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
Upon the 6th of April, when the house was quiet, she went to the stone and
there found seven small bones, with blood and some flesh, all closed in a
piece of old suddled paper; the blood was fresh and bright. The sight
whereof troubled her, and being afraid laid all down again and ran to
Colline's house, being a quarter of a mile distant; but in that time it
was worse than ever before, by throwing stones and fire balls in and about
the house, but the fire as it lighted did evanish. In that time it threw
a hot stone into the bed betwixt the children, which burnt through the
bed-cloathes; and after it was taken out by the man's eldest son, and had
layen on the floor more than an hour and a half, the said Charles
Macklellan of Colline could not hold it in his hand for heat.--This is
attested by Charles Macklellan. It thrust a staff through the wall of the
house above the children in the bed, shook it over them and groaned. When
Colline came to the house he went to prayer before he offered to lift the
bones; all the time he was at prayer it was most cruel, but as soon as he
took up the bones the trouble ceased.--This is attested by Charles
Macklellan. He sent them presently to me, upon sight whereof I went
immediately to the house. While I was at prayer it threw great stones
which hit me, but did no hurt, then there was no more trouble that night.
The 7th of April being Sabbath, it began again and threw stones, and
wounded William Macminn, a blacksmith, on the head; it cast a plough-sock
at him and also a trough stone upwards of three stone weight, which did
fall upon his back, yet he was not hurt thereby.--Attested by William
Macminn. It set the house twice on fire, yet there was no hurt done, in
respect some neighbours were in the house who helped to quench it. At
night in the twilight as John Mackie, the said Andrew Mackie's eldest
son, was coming home, near to the house, there was an extraordinary light
fell about him and went before him to the house with a swift motion; that
night it continued after its wonted manner.
April 8th, in the morning as Andrew Mackie went down the close he found a
letter both written and sealed with blood. It was directed on the back
thus, "3 years thou shall have to repent a nett it well," and within was
written, "Wo be to thee Scotland Repent and tak warning for the doors of
haven ar all Redy bart against thee, I am sent for a warning to thee to
flee to God yet troublt shall this man be for twenty days, repent repent
repent Scotland or else thou shall." In the middle of the day the persons
alive who lived in that house since it was built, being about twenty-eight
years, were conveined by appointment of the civil magistrate before
Colline, myself, and others, and did all touch the bones, in respect there
was some suspicion of secret murder committed in the place, but nothing
was found to discover the same.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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