen began to say We think this voice speaks out of the Children for some of them were in their beds The Foul Spirit answered you lie GOD shall judge you for your lying and I and my father will come and fetch you to Hell with Warlock Thieves and so the Devil discharged the Gentlemen to speak any thing saying Let him speak that hath a Commission meaning the Minister for he is the servant of GOD. The Gentlemen returning back with the Minister sat down near the place whence the voice seemed
John Fein was ever nearest the Devil at his left Elbock Graymail keeped the Door That which is observable in John Fien is that the Devil appeared to him not in black but in white raiment but proposed as Hellish a Covenant to him as those Fiends that appear in black His Skimming on the sea in a boat is remarkable with those of his complices and his foretelling the leak in the Queens 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 Kings return from Denmark by getting Satan to cast a thing like a Footbal it appearing to John like a Wisp into the sea which made a Reek to arise whereby the Kings Majestie might be cast upon the coast of England His opening of locks by Sorcery as one by mere blowing into a Womans hand while he sate by the fire His embarquing 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 Satans Arse with reverence again at another Conventicle 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 RELATION IV. A Proclamation over the Mercat Cross of Edinburgh at twelve a clock at night AFter that King James the fourth had mustered his Army in the Borrow-Moor being at that time a large spacious Field and most Pleasant and Delightful by reason of many staitly Oaks which overshadowed the place about midnight in the Moneth of July there is a Proclamation heard at the Mercat Cross of the Town Summoning a great many Burgesses Gentlemen Barons Noblemen to appear before the Tribunal of one Plot-Cock The Provost of the Town standing in his own Fore-stair or Gallery having heard his own name cited cryed out That he declined that Judicatory and appealed to the Mercy of GOD Almighty This was the Army which the King led into England and were defeat at Floudon on that 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 RELATION V. A Miraculous Cure of a Dutch-Wâ—man 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 my self 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 peoples 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 13. or 14. of this Moneth October in the night between one and two of the clock Jeâ—â—h Claes being in bed with her husband who was a Boatman she was three times pulled by the arm with which she awaked and cryed 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 your self 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 shal 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 Rayment to the feet who went from the beds head to the Chimney with a light which a little after evanished Hereupon did something gush from her hip or diffuse it self 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 further 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 a clock At which time she sat at the fire dressing the food Then there came as like 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 drew back In the mean while she cryed 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 30 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 clapt 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 Princes Island in Amsterdam This Relation is Attested by many famous witnesses RELATION VI. Strange Pranks plaid by the Devil at Wood-Stock in England Anno 1649. THe Commissioners October 13. 1649. with their Servants being come to the Mannor-house they took up their lodging in the Kings own Rooms the Bed-Chamber and withdrawing-Room the former whereof they also make their Kitching the Council-Hall their Brewhouse 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 Kings Oak which that nothing might remain that had the name of King affixed to it they digged up by the Roots October 14 and 15 they had little disturbance but on the 16 there came as they thought somewhat into the BedChamber 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 Kings Oak out of the
known who had remained there for four weeks before but seldom frequenting Sir George Maxwels 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-yeard that did prick him in the sides And seeing this woman one day in the Hall of Pollok amongst a great many other company she assured his Daughters that this was the woman And the day following she told the Gentlewomen That this woman whose name was Jennet Mathie relict of John Stewart under-Miller in Schaw-Mill had formed an Wax-Picture with pins in the side which was to be found in her house in a holl 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 Gentlewomens closets and bringing thence a little Bee-wax she plyed it before the fire shewing the dimensions and quantities of the Picture The Gentlewomen not regarded the information because they thought it fabulous yet his two servants Laurence Pollok and Andrew Martine knowing how much the Girle loved their Master and knowing that his life was in hazard if this picture were not found resolved at all adventure to try whether the information were true or false and therefore going alongs with her to the said Jennet Mathies 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 Girle coming quickly by Laurence Pollok putteth her hand in the holl behind the fire and then slips into Andrew Martine beneath his cloak the Waxen-effigie which had two pins in it one in each side but that in the right side so long as to pierce thorow to the other that in the left was not so long nor so deeply thrust in This picture being brought to Pollok Sir George his Son without acquainting his Father apprehended Jennet Mathie procuring the next day the Lord Ross his order for conveying her to prison She being interrogat touching the Picture after several subterfuges alledges 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 14 of October above specified before Sir George went to Glasgow he had called before him a servant in Pollock-toun that had broken his Orchard in harvest last who confest the fact and that Hugh-Stewart a son of Jennet Mathies was his complice But a bystander declared that he was not now in Pollok-land but in the Darnlie To whom Sir George replied I hope my fingers may reach him in Darnlie This was all which could be thought a provocation to Mathie No harme being done in the mean time 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 mothers house evensince her imprisonment In the mean time Mathie remaining obstinat 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 his sickness but not to any observable degree so low was he brought But upon the fourth 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 Girle who was at Pollok-town but could not get over the water to the house the River being so swelled at that time signifying that John Stewart Mathies eldest son had four days since formed an Effigie of clay for taking away Sir George his life And when she was called for she declared it was in his house beneath the bolster among the Bed-straw The next day following James Dunlope of Houshill and Ludowick Stewart of Achinhood with some of Sir George his servants and tennents went to Stewarts house taking the little Girle with them resolving to make a very exact trial that it might not be said that the dumb Girle 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 Effigie from among the bed-straw beneath the bolster the little Girle all the while standing at a distance from the place but the picture having been made only three or four dayes 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 some-what of the waxen Effigie This poor creature proved thereafter through Gods 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 brothers house the fourth 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 Marjorie Craig Margaret Jacksone and her brother John but when confronted with her brother she did not with confidence adher to her confession Vpon 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 Iohn Stewart remained notwithstanding his sisters confession above measure obstinct untill he was searched the next day for insensible marks whereof he had great plenty At the finding whereof he was so confounded that immediatly he confest his paction with the Devil and almost all the other heads exprest in his judicial confession afterwritten And declared that his complices who formed the Effigie 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 picture in her mothers house and of the clay one in her brothers house Vpon information of the premisses the Earle of Dundonald and the Lord Ross granted a warrant for apprehending Bessie Weir Margaret Jackson and Marjorie Craig who had been fellow sisters in the foresaid sorcerie Margaret Jackson a woman aged about fourscore of years after a day or
not But returning on Munday 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 RELATION VII An Apparition to King Iames the fourth and his Courtiers in the Kirk of Lithgow WHile the King stayed at Lithgow attending the gathering of his Armie which was defeat at Flowdon being full of Cares and Perplexity he went into the Church of Saint 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 upon 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 Reverend Aspect Having enquired for the King he intruded himself into the Prease passing through till he came to him with a clounish simplicity leaning over the Canons-seat where the King sate Sir said he I am sent hither to entreat you to delay your Expedition for this time and to proceed no further in your intended Journey for if you do you shal 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 Women as you tender your Honour Life and Estate After this Warning he withdrew himself back again into the Prease 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 diverse 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 RELATION 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 George 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 Doctor Thomas Dyke a near Kinsmans of the Captains thus Shortly after the Majors 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 lyen a while the Captain knockt and bids the Servant bring him two of the largest and bigest Candles lighted which he could get Whereupon the Doctor enquires what he meant by this The Captain answers You know Cusin what Disputs my Major and I have had touching the Beeing 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 of us who dyed 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 Surviver touching these matters who should be sure to be present there at the set time and so receive a full satisfaction And this says the Captain is the very night and I am come on purpose to fulfill my promise The Doctor disswaded him minding him of the danger of following strange Counsels for which he could have no warrant and that the Devil might by some cunning device make such an advantage of this rash attempt as might work his utter ruine 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 assoon as he perceived by it that it was half an hour past 11 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 an 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 About six weeks after the Captain rides to Eaton to place his Son a Scholar there when the Doctor went thither with him They lodged there at an Inn the Sign whereof was the Christopher and tarried two or three nights not lying together now as before at Dulverton but in two several Chambers The morning before they went thence the Captain stayed in his Chamber longer than he was wont to do before he called upon the Doctor At length he comes into the Doctors Chamber but in a Visage and Form much differing from himself with his Hair and Eyes staring and his whole Body shaking and trembling Whereat the Doctor wondering presently demanded what is the matter Cousin Captain The Captain replies I have seen my Major At which the Doctor seeming to smile the Captain confirms it saying if ever I saw him in my life I saw him but now And then he related to the Doctor what had passed thus This morning after it was light some one comes to my Bed-side and suddenly drawing back the Curtains calls Captain Captain which was the term of Familiarity that the Major used to call the Captain by to whom I replied what my Major To which he returns I could not come at the time appointed but I am now come to tell you That there is a GOD and a very just and terrible one and if you do not turn over a new leaf the very expression as by the Doctor punctually remembred you shall find it so The Captain proceeded On the Table by there lay a Sword which the Major had forâ—erly given me Now after the Apparition had walked a turn or two about the Chamber he took up the Sword drew it and finding it not so clean and bright as it ought Captain Captain says he this Sword did not use to be kept after this manner when it was mine After which words he presently disappeared The Captain was not only throughly perswaded of what he had thus seen and heard but was from that time observed to be very much affected with it And the Humour which before in him was brisk and jovial was then strangely altered Insomuch as very little meat would pass down with him at Dinner
to come and he opening his mouth spake to them after this manner The Lord will rebuke this Spirit in his own time and cast it out The Devil answering said It is written in the 9th of Mark the Disciples could not cast him out The Minister replyed What the Disciples could not do yet the Lord having hightned the Parents Faith for his own glory did cast him out and so shall he thee The Devil replyed It is written in the 4th of Luke and he departed and left him for a season The Minister said The Lord in the dayes of his Humiliation not only got the victory over Satan in that assault in the wilderness but when he came again his success was no better for it is written Iohn 14. Behold the Prince of this World cometh and hath nothing in me and being now in glory he will fulfil his promise and GOD shal bruise Satan under your feet shortly Rom. 16. The Devil answered It is written Matth 25. There were ten Virgins five wise five foolish and the Bridegroom came the foolish Virgins had no oyl in their lamps and went unto the wise to seek Oyl and the wise said go and buy for your selves and while they went the Bridegroom came and entered in and the door was shut and the foolish Virgins were sent to Hells fire The Minister answered The Lord knows the sincerity of his servants and though there be sin and folly in us here yet there is a fountain opened to the house of David for sin and for uncleanness when he hath washen us and pardoned our sins for his Names sake he will cast the unclean Spirit out of the land The Devil answered and said Sir you should have cited for that place of Scripture the 13 chap. of Zech. and so he began at the first verse and repeated several verses and concluded with those words In that day I will cause the Prophet and the unclean Spirit pass out of the land but afterwards it is written I will smite the Shepherd and the Sheep shal be scattered The Minister answered and said well are we that our blessed Shepherd was smitten and thereby hath bruised thy head and albeit in the hour of his sufferings his Disciples forsook him Matth. 26. Yet now having ascended on high he sits in glory and is preserving gathering in and turning his hand upon his little ones and will save his poor ones in this Family from thy malice The Minister returning back a little and standing upon the Floor the Devil said I knew not these Scriptures till my Father taught me them Then the Minister conjured him to tell whence he was The Foul-Fiend replyed that he was an evil Spirit come from the bottomless Pit of Hell to vex this house and that Satan was his Father and presently there appeared a naked hand and an arm from the Elbow down beating upon the Floor till the house did shake again and also he uttered a most fearful and loud cry saying come up Father come up I will send my Father among you See there he is behind your backs The Minister said I saw indeed an hand and an arm when the stroak was given and heard The Devil said to him Saw you that It was not my hand it was my Fathers my hand is more black in the loof O said Gilbert Campbel that I might see thee as well as I hear thee Would you see me says the Foul-Thief Put out the Candle and I shal come butt the house among you like fire balls I shall let you see me indeed Alexander Bailie of Dunraget says to the Minister let us go ben and see if there be any hand to be seen The Devil answered No let him come ben alone he is a good honest man his single word may be believed About this time the Devil abused Mr. Robert Hay a very honest Gentleman very ill with his Tongue calling him Witch and Warlock A little after the Devil cryes It seems out of purpose and in a purpose a Witch a VVitch Ther 's a Witch sitting upon the Ruist take her away he meant a Hen sitting upon the halk of the House These things being Past all went to Prayer during which time he was silent Prayer being ended the Devil answered and said If the Goodmans Sons prayers at the Colledge of Glasgow did not prevail with GOD my father and I had wrought a mischief here ere now To which Alexander Bailie of Dunraged replied well well I see you confess there is a God and that prayer prevails with him and therefore we must pray to God and commit the event to him To whom the Devil replied yea Sir you speak of prayer with your broad lipped Hat for the Gentleman had lately gotten a Hat in the fashion with broad lipps I 'le bring a pair of Shears from my Father which shal clip the lipps of it a little Whereupon he presently imagined that he heard and felt a pair of Shears going round about his Hat which caused him lift it to see if the Foul-Theif had medled with it During this time several things but of less moment passed as that he would have Tom a Merchant Rob a Smith Iohn a Minister and Hue a Lawier all which in some measure came to pass As to Jennet the Goodmans Daughter he cryes to her Jennet Campbel Jennet Campbel wilt thou cast me thy Belt Quoth she what a widdy would thou do with my Belt I would fain says he fasten my loose bones closs together with it A younger Daughter sitting busking her Puppies as young Girls use to do being threatned by the Fiend that he would ding out her harns that is brain her answered without being concerned no if God be to the fore and so fell to her work again The Good Wife of the house having brought out some bread was breaking it to give every one of the Company a Piece Cryes he Grissel Wyllie Grissel Wyllie give me a peice of that hard bread for so they call their Oat Cakes I have gotten nothing this day but a bit from Marrit that is as they speak in that Countrey Margaret The Minister said beware of that for it is a sacrificing to the Devil The Girle was called for and asked if she gave him any hard bread no says she but when I was eating my due piece this morning something came and clieked it out of my hand The Evening being now far spent it was thought fit that every one should withdraw to his own home Then did the Devil cry out fearfully let not the Minister goe home I shall burn the house if he go and many other ways did he threaten After the Minister had gone foorth Gilbert Campbel was very instant with him to tarry whereupon he returned all the rest going home When he came into the house the Devil gave a great gaff of laughter you have now Sir done my bidding Not thine answered the other but in obedience to God have I returned to
obstinate and obdured and I fear she shall be so to her death Some special Providencies I observed in all these First That however we knew nothing at our first apprehending of her but only that she was of a bad report and had some boasting words to John Rankings wife after which she dyed shortly yet partly more and more light brake up until so many Presumptions were proven on her as the Civil Magistrate did judge it equitable to put her to an Assize 2 That Alexander Bogs came and found the Mark upon her at that very nick of time when there was an inclination to let her go free which though it did not say much yet it was a mean to keep her still in Prison 3 That a Commission was granted upon more slender grounds than any which had been granted before and that the Lord keeped up the greatest evidence of her guilt untill the Commission was obtained and the day for the Assize appointed 4 That the Commission being granted I was in a great Strait what to do no less being presented to me than her Blood-guiltiness if I should advise to condemn her and the sparing of an enemy to GOD if I should not advise This made the mercy in giving me so full clearing the more acceptable 5 That GOD did make all other means misgive which I did use untill he should clear me by these wherein more of himself was soon 6 That before he gave me clearing I was made to engadge my self to a special Observation of his most remarkable Providences towards me 7 That I had often thoughts to use these means of trying her by going to watch in the night if I could hear the Devil and her conferring together but was always hindred until this time having no such resolution when I was coming out from her but only a present purpose to stand but a little not thinking to hear any thing of this kind and if she had not presently begun to speak I would have gone away 8 That I my self was present at the hearing of their conference If it had been any other I would neither have been so fully satisfied my self nor yet others who should hear of it 9 That not only I but two with me did hear also which will make a legal proof 10 That I was born up with courage all the time acting Faith in GOD that the Foul Spirit should not have power to do us harm though he was so near unto us 11 That I heard as much as did give full clearing that it was another voice though I could not get any of the words understood The Lord thinking it sufficient to loose me out of my strait though he would not satisfy my Curiositie 12 Though I could not get the words understood yet there was as much evidence as made it clearly appear it was another voice than hers As first that we heard twise And 2 that three of us did so think 3 That I was in courage and so my judgement not jumbled by any fearful apprehensions 4 That the Accent and way of her discourse and in what we did understand of it was not after the manner how one regrates a thing to himself but of one conferring with another 5 That the other Voice was to my certain hearing of a different Accent from hers so hollow and ghoustie that it was as easie to me to put a difference between them in the mean time as between the Voice of a Man and the Voice of a Child 6 That to my best Remembrance the Uncouth Voice began before she ended so that two Voices were to be heard at once Lastly Alexander Sympson under stood their language and afterward did depone the words judicially It is good 1 For folk to hold on in doing of dutie though they foresee insuperable difficulties before they come to the end of it Let a man go on till he come to the difficulty and ere he come that far on GOD will remove it 2 It s good in asking Mercies to engadge the heart to some duties of thankfulness upon the granting of them 3 How zealous is the Devil to get Souls damned That though he be of an excellent substance of great natural Parts long Experience and deep understanding yet he will so far inslave himself to poor Miscreant Bodies as to be ready at their call to discourse and keep Company with them that at the last he may get them 4 How serviceable and trustie so ever the Devil seems to be unto Witches yet he cares not to insnare them at the last for he could not but know that we were waiting on to hear him and her so that on purpose he hath entered in discourse with her that she might be taken in the Grin I come to some other remarkable passages concerning Elizabeth Graham before her death giving evidence that she was most guilty of Witchcraft though she died obstinate and would not confess Vpon Saturday night November 13 she seemed to incline to a Confession and promised to William Wat to tell me to morrow after Sermon all that was in her heart At which time I had none with me but William Wat. When I spake with her She regrated her mispent time but especially her malice towards my self which she affirmed the Devil tempted her to All which time she spake with a very low voice that although I desired her to speak out we could scarcely hear her Whereupon I enquired the Reason why she was not able to speak louder She replyed that when she set her self to speak any thing that was for her Souls good she dought not get spoken These were her words But if she would scold and flyte as she used to do the Devil would give her strength enough to speak as loud as ever she did Within a little I posed her if she was guilty of Witch-Craft She stareth with her eyes by me first to the one side and then to the other at which time I think certainly she saw the Devil For immediately after she began to rail upon me although she had confessed her malice at me was partly the cause of her greatest grief and still as she went on in railling her voice became stronger and stronger till at last she spake as loud as ever she did Vpon Munday before noon she was most bitter in her Language I posed her what grounds of confidence she had if it would be well with her Soul She answered she had no grounds yet for she had lived a wicked woman and had not yet repented but she hoped she would get Heaven and get repentance and a change wrought in her and though she was to live but a short while she was sure of it and that I would soon see it I thought in the mean time she had spoken that in her rage But after I perceived the Devil and she had an further design in it as appears by what follows That same day afternoon they came and told me that she
try his Black Art but it would not do with him For whilst he had wearied himself in observing his Spells Charms and Incantations and what the furthest that Hellish skill and power could do to satisfie the Company he was at last enforced to that Confession before them all which he spake with great wrath and anger That there was one in the Company that hindred his work by Reason of whom he could get nothing done at that time I may add to this a strange Providence of GOD. Master John Craig that was a Minister to King James here in Scotland being when he was a Young Man apprehended at Room for venting Heresie as they called it was shut up in Prison In the mean time Paul the fourth dies The Banditi that night broke up all the Prison doors and set at Liberty all the Prisoners Mr. John Craig escapes with an intention to go to Bononia But fearing hurt there he set his mind towards Millain When he had travell'd some days declining the High-wayes out of Fear he came into a Forrest a wild and desert place and being sore wearied lay down among some Bushes at the side of a little river to refresh himself He lay there pensive and full of thought For neither knew he in what place he was nor had he any means to carry him out the way In the mean time there came a Dog fawning upon him with a purse in his teeth with Money and layes it down before him He strucken with fear rises up but construing the same to proceed from GODS favourable Providence he accepted of it and held on his way till he came to Vienna in Austria RELATION XXIII Anent a great Doctor of Divinity that raise out of the Bier and spoke to all that were present IT is written in the life of one Bruno that a Doctor of great note for Learning and Godliness being dead and being brought to the Church to be buried while they were in their Popish Devotions and came to these words Responde mihi the Corps arose in the Bier and with a terrible voice cryed out Justo DEI judicio accusatus sum I am accused at the just Judgement of GOD. At which voice the people ran all out afrighted On the morrow when they came again to perform the Obsequies to the like words as before the Corps rose again and cried with a hideous voice Justo DEI judicio condemnatus sum I am Judged at the Righteous Judgement of GOD. Whereupon the People run away amazed The third day almost all the City came together and when they came to the same words as before the Corps rose again and cried with a more doleful noise than before Justo DEI judicio condemnatus sum I am condemned at the just Judgement of GOD. The consideration whereof that a man reputed so upright should yet by his own confession be damned caused Bruno and the rest of his Companions to enter into that strick Order of Carthusians The Author and Relator makes this use of it If the voice of the dead man could afright them into Superstition should not the warning of GOD afright us into True Doctrine RELATION XXIV Touching some Drunkards destroyed by the Devil THIS hath been published in a Sermon by a Godly Minister But I must insert it here in its own proper place On the 8 of February saith my Author in the year 1578 a company of Drunkards whose names are recorded as followeth Adam Gibbons George Keepel John Keysel Peter Horsdroff John Warner Simon Heamkers Jacob Hermons and Hermon Frow These eight Drunkards in contempt of the blessed Sabbath agreed to go to the Tavern on the Lords day to be merry and coming to the house of one Antony Hodge an honest Godly Man they called for Burnt-Wine Sack Clarat and what not The Good-man refusing to give them any advised them to go to Church to hear the Word of GOD but they all save Adam Gibbons refused saying they loathed that Exercise Whereupon the Host departed who being gone to Church they began to curse and ban wishing he might brake his neck ere he returned and wishing the Devil might brake their own necks if they went from hence till they had some Wine Whereupon the Devil in the likeness of a Young-Man appeared unto them bringing in his hand a Flagon of Wine and so drank unto them saying Good Fellows be merry you shall have Wine enough you seem to be lusty Lads and I hope you will pay me well who answering said They would either pay him or engage their Neck for it Yea rather than fail their Bodies and Souls Thus these men continued drinking and swilling so long till they could hardly see one another At last the Devil their Host told them that now they must pay for all at which their hearts waxed cold But the Devil bid them be of good chear for now they must drink Fire and Brimstone with him in the Pit of Hell for ever At which the Devil breake their Necks assunder and destroyed them And thus ended these drunkards their miserable dayes This by the way may serve for a Document for all Drunkards for ever and to perswade folk that the Lord has the Devil for his Executioner when he pleases to execute his vengeance upon Notorious Sinners RELATION XXV Touching one William Barton a Warlock ABout thirty years ago more or less there was one William Barton apprehended for Witch-Craft His confession was first that if he had twenty Sons he would advise them to shun the lust of uncleanness For said he I never saw a beautiful Woman Maid nor Wife but I did covet them which was the only cause that brought me to be the Devils Vassal One day says he going from my own house in Kirkliston to the Queens Ferry I overtook in Dalmeny Muire a young Gentlewoman as to appearance beautifull and comely I drew near to her but she shunned my company and when I insisted she became angry and very nyce Said I since we are both going one way be pleased to accept of a convey At last after much entreaty she grew better natured and at length we came to that Familiarity that she suffered me to embrace her and to do that which Christian ears ought not to hear of At this time I parted with her very joyful The next night she appeared to him in that same very place and after that which should not be named he became sensible that it was the Devil Here he renounced his Baptism and gave up himself to her service and she called him her beloved and gave him this new name of Iohn Baptist and received the Mark. She likewise bestowed fifteen pound scots upon him in name of Tocher-good and so parted After he had gone a little way off she calls him back and gave him a Merk-piece in good and sufficient money which She bad him spend at the Ferry and desired him to keep entire and whole the 15. pound which he declared was real
Poorer sort by presenting them with Meat and Drink and this way allured them to himself with other circumstances 〈◊〉 be mentioned hereafter The Inhabitants of the Village added with very great Lamentations That though their Children had told all and themselves sought GOD very earnestly by Prayer yet they were carried away by him and therefore begged of the Lords Commissioners to root out this Hellish crew that they might regain their former Rest and Quietnesse and the rather because the Children which used to be carried away in the County or District of Elfdale since some Witches had been burnt there remained unmolested That day i. e. the 13th of August being the last Humiliation-day instituted by Authority for the removing of this Iudgement the Commissioners went to Church where there appeared a considerable Assembly both of Young and Old the Children could read most of them and sing Psalms and so could the Women though not with any great Zeal or Fervour There were preached two Sermons that day in which the miserable case of those people that suffered themselves to be deluded by the Devil was laid open and these Sermons were at last concluded with very fervent Prayer The Publick Worship being over all the people of the Town were called together in the Parsons House near three thousand of them Silence being commanded the Kings Commission was read publickly in the hearing of them all and they were charged under very great Penalties to conceal nothing of what they knew and to say nothing but the truth those especially who were guilty that the Children might be delivered from the Clutches of the Devil They all promised obedience the guilty feignedly but the guiltless weeping and crying bitterly On the 14th of August the Commissioners met again consulting how they might withstand this dangerous flood after long deliberation an Order also coming from his Majesty they did resolve to execute such as the matter of Fact could be proven upon Examination being made there were discovered no lesse than threescore and ten in the Village aforesaid three and twenty of which confessing their Crimes were condemned to dye the rest one pretending she was with Child and the other denying and pleading not guilty were sent to Fahluna where most of them were afterwards Executed Fifteen Children which likewise confessed that they were engaged in this Withery died as the rest Six and thirty of them between nine and sixteen years of age who had been less guilty were forced to run the Gantlet Twenty more who had no great inclination yet had been seduced to those Hellish Enterprizes because they were very young were condemned to be lashed with Rods upon their hands for three Sundays together at the Church Door and the aforesaid six and thirty were also doomed to be lashed this way once a Week for a whole Year together The number of the seduced Children was about three hundred On the twenty fifth of August execution was done upon the notoriously guilty the day being bright and Glorious and the Sun shinning and some thousands of People being present at the Spectacle The order and Method observed in the examination was this First the Commissioners and the Neighbouring Justices went to Prayer this done the Witches who had most of them Children with them which they had either seduced or attempted to seduce some seven years of age nay from four to sixteen were set before them Some of the Children complained lamentably of the Misery and Mischief they were forced sometime to suffer of the Devil and tâ—e Witches The Children being asked whether they were sure that they were at any time carried away by the Devil They all declared they were begging of the Commissioners that they might be freed from that intolerable slavery Hâ—reupon the Witches themselves were asked whether the Confessions of these Children were true and admonished to confess the Truth that they might turn away from the Devil unto the living GOD. At first most of them did very stifly and without the least sheding the least tear deny it though much against their will and inclination After this the Children were examined every one by themselves to sâ—e whether their Confessions did agree or no and the Commissioners found that all of them except some very little ones who could not tell all the Circumstance did punctually agree in the Confession of Particulars In the mean while the Commissioners that were of the Clergy examined the Witches but could not bring them to any Confession all continuing steadfast in their denials till at last some of them burst out into Tears and their Confession agreed with what the Children had said And these expressed their abhorrency of the Fact and begged Pardon Adding that the Devil whom they called Loeyta had stopt the Mouths of some of them so loath was he to part with his prey And had stopt the ears of others and being now gone from them they could no longer conceal it for they had now perceived his Treachery The Confession which the Witches made in Elfdale to the Iudges there agreed with the Confession they made at Mohra and the Chief things they Confessed consisted in these three Points First whether they used to go Secondly what kind of place it was they went to called by them Blockula where the Witches and the Devil used to meet Thirdly what evil and Mischief they had either done or Designed there First of their Journey to Bloâ—kula The Contents of their Confession We of the Province of Elfdale do confess that we used to go to a Gravel-Pit which lays hard by a Cross-way and there we put on a Vest over our heads and then danced round and after this ran to the Cross-way and called the Devil thrice first with a still Voice the second time somewhat louder and the third time very loud with these words Antecessor come and carry us to Blockula Whereupon immediately he used to appear but in different Habits but for the most part we saw him in a Gray-Coat and red and blew Stockings He had a red beard a high crowned Hat with Linnen of diverse colours wrapt about it and long Garters upon his Stockings It is very remarkable that the Devil never appears to the Witches with a Sword at his side Then he asked us whether we would serve him with Soul and Body If we were content to do so he set us on a Beast which he had there ready and carried us over Churches and High Walls and after all we came to a Green Meadow where Blockula lies We must procure some scrapings of Altars and fyâ—lings of Church-Clocks and then he gives us a horn with a Salve in it wherewith we do anoint our selves and a Saddle with a Hammer and a Wooden Naile thereby to fix the Saddle Whereupon we call upon the Devil and away we go Those that were of the Town of Mohra made in a manner the same Declaration Being asked whether they were sure of a real Personal Transportation and
Dining-Room into 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 hoyested up their Beds-feet 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 a force that their bodies rebounded from the Bed a good distance and then shook the Bedsteads so violently that themselves confest their Bodies wer sore with it October 18. Something came into the Bed-Chamber and walkt 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 19. Trenchers were thrown up and down the Dining-Room and at them who lodged there whereof one of them being wakned put forth his head to see what was the matter but had Trenchers thrown at it October 20. The Curtains of the Bed in the Withdrawing-Room were drawn to and fro and the Bedstead much shaken and eight great Pewther-Dishes and three dozen of Trenchers thrown about the Bed-Chamber again This night they also thought whole armsful of the Wood of the Kings Oak were thrown down in their Chambers but of that in the morning they found nothing had been moved October 21. 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 October 22. though the Bitch kenneld there again to whom they ascribed their former nights 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 cloaths pluckt off them in the Withdrawing-Room and the Bricks fell out of the Chimney into the Room And on the 24. They thought in the Dining-room that all the Wood of the Kings Oak had been brought thither and thrown down closs 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-cloaths 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 hours 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 fourty Peece of Ordinance 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 cryed out to one another for help whereof one of them recovering himself out of a strange Agony he had been in snatcht 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 Mannor would have fallen on their Heads At its departure it took all the Glass of the Windows away with it November first Something as they thought walkt up 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 fetcht away this night and a great deal of Glass not like the former thrown about again November the second 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 This night they planted Candles all about the Rooms and made fires up to the Rantle-trees of the Chimneys but all were 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 broke 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 Rabbet Stealers who were abroad that night were so afrighted with the dismal Thundering that for haste they left their Ferrets in the holes behind them beyond Rosamonds Well Notwithstanding all this one of them had the boldness to ask in the Name of GOD what it was what it would have and what they had done that they should be 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 it self 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 stricking the Candle and Candlestick into the middle of the Bed-Chamber and afterwards making three scraps on the snuff to put it out Vpon this the same person was so bold as to draw his Sword but he had scarce got it out but 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 calling to one another got together and went into the Presence Chamber where they said Prayers and sang Psalms notwithstanding all which the Thundring noise still continued in other Rooms After this November 3d. they removed their Lodgings over the gate and next day being Sunday went to Ewelm where how they escaped the Authors of the Relation knew