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
season; during which time some persons about, not very judicious,
counselled him to send his children out of the family here and there to
try whom the trouble did most follow, assuring him that this trouble was
not against the whole family, but against some one person or other in it,
whom he too willingly obeyed. Yet, 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 afresh, for upon the Lord's
Day following, in the afternoon, the house was set on fire; but by the
help of some neighbors 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 o'clock in the morning, yet by the speedy help of
neighbors it was saved, little 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 man, desiring 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 midnight 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 stealing 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 father's calling was
exercised. Yet he entered, but was sore abused, till he was forced to
return to the Minister's house again.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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