[Satan’s Invisible World Contents]
The following “Narrative” is printed from the Original MS. in the Library of the University, Edinburgh. It appears to have been formerly in the possession of W. B. D. D. Turnbull, Esq., Advocate, 1832:-1
ANE NARRATIVE of the trouble of PATRICK MORTON.
And the confession of some women thairanent in Pittenweem.
It was about the beginning of March 1704 years, when the first arise and occasion was given (so far as can be known), to the strange things that this young man who is the subject of this narrative: The manner was thus:- Patrick Morton son to Patrick Morton, smith in Pittenweem and an elder of the Congregation, a judicious sensible youth and of good inclinations, about 16 years of age, being employed by his father to make some nails to Alexander Dalyeells ship, Beatrix Layng came in to him and desired him to make some nails to her, which he modestlie shifted, telling her there was a necessity of making the nails first for the ship, seeing she was going out of the Harbour: Whereupon the said Beatrix did storm and went to the door in a great discontent, muttering some words which the said Patrick conceeved to import a threating, with which he was moved and did fear hurt from the said Beatrix, a woman of very bad fame.
On the next day he was carrying fish on a Barrow by the said Beatrix her door, with another woman, and he observed a timber vessel with some water and a Coal of fire amongst it, standing at her door; which made him strongly apprehend that this was a charm used by the said Beatrix for his hurt. Nor could he get his mind freed of the fears of it.
After which he was seized with a sudden weakness in his legs that he could not stand, and fell on a languishing distemper whereby his body was brought exceeding low; and all this time told he was fully perswaded that it was by the foresaid charm that all this was come upon him; and continued in this condition much about and till the first of May. All this time physicians and apothecaries were employed, and made use of such means as were judged by them proper to recover him. But (as he foretold) all was in vain; and it was with great difficulty he was perswaded to use any thing prescribed for him.
While he was thus indisposed persons of skill examined his condition…2 yet though he was brought very low, his appetite gone, his naturall strength much abated and his body much emaciated, yet they could not find the ordinary symptoms of a decay or consumption: therefore they prescribed no more medicines for him.
About the beginning of May, his case altered; he took strange and unusuall fitts, which astonished all onlookers: his belly (though clapped to his back, as was observed by Mr. Patrick Arthur), was strangely distended and did swell to an unusual height and fall suddenly. While his body did swell it did rise up the cloaths of the bed to a strange height, and as the swelling went off there was an unusual noise heard in his breast. And then he became as one choked by strangling, and wrestled oddly so that if he got not present help in the time of these fitts he swooned, which fell out several times. It is to be observed that he took these fitts very frequently during the space of four nights, and sometime without intermission. And all this time he was very sensible of his condition, and declared he was fully perswaded that Beatrix Layng had bewitched him, and often pressed an inquiry into it; and because he saw little appearance of this, was extremely discouraged.
On the 14th May being the Lords day at night, the foresaid fitts left; and he took a prodigious swelling in his breast, that the very breast bones were evidently bowed and raised up to an admirable height which usually fell as suddenly; so long that spectators did oft imagine he was falling through the bed; and it was found that the back bones were equally distended with the breast when the swelling was falling; his breathing was exactly like the blowing of a pair of bellows, and sometime those fitts were also without intromission. As also while he was in those fitts, and after them a considerable while, his body became rigede and inflexible that no strength could fold his arms nor move his body. Several times some very strong men, both in the place and strangers also, endeavoured to lift his head and shoulders from the Bed; but not one of them could ever be able to do it. It was evident also and often tried that during the space of… nor faillings; and yet when he was in those deep swoons his pulse was in good order, and his face and lips lively.
May 19th being Friday, at night the minister of the place Mr. Patrick Cowpar prayed and discoursed with the young man: He told the minister the foresaid charm was the cause of all his troubles, and he could expect no relief except Beatrix Layng were tryed and punished. The Minister told he had discovered several women who were said to have heard some words from the said Beatrix, that gave ground to suspect her guilty of the foresaid charm: And the women declared they heard the foresaid words; on which William Bell one of the present Baillies and the Minister offered to bring Beatrix to the house and the forsaid women, viz. Catharine Mareshall and Nicolas Lawson: who being confronted with the said Beatrix, declared that she said an evil spirit was troubling the youth, and that the youths own tongue was the cause of his trouble, and that she would not indure them to mention the word Witches.
It was noticed by all present that Nicolas Lawson was in a great Consternation, and seemed to speak with a reluctance and fear, though the Magistrates and Minister treated her with all softness and calmness during the time of all the discourse that past; the youth was in most dreadful agony and pain by the distending and falling of his breast, and after his fitts neither heard nor felt, which was often narrowly examined; and after ane swerve or swoon he cried out “one of my tormentors is here present.” But when asked who it was, his tongue was drawn back in his throat that he could not speak, but pointed to his mouth with his finger; and in all these fitts however insensible he was for a while, yet so soon as he awakened what he spoke was pertinent. The Minister did thrice, when he was in a dilaequium, pinch his thumb and arm very sore, after which he lay eight or nine minutes usually and complained not of any pain, but so soon as he was out of the swerve he did cry bitterly of the pain of his thumb and Arm.
He told the Minister that this night he would be sore tormented, because he heard a woman say she would twist about his head that night. The Minister asked if he knew who she was; he answered God Almighty knew, he knew not but heard her voice. The Minister withdrew and returned about 10 of the clock. He took frequent and very prodigious fitts, the usual swelling of his breast, stiffness of his body after it, and his head twisted about so far that his face was on his shoulders; and after wrestled as if some had been strangling him, and told that some were actually endeavouring to stifle and chock him, and a long red stroke as the seal of a cord was seen about his neck; and this befell him severall nights before. After one violent fitt he awakened, and said “he heard his tormentors saying, there are godly folk here this night.”
The Minister of the parish with a young man, a probationer for the Ministry, and several other honest people both men and women, spent some time that night in prayer for the tormented youth, at which Satan and his instruments showed no small rage. After another sore fitt he awakened, crying, “O they are pinching my arms, look you will see it;” and all those present saw the marks of the nails on his arm, and after this his tongue was drawn back in his throat; instantly after this his head was twisted about, and often though lying on his back, his head would have risen even up from the pillow as if he had been sitting straight up.
When he awakened out of another fitt he cryed “they are saying they shall endeavour,” and this he repeated: again within a little having fallen in another fitt, out of which when he did awake he cryed “they are saying there is no edification to be had here, but they will get their own time;” After this, again his head was twisted about; and he cryed they were bitting him. After another fitt he cryed they are saying “It is altogether needless to stay here, and they will make their own escape:” he told also he heard them saying “justice will be brought to light;” these were his own words. Again he cryed they are saying they shall make me hear all the evell. But I shall hear no good that night. While the Minister was reading the account of Balgarrans daughters case in the West, he cryed out they were… would not prevail… head was twisted about; after this a little he complained they were pinching his arm and the marks of their nails were seen. Again he fell a startling and moving strangely in the bed, and the spectators saw his breast pinched and he could not speak. He called for a drink of milk and had scarce well taken it, when he fell in one of the most furious fitts he had ever had, and struggled strangely in the bed that there was no keeping him down; and he cryed he was worried, he fell in another fitt and swerved after it and cryed they are saying, “What needs the halfe of this praying the night,” on which his head was twisted about and his breast greviously pinched. Again he cryed out they are saying we will get no access this night. The Minister asked him if he heard prayer or reading? he answered, “did you not hear them say I should hear all the evill but no good;” and he declared he neither heard prayer nor reading. And it was observed after this to the date thereof that he heard no part of the worship of God that was performed in the house; and yet would have spoke sensible both immediately before and after it. He complained they were putting his head in a disorder, and that his head was as if he were drunk. The Minister asked if he should pray for him, he answered yes. And so soon as the Minister was going to do it he fell in a swoon and took a violent fitt after it, and his teeth set together and his eyes were twisted about and fixed staring on the foot of the bed; this disorder of his eyes did frequently follow several of the fitts he fell in.
About one o’clock in the morning he fell under several sore fitts, and after one of them he cryed out, “I adjure you Satan by the living God to depart out of this house this night,” and when one bade him pray his tongue was drawn back in his throat and his head and one of his arms twisted about in a strange manner. After another sore agony and a swoon that followed it, he cryed they are saying we shall stick fast to our man, turn what way it will; and startled in the bed and pointing to his arm the marks of the nails that had pinched him were seen on his arm. After another sore fitt he cryed to a gentlewoman sitting beside him, “Mistress have a care of your hands, for I will bite all that come near me.” Accordingly he did furiously gnash with his teeth, and they were close set together. After this his head twisted about, and he cryed they are saying if we had got our wills he should tell no more stories. Then he said to the foresaid gentlewoman, “Mistriss take head, hold back your hands for if it were my mother I would bite you:” And he bounded up in the bed and wrestled sore, and said they were piercing him with swords in the thigh, and that there was a swerve coming on him which fell out. And added “Sirs do you not think the devil may stab folk though it be not visible:” And instantly he was sore stabbed. About 4 o’clock in the morning, when the Minister and those present were communing about having some to attend him when they went away, he (though as a dead corpse) suddenly came to himself and said to the Minister, “You shall not hear me complain of pain from 5 to 9 hours in the morning and I shall sleep all that time:” And added “Sir you shall see if I sleep not from 5 to 9, I shall be a great Knave.” The Minister asked him how he knew? he replied, “you shall see it when it comes to pass.” He was sired to pray to God for himself, and he could scarce get his words uttered, “my teeth are closed,” which fell out so and ever since. We have observed so soon as he was bid pray for himself, or tell anything anent his tormentors, his tongue was drawn back in his throat or his teeth so set together that he could not speak; and though all this night he never named Beatrix Layng but once, yet formerly he frequently did and he sleept close till 9 o’clock as he foretold.
After he awakened out of his sleep, he seemed to be communing with some persons invisible to bystanders; he said, – “what assurance have you of that? Beatrix says that she has a mind to worry or stick me this day, and hope in God you will be frustrated of your design; the master you serve is ane evil master; stay and I will tell you what wages you will get, – even the torment of everlasting burning is abiding you.” With that his neck was twisted about and stuck stiff on his shoulders. Again when he was free of another fitt… “what you have to say. You have great need of repentance; you have two great adversaries to do withall. First, you have the God of this world to do withall, for though he be your friend now He will be your adversary hereafter, and he is helping you a black gate. I engage she shall not come in my sight for an hour.” And after he had layn an exact hour in a fitt or swoon, he cryed, – “why do you appear here before me Beatie, you may be ashamed to appear before me in such an ill cause. Is not your old father a good scholar. Do you not read that without repentance you cannot be saved, Glorify God, and tell the verity. I hope through the Lord’s strength to resist you till 2 o’clock in the afternoon.” And immediately thereafter, he cryed they were pinching his arm whereof the marks were visibly seen. He said also “it is not through my own strength that I am furnished with words but through the strength of the Lord.”
When one asked him why did he shake his head, he replied he was stabbed in the back as with a drawn spear; and immediately his tongue was drawn back in his throat. A little after this he said “they need not say they are putting her in upon suspicion; for it is evidently seen.” When one asked him of whom he was speaking, “It is not Beatrix Layng, I think that the best of Pittenweem may be ashamed to plead your cause.”
At 2 o’clock in the afternoon he did say, “they are saying we might have shot a speit in his throat; now Beatrix, you are coming to kill me, I observe there is more then one or two along with you; come I will tell you your doom; you are deceiving your own soul. Consider what you are doing. All that you can do will not free you from the torments of Hell; Remember you will stand before God. Who will plead for you then? Will you get a Saviour then? And so without godly sorrow you will never be saved.” When one was desiring to send for the Minister he said that, “you need not send for any body. I will not speak for two hours after this,” which accordingly came to pass. He added, “I hear them say they will put a speit through his throat,” and cryed, “O she is biting my arm,” the marks whereof were visibly seen; and said “I am bitten when I tell the verity, and they are pricking me and shutting something down my throat;” and instantly his throat turned hard and his head twisted about.
About 2 hours after he cryed out, “they are saying we might have got him put out of hands yesternight were it not for the ill favoured prayers.” A little after one asked why he was shaking his head; he replied he was choaked with a rope, and they did stop his eares also; and further he said “what are you going to do with her?” One asked what he would have them to do with her. He added also, “why do you suffer her to lye in her bed? For when she is sleeping she does me much mischief, and if my throat were not stopped you would not all be able to hold me within the bed,” It is to be marked that all this day, being Saturday, Beatrix Layng lay in her bed.
He told, “now you have gotten all the account of my trouble, and if you have a mind to do anything with her, it is now time.” Again, when one said they could bring him no help, he said he feared they which could help would be unwilling; then he said they were putting a great pin through his heart. When another said to him that they would put him to death, he answered, he hoped to live and see her get the fire about her. He frequently foretold when he would have ease, and when he would have pain. About 8 o’clock the Minister came to visit him; he wakened out of a sore fitt that he was in, and the Minister and one of the Baillies called for Beatrix Layng into the house. She was no sooner entered the door of the room where the tormented youth lay, but he immediately awakened out of a deep swoon and cryed, roaring and struggling in a great agony, that one of his tormentors B. L. (these being the initial letters of Beatrix Layng’s name) was here; and there was another that tormented him N. L. Beatrix was not suffered to touch him, and yet his agony continued in a fearful manner till she was removed out of the room, and then he instantly settled.
Then Nicolas Lawsone was called for; so soon as she came in under the roof, before she entered the chamber where he lay, he fell in as dreadful fitts as formerly; when her neighbour and she was removed, and immediately he calmed and fell in a deep swerve: Again she was brought in a second time, which had the same effect. But because she alleged that he saw her, which was altogether groundless, they covered his face with 2 or 3 ply of thick cloath; and yet instantly when she came in he was tormented as before. And the Minister having entered on a serious discourse with Beatrix Layng and Nicolas Lawson anent the effect their presence in the room had upon the youth, and the presumption there was of their being engaged in the devils service, the Magistrats thereupon ordered them both to prison, and the tormented youth said, “there is a man saying he met not with such a loss this many years,” and a little after he cryed, “he is blowing wind in my face, and he appears to me like a white cat; and here is a man (saith he) will break some bodies Neck here.” It was asked who it was, he said, “it was a mans tongue, and he speakes hoarse-like; he added, he never knew so much of Nicolas Lawson’s troubling him as yesternight about 9, and so at night. It was inquired what a man it was that said to him, he met not with such a loss this many years; his answer was that it was Satan, and said he did fly away in the likeness of a Cat. Being again asked what loss the man got that spake to him, he said it was the loss of his two companions.
At that same time he said that two men would not be able to hold him this night, when once day light wore away. After that he said that it was Satans servants that did torment him yesternight, but Satan himself was to torment him this night. He cryed they were piercing him through the pape and through the back, and said no part of him would be free of torment this night.
A little after this he said he saw a black boy standing in the bed, who said to him he would give him a new coat; but he answered he would resist him through Gods strength, and would have none of his coats. This was about 10 o’clock at night.
He said afterward there was a man that said to him that he would hold him waking all night. But he answered you are nothing but a chained dog, and you have no more power than God giveth to you. I trust in the Lords strength to defy you, and all the devils in hell this night. Then he said there was not one part of his body but was full of pain with jagging. The devil again appeared and offered him a cravat; but he answered I shall have none of your cravats nor none of your bribes. He added they were blowing wind in his face.
About twelve o’clock at night he told as he was laying, “pray and read as much as you like, he will have his life.” But the tormented youth replied he would resist him if God were with him; then a little while after the Devil appeared like a sow, and said, “If he had not told this he would have win his life.” And the youth replied, “although my body be in your hands, yet my soul is in the hands of the most high.” About one o’clock the Devil said he would prick him to death, if he would not deny all that he had said. But he said he would rather dye than deny. When one asked him what it was the devil would have him to deny, he answered, and said, “It was those things he spoke before.” And hearing the people speak concerning Nicolas Lawsone, that she had said she could not get her mind opened, he replied that she was the next step to confession when she said that. After this, one invisible to him said “the devil dragg you throw nineteen chambers,” and he replied I will not give twopence for your kindness; for you can do nothing but what God permitts you to do. About 3 hours in the morning, being 21st of May and Lords day, he said the Devil cryed out horribly because he could not get him killed for shaming of his dear children. Now, he told he would rest from 5 to 8 o’clock in the morning; which accordingly fell out.
After this, awakening at 8 o’clock, he said, “You wicked Devil, you think to cut off my toes, and make me renounce my Baptism and vows, and would perswade me that there is not a Saviour. But he trusted in the Lord that he would resist him.” About eleven hours in the forenoon, he sat up in the Bed as if he had been under no indisposition, and wrote what follows with his own hand.
He said he saw Satan standing in the Bed, and said unto him, My child I will give you a silver suit and silver tressing about your hat if you will confess that there is no saviour; though two of my dear children suffer punishment, yet it shall be well with you hereafter; He answered, “If I beg of God for a true godly sorrow for sin, then through the Lords strength, no devil shall be able to touch one hair of my head;” and thus far he wrote.
After this the devill said to him that he would not trouble him for Four hours; then the Devil appeared to him about 2 hours after, like a young man, with a black coat, and hat with silver tressing about it, and black stockings with white shoes; and said to him he would cut off his toes, and run a spite through him. But he answered, “you are a liar, and a liar from the beginning; you said you would not trouble me for 4 hours, but you have troubled me sooner. I am not afraid of you. I will not flee from you; though you be a strong adversary, yet there is one stronger than you.” And he said he would be no more afraid of the devil then for a young child; “you are a cunning dog, but I will not be bribed with you.”
It is to be considered that this whole last night in which he spoke much of what is above written, he did not show the least disorder in his judgment while he discoursed, and also that he had frequently terrible fitts as formerly; to witt, that astonishing swelling in the breast, the twisting of his head about, swooning, and becoming stiff, and without sense of seeing, hearing, or feeling.
Sabbath, about 10 o’clock at night, after he wakened out of a grievious fitt he cryed, “there he is with a silver call about his neck, and red slippers, and says he will wait on me this night as well as ever he did, though two of his dear children seem to be brought to execution.” But he answered, “through the Lords strength I shall defy him.”
Having fallen in another fitt he awakened and said, “he said if he had holden a grip of me, I should have given you all your desire. If you have no other Saviour but me I should have pleaded for you.”
Beatrix Layng being brought in to see Patrick Morton, she came no sooner into the room but he fell into a horrible and amazing fitt, and roared crying, “there is one of my tormentors here,” though immediately before he was lying insensible as a dead corpse. But because she said Patrick Morton had seen her, she was removed and Patrick Morton’s face was covered with 2 or 3 plys of a thick cloath; yet she no sooner came in again but his grevious agony recurred, and he cryed out his tormentor B. L. was here, and prest vehemently to take her to prison.
Beatrix being removed to prison, they asked him why he only named the initial letters of the two womens names yesternight and this night, he told he was afraid; and as they pressed to know why he was afraid, he was struck with a violent fit and swooned. After this when he awakened, he complained they were pinching his thumb, the marks of which was visible to spectators; he told he got all these pinches for telling the truth.
About half an hour after this he cryed, – “there is he standing in the likeness of a branded horse; he says he shall make me to Blaspheme and speak words that should not be uttered;” and he replied, “how prove you that Satan shall not go one foot back?” He added further, he had much need to be waited on about midnight, and that he had never more need to be prayed for than about that time.
About 12 o’clock at night he pressed to send for the Minister; for he said, “Satan is tormenting more then ever, saying he will destroy me this night. But I will defy him;” and he turned himself to God, and said, “thou art a soveraign Lord, thou canst bind the strong man and cast him out.” About midnight he took many violent and fearfull fitts, crying they were pricking him to the heart. He asked if they had yet confessed that they had his picture tormenting him with; he added, – “he says if they be put to great trial, that more of his children will go that way.” And at 2 o’clock in the morning he said (when people beside him were speaking of the picture), – “the devil said, although you got all the pictures in the world, untill you got those women burnt you shall be no better;” then he added that Satan said the devil takes all that was in the house for they were plotting his ruin. Immediately after this he cried out of dreadful torment, that they were stabbing him. It is to be remembered that those 5 dayes he had taken no meat nor drink except once a day a little milk, or milk and water, or water alone.
There is nothing in all this Narrative of his trouble, and what he spoke, but what six or seven at least were witnesses of it; the most part of it can be attested by many more of the most judicious of the place, Magistrates, Ministers, Elders, and others; yea, frequently the room was full of people when he had his worst fitts, and spoke most.
The Right Honourable the Earl of Kellie, the Laird of Kinconqurd, the Laird of Grangemoor, with some other Countrey Gentlemen and some neighbour Ministers, were witnesses to some of his fitts, and to what he spoke.
From Tuesday, May the 23rd to Sabbath 28th, his case altered much; he seldom had fitts or swerves, and when they did overtake him, they were not violent nor sore, and all this time he heard prayer and reading of the Scriptures. But on Sabbath day foresaid he began to grow worse. He had several sore pinches, the marks of which was seen by spectators after sermon, and was in a deep and long swoon, and very insensible when he was tryed.
There was several country Gentlemen who saw him in this condition, and desired that Beatrix Layng might be brought furth, that they might see if he were seized with any strange fitts when she did approach; which the Magistates accordingly did. She was no sooner in at the outter door of the house but he fell in a hideous fitt, and struggled most furiously that he could not be keeped down, and cryed out, – “one of my tormentors is here;” and this was the more remarkable that he was near a quarter of an hour in a deliquium before this fitt, and several sore fitts ensued this, at all which the spectators was much moved and terrified; he cryed once at the same time, – “The Devil is blowing a puff of wind in my face.”
The Gentlemen who were present were Sir Robert Anstruther, Balcormo elder and younger, Grangemoor, with the Magistrates and Minister; and they saw so soon as Beatrix was removed the youth settled. Some of the gentlemen tryed the weight of his body in the swerve, and they could by no means lift his head or shoulders from the pillow.
This night he took several sore fitts as he had foretold; after one he cryed that a little warlock was troubling him. After another fearfull wrestling, he cryed, – “there is ane ill favoured hoarse leud warlock troubling me.”
Monday, the 29th of May, in the morning he awakened out of a swerve and cryed, – “there is some rank devils in the loan;” and said he saw Thomas Brown a long glooming dog with a long staff. He said the devil appeared to him in the likeness of Thomas Brown with a broad rule in his hand; and after this he said the devil appeared to him again and said he would let him alone untill 10 o’clock at night, and he answered, – “I do not believe you, you are a Lyar from the beginning.”
Issobell Adame of 20 years of age, being apprehended on pregnant presumptions of Witchcraft, no sooner entered the room where the youth was, but he awakened out of his insensible fitts and cryed, – “there is a charmer here;” and though one of the Magistrates covered his face before she entered, and only the said Magistrate and Minister knew of her coming to the house; and so soon as she was removed he settled and swerved as formerly.
This night he said frequently that Thomas Brown and Janet Corfeitt were troubling him, though he never spoke of this woman before as one of his tormentors, but when she was present.
May the 30th, Janet Corfeitt was brought out of prison… and though formerly he never accused her till she touched him, yet now he awakened out of a swoon, and accused her to be one of his tormentors; so soon as she entered the room he struggled furiously till she was removed. Immediately after Issobell Adame was brought out of prison to visit him, and she was no sooner at the door of the room where he lay, but he fell in a terrible fitt, and cryed, – “one of my tormentors is here;” though the other day he called her but a charmer; and as was usual in the like case with him: but before and after this he was in a deep swoon.
He had foretold that he would have much trouble about 10 o’clock at night, about which time the Minister was present and prayed; but the young man heard none at all. A little after he cryed, – “thou Thomas Brown thought to hit me in the face with thy rule. Ah, Thomas, you are there at my bed head and all the cummers in the loan. They are saying we will go to the loan, for as long as the Minister is here we will get no access.” He instantly fell in a deep swoon, and was under some unusual fitts in the time of it, the upper part of his body moving towards the bed side, and drawing back also strangely, and yet the inferiour parts of his body could not be perceived to move. This befell him several times, which was very astonishing to onlookers. Since Sabbath he hath not eat any, and he said he could not eat till Wednesday at twelve o’clock… (The MS. Ends here abruptly.)
These horrible transactions gave rise to several pamphlets, criminating and defending the Minister and Magistrates; but the Murderers were never brought to justice. The TWO following Tracts are here given as fully explanatory of the whole affair. The FIRST is a concise relation of facts, in which the Minister and Magistrates are placed in no very favourable point of view. The SECOND is an answer to the first, and seems chiefly intended to obviate the charges that are preferred against the Minister and Baillies; but, in our opinion, with no great success, as the principal facts are admitted, and the only defence set up is, that the women were in reality Witches!
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1 My thanks are due to the Rev. T, Morris, Edinburgh, for his kindness in the elucidation and verification of this old MS.-Editor.
2 The MS. Here is defective, having been too close cut in the binding.
