Domestic Annals of Scotland from the Reformation to the Revolution, Volume 1 (of 2)Chambers, Robert
History
Domestic Annals of Scotland from the Reformation to the Revolution, Volume 1 (of 2)
Chambers, Robert
Scotland -- History -- 16th century; Scotland -- History -- 17th century
the same hasp, the effect of which was to translate the sickness from
the patient to the cat.
The devil, whom Andrew called Christsonday, and believed to be an
angel, was raised by the word _Benedicite_, and laid again by taking
a dog under his armpit, casting the same in the devil’s mouth, and
speaking the word _Maikpeblis_. ‘The Queen of Elfen has a grip of all
the craft, but Christsonday is the guidman, and has all power under
God, and thou kens sundry deid men in their company, and the king that
died at Flodden and Thomas Rhymer is there.’
‘Upon Rood-day in harvest, in this present year, whilk fell on a
Wednesday, thou saw Christsonday come out of the snaw in likeness of a
staig [young male horse], and the Queen of Elfen was there, and others
with her, riding upon white hackneys.’ ‘The elves have shapes and
claithes like men, and will have fair covered tables, and they are but
shadows, but are starker [stronger] nor men, and they have playing and
dancing when they please; the queen is very pleasand, and will be auld
and young when she pleases; she makes any king whom she pleases.... The
elves will make thee appear to be in a fair chalmer, and yet thou will
find thyself in a moss on the morn. They will appear to have candles,
and licht, and swords, whilk will be nothing else but dead grass and
straes.’ Andrew denied his guilt, but was nevertheless convicted, and
doubtless burnt.
In the dittay against Marjory Mutch, it was alleged that, having an
ill-will against William Smith in Tarserhill, she came to his plough
and bewitched the oxen, so that ‘they instantly ran all wood [mad],
brak the pleuch, twa thereof ran over the hills to Deer, and other
twa thereof up Ithan side, whilk could never be tane nor apprehendit
again.’ This woman was said to have destroyed much cattle, laid
sickness on many persons, and attended all the witch conventions of the
district. In token of her being a witch, there was a spot under her
left ear, into which a gentleman had thrust a pin without producing any
pain.
[Sidenote: 1597.]
Margaret Clark, being sent for by the wife of Nicol Ross, when she was
in childbed, ‘cast the haill dolours, sickness, and pains whilk she
should have susteinit, upon Andrew Harper, wha, during all the time of
her travelling, was exceedingly and marvellously troubled, in ane fury
and madness as it were, and could not be halden; and how soon the said
gentlewoman was delivered, the pains departed frae the said Andrew.’
It is alleged of Violet Leys, that, her husband, a mariner, being
discharged from William Finlay’s ship, she and her late mother
bewitched the said ship, ‘that, since thy husband was put forth of
the same, she never made one good voyage, but either the master or
merchants at some times through tempest of weather, were forced to cast
overboard the greatest part of their lading, or then to perish, men,
ship, and geir.’ Several of the other culprits are accused of raising
and calming the wind at pleasure.[222]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account