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Satan’s INVISIBLE WORLD DISCOVERED;
Satan’s INVISIBLE WORLD DISCOVERED;
OR A CHOICE COLLECTION OF MODERN RELATIONS, PROVING EVIDENTLY, AGAINST THE ATHEISTS OF THIS PRESENT AGE, That there are DEVILS, SPIRITS, WITCHES, AND APPARITIONS, From authentic Records, and Attestations of Witnesses of undoubted veracity . To which is now added, THAT MARVELLOUS HISTORY OF MAJOR WEIR AND HIS SISTER, THE WITCHES OF BARGARRAN, PITTENWEEM, CALDER, &c. By Mr. GEORGE SINCLAIR, Late Professor of Philosophy in the College of Glasgow . LONDON: PRINTED FOR THE BOOKSELLERS. 1814.
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Relation 1.—Touching the troubles which Sir George Maxwell of Pollock met with from the Devil and his Haggs.
Relation 1.—Touching the troubles which Sir George Maxwell of Pollock met with from the Devil and his Haggs.
Sir , Pollock, 24th June, 1684. I send you herewith the true account, my father caused me write from his own mouth, which is the surest relation I can give, either of his own trouble, or what concerns Janet Douglas, first discoverer of these pictures. There fell out some less material circumstances in the family, during her abode there, whereby it fully appeared, That she knew what was done in distant places, and understood languages. For instance, when a chapter in the Greek New Testament was r
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II.—Being a Wonderful discovery of Murder by an Apparition.
II.—Being a Wonderful discovery of Murder by an Apparition.
About the year of our Lord 1632, near unto Chester in the street, there lived one Walker, a yeoman of good estate, and a widower, who had a young woman called Anna Walker to his kinswoman, that kept his house, who was by the neighbours suspected to be with child; and was, towards the dark of the evening, one night sent away with Mark Sharp, who was a collier, or one that digged coals under ground, and who had been born in Blackburn-hundred in Lancashire, and so she was not heard of for a long ti
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III.—Touching the Witchcraft of Agnes Simpson.
III.—Touching the Witchcraft of Agnes Simpson.
Though this be of too old a date to comply with the title of our stories, yet being a true copy of record, as authentic, though not so fresh, it may haply not be amiss briefly to name some effects, kinds, and circumstances of her sorcery; as her skill in diseases; that the sickness of William Black was an elf-shot; her taking the sick parties pains and sicknesses upon herself for a time, and then translating them to a third person; her usage of long scriptural prayers and rhymes, containing the
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IV.—A Proclamation over the Market Cross of Edinburgh, at twelve o’clock at night.
IV.—A Proclamation over the Market Cross of Edinburgh, at twelve o’clock at night.
After that king James IV. had mustered his army in the Burrow-muir, being at that time a large spacious field, and most pleasant and delightful, by reason of many stately oaks which overshadowed the place; about midnight, in the month of July, there was a proclamation heard at the market-cross of the town, summoning a great many burgesses, gentlemen, barons, and noblemen, to appear before the tribunal of one Plotcock. The provost of the town, standing in his own fore-stair, or gallery, having he
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V.—A miraculous Cure of a Dutch Woman, accompanied with an Apparition.
V.—A miraculous Cure of a Dutch Woman, accompanied with an Apparition.
The narrative taken by a Dutch merchant from her own mouth, begins thus:—A miraculous cure upon Jesch Claes, a woman about fifty years of age, for these many years well known to myself and the neighbours. This woman for fourteen years had been lame of both her legs, one of them being dead and without feeling, so that she could not go, but creep upon the ground, or was carried in people’s arms as a child, but now through the power of God Almighty she hath walked again, which came to pass after th
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VI.—Strange pranks played by the Devil at Woodstock in England, anno 1649.
VI.—Strange pranks played by the Devil at Woodstock in England, anno 1649.
The commissioners, October 13, 1649, with their servants, being come to the manor-house, they took up their lodging in the king’s own rooms, the bed-chamber, and withdrawing room: the former whereof they also made their kitchen; the council-hall their brew-house; the chamber of presence, their place of sitting to dispatch business; and a wood-house of the dining-room, where they laid the wood of that ancient standard in the High Park, known of all by the name of the King’s Oak, which (that nothi
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VII.—An Apparition to King James the IV. and his Courtiers, in the kirk of Linlithgow.
VII.—An Apparition to King James the IV. and his Courtiers, in the kirk of Linlithgow.
While the king stayed at Linlithgow, attending the gathering of his army, which was defeat at Floudon, being full of care and perplexity, he went into the church of St. Michael, to hear evening song, as then it was called. While he was at his devotion, an ancient man came in, his amber coloured hair hanging down about his shoulders, his forehead high, and inclining to baldness, his garments of azure colour, somewhat long, girded about with a towel, or table napkin, of a comely and very reverent
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VIII.—Anent the Major who returned from death to tell the Captain whether there was a GOD or not.
VIII.—Anent the Major who returned from death to tell the Captain whether there was a GOD or not.
Concerning the apparition of the Ghost of Major Geo. Sydenham (late of Dulverton, in the county of Somerset) to Captain William Dyke, (late of Skilgate in this county also, and now likewise deceased) be pleased to take the relation of it from a worthy and learned gentleman, Dr. Thomas Dyke, a near kinsman of the captain’s, thus: Shortly after the major’s death, the doctor was desired to come to the house to take care of a child that was sick there; and in his way thither he called on the captain
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IX.—A remarkable story of discovered witchcraft at Lauder, anno 1649. And of the wiles which the devil used in deceiving poor creatures.
IX.—A remarkable story of discovered witchcraft at Lauder, anno 1649. And of the wiles which the devil used in deceiving poor creatures.
In the beginning of the year 1649, a common report passing up and down in all men and women’s mouths, of an eminent warlock, whose name was Robert Grieve, alias Hob Grieve, trafficking in these parts of the country, and deceiving many simple people. He was at last discovered, apprehended, and imprisoned at the town of Lauder: and after long shifting and denial, wherein he had learned of his hellish master to be most subtile, by the great goodness of God he was at length brought to a serious ackn
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X.—A true narrative of the Drummer of Tedworth.
X.—A true narrative of the Drummer of Tedworth.
In the year 1661, about the middle of March, a gentleman named Mr. Mompesson, in the county of Wilts, being at a neighbouring town, called Ludgarshal, and hearing a drum beat there, he enquired of the bailie of the town, at whose house he then was, what it meant. The bailie told him, That they had been for some days troubled with an idle drummer, who demanded money of the constable, by virtue of a pretended pass, which he thought was counterfeit. Upon this Mr. Mompesson sent for the fellow, and
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XI.—The Devil of Glenluce, enlarged with several remarkable additions from an eye and ear witness, a person of undoubted honesty.
XI.—The Devil of Glenluce, enlarged with several remarkable additions from an eye and ear witness, a person of undoubted honesty.
This is that famous and notable story of the devil of Glenluce, which I published in my Hydrostatics, anno 1672, and which since have been transcribed word for word, by a learned pen, and published in a late book intitled, Saducismus Triumphatus, whom nothing but the truth thereof, and usefulness for refuting Atheism, could have persuaded me to transcribe. The subject-matter, then, of this story, is a true and short account of the troubles wherewith the family of one Gilbert Campbell, by profess
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XII.—Anent Mother Jackson her Witchcraft.
XII.—Anent Mother Jackson her Witchcraft.
This story hath as much certainty with it as any human story can have. The author that writes it is a famous minister of the gospel, and it is attested by famous witnesses. This woman was arraigned and condemned at Newgate, for bewitching one Mary Glover, a merchant’s daughter in Thames Street. One Dr. Boncraft did inform Judge Anderson, then lord chief justice, That the said Mother Jackson was wronged; and that the maid did counterfeit; whereupon the lord chief justice gave orders to Sir John C
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XIII.—King Duff, the 78th King of Scotland, bewitched.
XIII.—King Duff, the 78th King of Scotland, bewitched.
Though this be well known to all who read our Scots Histories, yet it will not be amiss to insert it here, as in its own place, for their sakes especially who have not heard of it. While the king was about the settling of the country, and punishing the troublers of the peace, he began to be sore afflicted in his body with a new and unheard of disease, no causes of his sickness appearing in the least. At length, after several remedies and cures were made use of to no purpose, a report was spread,
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XIV.—The Apparition of Edward Avon to his Son-in-law, Thomas Goddard.
XIV.—The Apparition of Edward Avon to his Son-in-law, Thomas Goddard.
Thomas Goddard of Marleburgh, in the county of Wilts, weaver, on the 9th of November 1674, going to Ogburn, at a stile on the high-way, about nine in the morning, met the apparition of his father-in-law, one Edward Avon of this town, glover, having upon him, to appearance, the same clothes, hat, stockings, and shoes he did usually wear when he was living, standing by, and leaning over that stile; which when he came near, the apparition spake to him, with an audible voice, these words, “Are you a
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XV.—Some Passages of God’s Providence to a godly Minister, in giving him full clearness concerning Bessie Graham, suspected of witchcraft.
XV.—Some Passages of God’s Providence to a godly Minister, in giving him full clearness concerning Bessie Graham, suspected of witchcraft.
She was apprehended about the end of August 1649, upon some threatening words she had spoken in her drunkenness to John Ranken’s wife in Kilwinning, whereupon the poor woman, ten days after, took sickness and died. She was imprisoned in the steeple for thirteen weeks, all which time I, the minister, repaired to her, but found her still more and more obdured; in all her discourses she was so subtle, that not only I could get no advantage by her words, but sometimes she made me think that she was
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XVI.—Anent the Apparition of Sir George Villiers.
XVI.—Anent the Apparition of Sir George Villiers.
Some few days before the Duke of Buckingham went to Portsmouth, where he was stabbed by Felton, the ghost of his father Sir George Villiers appeared to one Parker, a religious and sober man, who had been a servant to the said Sir George, but now to the Duke his son. He appeared to him, I say, in his morning chamber-gown, and charged him to tell his son, that he should decline that employment and design he was going upon, or else he would certainly be murdered. Parker promised to the apparition t
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XVII.—Anent Hattaraick, an old Warlock.
XVII.—Anent Hattaraick, an old Warlock.
This man’s name was Sandie Hunter, who called himself Sandie Hamilton; and it seems was called Hattaraick by the devil, and so by others, as a nick-name. He was first a nolt-herd in East Lothian to a gentleman there. He was much given to charming and curing of men and beasts by words and spells. His charms sometimes succeeded, sometimes not. On a day herding his kine upon a hill-side in the summer-time, the devil came to him in the form of a mediciner, and said, “Sandie, you have too long follow
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XVIII.—The Ghost of Mrs. Breton.
XVIII.—The Ghost of Mrs. Breton.
Dr. Breton, late rector of Ludgate, at Deptford, lived formerly in Herefordshire, and married the daughter of Dr. Santer. This gentlewoman was a person of extraordinary piety, which she expressed, as in her life, so at her death. She had a maid that she had a great kindness for; who was married to a near neighbour, whose name, as I remember, was Alice. Not long after her death, as Alice was rocking her child in the evening, she was called from the craddle by one knocking at the door, which being
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XIX.—Touching an Apothecary’s Servant that returned to the Shop after he had been dead.
XIX.—Touching an Apothecary’s Servant that returned to the Shop after he had been dead.
This is a known passage, which happened in the year 1669, at Crossen in Silesia; that is a part in Germany, which long since was under the Polonians, but is now subject to the crown of Bohemia; the chief magistrate of that town at the time, was the princess Elizabeth Chalotta, a person famous in her generation. In the spring of the aforesaid year, one Christopher Monig, a native of Serbell, a town belonging to the princess of Anhalt, servant to an apothecary, died and was buried with the usual c
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XX.—A wonderful Story of one Robert Churchman, inveigled in Quakerism, written by Dr. John Templar.
XX.—A wonderful Story of one Robert Churchman, inveigled in Quakerism, written by Dr. John Templar.
Sir, your desiring to be acquainted with some passages concerning the Quakers in this town of Balsham, obligeth me to give you the following account: At my first settlement here in the ministry, I found them very busy in enticing my people to a compliance with their persuasions in religion; this design they did attempt to accomplish by dispersing their papers among them. Two of my parishioners I had a particular eye upon, namely, Robert Churchman and his wife, they being persons of a very good l
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XXI.—Touching Isabel Heriot.
XXI.—Touching Isabel Heriot.
This woman was born at Peaston, in the parish of Ormiston, and was for several years a very useful servant to the minister there, for all manner of out-house work. She was of a low stature, small and slender of body, of a black complexion, her head stood somewhat awry upon her neck; she was of a drolling and jeering humour, and would have spoken to persons of honour with great confidence. After several years service, the minister began to dislike her, especially upon account of her not profiting
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XXII.—Anent a Magician at Antwerp.
XXII.—Anent a Magician at Antwerp.
Mr. Tindal, the first translator of the Bible into English after the Reformation, being at Antwerp, whilst the persecution was hot in England against the truth, he was told by some English merchant there, of a notable magician in that place, whose use was at feasts, or when they used to meet at supper, to bring to the table whatever wines or delicious fruit the company would desire, and set presently before them, with other amazing proofs of the power of the devil. Mr. Tindal perceiving what a s
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XXIII.—Anent a great Doctor of Divinity that rose out of the Bier, and spake to all that were present.
XXIII.—Anent a great Doctor of Divinity that rose out of the Bier, and spake to all that were present.
It is written in the life of one Bruno, that a doctor of great note for learning and godliness, being dead, was brought to the church to be buried; and while they were in their popish devotions, and came to these words, Responde de mihi , the corps arose in the bier, and with an extremely terrible voice cried out, Justo Die judicio accusatus sum , “I am accused at the just judgement of God.” At which voice the people ran all out affrighted. On the morrow, when they came again to perform the obse
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XXIV.—Some drunkards destroyed by the devil.
XXIV.—Some drunkards destroyed by the devil.
This hath been published in a sermon by a godly minister; but I must insert it here in its own proper place. On the 8th of February, saith my author, in the year 1578, a company of drunkards, whose names are recorded as followeth, Adam Gibbons, George Keepel, John Keysel, Peter Horsdroff, John Warner, Simon Heamkers, Jacob Hermons, and Hermon Frow. These eight drunkards, in contempt of the blessed sabbath, agreed to go to the tavern on the Lord’s day to be merry; and coming to the house of Antho
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XXV.—Touching one William Barton, a Warlock.
XXV.—Touching one William Barton, a Warlock.
About thirty years ago, more or less, there was one William Barton apprehended for witchcraft. His confession was, first, that if he had twenty sons, he would advise them to shun the lust of uncleanness. “For,” said he, “I never saw a beautiful woman, maid, or wife, but I coveted them, which was the only cause that brought me to be the devil’s vassal. One day, going from my own house in Kirkliston to the Queen’s Ferry, I overtook, in Denny Muir, a young gentlewoman, as to appearance, beautiful a
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XXVI.—A wonderful and strange accident which fell out at Lyons in France.
XXVI.—A wonderful and strange accident which fell out at Lyons in France.
A Lieutenant of a guard, called Jaquette, having supped one night in a rich merchant’s house, was passing home, and by the way, said, “I wonder what I have eaten and drunken at the merchant’s house: for I find myself so hot, that if I met with the devil’s dame this night, I could not forbear using of her.” Hereupon, a little after, he overtook a gentlewoman masked, whom he would needs usher home to her lodging, but discharged all his company except two. She brought him, to his apprehension, to a
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XXVII.—A Marvellous Prank played by the Devil at Hamelen, a Town in Germany.
XXVII.—A Marvellous Prank played by the Devil at Hamelen, a Town in Germany.
This city was annoyed with rats and mice. It happened that a pied-coated piper came thither, who covenanted with the chief burghers for such a reward, if he could free them from the said vermin; nor would he demand it for a twelvemonth and a day after. The agreement being made, he began to play on the pipes, and all the rats and mice followed him to a great loch hard by, where they all perished; so that the town was infested no more. At the end of the year, the piper returned for his reward, the
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XXVIII.—A relation of the strange Witchcraft discovered in the village of Monra in Swedeland.
XXVIII.—A relation of the strange Witchcraft discovered in the village of Monra in Swedeland.
The news of this witchcraft coming to the king’s ear, his Majesty was pleased to appoint commissioners, some of the clergy, and some of the laity, to make a journey to the town aforesaid, and to examine the whole business; and accordingly the examination was ordered to be on the 13th of August; and the commissioners met on the 12th instant, in the said village, at the parson’s house, to whom both the minister and several people of fashion, complained with tears in their eyes, of the miserable co
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XXIX.—Touching an Apparition seen at Gladsmuir, with some other Gleanings.
XXIX.—Touching an Apparition seen at Gladsmuir, with some other Gleanings.
I find among some of my notes, written in the year 1666, that Richard Chaplain and his father George, both of them merchants in Haddington, coming home late from Edinburgh upon a Saturday night, being the 4th of November 1666, and riding off the muir at a place called the Two-mile-cross, within two miles of their own home, saw four men in grey clothes, and blue bonnets, standing round about a dead corpse, lying swaddled in a winding sheet. Their dog was so feared, that he durst not go forward, b
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XXX.—Anent one Spalding in Dalkeith.
XXX.—Anent one Spalding in Dalkeith.
About the time that the Earl of Traquair was his late Majesty’s commissioner in Scotland, it happened at Dalkeith, where he resided, that one Spalding, a town’s man, killed his neighbour, one Sadler. The murderer fled, and absented himself for a year and more; yet sometimes came home in the night-time, finding that no man pursued him. After he had been wearied of this way of living, he resolved to cast himself on the commissioner’s mercy. He coming one day near to the town of Dalkeith in a coach
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XXXI.—Of the Devil of Mascon in France.
XXXI.—Of the Devil of Mascon in France.
Anno 1612, one Monsieur Perreaud, a Protestant minister there, being from his own house one night, and his wife being in bed, she was much troubled with noise and din in the house: the next night she felt somewhat that pulled the blankets from the bed, and the same night all the pewter vessels and brass candlesticks were thrown about the room. The minister coming home, was told this, who carefully searched every corner of the house before he went to bed, and secured all the doors and windows, to
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XXXII.—Anent Margaret Wilson.
XXXII.—Anent Margaret Wilson.
This is a true narrative of what happened to her one night, while some persons were attending her: for what passed other nights I cannot relate, since I want information. They say the gentleman, her uncle, in the parish of Gallashiels, came on Sunday after sermon to the minister there, Mr. Wilkie, and told him, that the devil was at his house; “for,” said he, “there is an odd knocking about the bed where my niece lies.” Whereupon the minister went along with him, and found it so; she rising from
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XXXIII.—A short information anent Janet Douglas.
XXXIII.—A short information anent Janet Douglas.
When I was at Glasgow in summer 1675, I was desirous to see the dumb girl, whom you mention in your first relation. At my first incoming, she declined to entertain discourse, but by friendly expressions, and giving her some money, I gained her. I first enquired anent her parentage. “I do not remember,” says she, “of my parents, but only that I was called by the name of Janet Douglas by all people who knew me. I was keeped when I was very young, by a poor woman that proved cruel to me, by beating
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XXXIV.—Touching Helen Elliot, burnt at Culross.
XXXIV.—Touching Helen Elliot, burnt at Culross.
For Mr. Sinclair. Edin. Oct. 8. 1684. Sir, I cannot but much approve of your design in publishing “Satan’s invisible world discovered,” especially at this time, when there are so many that deny the existence of devils, spirits, and witches, and will credit nothing but what they see with their eyes. I shall inform you of three remarkable stories, which may be attested by famous witnesses, many of which are yet living.——I had the curiosity, when I was a scholar, to pass over from Borrowstounness t
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XXXV.—Anent some Prayers, Charms, and Aves, used in the Highlands.
XXXV.—Anent some Prayers, Charms, and Aves, used in the Highlands.
In the time of ignorance and superstition, when the darkness of Paganism was not dispelled by the gospel-light, spirits kept a more familiar converse with families; and even in the time of Popery, what was more frequent in houses than brownies, whom they employed in many services. It were unreasonable and ridiculous to rehearse all the stories which have been told of Brownies and Fairies, commonly called our good neighbours: how there was a king and queen of fairies, of such a court and train as
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XXXVI.—Anent one Lizzie Muidy at Haddington.
XXXVI.—Anent one Lizzie Muidy at Haddington.
This woman was a servant to Margaret Kirkwood there, a woman of good repute once, who before her death, took some trouble of mind, upon what account I shall not determine. She made some insinuation, it seems, to some of her friends, that she inclined to put hand on herself; whereupon she was attended and waited upon; but had her own liberty to retire herself to private prayer; in which exercise she was very frequent. Upon a Sabbath forenoon, when all were at church and she at home, none with her
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XXXVII.—Anent Major Weir and his Sister.
XXXVII.—Anent Major Weir and his Sister.
This man, Thomas Weir, was born at Clydesdale, near to Lanark, who had been a lieutenant in Ireland long since. What way he came to get some public command in the city of Edinburgh, in the years 1649 and 50, I know not: but it seems he has always been called Major Weir since that time. Many things might be narrated of him, which for brevity’s sake, I cannot meddle with, since I intend only to speak of his sorceries, and other things relating thereunto. It seems he had, before he was burnt, some
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XXXVIII.—An Apparition seen in a dwelling-house, in Mary King’s Close, in Edinburgh.
XXXVIII.—An Apparition seen in a dwelling-house, in Mary King’s Close, in Edinburgh.
Sir, within these few years, there was one T. C. by profession an agent about the session-house; who about flitting time, was removing his furniture from a lower part of the city to an higher. One in the aforesaid close, seeing his maid on the Saturday carrying some light furniture to such a house, asked her, if she was to dwell in that house? “Yes,” said she; “for I am hired for this half-year.” Her friend told her, “If you live there, I assure you, you will have more company than yourselves.”
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XXXIX.—An Apparition of a deceased Wife to her Husband, at Edinburgh.
XXXIX.—An Apparition of a deceased Wife to her Husband, at Edinburgh.
Sir, that which I narrated to you the other day, I have now sent it under my hand, as a thing very certain and sure. I knew a servant-maid, that served a gentlewoman in the old Provost’s Close, as they call it, who was married to a butcher called John Ritchie, about twelve years ago. She lived about five years with him, and had four children to him, and then died. Within a few days after her burial, he went in suit of a young woman, courting her for marriage. He had a comrade of the same trade,
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XL.—Concerning some Witches in the Shire of Renfrew.
XL.—Concerning some Witches in the Shire of Renfrew.
I t was about the end of August 1696, Christian Shaw, daughter to Shaw of Bargarran, in the shire of Renfrew, about eleven years of age, perceiving one of the maids of the house, named Katharine Campbell, to steal and drink some milk; she told her mother of it: Whereupon the maid Campbell (being of a proud and revengeful humour, and a great curser and swearer) did, in a great rage, thrice imprecate the curse of God upon the child, and uttered these words, “The devil harle your soul through hell.
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XLI.—Concerning the Witches of Pittenweem.
XLI.—Concerning the Witches of Pittenweem.
Peter Morton, smith at Pittenweem, being desired by one Beattie Laing to do some work for her, which he refused, excusing himself in respect he had been pre-engaged to serve a ship with nails, within a certain time, so that till he had finished that work, he could not engage in any other; that notwithstanding, the said Beattie Laing declared herself dissatisfied, and vowed revenge. The said Peter Morton, afterward being indisposed, coming by the door, saw a small vessel full of water, and a coal
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XLII.—Concerning the bewitching of a Child in Ireland.
XLII.—Concerning the bewitching of a Child in Ireland.
At Antrim, in Ireland, a girl of ninteen years of age, inferior to none in the place for beauty, education, and birth, innocently eat a leaf of sorrel, which she got from a witch, after she had given the begging witch bread and beer at the door: it was scarcely swallowed by her, but she began to be tortured in her bowels, to tremble all over, and even was convulsive; and, in fine to swoon away, as dead. The doctors used remedies on the 9th of May 1698, at which time it happened, but to no purpos
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XLIII.—Concerning the Witch of Calder.
XLIII.—Concerning the Witch of Calder.
This famous witch of Calder, is not to be altogether passed by. This horrible slave of Satan was first suspected by her neighbours, and then her horrible witchcrafts were found to the conviction of many, and direful experience of my Lord Torphichen’s family.—She had a child died, which she gave to the devil, not only the soul, but the corpse, without a burying.——She put an incantation upon the aforesaid honourable Lord’s son, so that he was the terror, as well as the grief of the family. This ch
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