The Witch-cult in Western Europe: A Study in AnthropologyMurray, Margaret Alice
Religion
The Witch-cult in Western Europe: A Study in Anthropology
Murray, Margaret Alice
Ethnology; Witchcraft -- Great Britain
presented him to the Queen, and she said he was welcom, and bid the
Gentlewoman give him some of the white powder, and teach him how to use it,
which she did, and gave him a little wood box full of the white powder, and
bad him give 2 or 3 grains of it to any that were sick, and it would heal
them, and so she brought him forth of the Hill, and so they parted. And
being asked by the Judge whether the place within the Hill, which he called
a Hall, were light or dark, he said indifferent, as it is with us in the
twilight; and being asked how he got more powder, he said when he wanted he
went to that Hill, and knocked three times, and said every time I am
coming, I am coming, whereupon it opened, and he going in was conducted by
the aforesaid Woman to the Queen, and so had more powder given him. This
was the plain and simple story (however it may be judged of) that he told
before the Judge, the whole Court, and the Jury, and there being no proof,
but what cures he had done to very many, the Jury did acquit him.[943]
1655. It might be here very seasonable to enquire into the nature of those
large _dark Rings_ in the grass, which they call _Fairy Circles_, whether
they be the _Rendezvouz_ of Witches, or the dancing place of those little
Puppet Spirits which they call _Elves_ or _Fairies_.[944]
1661. Jonet Watson Of Dalkeith. She confessed that three months before the
Devill apeired vnto her, in the liknes of ane prettie boy, in grein
clothes. As also about the tyme of the last Baille-fyre night, shoe was at
a Meitting in Newtoun-dein with the Deavill, who had grein cloathes vpone
him, and ane blak hatt vpone his head; wher schoe denyd Christ, and took
her self to be the servant of the Deivill.[945]
1662. Isobel Gowdie of Auldearne. I was in the Downie-hillis, and got meat
ther from the Qwein of Fearrie, mor than I could eat. The Qwein of Fearrie
is brawlie clothed in whyt linens, and in whyt and browne cloathes, &c.;
and the King of Fearrie is a braw man, weill favoured, and broad faced, &c.
Ther wes elf-bullis rowtting and skoylling wp and downe thair and
affrighted me.... As for Elf-arrow-heidis, the Devill shapes them with his
awin hand, and syne deliueris thame to Elf-boyes, who whyttis and dightis
them with a sharp thing lyk a paking needle.... We went in to the Downie
hillis; the hill opened, and we cam to an fair and large braw rowme in the
day tym. Thair ar great bullis rowtting and skoylling ther, at the entrie,
quhilk feared me.... The Devill wold giw ws the brawest lyk money that ewer
wes coyned; within fowr and twantie houris it vold be horse-muke.[946]
1662. Janet Breadheid of Auldearne. He gaw me ane piece of money, lyk a
testain ... and gaw me an vthir piece of money, lyk the first, bot they
both turned read, and I got nothing for thaim.[947]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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