[Satan’s Invisible World Contents]
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 sake especially who have not heard of it. While the King was about the setling of the Countrey, 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 that several Remedies and Cures were made use of to no purpose, a Report is spread, the Authors thereof being uncertain, that the King was brought to that sickness and Trouble by Witches. This suspicion arose, from an unusual Sweating he was under, his Body pining and withering away by little and little and his strength failling day by day. And since all his Physicians; had done their utmost, and yet no appearance of recovery, it was supposed his case was extraordinary, therefore all men being vehemently intent upon the Event, news came to Court that Night-meetings were kept at Forres a Town in Murray, for taking away the life of the King. This was presently received and believed for truth, because no other thing did occurr for the present more probable. Whereupon Trusty and Faithful men are presently sent away to one Donald Governour of the Castle there, in whom the King had the greatest Trust and Confidence. This man having gotten some knowledge of the business from a certain young Wench, whose Mother was under a bad report of being skilful in this Black-Art, found out and discovered the whole matter. The young Harlot is taken, because she had spoken some words rashly anent the Kings sickness, and that within a few dayes his life would be at an end. Some of the Guard being sent, found the Lasses Mother, with some Haggs, such as her self, roasting before a small moderate fire, the Kings Picture made of Wax. The design of this horrid Act, was that as the Wax by little and little did melt away, so the Kings Body by a continual sweating, might at last totally decay. The Waxen-Image being found and broken, and those old Haggs being punished by death, the King did in that same moment recover. Compare this with the first Relation, and you will find them jump and agree exactly.
