Witchcraft and superstitious record in the south-western district of ScotlandWood, J. Maxwell (John Maxwell)
History
Witchcraft and superstitious record in the south-western district of Scotland
Wood, J. Maxwell (John Maxwell)
Folklore -- Scotland; Witchcraft -- Scotland
It happened (says my informer, Gilbert Campbel's son, who was then a
student of philosophy in the Colledge of Glasgow) that after one Alexander
Agnew, a bold and sturdy beggar, who afterwards was hanged at Drumfries
for blasphemy, had threatened hurt to the familie because he had not
gotten such an almes as he required, the said Gilbert Campbel was
often-times hindered in the exercise of his calling, and yet could not
know by what means this was done. This Agnew, among many blasphemous
expressions had this one, when he was interrogate by the judges whether or
not he thought there was a God, he answered, he knew no God but salt,
meal, and water. When the stirs began first there was a whistling heard
both within and without the house. And Jennet Campbel, going one day to
the well to bring home some water, was conveyed with a shril whistling
about her ears, which made her say, "I would fain hear thee speake as well
as whistle." Hereupon it said, after a threatening manner, "I'le cast thee
Jennet into the well." The voice was most exactlie like the damsel's
voice, and did resemble it to the life. The gentlewoman that heard this
and was a witness thought the voice was very near to her own ears, and
said the whistling was such as children use to make with their smal
slender glass whistles.
About the middle of November the Foul-Fiend came on with new and
extraordinary assaults, by throwing of stones in at the doors and windows
and down the chimney-head, which were of great quantity and thrown with
force, yet by God's providence there was not one person in the family that
was hurt. This did necessitate Gilbert Campbel to reveale that to the
Minister of the Parish and to some other neighbours and friends which
hitherto he had suffered secretly. Notwithstanding of this, his trouble
was enlarged; for not long after he found often-times his warp and threeds
cut as with a pair of sizzers, and not only so, but their apparel were cut
after the same manner, even while they were wearing them--their coats,
bonnets, hose, shoes--but could not discern how or by what mean. Only it
pleased God to preserve their persons, that the least harm was not done.
Yet in the night time they had not liberty to sleep, something coming and
pulling their bedcloaths and linnings off them and leaving their bodies
naked. Next their chests and trunks were opened and all things in them
strawed here and there. Likewise the parts of their working-instruments
which had escaped were carried away and hid in holes and bores of the
house, where hardly they could be found again. Nay, what ever piece of
cloath or household-stuff was in any part of the house it was carried away
and so cut and abused that the goodman was necessitate in all haste and
speed to remove and transport the rest to a neighbour's house, and he
himself compelled to quite the exercise of his calling, whereby he only
maintained his family. Yet he resolved to remain in his house for a
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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