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 Sabbath night it pulled one of the children out of the bed,
gripping him, as he thought, by the craig and shoulders; and took up a
block of a tree as great as a plough-head, and held above the children,
saying, "If I had a commission I would brain them." Thus it expressed
itself, in the hearing of all who were in the house.--Attested by William
Macminn and John Crosby.
The 29th, being Monday, it continued setting fire to the house. The said
Andrew Mackie finding the house so frequently set on fire, and being weary
quenching it, he went and put out all the fire that was about the house,
and poured water upon the hearth; yet after it fired the house several
times, when there was no fire within a quarter of a mile of the
house.--This is attested by Charles Macklellan and John Cairnes. In the
midst of the day, as Andrew Mackie was threshing in the barn, it whispered
in the wall and then cried, "Andrew, Andrew," but he gave no answer to it.
Then with an austere angry voice as it were, it said, "Speak;" yet he gave
no answer. Then it said, "Be not troubled; you shall have no more trouble,
except some casting of stones upon Tuesday to fulfill the promise," and
said, "Take away your straw." I went to the house about 11 o'clock; it
fired the house once after I went there. I stayed all night till betwixt
three and four on Tuesday's morning, during which time there was no
trouble about the house, except two little stones dropped down at the
fireside as we were sitting down at our first entry. A little after I went
away it began to throw stones as formerly.--This is attested by Charles
Macklellan and John Tait.
Upon Tuesday's night, being the 30th of April, Charles Macklellan of
Colline, with several neighbours, were in the barn. As he was at prayer he
observed a black thing in the corner of the barn, and it did encrease as
if it would fill the whole house. He could not discern it to have any form
but as if it had been a black cloud; it was affrightning to them all, and
then it threw bear-chaff and other mud upon their faces; and after did
gripp severals that were in the house by the middle of the body, by the
arms and other parts of their bodies, so strait that some said for five
days thereafter that they thought they felt these gripps. After an hour or
two of the night was thus past there was no more trouble.--This is
attested by Charles Macklellan, Thomas Macminn, Andrew Paline, John
Cairnes, and John Tait.
Upon Wednesday's night, being the 1st of May, it fired a little
sheep-house; the sheep were got out safe, but the sheep-house was wholly
burnt. Since there has not been any trouble about the house by night nor
by day.
Now all things aforesaid, being of undoubted verity, therefore I conclude
with that of the Apostle, _1 Peter v., 8-9_, "Be sober, be vigilant;
because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about,
seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist steadfast in the faith."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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