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
Creatures are The other reason why Folk disbelieve Witches and Spirits is Atheism For if a man take good notice he will find there is of it lurking at the root of the Saducean Principle 'T is probable that the Saducees in Christs time were as great Patrons and Advocates of Witches as either Scot the Inglishman the Father of the Witch Patrons whom King Iames mentions in his Demonology or Webster Wagstaff or the Author of the Namle Pamphlet Printed Anno 1659. A third Reason is Because it is commonly believed that many innocent Persons have suffered as Witches especially such as have bâ—en Tortur'd to a Confession Let it be so but will it follow that all suffer after that manner And though many of their Confessions seem ridiculous as their Transformation into Catts and Hares and their Transportation into far Countreys which is evident enough Yet such things as their renouncing their Baptism and giving up themselves from Top to Toe to the Devils service and receiving his Mark they willing to take it and injunctions to do all manner of evil cannot be thought ridiculous If we can believe that the Devil can speak with an audible voice and come under a visible shape as is very probable he appeared to our Savior why should it be thought incredible that he may not do the like to Men and Women Satan offered to make a fair bargan with Christ if thou wilt fall down says he and worship me I will give thee all these Kingdoms Why much more may he not make compacts with men and Women If Witchcraft were but a new Trade which had never been heard of before and but a few in a countrey-side that profest their skill in it and told such foolish stories of themselves that man might be esteemed singular that would believe them But since this employment hath been verified by Millions in all ages in all places and hath obtained the general approbation of all sober judicious men but especially so well verified from holy Scripture why should any man as Webster and Wagstaff judge all Witchcraft but delusions Samuel said to Saul that Rebellion was like the sin of Witchcraft that is the one is as great a sin as the other Would ever the Spirit of God compare Rebellion especially against himself to a non-ens to a thing that is not or to Jugling Tricks or Legerdemain such as the Hocus Pocusses play Were Jannes and Jambres the Egyptain Magicians who withstood Moses only two Juglers or couzening Rogues that cast down before Pharoah carved and painted Serpents instead of real ones They have been very artificially done that the true Serpents mistook them for real ones It was a Victory to brag of indeed that Moses obtained over Pharoahs Magicians if they were but arrant Cheats who had no more to do with evil Spirits or evil Spirits with them then evil Spirits have to do with other Sinners There is that well known place Exod. 22.18 Thou shalt not suffer a Witch to live which would be a Law of extream severity or rather cruelty against a poor Jugler for his tricks of Legerdemain Why is Witchcraft call'd a Work of the Flesh and reckoned up among the rest of these damnable sins Gal. 5. The Greek word is Pharmakeia veneficium Sorcery or the Art of poysoning whereof they have great skill from the old Drugist their Master Not that they mischieve people ordinarly by natural poyson as Arsenick or the like but rather by some hellish malignancy infused into things by the art and malice of the Devil It is such a poyson that no Alexipharmacon or Orvieton can be an Antidote against Men and Women have been wronged by the touch of a Witches hand by the breath and kiss of their mouth as is well known of late By their looks which is called Fascinatio physica a Forelook or Ill-eyes The Greek word is Bascania from Bascaino to bewitch or envy quasi phasei kaino oculis interficio as when a Witch sendeth forth from her heart thorow her eyes venemous and poysonful Spirits as Rayes which lighting upon a man will kill him The Basilisk killeth this way But the Devil and the Basilisk are both Serpents What was Simon Magus But especially that notable Magician Apollonius Thianeus one beyond most that ever the World knew And that Damsel possessed with a Spirit of Divination in the Greek a Spirit of Python by which name Apollo the Devil was called by the Heathens The Witch of Endor is so notable and evident an instance of Confederacy with the Devil that the Witch Patrons to find an evasion have set theit wits upon the Rack But it is such a Choak-pear to them as that they shall never be able to Chew or Swallow Doctor Glanvile maintains it was the true Samuel that appeared to Saul But it is far more probable that it was the Devil in Samuels lickness For it is most incredible that GOD who had just now refused to answer Saul by the means which himself had appointed would answer him or suffer Samuel to answer him by the use of those means which GOD detested Secondly if it had been the true Samuel or some Good Spirit he would not have received that worship from Saul which Good Spirits would not suffer Rev. 19.10 and 22.8 9. Thirdly Among the other sins for which he condemneth Saul he omitteth this of asking counsel of one that had a Familiar Spirit to enquire of it for which transgression with others he is expresly said to have died 1 Chron. 10.13 Which the true Samuel who was so zealous for GODS honour and so faithful a reprover of sin would never have neglected especially now when he took Saul in the very fact Lastly he pretends himself to be disquieted and brought up by Sauls instigation and the Witches Art which is most false impious and absurd to imagine concerning those blessed souls who are returned to their God Eccl. 12.7 Isa. 57.2 Luke 16.22 Rev. 13.14 Many in all Ages have written of Devilry and Witchcraft Men of eminent Knowledge and Parts as we may see by one instance of King Iames his Demonology a piece as far beyond all other mens writtings on that subject as himself was beyond all Princes in his time I cannot omit to mention the opinion of His Majesties present Advocat Sir George Mackenzie a Gentleman of great knowledge and experience in all such Matters in his 16. Pleading for Mevia accused of Witchcraft I am not of their Opinion sayes he who deny that there are Witches though I think them not numerous and though I believe that some are suffered by Providence to the end that the beeing of Spirits may not be denyed c. And in his Criminals he acteth the part both of a Divine a Lawyer and a good Philosopher in order to Witchcraft But what can be the reason of so much Atheism in the World There are many but I shall only touch at two First there are a monstruous rable of men who
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
bear this man companie whom thou doest afflict Then did the Minister call upon God and when prayer was ended he discharged the Weaver and all the Persons of the Familie to speak a word to the Devil and when it spak that they should only kneel down and speak to God The Devil then roared mightily and cryed out What Will ye not speake to me I shall strike the bairns and do all manner of mischief But after that time no answer was made to it and so for a long time no speech was heard Several times hath he beat the Children in their Beds and the claps of his loof upon their Buttocks would have been heard but without any trouble to them While the Minister and Gentle-men were standing at the Door readie to goe home the Ministers Wife and the Good-Wife were within Then cryed Satan Grissel put out the Candle Sayes she to the Ministers Wife shall I do it No says the other for then you shal obey the Devil Vpon this he cryes again with a louder shout Put out the Candle The Candle still burns The third time he cryes Put out the Candle and no obedience being given to him he did so often reiterat these words and magnify his voice that it was astonishment to hear him which made them stop their ears they thinking the sound was just at their ears At last the Candle was put out Now sayes he I 'le trouble you no more this Night I must insert here what I heard from one of the Ministers of that Presbytrie who with the rest were appointed to meet at the Weavers house for prayer and other exercises of that kind When the day came five only met But before they went in they stood a while in the Croft which layes round about the house consulting what to do They resolved upon two things first there should be no words of Conjuration used as commanding him in the Name of GOD to tell whence he was or to depart from the Familie for which they thought they had no call from GOD. Secondly that when the Devil spake none should answer him but hold on in their worshipping of GOD and the duties they were called to When all of them had prayed by turns and three of them had spoken a word or two from the Scripture they prayed again and then ended without any disturbance When that Brother who informed me had gone out one Hue Nisbit one of the company came running after him desiring him to come back for he had begun to whistle No sayes the other I tarried as long as GOD called me but go in again I will not After this the said Gilbert suffered much loss and had many sad nights not two nights in one week free and thus it continued till April from April to July he had some Respite and ease but after he was molested with new assaults and even their Victuals were so abused that the Family was in hazard of starving and that which they eat gave them not their ordinary satisfaction they were wont to find In this sore and sad affliction Gilbert Campbel resolved to make his Address to the Synod of Presbyters for Advice and Counsel what to do which was appointed to conveen in October 1655. namely whether to forsake the house or not The Synod by their Committy appointed to meet at Glenluce in February 1656. thought fit that a solemn Humiliation should be kept through all the Bounds of the Synod and among other causes to request GOD in behalf of that afflicted Family which being done carefully the event was that his troubles grew less till April and from April to August he was altogether free About which time the Devil began with new assaults and taking the ready Meat that was in the house did sometimes hide it in holes by the door-posts and at other times did hide it under the Beds and some times among the Bed-cloaths and under the Linnings and at last did carry it quite away till nothing was left there save Bread and Water This minds me of a small passage as a proof of what is said The Good-wife one Morning making Pottage for the Childrens Break-fast had the Tree-plate wherein the meal 〈◊〉 snatcht from her quickly Well says 〈◊〉 let me have the plate again Whereupon it came flying at her without any skaith done 'T is like if she had sought the meale too she might have got it such is his civility when he is entreated A small homage will please him ere he want all After this he exercised his malice and cruelty against all persons in the Family in wearying them in the Night time by stirring and moving thorow the house so that they had no rest for Noise which continued all the Moneth of August after this manner After which time the Devil grew yet worse by roaring and terrifying them by casting of Stones by striking them with staves on their Beds in the Night-time And upon the 18. of September about Midnight he cryed out with a loud voice I shall burn the house And about 3. or 4. Nights after he set one of the Beds on fire which was soon put out without any prejudice except the Bed it self Thus I have written a short and true account of all the Material Passages which occurred To write every particular especially of lesser Moment would fill a large Volum The Goodman lived several years after this in the same house and it seems that by some conjuration or other the Devil suffered himself to be put away and gave the Weaver a peaceable habitation This Weaver has been a very Odd man that endured so long these marvellous disturbances RELATION XII Anent Mother Iackson her VVitch-Craft THis Story hath as much certainty with it as any Human Story can have The Author that writs it is a Famous Minister of the Gospel and attested by famous Witnesses This Woman was arraigned and condemned at Newgate for bewitching one Mary Glover a M 〈◊〉 rchants Daughter in Themes-Street One Doctor Boncraft did inform Judge Anderson then Lord Chief Justice that the said Mother Jackson was wronged and that the Maid did counterfeit Whereupon the Lord Chief Justice gave order to Sir John Crook then Recorder of London to make trial of them in his Chamber at the Temple The Maid being sent for came with her Mother and diverse of her Neighbours and about an hour after the Witch was sent for and was brought in disguised like a countrey-market-Woman with a mufflet hiding her face and an old Hat and a short Cloack spattered with mire When she entered the Chamber the Maid suddenly fell down backward upon the floor with her eyes drawn into her head her tongue toward her Throat her Mouth drawn up to her Ear her Bodie became stiff and senseless Her Lips being shut closs a plain and audible voice came out of her Nostrills saying Hang her Hang her Then did the Recorder call for a Candle and a sheet of Paper and held the paper
had fallen to pray and had many gracious words expressing her own vileness and the sense she had of GODS Mercy and with tears in which strain she continued till after supper I came then to see her at which time she was continuing still as before in aggreging her sin and guilt and shewing her hopes of Salvation and her desire to die and all alongs she had such pithy expressions and Scripture so often and plentifully cited that I was put to wonder considering that I had ever found her altogether ignorant of the grounds of Religion both before and after she was put into Prison After I had wondered at it a while without speaking to her considering what she had foretold so confidently before noon I concluded in my own mind that it was a draught between the Devil and her to fenzie Repentance in such an odd way that we might be deceived being made to think that she was not a Witch else she would confess it seing GOD had given her Repentance Whereupon I seriously considering the matter I posed her of guiltinesse she confessed all the particulars of the Processe which did not certainly conclude her to be a Witch but for the rest of the particulars she denyed as also the Crime of Witch-craft it self However she said she knew she would die and desired not to live and she thought we would be free before GOD of her blood because that however she was free yet there were so many things deponed against her that though it was hard for us to think otherwise of her than we did yet she knew well enough her own innocency Thus I have written all these particulars as I found them in the Authentick Record written by the Ministers own hand She was soon after executed and died without any acknowledgement of Witchcraft RELATION XVI Anent the Apparition of Sir George Williers SOme few days before the Duke of Buckingham went to Portsmouth where he was Stabbet by Felton the Ghost of his Father Sir George Williers appeared to one Parker a religious and sober man who had been a servant to the said sir George but now servant to the Duke his Son he appeared to him I say in his Morning-Chamber-Gown and charged him to tell his Son that he should decline that Employment and Design he was going upon or els he would certainly be murdered Parker promised to the Apparition to do it The Duke making preparations for his Expeditions the Apparition came again to Parker taxing him very severely for his breach of Promise and required him not to delay the acquainting his Son of the danger he was in Then Parker the next day tells the Duke that his Fathers Ghost had twice appeared to him and had commanded him without any further delay to give him that warning The Duke slighted it and told him he was an old Doting Fool. That night the Apparition came to Parker a third time saying Parker thou hast done well in warning my Son of his danger but though he will not yet believe thee Go to him once more however and tell from me by such a Token naming a private token which no body knows but only He and I that if he will not decline this Voyage such a Knife as this is pulling a long Knife out from under his Gown will be his Death This Message Parker also delivered the next day to the Duke who when he heard the private Token believed he had it from his Fathers Ghost Yet said he that his honour was now at the Stake and he could not go back from what he had undertaken come Life come Death This passage Parker after the Dukes Murder communicated to his fellow Servant Henry Celey who told it to a Reverend Divine a Neighbour of mine saith my Author from whose Mouth I have it This Henry Celey has not been dead above twentie years and his habitation for several years before his death was at North-Currie but three miles from this place My friend the Divine aforesaid was an intimate Acquaintance of this Henry Celey's and assures me he was a Person of known Truth and Integritie RELATION XVII Anent Hattaraik an old Warlock THis mans name was Sandie Hunter who called himself Sandie Hamilton and it seems was called Hattaraik by the Devil and so by others as a Nick-name He was first a Neat-herd in East-Lothian to a Gentle-man there He was much given to Charming and cureing of Men and Beasts by Words and Spels His Charms sometimes succeeded sometimes not On a day herding his kine upon a Hill side in the Summer time the Devil came to him in form of a Mediciner and said Sandie you have too long followed my trade and never acknowledged me for your Master You must now take on with me and be my servant and I will make you more perfect in your Calling Whereupon the man gave up himself to the Devil and received his Mark with this new name After this he grew very famous throw the Countrey for his Charming and cureing of diseases in Men and Beasts and turned a vagrant fellow like a Iockie gaining Meal Flesh and Money by his Charms such was the ignorance of many at that time Whatever House he came to none durst refuse Hattaraik an alms rather for his ill than his good One day he came to the Yait of Samuelstoun whâ—n some Friends after Dinner were going to Horse A young Gentleman brother to the Lady seing him switcht him about the ears saying You Warlok Cairle what have you to do here Whereupon the Fellow goes away grumbling and was overheard say you shall dear buy this ere it be long This was Damnum Minatum The young Gentle-man conveyed his Friends a far way off and come home that way again where he supt After supper taking his horse and crosing Tine-Water to go home he rides throw a shadowy piece of a Haugh commonly called the Allers and the evening being some-what dark he met with some Persons there that begat a dreadful consternation in him which for the most part he would never reveal This was malum secutum When he came home the Servants observed terror and fear in his Countenance The next day he became distracted and was bound for several days His Sister the Lady Samuelstown hearing of it was heard say suerly that knave Hattaraik is the cause of his Trouble Call for him in all haste When he had come to her Sandie says she what is this you have done to my Brother William I told him says he I should make him repent his stricking of me at the yait lately She giving the Rogue fair words and promising him his Pock full of Meal with Beaf and Cheese perswaded the Fellow to cure him again He undertook the business but I must first says he have one of his Sarks which was soon gotten What Pranks he plaid with it cannot be known But within a short while the Gentleman recovered his Health When Hattaraik came to receive his wadges he
her she should not come in intimating that her visit would make division betwixt them After some Parley the Quakers Wife spake unto him in these Words Thou wilt not believe except thou see a sign and thou mavest see some such Within a few nights after Robert Churchman had a violent storm upon the Room where he lay when it was very calm in all other parts of the town and a voice within him as he was in Bed spake to him and bid him Sing Praises sing Praises telling him that he should see the New Jerusalem about which time a Glimmering light appeared all about the Room Toward the morning the Voice commanded him to go out of his Bed naked with his Wife and Children They all standing upon the Floor the Spirit making use of his tongue bid them to lye down and put their mouths in the dust which they did accordingly It like-wise commanded them to go and call his Brother and Sister that they might see the New Jerusalem to whom he went naked about half a Mile When he had delivered his Message that which spake within him charged him to denounce wrath against them and declare that Fire and Brimstone would fall upon them as it did upon Sodom and Gomorrah if they did not obey and so he returned to his own house Where upon the Floor of a low Room he stood naked about three or four hours All that while he was acted in a very unusual manner Sometimes the Spirit within forced him to Sing sometimes to Bark like a Dog When his Brother and Sister who followed him were very importunate with him to resist it it bid him to kill them making use of these words These my enemies which would not that I should reign over them bring and slay them before my face It made him to utter with great readiness many places of Scripture which he had no knowledge of before The drift of what was spoken was to perswade him to comply with the Quakers and it named some who live in the Neighbouring towns About three or four hours being thus spent he came to himself and was able to give a perfect account of what had befallen him Several Nights after the same trouble returned upon him His Wife was tortured with extraordinary pains The Children which lay in the Room complained that their Mouths were stopped with Wool as they were in Bed The disturbance was so great that he had thoughts of leaving his house for a time and made it his desire to be with me at mine I prevailed with him not to be so sudden in his removal but to make some further trial It pleased GOD upon a continuance with him in Prayer every day in the house that he was at last perfectly free from all molestation The Quakers hearing of his condition gave it out that the power of God would come upon him again and that the wound was but skinned over by the Priest which made me the more importunate with him to keep close to the publick service of GOD and have nothing to do with them or their writings Which direction be observed till Novem. 1661 and perusing one of their books a little after on the 10 of that Moneth his troubles returned A voice within him began to speak after the former manner The first sentence it uttered was Cease from man whose breath is in his nostrils for wherein is he to be accounted The design which he discerned that it did aim at was this to take him off from coming to the Church where he had been that day and from hearing the Word of GOD. It suggested several other Scriptures in order to the perswading him to a complyance with the Quakers and told him That it would strive with him as the Angel did with Jacob. Vpon Wednesday at night he was peremptory in his resisting of it When it began to solicite him he replyed That he saw it was a Spirit of delusion which he would not obey Vpon which the Spirit denounced a curse against him in these words Go ye cursed into everlasting fire and so left him with a very great heat in his body After this he was in his own apprehension in a very comfortable condition and while he was considering what had happened a Voice within him spake to him saying That the Spirit which was before upon him was a Spirit of Delusion but now the true Spirit of GOD was come unto him Now Satan is turned into an Angel of Light It acquainted him that the Doctrine of the Trinity was true and that GOD had an Elect People and that those whom the Father had Elected the Son had Redeemed and whom Christ Redeemeth the Holy Ghost Sanctifieth And told him That the Minister of the Town would further instruct him about the truth of these things Vpon Thursday morning about break of day it set him upon his knees as he was in bed and bid him Farewell The same day it came upon him in the Fields as he was going to and coming from the Mercat and pressed upon him to believe that it was the Good Spirit which he was Acted with which be still doubted of One night that week amongst many Arguments which it used to that purpose it told him if he would not believe without a sign he might have what sign he would Vpon that Robert Churchman desired if it was a Good Spirit that a Wier-Candlestick which stood upon the Cupboard might be turned into Brass which the Spirit said he would do Presently there was a very unsavoury smell in the Room like that of the snuff of a Candle newly put out but nothing else was done towards the fulfiling of the promise Upon the Lords-day following he being at Church it came upon him When the Chapters were named he turned to them in his Bible but was not able to read When the Psalm was sung he could not pronounce a syllable Vpon Munday morning his speach was wholly taken from him When I came to him and asked him how it was with him He moved his head towards me but was not able to speak I waited an hour or two in the Room hoping that his speach might have returned unto him and that I might have gained from him some account of his condition But finding no alteration I desired those who were present to joyn with me in Prayer As we were praying his Body with much Violence was thrown out of the bed and then with great vehemency he called to me to hold my tongue When Prayer was done his tongue was bound as be-before till at last he brake forth into these words Thine is the kingdom thine is the kingdom which he repeated above an hundred times Sometimes he was forced into extream Laughter sometimes into Singing His hands were usually imployed in beating of his breast All of us there present who stood by could discern unusual heavings in his Body This distemper did continue towards the morning of the next day and then
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
must be from the Devils active invisible application of them to such or such a disease as the curing of an Universal Gout by this unintelligible Charm Etter sheen etter sock Et ta leur etta pachk Wipper si caan easemitter in shi fo leish in shi corne orn sheip twa till ane curht mach a mainshore There is in some Part of Galloway a Charm for curing a disease called the Ling in these words Cathari Duni Chini Brini Another there is which some use for effectuating that which others do by casting three knots far si far fa far fay u far four na forty Kay u Mack straik it a pain four hun creig weil Mack smeoran bun bagie This language cannot be interpreted Besides this there are Prayers and Avies among the Highlanders wherein they think there lays great vertue as in repeating the Lords Prayer in Latine thus Paidder nohter kish in sheali sanctishetar noman du ta renada ta langa tu quidi honum aicht in dearrich an dingas an dangis a nipis a nopis nduramis indaramis indittimis indattamis shecli sheclorum Amen Their Avi Mary runs thus Avi Mari crashi plena du na tekamis penedicata tus anti willi yeramis Penidicata rucata shendri Esum Chrisum Amen At night in the time of Popery when Folks wen to Bed they believed the repetition of this following Prayer was effectual to preserve them from danger and the house too Who sains the house the night They that sains it ilk a night Saint Bryde and her Brat Saint Colme and his Hat Saint Michael and his Spear Keep this house from the Wear From running Thief And burning Thief And from a ill Rea That be the Gate can gae And from an ill wight That be the gate can light Nine reeds about the house Keep it all the Night What is that what I see So red so bright beyond the sea 'T is he was peirc'd through the hands Throw the feet throw the throat Throw the tongue Throw the liver and the lung Well is them that well may Fast on Good-Fryday Another Prayer used by the Thieves and Robers on the Borders after Meat in order to stealling from their Neighbours He that ordain'd us to be born Send us maire meat or the morn Part of 't right and part of 't wrang God let us never fast ov'r lang God be thanked and our Ladie All is done that we had ready A Countrey man in East Lothian used this Grace always before and after Meat Lord be blest for all his Gifts I defy the Devil and all his shifts God send me mair Silver Amen As the Devil is originally the Author of Charms and Spells so is he the Author of several baudy Songs which are sung A reverend Minister told me that one who was the Devils Piper a wizzard confest to him that at a Ball of dancing the Foul Spirit taught him a Baudy song to sing and play as it were this night and ere two days past all the Lads and Lasses of the town were lilting it throw the street It were abomination to rehearse it RELATION XXXVI Anent one Elizabeth Muidy at Hadington THis Woman was a Servant to Margaret Kirkwood there a Woman of good repute once who before her death took some trouble of mind but upon what account I cannot determine She made some insinuation it seems to some of her Friends that she inclined to put hand in her self whereupon she was attended and waited upon but had her own Liberty to retire her self to private Prayer in which exercise she was frequent Vpon a Sabbath forenoon when all were at Church and she at home none with her save only a Servant-Maid she went into some high Room or other as she was wont to do to her Devotion and there before the Maid could know she hanged her self In this very moment of time this Lissie Muidy her old servant being in Church was observed to number upon her fingers 50. or 51. which number being ended she cryes out with a loud voice in presence of all now the turn is done She was presently taken away as a distracted Person and news coming to the Church that such a Woman had hanged her self her old Mistris she was taken away to Prison but what her confession was it is not well known There are many other things reported whereof I cannot give an account This Tragedy was acted within these few years at Hadington FINIS THE INDEX Page THe troubles of Sir George Maxwel 1 A wonderfull discovery of Murder by an Apparition 19 The Witchcraft of Agnes Sympson 22 A Proclamation over the Mercat cross of Edinburgh 28 A Miraculous cure of a Dutch Woman 29 The Devil at Wood-stock in England 32 An Apparition to King Iames the fourth 39 The Major appears to his Captain 40 A remarkable story of Witchcraft at Lauder 45 The Drummer of Tedworth 55 The Devil of Glenluce 75 King Duff bewitched 100 Edward Avon appears to his Son in Law 102 Anent Bessie Graham a Witch in Kilwining 109 The Apparition of Sir George Willers 120 Anent Hattaraik an Wizzard in East-Lothian 122 The Ghost of Mistris Bretton 128 Of Robert Church-man inveigled in Quakerism 135 Touching Isabel Heriot 144 Touching a Magician at Antwerpe 154 A Doctor of Divinity rises out of the Bier 156 Some Drunkards destroyed by the Devil 158 Touching William Barton a Warlock at Kirklistoun 160 Touching a wonderful Accident at Lions in France 164 Touching the Piper at Hamelen in Germany 165 Touching the Witchcraft in Mohra in Swedeland 167 An Apparition in Gladsmuire 187 Anent one Spalding in Dalkeith 191 The Devil of Mascon in France 193 Anent Margaret Wilson 200 Anent Iennet Douglas 203 Anent Helen Elliot burnt at Culross 207 Anent Charms and Avies 212 Anent Elizabeth Muidy 219 ADVERTISEMENT THere is a young man that goes under the Authors name that pretends to be a Poet that for money has presented his Verses to several Persons of Qualitie Let no Person think that Mr. Sinclar has any interest in that man or his Verses as indeed he makes many believe This is subjoyned to the end of his Book by Mr. Sinclars affectionate Friend who knows this to be true I. S. ADVERTISEMENT If any Gentlemen and others will be pleased to send me any Relations about Spirits Witches and Apparitions in any part of the Kingdom or any Information about the Second Sight Charms Spells Magie and the like they shall oblige the Author and have them publisht to their satisfaction Direct your Relations to Alexander Ogstouns Shop Stationer at the foot of the Plain-stones at Edinburgh on the North-side of the Street POSTSCRIPT Being a Relation anent Major Weir I Have subjoined this Relation by way of Postscript because it came to my hand after the book was finished by the Printer from a Gentleman that knew exactly all the matters of Fact and all the Circumstances of the business which is as follows Nov. 11th
1684. For Mr. Sinclar at Edinburgh Sir I Have so far condescended to give you satisfaction in the desired particulars that I have looked over these Memoires which I had by me touching the Life and Death of Thomas Weir that from Eye-witnesses and his Sisters Declaration I can assert the Truth As followeth This man Thomas Weir was born in Clydsdaile near to Lanerk who had been a Lieutenent in Ireland long since What way he came to get some publick command in the City of Edinburgh in the year 49. and 50. I know not but it seems he has been alwayes called Major Weir since that time Many things might be narrated of him which for brevities sake I cannot meddle with since I intend to speak only of his Sorceries and other things relating thereunto It seems he had before he was burnt some charge over the Waiters at the Ports of the City being as it were a Check to them Coming one day as his custome was he found some of them in a Cellar taking a cup of Aile neglecting their Charge After a gentle reproof one of them replyed that some of their number being upon duty the rest had retired to drink with their old Friend and Acquaintance Mr. Burn. At which word he started back and casting an eye upon him repeated the word Burn four or five times And going home he never any more came abroad till a few weeks after he had discovered his impieties It was observed by some that going to Liberton sometimes he shunned to step over that Water-brook which is ordinarly called Liberton-burn but went about to shun it Some have conjectured that he had advise to beware of a Burn or some other thing which this equivocal word might signify as burn in a fire If so he has foreseen his day approaching A year before he discovered himself he took a sore sickness during which time he spake to all who visited him like an Angel and came frequently abroad again This man taking some dreadful tortures of Conscience and the Terrours of the Almighty being upon his Spirit confessed to several Neighbours in his own house and that most willingly his particular sins which he was guilty of which bred amazement to all persons they coming from a man of so high a repute of Religion and Piety He ended with this remarkable expression Before GOD sayes he I have not told you the hundred part of that I can say more and am guilty of These same very abominations he confessed before the Iudges likewise But after this he would never till his dying hour confess any more which might have been for the glorifying of GOD and the Edification of others but remained stupid having no confidence to look any Man in the face or to open his eyes When two of the Magistrates came to his house in the night time to carry him to prison they asked If he had any money to secure He answered None His Sister said there was Whereupon to the value of five Dollars in parcels here and there were found in several clouts His Sister advised the two Magistrates to secure his Staff especially for she also went to Prison After he was secured in the Tolbooth the Bailies returned and went into a Tavern near to Weirs house in the West-bow a street so called there The money was put into a Bag and the clouts thrown into the fire by the Master of the house and his Wife which after an unusual manner made a circleing and dancing in the fire There was another clout found with some hard thing in it which they threw into the fire likewise it being a certain root which circled and sparkled like Gunpowder and passing from the Tunnel of the Chimney it gave a crack like a little Cannon to the amazement of all that were present The money aforesaid was taken by one of the two Bailies to his own house and laid by in his Closet After Family Prayer was ended he retired into the same Closet where I have been during which time his Wife who is yet living and the rest of the Family were afrighted with a terrible noise within the Study like the falling of an house about three times together His Wife knocking gave a fearful cry My Dear are you alive The Bailie came out unafrayed having as he said heard nothing whether he concealed this upon the account his Wife was with Child or otherwise it cannot be well known The money was presently sent away to the other Bailies house a great distance from Weirs where as was reported there was some disturbance but in broken expressions During the time of his imprisonment he was never willing to be spoken to and when the Ministers of the City offered to pray for him he would cry out in fury Torment me no more for I am tormented already One Minister now asleep asking him if he should pray for him was answered not at all The other replyed in a kind of holy anger Sir I will pray for you in spite of your teeth the Devil your master too Who did pray making him at least to hear him but the other stairing wildly was senseless as a Brute Another who is likewise at rest demanded if he thought there was a God Said the Man I know not That other smartly replyed O man the Argument that moveth me to think there is a God is thy self for what els moved thee to inform the world of thy wicked life But Weir answered let me alone When he peremptorly forebad one of his own Parish Ministers yet alive to pray One demanded if he would have any of the Presbyterian perswasion to pray He answered Sir you are now all alike to me Then said the Minister to him I will pray with you Do it not said the other upon your Peril looking up to the beams of the house But Prayer was offered up so much the more heartily because the company about expected some vision It is observable that in things common he was pertinent enough but when any thing about Almighty God and his souls condition came about he would Shrugg and Rub his Coat and Breast saying to them torment me not before the time When he was at the stake to be burnt the City Ministers called to a Church-man there looking on being one of that perswasion whereof Weir was formerlie deemed to be to speak to him but no sooner he opened his mouth than he made a sign with his hand and his head to be silent When the Roap was about his neck to prepare him for the fire he was bid say Lord be merciful to me But he answered let me alone I will not I have lived as a beast and I must die as a Beast The fire being kindled both He and his Staff a little after fell into the flames Whatever Incantation was in his Staff is not for me to discuss He could not officiat in any holy duty without this Rod in his hand and leaning upon it which made those
not to be named yea even to reconcile Neighbours Man and Wife when at varienoe She oft hid it from him and because without it he could do nothing he would threaten and vow to discover her incest fearing which she would deliver it again Being asked the cause of her much spinning which she was famous for She denyed any assistance from the Devil but found she had an extraordinary faculty therein far above ordinary Spinsters Yet owned that when she came home after her being abroad she found there was more yarn on her wheel than she left And that her Weaver could not make cloath thereof the yearn breaking or falling from the Loom Once there came a stranger to her while she was at her Wheel and proposed a way to her to make her rich for they both lived almost upon Alms. The way was this Stand up and say all Crosses and Cares go out of this house She answered GOD forbid I say that but let them be welcome when GOD sends them After two or three visits more she asked this stranger where she dwelt She replyed in the Potter-raw a street in the Suburbs of that City but finding neither such a house nor such a woman I judged said she it was the Devil one of my brothers acquaintance for I know he had familiarity with the Devil His poverty minds me of a Wizzard accused and execute in Shetland before named for Witchcraft several years ago called Luggie to a nick-name who being a Fisher had a trick at any time when hungry at Sea to cast out his line and would out of Neptuns lowest Kitching bring cliverly up fish well boiled and roasted And his Comerades by a Natural Courage would make a merry meal thereof not questioning who was Cook He had another piece of Art at any time in the year or in great storms to go up to an high hill near his own house whereupon there was a deep pit out of which with his lines he drew up Codlings or Keeling for his provision which never man could do but himself This story is true being yet to be seen in the Criminal books of that Countrey She was asked anent her Parents She was perswaded her mother was a Witch for the secretest thing that either I my self or any of the family could do when once a mark appeared on her brow she could tell it them though done at a distance Being demanded what sort of mark it was She answered I have some such like mark my self when I please on my forehead Whereupon she offered to uncover her head for visible satisfaction The Minister refusing to behold it and forbidding any discovery was earnestly requiested by some Spectators to allow the freedom He yeelding she put back her head-dress and seeming to frown there was seen an exact Horse-shoe shaped for nails in her wrinckles Terrible enough I assure you to the stoutest beholder In the morning before her execution she told the Minister she resolved to die with all the shame she could to expiate under Mercy her shameful-life This he understood to be an ingenuous confession of her sins in opposition to her brothers despair and desperate silence to which he did encourage her At her parting with him she gave him hearty thanks for his pains and shaking his hands offering to kiss them she repeated the same words which he bade her perform Ascending up the ladder she spake somewhat confusedly of her sins of her brother and his inchanting-staff and with a ghaistly countenance beholding a multitude of Spectators all wondering and some weeping She spake aloud There are many here this day wondering and greeting for me but alace few mourns for a broken At which words many seemed angry Some called to her to mind higher Concerns And I have heard it said that the Preacher declared he had much ado to keep a composed countenance The Executioner falling about his duty she prepares to die stark naked then and not before were her words relating to shame understood The Hangman strugled with her to keep on her cloaths and she strugled with him to have them off At last he was forced to throw her over open-fac'd which afterwards he covered with a cloath So much from the Gentleman that gave me this Information to which I shall add that this is not published with a design to reflect upon men of this or that Perswasion Far be it The Devil can counterfeit what Religion he pleases and ordinarly a good one True Religion can never suffer any prejudice from a Hypocrite his wearing a cloak of it more than the good Angels can suffer a stain from Satans transforming himself into an Angel of Light The Devil hath his Laikies and Pages with CHRISTS Livery upon them Was not Judas who was but one of the twelve a vile Hypocrite It is a wonder where there are a thousand professing CHRIST in a Congregation that a hundred of them are not as bad His glistering cloak of Religion dazled all Mens eyes This was needful foul faults must have a fair Cloak to cover them The Apostle Jude speaks of some that go after Sarkos heteras which may be understood not only of that sin mentioned Rom. 1.27 but of another sort of flesh not to be named He was a demonstration proving evidently that there is a GOD viz. by the terrours terrours of his Conscience It is evident also there is a Devil that hurries men on into sin He had this expression to two Ministers that came to see him in prison There was no temptation which the Devil could propose to him but he was capable to accept of it It is evident also there is either an Explicite or Implicite Compact between some men and the Devil Horrible sins covered with Religion bring utter despair at the last Desperation is Hell in fieri Some men as well as Devils are tormented before the time Let us not count the less of Religion that it s made a cloak for covering sin Let us beware that such a mans fall prove not a neck break to us Let us idolize no man for his Profession or that he is of this or that Perswasion or of such a Party Let no man rest in a bare Profession of Religion Men in compact with the Devil may be assisted both to Preach and Pray The Devils servants are well rewarded at the last Profession and Practise must go together A Clinking Profession with an unbridled tongue is a vain Religion Pure Religion and undefiled before GOD and the Father is to visit the Fatherles and the Widows in their affliction and for a man to keep himself unspotted from the World Major Weir was burnt between Edinburgh and Leith at a place called the Gallow-lie on Thursday 14. of April 1670. An Apparition seen in a Dwelling house in Mary Kings Closs in Edinburgh Sir Within these few years there was one T. C by profession an Agent about the Session-house who about flitting-time was removing his furniture from a