[Satan’s Invisible World Contents]
For Mr. Sinclar, Edinb. Octob. 18. 1684.
Sir,
I Cannot but much approve your design in publishing Satans 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 informe you, with 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 Borrowstonness to Culros, to see a notable Witch burnt. She was carried to the place of Execution in a Chair by four men, by reason her Legs, and her Belly were broken, by one of the Devils cunning tricks which he plaid her. This Woman was watched one night in the Steeple of Culros, by two men, John Shank a Flesher, and one John Drummond, who being weary went to another Room, where there was a Fire, to take a Pipe. But to secure her, they put her Leggs in the Stocks, and locked them, as well as might be. But no sooner were they gone out of the Room, but the Devil came into the Prison, and told her he was obliged, to deliver her from the shame she was like to suffer for his sake; and accordingly took her out of the Stocks, and embracing her, carried her out of the Prison. At which she being terrified made this exclamation by the way, O GOD wither are you taking me! At which words, he let her fall, at the distance from the Steeple, about the breadth of the street of Edinburgh, where she brake her Leggs and her Belly. I saw the impression and dimple of her heels; as many thousands did, which continued for six or seven years upon which place no Grass would ever grow. At last there was a stone dyke built upon the place.
My second Relation shall be of some Witches of Borrowstonness: which were the occasion of much inquiry after them there. Anno 1644. A certain Woman in the town, came about eight a clock in the morning into her Neighbours house, after a most furious manner, and assaulted her, by scratching her face, and pulling the hair out of her head, saying, thou traitour Thief, thou thought to have destroyed my Son this morning, but it was not in thy power. The Ship wherin the young man was a Sailler, had been under a dreadful tempest aff and on, with Saint Abbs head, that morning. With the violence of a Sea, which came in upon the Deck, he was cast over-boord on this side of the Ship, and to the admiration of all, he was cast in upon the Deck again, upon the other side, without harm. This marvellous business being reported about eight a clock at night by the Mariners, when they came a shoar and being compared with what the one Woman said to the other that morning, both of them were apprehended, and after their confession were both burnt, many hundreds being Spectators whereof I was one.
The last, Which is more remarkable, shall he anent the Wife of one Goodaile a Couper in the Parish of Carrin. This Woman was about thirty and two, or three and thirty years of age, a most beautiful and comely Person as was in the Countrey about. She was often fyll’d and delated by many, who had been burnt. They told, that amongst them all, she was the Person, whom the Devil at their Meetings, did most court and embrace, calling her constantly my dear Mistris, setting her alway at his right hand, to the great discontent of his old Haggs, whom, as they conceived, he now slighted. She was apprehended, and committed to Prison. At this time there was one James Fleming a Master of a Ship there, a Person of great courage, strength and resolution, who had it insinuat to him by her, when he was exhorting her to confess, that in respect she understood, he was to be upon her Watch the next night, if she got no deliverance, as she expected before one a clock in the morning, she should lay her heart open to him before others. At which he being apprehensive of what might fall out, as indeed he had reason, went to his Uncle, a grave and experienced Person, who advised him to take all his Ships Company, to the number of fourteen able men and keep watch, not forgetting the Reading of Scripture, and earnest Prayer to GOD. The Night was still and calme, as an Summers evening, without the least appearance of Change, when upon a sudden at midnight, as James Fleming himself was coursing her too and again, as the custome was, holding her by the hand, I say upon a sudden, a terrible tempest, like an Hirricano came on, which took the Roof from the house, to their great consternation. And a voice was heard three times, calling her by a strange name to come away. At which she made three several loups upward increasing gardually, till her feet were as high as his breast. But he held her by both her armes, and as he used to say, when he spoke of it he betooched himself strongly and earnestly to God, though with great amazement, his hair standing Widdershins in his head. And after the third call, he prevailed against the greatest Effort, which ever he felt, and threw her on the ground, she groveling and fomeing like one having the falling-sickness, where she fell into a profound sleep, for the space of two or three hours. When she awaked, she declaimed most bitterly against the Devils treachry, and perfidiousness, who had promised to carry her to Irland before four a clock in the morning, and to touch at Paisley where she might see her sister in passing. She made a free and full confession, and deleated many Women, some of them of good repute, who afterwards confessed, and died so. The Author of this letter is a Person of great honesty and sincerity from the First Relation of his, we have an evident instance that the Devil can transport the Bodies of men and Women thorow the Air; `Tis true, he did not carry her far off, but not for want of skill and power. Neither was he afraied to hear the name of God spoken; but purposing to destroy both the Soul and the body of the poor creature, he has pretended so much, to excuse himself, at her hand.
The first Story puts me in mind of one Craich a Witch put in prison, in the Steeple of Culross, to whom several years agoe, Mr. Alexander Colvil, Justice Depute came, a gentleman of great sagacity and knowledge as to Witches. He asked if she was a Witch. She denyed. Dar you hold up your hand and swear that you are not a Witch? Yes sir said she. But behold, what a remarkable Judgement of God come upon her. While she is swearing with her arm lifted up, it became as stiff as a tree, that she could not pull it in again, to the amazement of all that were present. One person yet living there, was a witness and can attest this. The Gentleman seing the vengeance of God upon her for her wickedness falls down presently upon his knees, and entreated the Lord in her behalf, who was graciously pleased to hear him.
Some are of Opinion, that the Devil cannot raise winds and storms upon the Sea and Land. This is evident from the last relation in the Letter. Which puts me in mind of a terrible tempest of wind in the Firth, that day when Bessie Fouler was burnt at Musselburgh in May anno 1661. The Devil (it seems) had promised to her, that she should not die at that time whereupon she looking out at the Prison Window spake very confidently to the folk below, You think to see me burnt the day, but you will all be deceived. The Hirricano did so prevail, that in effect, everie body suspected that she should not have died that day. The morning and the forenoon were very calme.
