[Satan’s Invisible World Contents]
THis mans name was Sandie Hunter, who called himself Sandie Hamilton, and it seems was called Hattaraik by the Devil, and so by others, as a Nick-name. He was first a Neat-herd in East-Lothian to a Gentle-man there. He was much given to Charming and cureing of Men and Beasts by Words and Spels. 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 form of a Mediciner and said Sandie, you have too long followed my trade, and never acknowledged me for your Master. You must now take on with me, and be my servant and I will make you more perfect in your Calling. Whereupon the man gave up himself to the Devil, and received his Mark, with this new name. After this, he grew very famous throw the Countrey, for his Charming and cureing of diseases in Men and Beasts, and turned a vagrant fellow, like a Jockie, gaining, Meal, Flesh, and Money by his Charms, such was the ignorance of many at that time. Whatever House he came to, none durst refuse Hattaraik an alms, rather for his ill, than his good. One day he came to the Yait of Samuelstoun, when some Friends after Dinner were going to Horse. A young Gentleman brother to the Lady seing him, switcht him about the ears, saying, You Warlok Cairle, what have you to do here? Whereupon the Fellow goes away grumbling, and was overheard say, you shall dear buy this ere it be long. This was Damnum Minatum. The young Gentle-man conveyed his Friends a far way off and come home that way again, where he supt. After supper taking his horse, and crosing Tine-Water to go home; he rides throw a shadowy piece of a Haugh, commonly called the Allers, and the evening being some-what dark, he met with some Persons there that begat a dreadful consternation in him, which for the most part, he would never reveal. This was malum secutum. When he came home, the Servants observed terror and fear in his Countenance. The next day he became distracted and was bound for several days. His Sister the Lady Samuelstown hearing of it, was heard say, surely that knave Hattaraik, is the cause of his Trouble. Call for him in all haste. When he had come to her, Sandie, says she, what is this you have done to my Brother William? I told him, says he, I should make him repent his stricking of me at the yait lately. She giving the Rogue fair words, and promising him his Pock full of Meal, with Beaf, and Cheese, perswaded the Fellow to cure him again. He undertook the business, but I must first (says he,) have one of his Sarks, which was soon gotten. What Pranks he plaid with it cannot be known. But within a short while the Gentleman recovered his Health. When Hattaraik came to receive his wadges, he told the Lady, your Brother William shal quickly go off the Countrey but shall never return. She knowing the Fellows Prophesies to hold true, caused her Brother make a Disposition to her of all his Patrimony, to the defrauding of his younger brother George. After that this Warlock had abused the Countrey for a long time, he was at last apprehended at Dunbar, and brought into Edinburgh, and burnt upon the Castle-hill.
I have insert this story, which I had from the Gentlemans own Brother, a thing well known at that time thorow the Countrey, not so much for any great matters in it, as that it may be an occasion to me to speake a little of Charms. The word Charm, or Incantation comes from the Latine word Carmen, signifying a verse, because the Roman Southsayers gave their Charms in Verse. It is only a strange composure of words to blind the Understanding of People, pretending that by vertue of Words great matters may be brought to pass. But words of themselves, either spoken or written, (as these charms) have no force to bring any thing to pass. It is only the power of Almighty God. Charming is much practised by the Pope, and the Romish-Church. Their whole form of Religion both in private and in publick consisting of Charms of all sorts. Pope Leo had a Charm, which he said he had from an Angel, who taught him, that whosoever carried that Charm in writ about him, and said every day three Pater Nosters, three Aves, and one Creed, shall not that day be conquered of his enemies, nor be in other danger ghostly or bodily, but shall be protected by these holy names of Jesus Christ written, with the four Evangelists, and Crosses between them, as † Jesus † Christus † Messias † Soter † Emanuel, &c. It is still a common practise among the Papists to carry Charms about them, to make them Shot-Free when they go to War, as also hath been found by experience in the late Irish Wars, many of the Idolatrous Irish being found with Charms in their Pockets, composed by the Popish Clergy. They make their Holy Water by a Charm or Conjuration thus. I conjure thee, thou Creature of Water; in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, that thou drive the Devil out of every Corner of this Church and Altar; so that he remain not within our Precinks, which are Just and Holy. This is used in the Dedication of their Churches. Thus by Holy Water, they not only conjure the Devil from their Churches, but from dwelling Houses, from Meat and Drink, from Salt upon the Table. They dedicate their Bells in Steeples, which have power to clear the Air from Devils. It is likewise a sort of Charm, which many Witches have prescrived namely to cut the Rouan-Tree between the two Beltan days. If any Man or Woman, Horse, or Cow shall have a piece thereof upon them, no Devils or Fairy shall have power, to medle with them. An old Woman whom I read of, used this Charm, when she went to Bed.
Matthew, Mark, Luke and John,
The Bed be blest that I ly on.
Another Old Woman taught her Neighbour this Charm, when the Butter would not Churn.
Come Butter come,
Come Butter come,
Peter stands at the Gate,
Waiting for a Butter’d Cake,
Come Butter come.
