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diff --git a/43966-8.txt b/43966-8.txt deleted file mode 100644 index c6f59b5..0000000 --- a/43966-8.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,10488 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of Witchcraft and Superstitious Record in the -South-Western District of Scotland, by J. Maxwell Wood - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with -almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included -with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org - - -Title: Witchcraft and Superstitious Record in the South-Western District of Scotland - -Author: J. Maxwell Wood - -Illustrator: John Copland - -Release Date: October 17, 2013 [EBook #43966] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WITCHCRAFT, SUPERSTITIOUS RECORD *** - - - - -Produced by The Online Distributed Proofreading Team at -http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images -generously made available by The Internet Archive.) - - - - - - - - - -Witchcraft and Superstitious Record - - - - - Witchcraft and Superstitious Record - IN THE - South-Western District of Scotland - - - Witchcraft Witch Trials - Fairy Lore Brownie Lore - Wraiths Warnings - Death Customs Funeral Ceremony - Ghost Lore Haunted Houses - - - BY J. MAXWELL WOOD, M.B. - - _Author of "Smuggling in the Solway and - Around the Galloway Sea-board"_ - - _Editor of "The Gallovidian," 1900-1911_ - - - _Illustrated from Special Drawings by John - Copland, Esq., Dundrenna_ - - - DUMFRIES: J. MAXWELL & SON - 1911 - - - - - "For she's gathered witch dew in the Kells kirkyard, - In the mirk how of the moon, - And fed hersel' wi' th' wild witch milk - With a red-hot burning spoon." - --_M'Lehan._ - - - - -[Illustration] - -_To_ Alison Jean Maxwell Wood - -_A "witch" of my most intimate acquaintance_ - - - - -PREFACE. - - -Throughout Dumfriesshire and Galloway remnants of old-world customs still -linger, suggesting a remoter time, when superstitious practice and belief -held all-important sway in the daily round and task of the people. - -In gathering together the available material bearing upon such matters, -more particularly in the direction of witchcraft, fairy-lore, death -warnings, funeral ceremony and ghost story, the author trusts that by -recording the results of his gleanings much as they have been received, -and without at all attempting to subject them to higher analysis or -criticism, a truer aspect and reflection of the influence of superstition -upon the social life of those older days, may be all the more adequately -presented. - - 112 GEORGE STREET, EDINBURGH, - August 9th, 1911. - - - - -CONTENTS. - - - _Page._ - - CHAPTER I. - - Traditional Witchcraft Described 1 - - CHAPTER II. - - Witch Narrative 21 - - CHAPTER III. - - Witchcraft Trials and Persecution 66 - - CHAPTER IV. - - Fairies and Brownies 142 - - CHAPTER V. - - Wraiths and Warnings 198 - - CHAPTER VI. - - Death Customs and Funeral Ceremony 216 - - CHAPTER VII. - - Ghost Lore and Haunted Houses 244 - - APPENDIX. - - (_a_) Surprising Story of the Devil of Glenluce 302 - - (_b_) A True Relation of an Apparition which Infested - the house of Andrew Mackie, Ringcroft of Stocking, - Parish of Rerwick, etc. 321 - - (_c_) The Laird o' Coul's Ghost 344 - - - - -ILLUSTRATIONS. - - - _Page._ - - The Witches' Ride 4 - - "And Perish'd Mony a Bonny Boat" 12 - - The Carlin's Cairn 35 - - A Witch-Brew and Incantation 38 - - "A Running Stream they dare na cross" 69 - - A Witch Trial 85 - - The Burning of the Nine Women on the Sands of Dumfries, - April 13th, 1659 114 - - Penance 125 - - "In Fairy Glade" 152 - - "Riddling in the Reek" 167 - - An Eerie Companion 206 - - "Deid Lichts" 211 - - Funeral Hospitality 222 - - A Galloway Funeral of Other Days 238 - - The Headless Piper of Patiesthorn 266 - - The Ghost of Buckland Glen 271 - - "To Tryst with Lag" 280 - - Ringcroft of Stocking 324 - - - TAIL-PIECES. - - _Page._ - - A Threefold Charm 'gainst Evil 20 - - Witch Stool and Brooms 65 - - Witch Cauldron, Ducking Stool, and Stake 141 - - To Kep Skaith 197 - - A Midnight Revel 215 - - Haunted 243 - - - - -WITCHCRAFT AND SUPERSTITIOUS RECORD IN THE SOUTH-WESTERN DISTRICT OF -SCOTLAND. - - - - -_CHAPTER I._ - -TRADITIONAL WITCHCRAFT DESCRIBED. - - "When out the hellish legion sallied." - --_Tam o' Shanter._ - - -In the far-off days, when Superstition, in close association with the -"evil sister" of Ignorance, walked abroad in the land, the south-western -district of Scotland shared very largely in the beliefs and terrors -embraced under the general descriptive term of witchcraft. Active -interference in the routine of daily life on the part of the Prince of -Darkness and his agencies was fully believed in. The midnight ride, the -power of conversion into animal semblance and form, mystic rite and -incantation, spells and cantrips, as well as the presence on earth of the -Devil himself, who generally appeared in some alluring form--all had a -firmly-established place in the superstitious and impressionable minds of -the people who dwelt in the land of those darker days. - -In approaching the whole matter for descriptive purposes, the traditional, -or as it may perhaps be fittingly termed, the "ideal" form of witchcraft, -falls naturally first to be considered, and here the existence of a secret -society or unholy order of witches and warlocks meeting together at -certain appointed times, figures as an outstanding feature, qualification -to belong to which, confessed rare powers of affinity with the powers of -evil and darkness. The more these witches and warlocks were feared in -their ordinary guise as human mortals by the country-side or district to -which they belonged, the higher the rank accorded to them in secret -conclave, and the special notoriety of having been branded or "scored," at -the hands of an angry populace, with the sign of the cross on the -forehead, carried with it special recognition of itself. Reputed -gatherings or witch-festivals were celebrated periodically, the most -important and outstanding taking place at Hallowmass, and such eerie -places of meeting as the lonely ruins of Sweetheart Abbey and Caerlaverock -Castle, were the appropriate scenes of their midnight rites and revels; -but most of all in this south-western district was it to the rising slope -of Locharbriggs Hill, not many miles from Dumfries, that the "hellish -legion" repaired. - -There is a remnant extant of an old song called the "Witches' Gathering," -that with quaint and mystic indication tells of the preliminary signals -and signs, announcing that a midnight re-union or "Hallowmass rade" as it -was aptly termed, had been arranged and appointed:-- - - "When the gray howlet has three times hoo'd, - When the grimy cat has three times mewed, - When the tod has yowled three times i' the wode, - At the red moon cowering ahin the cl'ud; - When the stars ha'e cruppen' deep i' the drift, - Lest cantrips had pyked them out o' the lift, - Up horsies a' but mair adowe, - Ryde, ryde for Locher-briggs-knowe!" - -On such a night the very elements themselves seemed in sympathy. The wind -rose, gust following gust, in angry and ever-increasing intensity, till it -hurled itself in angry blasts that levelled hay-rick and grain-stack, and -tore the thatched roof from homestead and cot, where the frightened -dwellers huddled and crept together in terror. Over and with higher note -than the blast itself, high-pitched eldritch laughter, fleeting and -mocking, skirled and shrieked through the air. Then a lull, with a -stillness more terrifying than even the wild force of the angry blast, -only to be almost immediately broken with a crash of ear-splitting -thunder, and the flash and the glare of forked and jagged flame, lighting -up the unhallowed pathway of the "witches' ride." - -[Illustration: "THE WITCHES' RIDE." Sketch by J. Copland, Dundrennan.] - -The journey itself, or rather the mode of progression in passing to the -"witch gathering," was itself steeped in "diabolerie" of varying degree. -The simple broomstick served the more ordinary witch for a steed. Another -vehicle was the chariot of "rag-wort" or ragweed, "harnessed to the wind;" -for sisters of higher rank, broomsticks specially shod with the bones of -murdered men, became high mettled and most spirited steeds; but the -possession of a bridle, the leather of which was made from the skin of an -unbaptised infant, and the iron bits forged at the "smithy" of the Evil -One himself, gave to its possessor the power of most potent spell. Only -let a witch shake this instrument of Satan over any living thing, man or -beast, and at once it was transformed into an active witch steed in the -form generally of a gray horse, with the full knowledge and resentment -that a spell had been wrought, to compass this ignoble use. This was -familiarly known and described as being "ridden post by a witch." - -No better picture was ever drawn of the wild witch diabolerie and abandon -than in "Tam o' Shanter," but it may be claimed for Galloway that in the -possession of the powerful poem of "Maggie o' the Moss," Ayrshire is -followed very closely, as the following quotation bearing upon this -particular point brings out:-- - - "But Maggie had that nicht to gang - Through regions dreary, dark, and lang, - To hold her orgies. - - * * * * * - - Then cross his haunches striding o'er, - She gave him the command to soar: - At first poor Simon, sweir to yield, - Held hard and fast the frosty field; - His body now earth's surface spurn'd, - He seem'd like gravitation turned; - His heels went bickering in the air, - He held till he could haud nae mair, - Till first wi' ae han', syne the tither, - He lost his haud o't a' thegither; - And mounted up in gallant style, - Right perpendicular for a mile. - - * * * * * - - For brawly ken'd she how to ride, - And stick richt close to Simon's hide; - For aft had Maggie on a cat - Across the German Ocean sat; - And wi' aul' Nick and a' his kennel, - Had often crossed the British Channel, - And mony a nicht wi' them had gone - To Brussels, Paris, or Toulon; - And mony a stormy Hallowe'en - Had Maggie danced on Calais Green!" - -Like a swarm of bees in full flight they passed, all astride of something, -be it rag-wort, broomstick, kail-runt, hare, cat, or domestic fowl, or -even as indicated riding post on a human steed. - -Assembled at the Dumfriesshire or Galloway "Brocken," tribute to Satan, -who presided in person, had to be paid for the privilege of exercising -their unholy licence over their several districts and neighbourhoods. This -took the form of unchristened "Kain Bairns," the witches' own by -preference, but failing this, the stolen offspring of women of their own -particular neighbourhood. - -The rite of baptismal entry, which all novitiates had to undergo, was also -a regular part of the weird proceedings of this witches' Sabbath. - -A magic circle was drawn round the top of the meeting mound, across which -none but the initiated and those about to be initiated, dare pass. In the -centre of this circle a fire emitting a thick, dense, sulphurous smoke -sprang up, round which the assembled company of witches and warlocks -danced with joined hands and wild abandon. Into the charmed circle the -converts, naked and terror-stricken, were brought and dragged to the fire, -which now sent forth even thicker clouds as if in a measure to screen the -secrecy of the rites even from those participating, and scream after -scream arose as their naked bodies were stamped with the hellish -sign-manual of the order. A powerful soothing ointment was, however, -immediately poured on the raw wounds, giving instant relief and almost -effacement to the ordinary eye, the well-concealed cicatrix becoming the -"witch-mark." The grim nature of the ordeal now gave place to proceedings -more in keeping with a festival, and dancing of the "better the worse" -order and general hilarity and high revelry followed, the Prince of -Darkness joining in the dance, giving expert exhibitions with favoured -partners. - -Next in importance to Satan himself at these "Walpurgis" night festivals -at Locharbriggs tryst, was the celebrated witch "Gyre Carline," who -possessed a wand of great creative and destructive power. It is told how -in the days when Lochar Moss was an open arm of the Solway Firth, an extra -large tide swept up and washed away several of the witch steeds from the -Locharbrigg hill. This so enraged the "Gyre Carline" that over the unruly -waters she waved her magic wand, and what was "once a moss and then a sea" -became "again a moss and aye will be." At other meetings of less -consequence the more important carlines of different districts met -together, when schemes of persecution and revenge were evolved, and where -philtres and charms were brewed and concocted for distribution amongst -their inferior sisters whose office it was to give them effect. A -concoction of virulent power was in the form of a bannock or cake, better -known as the "witch cake," whose uncannie preparation and potency has -been so quaintly described in verse by Allan Cunningham:-- - -THE WITCH CAKE. - - "I saw yestreen, I saw yestreen, - Little wis ye what I saw yestreen, - The black cat pyked out the gray ane's een - At the hip o' the hemlock knowe yestreen. - - Wi' her tail i' her teeth, she whomel'd roun', - Wi' her tail i' her teeth, she whomel'd roun', - Till a braw star drapt frae the lift aboon, - An' she keppit it e'er it wan to the grun. - - She hynt them a' in her mou' an' chowed, - She hynt them a' in her mou' an' chowed, - She drabbled them owre wi' a black tade's blude, - An' baked a bannock an' ca'd it gude! - - She haurned it weel wi' ae blink o' the moon, - She haurned it weel wi' ae blink o' the moon, - An withre-shines thrice she whorled it roun', - There's some sall skirl ere ye be done. - - Some lass maun gae wi' a kilted sark, - Some priest maun preach in a thackless kirk, - Thread maun be spun for a dead man's sark, - A' maun be done e'er the sang o' the lark. - - Tell me what ye saw yestreen, - Tell me what ye saw yestreen, - There's yin may gaur thee sich an' green, - For telling what ye saw yestreen." - -At such minor meetings also, effigies were moulded in clay of those who -had offended, which pierced with pins conveyed serious bodily injuries and -disorder in their victims corresponding to the pin punctures. Two of -these carlines dispensing the "black art" in the respective parishes of -Caerlaverock and Newabbey were in the habit of meeting with each other for -such purpose, but the holy men of Sweetheart Abbey overcame their wicked -designs by earnest prayers, so much so that their meetings on the solid -earth were rendered futile, and thus thwarted, their intercourse had to -take place on the water. - -Of this the following tale from "Cromek," as reputed to be told by an -eye-witness, is descriptive:-- - -"I gaed out ae fine summer night to haud my halve at the Pow fit. It was -twal' o'clock an' a' was lowne; the moon had just gotten up--ye mought a -gathered preens. I heard something firsle like silk--I glowered roun' an' -lake! what saw I but a bonnie boat, wi' a nob o' gowd, and sails like -new-coined siller. It was only but a wee bittie frae me. I mought amaist -touch't it. 'Gude speed ye gif ye gang for guid,' quoth I, 'for I dreed -our auld carline was casting some o' her pranks.' Another cunning boat -cam' off frae Caerla'rick to meet it. Thae twa bade a stricken hour -thegither sidie for sidie. 'Haith,' quoth I, 'the deil's grit wi' some!' -sae I crap down amang some lang cowes till Luckie cam' back. The boat -played bowte again the bank, an out lowpes Kimmer, wi' a pyked naig's head -i' her han'. 'Lord be about us!' quo' I, for she cam' straught for me. She -howked up a green turf, covered her bane, an' gaed her wa's. When I -thought her hame, up I got and pou'd up the bane and haed it. I was fleyed -to gae back for twa or three nights, lest the deil's minnie should wyte me -for her uncannie boat and lair me 'mang the sludge, or maybe do waur. I -gaed back howsever, and on that night o' the moon wha comes to me but -Kimmer. 'Rabbin,' quo' she, 'fand ye are auld bane amang the cowes?' -''Deed no, it may be gowd for me,' quo' I. 'Weel, weel,' quo' she, 'I'll -byde and help ye hame wi' your fish.' God's be me help, nought grippit I -but tades and paddocks! 'Satan, thy nieve's here,' quo' I. 'Ken ye' (quo' -I) 'o' yon new cheese our wyfe took but frae the chessel yestreen? I'm -gaun to send't t' ye i' the morning, ye're a gude neebor to me: an' -hear'st thou me? There's a bit auld bane whomeled aneath thae cowes; I -kent nae it was thine.' Kimmer drew't out. 'Ay, ay, it's my auld bane; -weel speed ye.' I' the very first pow I got sic a louthe o' fish that I -carried 'till me back cracked again."(1) - -A celebrated witch connected with Wigtownshire was Maggie Osborne. - -[Illustration: "AND PERISH'D MONY A BONNY BOAT."--Tam o' Shanter. Sketch -by J. Copland, Dundrennan.] - -"On the wild moorland between the marches of Carrick and the valley of the -Luce tracks are pointed out, on which the heather will not grow, as -'Maggie's gate to Gallowa''; the sod having been so deeply burned by her -tread, or that of her weird companion. Among the misdemeanours imputed to -her, in aggravation of the charge for which she was cruelly condemned, was -that of having impiously partaken of the communion at the Moor Kirk of -Luce. She accepted the bread at the minister's hands, but a sharp-eyed -office-bearer (long after) swore that he had detected her spitting out the -wafer at the church-door, which he clearly saw swallowed by the devil, who -had waited for her outside in the shape of a toad. Again it was asserted -that when passing from Barr to Glenluce by the 'Nick o' the Balloch' she -encountered a funeral procession, and to pass unseen she changed herself -into a beetle; but before she could creep out of the way, a shepherd in -the party unwittingly set his foot upon her, and would have crushed her -outright had not a rut partly protected her. Much frightened and hurt she -vowed vengeance; but the moor-man being a pious man, for long her arts -were of no avail against him. One night however, detained late by a storm, -he sat down hurriedly to supper, having forgotten to say grace. Her -incantations then had power. A wreath of snow was collected and hurled -from the hill above on the devoted cabin, and the shepherd, his wife, and -family of ten were smothered in the avalanche."(2) - -In Glenluce a story is handed down which brings out that it was not -necessarily the dweller in the humble cot on whom the mantle of witchcraft -fell, but that the high-bred dames of the "Hall" did also at times dabble -in the practice. - -"A labouring man's wife, a sensible, decent woman, having been detained -late from home, was returning about the witching hour; and at a spot known -as the 'Clay Slap' she met face to face a troop of females, as to whose -leader, being cloven-footed, she could not be mistaken. Her consternation -was the greater, as one by one she recognised them all, and among them the -ladies of the manor. They stopped her, and in her terror she appealed to -one of them by name. Enraged at being known, the party declared that she -must die. She pleaded for mercy, and they agreed to spare her life on her -taking an awful oath that she would never reveal the names of any as long -as they lived. - -"Fear prevented her from breaking her pledge, but as one by one the dames -paid the debt of nature, she would mysteriously exclaim 'There's anither -of the gang gone!' She outlived them all, and then divulged the secret, -adding that on that dreadful night, after getting to her bed, she lay -entranced in an agony as if she had been roasting between two fires."(3) - -The name of Michael Scott of Balwearie (Fife), scholar and alchemist, who -lived in the thirteenth century, is traditionally associated with the -Abbey of Glenluce. Regarded by the peasantry as a warlock, he was supposed -to be here buried with his magic books, and there is a story extant to the -effect that a man in the district who daringly disinterred his skeleton, -found it in a sitting position confronting him, and that the sight drove -him stark mad. - -Whilst in the neighbourhood of Glenluce, "Michael the Warlock" is credited -with having exercised strong discipline over the witches of the district. -One task he assigned them to keep them from more doubtful work, was to -spin ropes from sea-sand, and it is yet said that some of the rope -fragments may be seen to this day near Ringdoo Point, near the mouth of -the Luce, when laid bare by wind and tide. Another equally profitless and -endless task set for the same purpose of keeping them from unsanctioned, -mischievous deeds, was the threshing of barley chaff. - -There is a quaint reference in MacTaggart's _Gallovidian Encyclopędia_ to -the "Library of Michael Scott." He says, "One of these (vaults) at the -Auld Abbey of Glenluce contains the famous library of Michael Scott, the -Warlock. Here are thousands of old witch songs and incantations, books of -the 'Black Art,' and 'Necromancy,' 'Philosophy of the Devil,' 'Satan's -Almanacks,' 'The Fire Spangs of Faustus,' 'The Soothsayers' Creed,' 'The -Witch Chronicle,' and the 'Black Clud's Wyme laid open,' with many more -valuable volumes." - -It may be noted in passing that the Abbey of Holm-Cultram, in Cumberland, -has also been associated as the burial-place of the Wizard Michael; but it -is with Melrose Abbey, as depicted by Sir Walter Scott in the "Lay of the -Last Minstrel," that the most cherished associations linger, even if only -in the romance of poetry:-- - - "With beating heart to the task he went; - His sinewy frame o'er the grave-stone bent; - With bar of iron heaved amain, - Till the toil-drops fell from his brows like rain; - It was by dint of passing strength, - That he moved the massy stone at length." - - * * * * * - - "Before their eyes the Wizard lay, - As if he had not been dead a day." - -The religious house of Tongland may be said to have some slight connection -here, for in Dunbar's poem of "The Dream of the Abbot of Tungland" (the -"frenziet" Friar) there is reference to a witch--"Janet the widow, on ane -besome rydand." - -"Bess o' Borgue" and "Glencairn Kate" were two notorious south-country -witches. They are included in the descriptive witch-poem of "Maggie o' the -Moss," already referred to. - -About the middle of the eighteenth century there was a famous witch that -lived at Hannayston, in the Kells, who was credited with wonderful powers, -and many stories of her exploits are still current. Some say her name was -Nicholas Grier, others that it was Girzie M'Clegg, but it matters little -which now. Some of Lucky's favourite pastimes were, drowning anyone she -had a spite at by sinking a caup in the yill-boat in her kitchen; sucking -cows in the shape of a hare; frightening people at night by appearing to -them like a little naked boy; walking in the resemblance of a cat on its -hind legs; conversing with travellers on the road; and sending young -people into declines.(4) - -The old Church of Dalry has a legend of witch-festival surrounding it, -which gives it a distinction something akin to the better-known tradition -of Alloway Kirk. The following version is taken from _Harper's Rambles_:-- - -"Adam Forester, proprietor of Knocksheen, had been detained one evening -until near midnight in the public-house at Dalry. On the way home he had -to pass the church, and being perhaps like the famous Tam o' Shanter, -through indulging in inspiring bold John Barleycorn, ready to defy all -dangers in the shape of goblin and spirit, he very soon had his mettle -tested. On reaching the church the windows 'seemed in a bleeze,' and from -within loud bursts of mirth and revelry reached the ears of the astonished -laird. Nothing daunted however, he dismounted, and securing his horse to a -tree near the church-yard wall, he peered in at the window, and to his -astonishment, amongst those engaged in the 'dance o' witches' were several -old women of his acquaintance, amongst whom was the landlady of the -public-house where he had spent the greater part of the evening, and which -he had just left. Horrified with such desecration of the sacred edifice, -and unable longer to restrain his displeasure, Forester shouted, 'Ho! ho! -Lucky, ye'll no deny this the morn!' knocking at the same instant against -the window frame with his whip. In a moment the lights were extinguished, -and the witches with loud yells rushed out of the church after him; but -the laird, having gained his horse, went off at a furious gallop for the -ford on the Ken, his pursuers following hard upon him, their frantic and -hideous shouts striking terror to his heart. As they could not cross the -running stream, they flew to the Brig o' Ken, six miles distant, where -they crossed and overtook Adam on Waterside Hill, tearing all the hair -out of the horse's tail, and Lucky getting her black hand on the horse's -hip. She left its impression there for life. The laird, finding he could -proceed no further, dismounted and was only saved from being torn to -pieces by describing a circle in God's name round himself and horse. This -charm proved effectual. The fury of the mysterious band was arrested, and -at daybreak he rode home to his residence." - -The story is still current in the Glenkens, and what is supposed to be the -circle drawn by the laird is pointed out on Waterside Hill. - -In concluding the account of "traditional witchcraft," there yet falls to -be mentioned one outstanding form in which beautiful and seductive female -shapes were assumed to tempt through the flesh, the destruction of soul -and body. There is no better reference to this than in the local -traditional tale of the "Laird of Logan" of Allan Cunningham, where the -struggle between the powers of darkness and those of good contend, not -without a certain dignity of purpose, for the mastery. The following is -the dramatic denouement:-- - -"He took a sword from the wall, and described a circle, in the centre of -which he stood himself. Over the line drawn with an instrument on which -the name of God is written, nought unholy can pass. 'Master, stand beside -me, and bear ye the sword.' He next filled a cup with water, and said, -'Emblem of purity, and resembling God, for He is pure, as nought unholy -can pass over thee whilst thou runnest in thy native fountain, neither can -ought unholy abide thy touch, thus consecrated--as thou art the emblem of -God, go and do His good work. Amen.' So saying he turned suddenly round -and dashed the cupful of water in the face and bosom of the young -lady--fell on his knees and bowed his head in prayer. She uttered scream -upon scream; her complexion changed; her long locks twined and writhed -like serpents; the flesh seemed to shrivel on her body; and the light -shone in her eyes which the Master trembled to look upon. She tried to -pass the circle towards him but could not. A burning flame seemed to -encompass and consume her; and as she dissolved away he heard a voice -saying, 'But for that subtle priest, thou hadst supped with me in hell.'" - -[Illustration] - - - - -_CHAPTER II._ - -WITCH NARRATIVE. - - "The best kye in the byre gaed yell; - Some died, some couldna raise themsel'; - In short, ilk' beast the farmer had - Died--sicken'd--rotted--or gaed mad!" - --_Maggie o' the Moss._ - - -The witchcraft however, which had a special abiding-place in rural -districts, was most usually associated with the presence in their midst of -someone to whom it was supposed the devil had bequeathed the doubtful -possession of the "evil eye," a possession which at all times was deemed a -certain means of bringing about supernatural ill. Other suspected workers -of subtle cantrips whom the finger of suspicion was ready to point to were -old creatures, not uncommonly poor and eccentric, perhaps even deformed or -with some peculiarity, but generally genuinely blameless, or in some -instances foolishly seeking notoriety in the pretended possession of -witch-power. - -The spells and cantrips alleged to be cast by these agencies were usually -such as brought harmful effect upon human being or farm stock, such -supposed incidence of supernatural interference being accepted without -question. A natural consequence followed in misdirected measures of -protection and retaliation. The whole atmosphere of domestic life became -charged with suspicious attitude towards one another, and when illness -overtook either human being or four-footed beast, or some such minor -happening as a heated stack, or a cow failing to yield milk, took place, -the presence of the "Black Art" was proclaimed in their midst, and too -often was accidental circumstance followed by unjust cruelty and -persecution, sanctioned and practised, as we shall see later, by the -powers of the State and Church. - -Many stories of such form of witchcraft have been handed down and still -form a not inconsiderable part of the floating tradition pertaining to the -south-western district of Dumfries and Galloway. - -The following traditions, not hitherto recorded, are from western -Galloway, and may be regarded as consequent to the influence of the "evil -eye":-- - -"There was an old woman who went about Kirkmaiden begging, or what old -people call 'thigging,' and one day in the course of her wanderings she -came to a place called 'The Clash' and asked for butter, which she seemed -to particularly want. As luck would have it, the farm folks had only newly -put the milk into the churn, and had no butter in the house until it was -churned. In passing, it may be noticed that the churn was always put out -of sight when this old woman appeared, in case she might 'witch' it. As -they had no butter they offered her both meal and a piece of meat, but -butter she would have, so she went away, muttering 'that maybe she would -fen' without it,' and more talk to the same purpose. The farmer met her on -the way from the house and heard her mutterings. On arriving at his house -he asked what they had done to the old woman to put her in such a temper, -and was told the circumstances. He had two young horses in a field beside -the house, and going out of the house into the field he found one of them -rolling on the ground seemingly in great pain. Of course he jumped to the -conclusion that this was some of the witch's cantrips, and after trying to -get it to rise, bethought himself of going after her and bringing her back -to get her to lift the spell. Following the old woman, who was very lame, -he soon overtook her and tried to coax her to return to see if she could -tell him what was wrong. She demurred at first, but he pressed her, and -at last she said, that seeing he was so anxious she would go back. When -they arrived the animal was still suffering great pain, and she proceeded -to walk round it some few times always muttering to herself, and at last -cried, 'Whish! get up,' striking the horse; 'there's naething wrang wi' -ye.' The horse at once got up and commenced feeding, apparently nothing -the matter with it."(5) - -"At the Dribblings, on what is now the farm of Low Curghie (Kirkmaiden), -lived a cottar who was the owner of two cows. One morning on going to the -byre one of the cows was on the ground and unable to rise. The people did -not know what to do, but as luck would have it, the same old woman that -cured the horse at The Clash happened to come in, and was informed of the -trouble, and was asked if she could do anything, and was promised a piece -of butter for her trouble. She went and looked at the cow, and said -someone with an 'ill e'e had overlooked it,' _i.e._, witched it, and -proceeded to walk round it two or three times, talking to herself, and -then gave it a tap with her stick and told the animal to get up, she was -all right now. The cow immediately got to her feet and commenced -feeding."(6) - -"At a farm-house in the vicinity of Logan an old woman, a reputed witch, -was in the habit of receiving the greater part of her sustenance from the -farmer and his wife. The farmer began to get tired of this sorning, and -one day took his courage in both hands and turned the witch at the gate. -The old woman of course was sorely displeased, and told him that he would -soon have plenty of 'beef,' and in the course of a day or two many of his -cattle had taken the muir-ill. Next time the old woman wanted to go to the -house she was not hindered. She got her usual supply, and thereafter not -another beast took the disease."(7) - -It is related of the same old woman that once she wanted some favour off -the factor on Logan, and one day as he rode past her dwelling she hailed -him. Not caring to be troubled with her he made the excuse that his horse -would not stand as it was young and very restive; but she said she would -soon make it stand, and by some spell so terrified the animal that it -stood trembling while the sweat was running over its hooves. - -"The farm of the Grennan, in the Rhinns, had been taken or was reported to -have been taken over the sitting tenant's head; and the new tenants, when -they took possession, were regarded with general disfavour. The farm -good-wife was a bustling, energetic woman, with some pretensions as to -good looks, and was always extremely busy. One day an old-fashioned -diminutive woman knocked at the door and asked for a wee pickle meal. The -good-wife answered in an off-hand manner that she had no meal for her, and -told her to 'tak' the gait.' The old woman looked at her steadily for a -short time, and then said, 'My good woman, you are strong and healthy just -now, but strong and weel as ye are, that can sune be altered, and big as -ye are in yer way, the hearse is no' bigget that will tak' ye to the -kirkyaird, and a dung-cairt will ha'e to ser' ye.' In less than a year the -gude-wife died, and the hearse broke down at the road-end leading to the -farm, and could come no further, and as a matter of fact a farm-cart had -to be employed to carry the corpse to the churchyard."(8) - -The influence of the "evil eye" has been somewhat crudely recorded in -verse under the heading of "Galloway Traditions: The Blink o' an Ill E'e," -in the _Galloway Register_ for 1832, an almost forgotten periodical -published at Stranraer. It is here set forth, as it minutely expresses and -brings out, though in homely fashion, how belief in witchcraft and its -powers was intimately bound up with the every-day conditions of the life -of the times:-- - - "He thrave for a while, - And a prettier bairn was'na seen in a mile; - Lang ere Beltane, however, he was sairly backgane - And shilped to naething but mere skin and bane. - The mither grieved sair--thought her Sandy wad die-- - Folk a' said he had got a blink o' an ill e'e, - And the health o' the baby wad bravely in time turn - If he had the blessing o' auld Luckie Lymeburn. - Now the mither min'd weel, that on ae Friday morn - Auld Luckie gaed past, but nae word did she say, - And the bairn had soon after begun to decay. - Ane an' a' then agreed that the child wadna mend, or - Do one mair guid till auld Luckie they'd send for; - Luckie Lymeburn is sent for, and soon there appears - A haggart wee grannnum sair bent down in years, - Whase e'en, wild demeanour, every appearance was sic, - That you'd easily hae guess'd that she dealt wi' Auld Nick. - Auld Luckie had lang kept the country in dread-- - Nae bairn was unweil, nor beast suddenly dead, - Nae time had the horses stood up in the plough, - Nor when drying the malt had the kiln tain alow, - Nae roof o' a byre fa'en down in the night, - Nor storm at the fishing, the boatmen affright, - But 'twas aye Luckie Lymeburn that bare a' the blame o't, - While Luckie took pride and rejoiced at the name o't. - Thro' dread that her glamour might harm o' their gear, - O' ought in the house they aye ga'e her a share, - And ilk dame through the land was in terror o' Luckie, - From the point of Kirkcolm to her ain Carrick-mickie. - Ere Sandy is mentioned the mither takes care - To sooth the auld dame and to speak her right fair; - Anon, then, she tells how her boy's lang been ill, - And a' the folk say she's a hantle o' skill-- - Begs she'll look at the bairn and see what's the matter, - And when neist at the mill she winna forget her. - Auld Granny saw well thro' the mither's contrivance, - So she looks on the bairn and wishes him thrivance-- - Says he'll soon come about and be healthy and gay, - If dipt at the Co'[1] the first Sunday o' May. - The boy's health came round, as auld Luckie had said, - But ere Sandy came round Luckie Lymeburn was dead. - The laws against witches were now very stric', - And Luckie's accused that she dealt wi' Auld Nick-- - That lately a storm she had raised on the coast, - In which many braw fishing boats had been lost; - Last winter that she and her conjuring ban' - Had smoor'd a' the sheep on the fells o' Dunman - But chief, that in concert wi' Luckie Agnew, - She had sunk, off the Mull, a fine ship with her crew. - The ship had been bound for Hibernia's main, - And smoothly was gliding o'er the watery plain - With the wind in her rear, when a furious blast, - While off the Mull head, sudden rose from the west, - And lays to the breeze the gallant ship's side, - And round and round whirls her in th' eddy o' th' tide. - Meantime the old hags, on the hill, are in view, - And boiling their caldron, or winding their clue, - New charms still they try, but they try them in vain: - The seamen still strove, nor their purpose could gain, - The waves are still threat'ning the ship to o'erwhelm; - The crew, one by one, have relinquished the helm. - Long, long the crew labour'd the vessel to stay, - Nor rudder nor sail would the vessel obey, - When forth steps a tar, a regardless old sinner, - And swore he'd her steer though the devil were in her; - When instant the weird-woman's spells take effect, - She sinks 'mang the rocks, and soon's floating a wreck-- - For these, and some deeds of a similar kind - Were Luckies Agnew and Lymeburn arraigned. - Their trial comes on--full confession they make-- - In the auld burgh o' Wigton they're burnt at the stake." - -The metamorphosis to brute-form on the part of the witch or warlock is one -of the most persistent traditions concerning witchcraft. In the south-west -country the favourite animal-form selected was that of the hare, very -probably on account of its fleetness of foot. Of this the following are -examples:-- - -"A young man from Kirkmaiden found work at a distance, and as means of -travel were not so convenient as now, it was a number of years before he -found opportunity to visit his native parish. At the end of some years he -returned, however, about New-Year time, and taking down a gun that was in -his mother's house, remarked that he would go out to the Inshanks Moor and -see if he could get a hare for the dinner on New-Year's Day. His mother -told him to be careful he was not caught poaching. He had not been long in -the moor when a hare got up, at which he shot repeatedly, but apparently -without effect. At last he came to the conclusion that the hare was one of -the numerous Kirkmaiden witches, and thought he would try the effect of -silver. The hare had observed him, and at once inquired if he would shoot -his own mother? Much startled, he desisted and went home, took to his bed, -and did not rise for five years, though he could take his food well -enough, and apparently was in good enough health. He had no power to rise -until his mother died, when his strength being most wonderfully restored, -he left his bed, dressed himself and attended the funeral."(9) - -Another reputed witch lived near the Church of Kirkmaiden, and it is told -by a woman of the neighbourhood how her grandmother lived beside her, and -having occasion to go to the well in the gloaming one evening something -gave a sound, not unlike the noise one makes when clapping mud with a -spade, and immediately a hare hopped past her on the road, and went over -the dyke into the garden. When she went round the end of the house her -neighbour was climbing over the dyke, and the old woman firmly believed it -was the witch she saw the moment before in the form of a hare, which had -returned to human shape just before she saw her again. - -In connection with the phenomenon of transformation to brute-form an -interesting point must be accentuated, and that is that an animal -bewitched or about to be sacrificed by witchcraft was believed by some -subtle power to gain and absorb to itself some considerable part of the -spirit or entity of the witch or warlock working the spell, which not -uncommonly led to detection of the spell-worker. An example of this may -also be quoted:-- - -"A farmer of Galloway, coming to a new farm with a fine and healthy stock, -saw them die away one by one at stall and at stake. His last one was lying -sprawling almost in death, when a fellow-farmer got him to consider his -stock as bewitched and attempt its relief accordingly. He placed a pile -of dried wood round his cow, setting it on fire. The flame began to catch -hold of the victim, and its outer parts to consume, when a man, reputed to -be a warlock, came flying over the fields, yelling horribly and loudly, -conjuring the farmer to slake the fire. 'Kep skaith wha brings't,' -exclaimed the farmer, heaping on more fuel. He tore his clothes in -distraction, for his body was beginning to fry with the burning of his -spirit. The farmer, unwilling to drive even the devil to despair, made him -swear peace to all that was or should be his, and then unloosed his -imprisoned spirit by quenching the fire."(10) - -The counterpart of magical migration through the air has also its -examples, for within the memory of people still living there was an old -woman lived at Logan Mill, who whenever she had a mind to travel, got -astride of the nearest dyke, and was at once conveyed to wherever she -wished. At least it was said so. - -Another reputed witch who dwelt in the neighbourhood of Port Logan was -much troubled with shortness of breath, and was easily tired. When she -found herself in this condition of exhaustion away from her home she was -credited with entering the nearest field where horses and cattle were -grazing, and mounting one, to "ride post" straight for home. - -The following elegy, which has been preserved in the collection of poems -known as the _Nithsdale Minstrel_, fully illustrates the dread in which -the Kirkmaiden witches were held, and more particularly the relief -experienced when death removed the baneful influence of "Meg Elson," a -witch of much repute:-- - -MEG ELSON'S ELEGY. - - "Kirkmaiden dames may crously craw - And cock their nose fu' canty, - For Maggy Elson's now awa', - That lately bragged sae vaunty - That she could kill each cow an' ca', - An' make their milk fu' scanty-- - Since Death's gi'en Maggy's neck a thraw, - They'll a' hae butter plenty, - In lumps each day. - - Ye fishermen, a' roun' the shore, - Huzza wi' might and mettle, - Nae mair ye'll furnish frae your store - A cod for Maggy's kettle-- - Nae mair ye'll fear the clouds that lour, - Nor storms that roun' you rattle, - Lest, conjured up by cantrip power, - They coup you wi' a brattle - I' the sea some day. - - Ye ewes that bleat the knowes out o'er, - Ye kye that roam the valley, - Nae dread of Maggy's magic glower - Need henceforth mair assail ye: - Nae horse nor mare, by Circean power, - Shall now turn up its belly, - For Death has lock'd Meg's prison door, - And gi'en the keys to Kelly - To keep this day." - -Passing to the Machars of Galloway, a curious witch-story comes from -Whithorn corresponding to and somewhat similar in trend to the first acts -in the dramatic happenings of "Tam o' Shanter," and the story already told -of Dalry Kirk:-- - -"Long ago there lived in Whithorn a tailor who was an elder of the Church, -and who used to 'whip the cat,' that is, go to the country to ply his -trade. Being once engaged at a farm-house, the farmer told him to bring -his wife with him and spend an afternoon at the farm. The invitation was -accepted, and on returning at night, the attention of the knight of the -needle and his better-half was attracted to an old kiln, situated at the -low end of the 'Rotten Row,' from which rays of light were emanating. This -surprised the worthy couple, all the more as the old kiln had for long -been in a state of disuse. Their curiosity being thus awakened, they -approached to look through the chinks of the door, when to their -astonishment they beheld a sight somewhat similar to that seen by 'Tam o' -Shanter' at 'Alloway's Auld Haunted Kirk.' Among the _dramatis personę_ -who should they recognise but the minister's wife, whom they both knew -well. She, along with a bevy of withered hags, was engaged in cantrips, -being distinguished by a peculiar kind of garter which she wore. Next -Sabbath the tailor elder demanded a meeting of the Kirk-Session; but the -minister declared that the story was a monstrosity, as his wife had not -been out of bed that night. Not being easily repressed, however, the -tailor requested that the minister's wife should be brought then and there -before the Session. When she appeared it was found that she had on the -identical garters she had worn on the night when she was seen by the -triumphant tailor. This startling and overwhelming corroboration of the -truth of the 'fama' quite nonplussed the minister, and as the story has -it, before the next Sunday he and his lady were 'owre the Borders an' -awa'.'"(11) - -A Dalry story may now be quoted which is specially concerned with the -actual evil workings of his Satanic Majesty himself:-- - -"The Rev. Mr Boyd, who was appointed minister of Dalry in 1690, after his -return from Holland, whither he had fled during the persecution, and who -died in 1741 in his 83rd year, had a daughter to whom the devil took a -fancy. He once came to the manse in the form of a bumble-bee, but was -driven away by a chance pious exclamation. Another time he arrived in the -form of a handsome young gentleman, fascinated the damsel, induced her to -play cards with him on a Sunday, and bore her off on a black horse. -Fortunately the minister saw the occurrence, and also a cloven hoof -hanging at the stirrup, and shouted to his daughter to come back for -Christ's sake, and the devil let her drop to the ground nothing the -worse."(12) - -In connection with the parish of Kells it may be noted that a member of -the old baronial family of Shaws of Craigenbay and Craigend, Sir Chesney -Shaw, is reputed to have been strangled by a witch in the guise of a black -cat. The deed took place in the Tower of Craigend. - -[Illustration: THE CARLIN'S CAIRN. (By J. Copland.)] - -A prominent land-mark in this Dalry and Carsphairn district is the -"Carlin's Cairn," which, from its name, might be taken to have some -special link with the witchcraft of the district. It has however, a more -patriotic origin, which is set forth in Barbour's _Unique Traditions_:-- - -"This cairn is perched on the summit of the Kells Rhynns, and may be -discerned at 15 miles distance to the south. Some say it was thrown -together to commemorate the burning of a witch, others, that it was -erected on the spot where an old female Covenanter was murdered by -Grierson of Lag, and this last tradition stands somewhat countenanced by -the well-known facts that Grierson was laird of Garryhorn and other lands -in the neighbourhood of this ancient cairn, and that his party pursued and -slaughtered some staunch Presbyterians in the environs of Loch Doon. Yet -the foundation of the cairn can boast of a much older date than the -persecutions under Charles the Second, for it was collected by the -venerable old woman who at once was the protectress and hostess of King -Robert the Bruce, ... and from the circumstances of the cairn being -collected under the auspices of a woman, that cairn immediately bore, and -for 500 years hath continued to bear the name of 'Carlin's Cairn.'" - -Other place-names associated with witchcraft are the "Witch Rocks of -Portpatrick," where tradition tells that on these characteristic-looking -pinnacles, the witches in their midnight flight rested for a little while, -ere winging their further flight to Ireland. - -In the neighbouring parish of Stoneykirk there occurs Barnamon -(_Barr-nam-ban_) and Cairnmon (_Cairn-nam-ban_) which, being interpreted, -may read--"the gap, or round hill, of the witches." - -The following well-recounted witch narrative was communicated to the -Dumfries and Galloway Antiquarian Society to illustrate a point of -superstitious custom. It has here a wider mission in accentuating -bewitchment in angry retaliation, evil incantation overpowered by holy -influence, and the breaking of witch-power by "_scoring_ above the -breath.":-- - -"In the olden time, when Galloway was stocked with the black breed of -cattle, there was a carle who had a score of cows, not one of which had a -white hair on it; they were the pride of the owner, and the admiration of -all who saw them. One day while they were being driven out, the carle's -dog worried the cat of an old woman who lived in a hut hard by, and though -he had always treated her with great kindness, and expressed sorrow for -what his dog had done, she cursed him and all his belongings. Afterwards, -when the cows began to calve, instead of giving fine rich milk, as -formerly, they only gave a thin watery ooze on which the calves dwined -away to skin and bone. During this unfortunate state of affairs a pilgrim -on his journey, probably to the shrine of St. Ninian, sought lodgings -for the night. The wife of the carle, though rather unwilling to take in a -stranger during the absence of her husband, who was on a journey, -eventually granted his request. On her making excuse for the poverty of -the milk she offered, when he tasted it he said the cows were bewitched, -and for her kindness he would tell her what would break the spell, which -was to put some 'cowsherne' into the mouths of the calves before they were -allowed to suck. As the carle approached his house, when returning from -his journey, he noticed a bright light in the hut of the old hag which had -cursed him. Curiosity induced him to look in, when he saw a pot on the -fire, into which she was stirring something and muttering incantations all -the while till it boiled, when, instead of milk as she doubtless expected, -nothing came up but 'cowsherne.' He told his wife what he had seen, and -she told him what the pilgrim had told her to do, and which she had done, -which left no doubt that it was the ungrateful old witch who had bewitched -their cows. Next day, when she was expecting her usual dole, the carle's -wife caught hold of her before she had time to cast any cantrip, and -scored her above the breath until she drew blood, with a crooked nail from -a worn horse-shoe, which left her powerless to cast any further spells. -The cows now gave as rich a yield of milk as formerly, and the custom then -began, of putting 'cowsherne' into the mouths of newly born calves, was -continued long after witchcraft had ceased to be a power in the land."(13) - -[Illustration: A WITCH-BREW AND INCANTATION. Sketch by J. Copland, -Dundrennan. - - "Toil and trouble, - Fire burn; and caldron bubble."--MACBETH.] - -The following four examples of "witch narrative" are gathered from the -southern district of Kirkcudbrightshire:-- - -"Many years ago there lived near Whinnieliggate, on a somewhat lonely part -of the road which leads from Kirkcudbright to Dumfries, an old woman with -the reputation of being a witch. She was feared to such an extent that her -neighbours kept her meal-chest full, and furnished her with food, clothes, -and all she required. An old residenter in Kelton Hill or Rhonehouse, now -passed away, remembered her well, and has left a very minute description -of her appearance. He told how she was of small spare build, wizened of -figure and face, squinted outward with one eye, the eyes themselves being -small, but of peculiar whitish green colour, her nose hooked and drooping -over very ugly teeth. She swathed her straggling grey locks in a black -napkin or handkerchief, wore grey drugget, and a saffron-tinted shawl with -spots of black and green darned into the semblance of frogs, toads, -spiders, and jackdaws, with a coiled adder or snake roughly sewn round the -border. Her shoes or bauchles were home-made from the untanned hides of -black Galloway calves, skins not difficult for her to get. The cottage in -which she lived was as quaint as herself, both inside and out. A huge bed -of orpine (stone crop) grew over one of its thatched sides, the thatch -being half straw and half broom; at each end grew luxuriantly long -wavering broom bushes, and a barberry[2] shrub, densely covered with fruit -in its season. A row of hair ropes draped the lintel of the small windows -at the front of the cottage, from which was suspended the whitened skulls -of hares, and ravens, rooks or corbies. The interior was also garnished -with dried kail-stocks, leg and arm bones, no doubt picked up in the -churchyard, all arranged in the form of a star, and over her bed-head hung -a roughly drawn circle of the signs of the zodiac. She was often to be -seen wandering about the fields in moonlight nights with a gnarled old -blackthorn stick with a ram's horn head, and was altogether generally -regarded as uncanny. The old man who thus describes her person and -surroundings told of two occasions in which he suffered at her hands. He -was at one time engaged with a farmer in the parish of Kelton, and one day -he and a son of the farmer set out for the town of Kirkcudbright with two -heavily laden carts of hay, the farmer in a jocular way calling after them -as they left, 'Noo Johnie, yer cairts are a' fair and square the noo, and -let's see ye reach Kirkcudbright without scathe, for ye maun mind ye hae -tae pass auld Jean on the wey. Dinna ye stop aboot her door or say ocht -tae her, tae offend her. Gude kens hoo she may tak' it.' Johnie was of a -very sceptical nature about such characters as Jean, and replied, 'Man, -Maister M'C----, dae ye ken a wudna care the crack o' a coo's thumb gin a' -the wutches ooten the ill bit war on the road,' and so they set out. When -passing the cottage, sure enough, the old woman appeared at the door, and, -as was her wont, had to ask several questions as to where cam' they frae? -and whar wur they gaun? who owned the hay and the horses? and so on. The -lad, who was a bit of a 'limb,' recklessly asked her what the deil -business it was of hers, and John said, 'Aye, deed faith aye, boy! that's -just true. Come away.' And so they lumbered away down through the woods by -the Brocklock Burn, when suddenly a hare banged across the road, right -under the foremost horse's nose, crossed and recrossed several times, till -both the horses became so restless and unmanageable that they backed and -backed against the old hedge on the roadside, and in a few minutes both -carts went over the brow into the wood, dragging the horses with them. -The harness fortunately snapped in pieces, saving them from being -strangled. Johnie and the boy were compelled to walk into the town for -help, where they told the story of Jean's malevolence. Johnie's second -adventure took place some years afterwards. On passing with a cart of -potatoes to be shipped from Kirkcudbright to Liverpool by the old _Fin -M'Coul_ Johnie refused to give Jean two or three potatoes for seed, with -the result that his horse backed his cart right into the then almost -unprotected harbour, and they were with great difficulty rescued."(14) - -"The parish of Twynholm in days gone by had its witch. 'Old Meg' (as the -reputed witch was called by the neighbours) had for some years got her -supply of butter from one of the farms quite close to the village of -Twynholm, and the goodwife, to safeguard her very fine dairy of cows, -always gave old Meg a small print, or pat, extra for luck. All went well -until one day a merchant came to the farm seeking a large quantity of -butter for the season, and offering such a good price that a bargain was -at once struck. The farmer's wife was obliged to tell her small customers, -Meg among the number, that she 'would not be able tae gie them ony mair -butter as she had a freen in the trade who would need all she could -spare, and more if she had it.' Meg was the only one to murmur at the -information, and did so in no unmistakable terms. 'Aye, woman,' said she, -'y'er getting far ower prood and big tae ser' a puir bodie. Folk sood na' -seek tae haud their heeds ower high ower puir folk. There's aye a doonfa' -tae sic pridefu' weys.' 'Weel, Margaret,' said the farmer's wife, 'ye're -no a richt-thinkin', weel-mindet buddy or ye wudna turn on me the wey yer -daen efter a' my kindness tae ye; sae I wad juist be as weel pleased if -ye'd pass my door and try somebody else tae gie ye mair than I hae ony -guid wull tae gie ye.' Meg left in great anger, and before a week was -ended three of the farmer's cows died, and one broke its leg."(15) - -"Away back in the days when the steampacket and railway were almost -unknown along the south or Solway shore of Scotland large numbers of -sailing craft plied between ports and creeks along the Scottish, Irish, -and English coasts, every little port at all safe for landing being the -busy scene of arrival and departure, and the discharge of cargo with -almost every tide. A small group of houses usually marked these little -havens, generally made up of an inn, a few fishermen's cottages, huts, and -sail-lofts. On the Rerwick, or Monkland shore as it was then called, four -or five of these little hamlets stood, some on the actual shore, others a -short way inland. The incident which follows was founded upon the visit of -three young sailors, who had for a day or two been living pretty freely, -in a clachan about two miles from where their craft, a handy topsail -schooner, lay at Burnfoot. On the rough moor road-side which led down from -the clachan to the coast there lived in a small shieling a middle-aged -woman, recognised by most of her neighbours and by seafaring men coming to -these parts as an unscrupulous and rather vindictive old woman, supposed -to be a witch. - -The three sailors had to pass this cottage on their way down to join their -ship, and before setting out decided to go right past her home rather than -take a round-about way to avoid her, which was at first suggested. As they -came to her door she was standing watching and evidently waiting for them. -'Ye'r a fine lot you to gang away wi' a schooner,' she called to them as -they came up. 'Ye had a fine time o't up by at Rab's Howff, yet nane o' ye -thocht it worth yer while tae look in an see me in the bye-gaun; but 'am -naebody, an' canna wheedle aboot ye like Jean o' the Howff, an' wile yer -twa-three bawbees frae ooten yer pooches, an' sen' ye awa' as empty as ma -meal poke.' The youngest of the three, being elated and reckless with -drink, commenced to mock and taunt the old woman, his companions foolishly -joining him also in jeering at her, until soon she was almost beside -herself with rage. Shaking her fist at them as they passed on she pursued -them with threat and invective that brought a chill of terror to their -young hearts, and made them glad to find themselves at last beyond the -range of her bitter tongue. The tragic sequel, coincident or otherwise, -now falls to be related. Two nights later they set sail to cross to the -Cumberland side of the Solway. The weather was threatening when they left, -and a stiff breeze quickly developed into half a gale of wind. The -schooner, which was very light, was observed to be making very bad weather -of it, and to be drifting back towards the coast they had left. The -gathering darkness of the night soon shut them out of sight, but early -next morning the vessel lay a broken wreck on the rocky shore, and several -weeks afterwards the bodies of her crew were washed ashore."(16) - -"In a somewhat sparsely populated district in the parish of Balmaghie -there lived, with a crippled husband, a wrinkled-visaged old woman who was -reckoned by all who lived near her as an uncanny character. She dwelt in a -small thatched cottage well away from the public road, and had attached -to her cottage a small croft or patch, half of which was used as a garden, -the remainder as a gang for pigs and poultry. Not far from where she lived -abounded long strips of meadow land, liable to be in wet seasons submerged -by the backwaters of the Dee. About a mile from the cottage was a farm -where a number of cows were kept, the farmer usually disposing of the -butter made up every week to small shopkeepers, and in the villages near -by. He was always very chary about passing the old woman's cottage with -his basket of butter and eggs, feeling sure of a bad market should she -chance to get a glimpse at the contents of the basket. Moreover, he would -gladly have dispensed with the peace-offering he was obliged to make in -the form of a pound of butter or a dozen or so of eggs, which was -considered a sure safeguard. To avoid her he had taken a new route, -crossing a ford higher up the water and going over a hill to another -village, where he would have little chance of coming in contact with her. -One day however, he found that his plan was discovered, and that to -persist in it would be to court disaster. Crossing the moor he observed -the old woman busily gathering birns[3] and small whin roots. She was -undoubtedly watching and waiting for him, and was the first to speak. -'Aye, aye, man; ye maun reckon me gey blin' no' tae see ye stavering oot -o' the gate among moss holes tae get ooten my wey. Ye hae wat yer cloots -monie a mornin' tae keep awa' frae my hoose, and for nae ither guid reason -than tae save twa or three eggs or a morsel o' butter that ony weel-minded -neebor wud at ony time gie an auld donnert cripple tae feed and shelter. -Losh, man, but ye hae a puir, mean speerit. Yer auld faither wudna hae din -ony sic thing, an' mony a soup o' tea a hae geen 'im when he used to ca' -in on his hame-gaun frae the toon gey weel the waur o' a dram.' Annoyed at -being challenged the farmer was not quite in a mood to laugh the matter -off, and accordingly he, with some degree of temper, told the old woman to -go to a place where neither birns nor whin roots were needed for kindling -purposes. About a mile further over the moor he met a neighbour's boy -hurrying along, making for his farm to ask him to come over to help his -master to pull a cow out of a hole in the peat-moss. He at once went, -asking the lad to carry one of his baskets to enable them to get along -faster. They left the two baskets at the end of a haystack near the muir -farm, and crossed over to the moss where they could see the farmer and his -wife doing their utmost to keep the cow's head above the mire. Additional -strength of arm however, soon brought the cow out of her dangerous -position, and they retired for a little to the farm-house for a dram. -'Dod,' said the owner of the baskets, 'I houp nae hairm has come the -butter an' eggs. I left them ower-by at the end o' the hey-stack yonner.' -'O, they'll be a' richt,' said the farmer's wife; 'but Johnie 'll gang -ower and bring them, sae sit still 'til he fetches them.' Johnie went as -told, and came back with the tidings that 'the auld soo had eaten nearly -all the butter an' broken maist o' the eggs, had pit her feet thro' the -bottom o' the butter-skep, and made a deil o' a haun o' everything.' 'Aye, -aye,' quoth the farmer; 'juist what I micht hae expeckit efter the look I -got frae that auld deevel in woman's shape doonbye.' His neighbour was -silent and seemed strangely put out, and when at last he found speech it -was to say, 'Man Sanny, she's du'n baith o' us! Dae ye ken I refused her a -pig juist last week, an' that accoonts for "crummie" in the -moss-hole.'"(17) - -A story which illustrates how witch-power was not always an influence for -evil is recounted in the folk-lore of Tynron:-- - -"An old farmer who died some years ago in Tynron related his experience -with a witch in Closeburn when he was a boy. He was carting freestone from -a neighbouring quarry, when his horse came to a standstill at the witch's -door. Two other carters passed him, and only jeered both at the witch and -the boy, when the former, to whom he had always been civil, came forward, -and with a slight push adjusted the ponderous stone, which had slipped and -was stopping the wheel. 'Now, go,' she said; 'thou wilt find them at the -gate below Gilchristland.' At that very spot he found the perplexed -carters standing, both horses trembling and sweating, so that he easily -went past them and got to his goal first."(18) - -No reference to witchcraft in the south-west of Scotland would be complete -without some reference to the witches of Crawick Mill, near Sanquhar. The -following allusion is drawn from a recently published work on the -folk-lore of Upper Nithsdale, and in it will be observed how the witch -phenomenon of change into the form of a hare, and being shot at in that -form, again repeats itself:-- - -"The village of Crawick Mill, near Sanquhar, was a noted place for -witches, and appears to have been a sort of headquarters for the -sisterhood. Their doings and ongoings have been talked of far and near, -and many a tale is told of revels at the 'Witches' Stairs'--a huge rock -among the picturesque linns of Crawick, where, in company of other -kindred spirits gathered from all parts of the country, they planned -their deeds of evil, and cast their cantrips to the hurt of those who had -come under their displeasure. In many different ways were these inflicted. -Sometimes the farmer's best cow would lose its milk; a mare would miss -foal; or the churn would be spellbound, and the dairymaid might churn and -churn, and churn again, but no butter would come. No class of people was -safe. The malignant power of the witches reached all classes of society; -and even the minister's churn on one occasion would yield no butter. -Everything had been tried without effect. The manse of Sanquhar at that -time was situated close to the river on the site now occupied by the -farm-house of Blackaddie, and the good man told the servant girl to carry -the churn to the other side of the Nith, thinking that the crossing of a -running stream would break the spell. But it was to no purpose; neither -was the rowan tree branch that was fixed in the byre, nor the horse-shoe -nailed behind the door. The power of the witch was too strong for the -minister; but his wife was more successful. She made up a nice roll of -butter, part of a former churning, and, with a pitcher of milk, sent it as -a present to the beldam at Crawick Mill, who was thought to have wrought -the mischief. The gift was thankfully received, and the churn did well -ever after. - -"Robert Stitt, honest man, was the miller at Crawick Mill, and well -respected by everybody. One day, however, he refused one of the Crawick -witches a peck of meal; she was enraged at the refusal, and told him 'he -would rue that ere mony days passed.' About a week afterwards, on a dark -night, Crawick was rolling in full flood. The miller went to put down the -sluice, missed his footing, fell into the water, and was carried off by -the torrent and drowned. A young man going a journey started early in the -morning, and, shortly after he set out, met one of the witches, when some -words passed between them. She said to him, 'Ye're gaun briskly awa', my -lad, but ye'll come ridin' hame the nicht.' The poor fellow got his leg -broken that day, and was brought home in a cart as the witch predicted. An -old woman named Nannie is said to have been the last of the uncanny crew -that dwelt on the banks of the Crawick. She appears to have been a person -superior in intelligence and forethought to her neighbours. She knew that -she was considered a witch, and she rather encouraged the idea; it kept -her neighbours in awe, and also helped her to get a living--many a present -she got from the ignorant and superstitious to secure themselves from her -spells."(19) - -"One of the most famous witches of tradition belonging to Corrie -(Dumfriesshire) was the witch-wife of the Wyliehole, whose strange -exploits and infernal doings were the subject of many a winter evening's -conversation around the farmer's hearth. - -"She was represented as having been terribly implacable in her -resentments, and those who fell under her displeasure were certain to feel -all the severity of her revenge. She pursued them incessantly with strange -accidents and misfortunes, sometimes with nocturnal visits in the form of -fierce wild cats and weasels, and not only disturbed their repose but kept -them in constant terror of their lives. She seems also to have been -somewhat peculiar in her movements, as she was seen, on one occasion, on -the top of Burnswark crags switching lint by moonlight."(20) - -It may now be well to dwell for a little on the popular measures resorted -to, to counteract witch influence and render it futile. - -Relief and protection were sought in various ways. Charm and popular -antidote had an abiding place in the domestic usage of the day, and faith, -if wedded to empirical methods, was at all events all-prevailing. The -mountain ash or rowan tree was believed to have a strong counter influence -against unholy rite, and a very usual custom was to plait a branch and -fasten it above the byre door to ensure the protection of their cows. -Young women wore strings of rowan berries as beads on a string of the same -colour, implicitly believing - - "Rowan tree and red threid, - Put the witches to their speed"-- - -and Robert Heron, in his _Journey through the Western Counties of -Scotland_ (1792), further illustrates this point of superstitious -observance by reference to an acquaintance:--"An anti-burgher clergyman in -these parts, who actually procured from a person who pretended to skill in -these charms, two small pieces of wood, curiously wrought, to be kept in -his father's cow-house as a security for the health of his cows. It is -common (he adds) to bend into a cow's tail a small piece of mountain -ash-wood as a charm against witchcraft." - -Inside the cottage the rowan bunch was suspended from the top of the -corner-cupboard or box-bed. Salt was supposed to possess a strong power of -evil resistance in various ways, not least in the operation of "churning," -a handful being added to the cream before even commencing. To this day old -horse-shoes are nailed over stable and byre doors "for luck," a vague -application of what in the older days was specific belief in their potency -as a charm against witch-mischief. - -Stones with holes through them naturally perforated by the action of the -water, popularly called "elf-cups," were also considered to possess -protective power and were commonly nailed over the stable door. - -It was further quite usual, when passing the hut of any old woman whom -people eyed askance, to put the thumb upon the palm of the hand and close -the fingers over it--a relic of the sign of the cross--to avert the evil -eye. - -A clear stone, called an "adder-bead" (supposed to be made in some -mysterious way by the co-operation of thirteen adders), a robin's breast, -and a fox's tongue, were other favoured charms. The witches and warlocks -themselves were supposed to wear a protective, jacket-like garment, which -had, at a certain mystic time of a March moon, been woven from the skins -of water-snakes. These were popularly known as "warlock feckets." Silver -alone could pierce such garments and seems to have possessed properties -entirely opposed to the invincibility of these disciples of Satan. Nothing -could turn or stop a silver bullet which not only destroyed the illusion -and restored the guise which had been assumed, to the original witch-form, -but even inflicted bodily pain and wound. - -"An old woman, still alive, tells how her father was going to Drummore on -one occasion by the road past Terally (Kirkmaiden), and saw a man a short -distance in front of him carrying a gun. A hare jumped over the dyke on to -the road in front of the man with the gun, who at once shot at it, but -apparently missed. He fired four more shots at it, but the hare only -jumped on the road as if making sport of them. Before he fired the next -shot however, he slipped a threepenny piece into the gun, and that had -effect. The hare limped into a whin bush near by, and when the two men -went to look for it they found a reputed witch lying with a broken leg." - -An oft-practised rite in connection with the supposed bewitchment of a -cow, and its failure to yield milk, was as follows:-- - -"A young maiden milked whatever dregs of milk the cow had left, which was -of a sanguineous nature and poisonous quality. This was poured warm from -the cow into a brass pan, and, every inlet to the house being closed, was -placed over a gentle fire until it began to heat. Pins were dropped in and -closely stirred with a wand of rowan; when boiling, rusty nails were -thrown in and more fuel added."(21) - -The witch or warlock who had wrought the mischief were in some subtle way -affected, and suffered pain so long as the distillation of the charm was -continued; and the further point is brought out that the potency of the -charm could even drag the perpetrators of the evil to the scene of their -witch-work. - -There is a hitherto unrecorded story bearing on this point:-- - -"Andrew M'Murray, farmer in Mountsallie, in the Rhinns of Galloway at one -time, one morning found one of his cows very ill. In the middle of the -uneasiness about the condition of the cow a tailor 'whup-the-cat' arrived -at the farm-house to do some sewing, and among the others, went out to -look at the cow. He at once said the cow was witched, and told them of a -way to find out the person who had done so. They got the cow to her feet, -and took whatever milk she had from her, and put it in a pot with a number -of pins in it, and set it on the fire to boil, with a green turf on the -top of the lid. When the pot began to boil dry, a near neighbour, who was -a reputed witch, arrived, apparently in a state of great pain, and -excitedly asked to see the cow. Immediately the cow saw her it jumped to -its feet, broke its binding, ran out of the byre, and did not stop till it -was at the top of Tordoo, a round hill in the neighbourhood."(22) - -The Dalry district, as already seen, is comparatively rich in uncannie -reminiscence, one of which also accentuates this particular point:-- - -"The cow of a Dalry crofter became nearly yell quite unexpectedly. A -neighbour said she would soon find out the reason. She boiled a quantity -of needles and pins in some milk drippings from the cow, when an old woman -who was reputed to be a witch knocked at the window and begged her to give -over boiling as she was pricked all over, and if they did so the cow would -soon be all right, which accordingly happened."(23) - -Two "cantrip incantations" concerned with love-making, strung together in -rhyme, have been handed down:-- - - "In the pingle or the pan, - Or the haurpan o' man, - Boil the heart's-bluid o' the tade, - Wi' the tallow o' the gled; - Hawcket kail an' hen-dirt, - Chow'd cheese an chicken-wort, - Yallow puddocks champit sma', - Spiders ten, and gellocks twa, - Sclaters twa, frae foggy dykes, - Bumbees twunty, frae their bykes, - Asks frae stinking lochens blue, - Ay, will make a better stue; - Bachelors maun hae a charm, - Hearts they hae fu' o' harm." - -The second, while of much the same character, has evidently more special -reference to the weaker sex:-- - - "Yirbs for the blinking queen, - Seeth now, when it is e'en, - Boortree branches, yellow gowans, - Berry rasps and berry rowans; - Deil's milk frae thrissles saft, - Clover blades frae aff the craft; - Binwud leaves and blinmen's baws, - Heather bells and wither'd haws; - Something sweet, something sour, - Time about wi' mild and door; - Hinnie-suckles, bluidy-fingers, - Napple roots and nettle stingers, - Bags o' bees and gall in bladders, - Gowks' spittles, pizion adders: - May dew and fumarts' tears, - Nool shearings, nowt's neers, - Mix, mix, six and six, - And the auld maid's cantrip fix."(24) - -In Allan Ramsay's pastoral play of the _Gentle Shepherd_ a vivid -word-painting occurs of the popular estimation of the witch methods and -witch beliefs of the times. - -The passage occurs where "Bauldy," love-stricken and despairing, goes to -seek the aid of "Mause," an old woman supposed to be a witch:-- - - "'Tis sair to thole; I'll try some witchcraft art. - - * * * * * - - Here Mausey lives, a witch that for sma' price - Can cast her cantraips, and gie me advice, - She can o'ercast the night and cloud the moon, - And mak the deils obedient to her crune; - At midnight hours, o'er the kirkyard she raves, - And howks unchristen'd weans out of their graves; - Boils up their livers in a warlock's pow, - Rins withershins about the hemlock low; - And seven times does her prayers backwards pray, - Till Plotcock comes with lumps of Lapland clay, - Mixt with the venom of black taids and snakes; - Of this unsonsy pictures aft she makes - Of ony ane she hates, and gars expire, - With slow and racking pains afore a fire, - Stuck fu' of pins; the devilish pictures melt; - The pain by fowk they represent is felt." - -An old form of incantation extracted from a witch confession in 1662[4] -refers to the form of witchcraft just alluded to in the _Gentle -Shepherd_--the modelling in clay of the object of resentment and the -piercing and maiming of such effigies to compass corresponding bodily -harm. In this instance, wasting illness was intended to be induced by -subjecting the diminutive clay figure to roasting over a fire:-- - - "In the Divellis nam, we powr in this water amang this mowld (meall) - For long duyning[5] and ill heall; - We putt it into the fyre, - That it may be brunt both stick and stowre, - It salbe[6] brunt with owr will - As any sticle[7] upon a kill.[8]" - -A further forceful illustration of this particular form of spell-casting -may be quoted from the confession of a reputed witch, "Janet Breadheid," -who was brought before the Sheriff-Principal of Elgin and Forres in 1662. - -It is here referred to as the family against whom the evil was directed -was that of "Hay of Park," an evident off-shoot of a main stem of the -Hays--the Hays of Errol (Perthshire)--a family represented in the -south-west of Scotland by the Hays of Park, who inherited part of the -lands of the Abbey of Glenluce immediately after the Reformation. The old -family seat, now tenanted by farm servants, is generally described as the -"Old House of Park." - -The following is the quotation:--"My husband brought hom the clay in his -plaid (newk). It ves maid in my hows; and the Divell himself with ws. We -brak the clay werie small, lyk meil, (and) sifted it with a siew, and -powred in vater amongst it, with wordis that the Divell leardned vs (in -the Di.) Vellis nam. I brought hom the water, in a pig, out of the -Rud-wall. We were all upon owr (kneyes) and our hair about owr eyes, and -owr handis liftet up to the Divell, and owr eyes stedfast looking (upon -him) praying and saying wordis which he learned ws, thryse ower, for -destroyeing of this Lairdis (meall) children, and to mak his hows airles. -It was werie sore wrought, lyk rye-bowt. It was about the bignes of a -feadge or pow. It was just maid lyk the bairn; it vanted no mark of any -maill child, such as heid, face, eyes, nose, mowth lippes, etc., and the -handis of it folded downe by its sydis. It ves putt to the fyre, first -till it scrunked, and then a cleir fyre about it, till it ves hard. And -then we took out of the fyre, in the Divell's nam; and we laid a clowt -about it and did lay (it) on a knag, and sometimes under a chist. Each day -we would water, and then rost and bek it; and turn it at the fyre, each -other day, whill that bairne died; and then layed it up, and steired it -not untill the nixt bairne wes borne; And then, within half an year efter -that bairne was born, (we) took it out again out of the cradle and clowt, -and would dip it now and than among water, and beck (it) and rost it at -the fyre, each other day once, as ve did against the other that was dead, -untill that bairn (died) also."(25) - -The following is an example of a "Devil's Grace":-- - - "We eat this meat in the Divellis nam, - With sorrow, and sych,[9] and meikle shame, - We sall destroy hows and hald; - Both sheip and noat in till the fald. - Little good sall come to the fore - Of all the rest of the little store." - -The following extract from a rare and fascinating work, _The Book of -Galloway_ (1745), possesses two points of much interest. It includes the -prophetic utterings of a witch called Meg Macmuldroch at the "cannie -moment" when Sir William Douglas of Gelston, whose name is so intimately -associated with the creation and development of the town of -Castle-Douglas, was born:-- - -"And anon as she came to the burden of her prophecy, pointing her -quivering fingers to the sky, and repeating the following words with much -emphasis:--'I looked at the starnies and they were in the right airt. It -was full tide, and bein' lown and in the deid howe o' nicht, in Sandy -Black's fey, I heard the sough o' the sea and the o'erswak o' the waves as -they broke their bellies on the sawns o' Wigtown. There was a scaum i' the -lift; the young mune was in the auld mune's arms, that was bad and -guid--bad for the father, guid for the son; and as sure as the de'ils in -the King's croft o' Stocking,[10] here's my benison and malison, mak' o't -what ye wull. - - 'Grief and scaith, the faither to his death; - Thrift and thrive to the bairn alive.'" - -The second point contained is the practical application and mention of -several witchcraft and old-world expressions, some of which have just been -referred to in dealing with the counteraction of witch-force:-- - -"'Greater pity,' said the minister abruptly, 'that the penalties against -witchcraft are now done away with' ... She has already cast her glamour -of the evil eye on this man. His very horse has been hag-ridden overnight, -and in the mornin', sair forfochten wi' nocturnal sweats, and the -"adder-stane" winna bring remeid. His cow was weel fed, for ye ken 'the -cow gives her milk by the mou', but the crone has milked the tether,' and -his twa stirks are stannin' slaverin' at baith mouth and een, and its -neither side-ill, quarter-ill, tail-ill, muir-ill, or water-ill, and its -no the rinnin' doun, the black spauld, or the warbles, but a clear case of -elf-shot, though a piece of rowan has been tied to their tails.... John -went first to Shennaton on the water o' Bladnoch, bad land at the best, -for it girns a' summer and greets a' winter. There he couldna leeve, so -his 'fire was slockened,' and here he's half deid, an' a' through the -witches."(26) - -In concluding this chapter further notice may be taken of the quite common -practice in those days, of the fears of the country-side being traded upon -by cunning old women supposed to possess, or pretending to possess, -witch-power. In wholesome dread of the malign influence of the "uncannie -e'en" these old women were propitiated by lavish presents of produce and -provender, and so skillfully did many of them play their parts that they -lived comfortably and bien at the expense of their neighbours, who were -only too glad to send new milk, cheese, meal, and even to cast their peats -and help with the rents to make "the e'en look kindly" and avert possible -disaster, all of which is graphically alluded to and set forth in Allan -Cunningham's "Pawky Auld Kimmer":-- - - "There's a pawky auld Kimmer wons low i' the glen; - Nane kens how auld Kimmer maun fecht and maun fen; - Kimmer gets maut, and Kimmer gets meal, - And cantie lives Kimmer, richt couthie an' hale; - Kimmer gets bread, and Kimmer gets cheese, - An' Kimmer's uncannie e'en keep her at ease. - 'I rede ye speak lowne, lest Kimmer should hear ye; - Come sain ye, come cross ye, an' Gude be near ye!'" - -[Illustration] - - - - -_CHAPTER III._ - -WITCHCRAFT TRIALS AND PERSECUTION. - - "Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live." - --_Exodus xxii., 18._ - - -Little is heard of witchcraft in Scotland before the latter half of the -16th century, but in the year 1563, in the reign of Mary, Queen of -Scotland, a strenuous Act directed against the practice of witchcraft -became law, and was most rigorously enforced. As this has been described -as the law under which all the subsequent witch trials took place its -significant phraseology may in part be quoted:-- - -"The Estates enact that nae person take upon hand to use ony matter of -witchcrafts, sorcery or necromancy, nor give themselves furth to have ony -sic craft or knowledge thereof; also that nae person seek ony help, -response, or consultation at ony sic users or abusers of witchcraft under -the pain of death." - -Curiously enough the passing of this and similar Acts was attended by -results as unexpected as they were unforeseen. Belief in witchcraft became -the passion of public credulity. Accusations, generally false and often -even ludicrous in their solemn foolishness, were trumped up, and action -followed, that hurried countless helpless human beings to the stake to die -a cruel and shameful death. It was a time of terror, an epoch of -superstitious sacrifice, extending and gathering force as the reign of -Mary merged into the Regency, only finding pause at the removal of James -VI. of Scotland to London, there to preside over the united destinies of -these islands. As is well known, this monarch evinced a more than personal -interest in matters pertaining to the "unseen world," and that, gathering -up his ideas and conclusions, he embodied them in a singular treatise -entitled _Daemonologie_.[11] Less creditable to his memory it is told -that not only did he favour executions for this alleged crime, but -actually took pleasure in witnessing the sacrifice of the condemned. - -With the death of James a phase of quiescence in witch quest and sacrifice -is entered upon, a lull which lasted for some fifteen years. It was again, -however, to be broken, this time by the unfortunate intervention and -misdirected zeal of the Church itself. The General Assembly, stimulated by -a desire for Puritanical perfection, awakened the slumbering crudity of -belief, that direct Satanic Power stalked abroad in the land in the form -of witchcraft. Condemnatory Acts were passed in the years 1640-43-44-45 -and 49. Again the stake and tar faggot blazed. The Levitical law was -accepted as a too literal injunction, and from this time forward it is the -clergy who particularly figure as the pursuers of witches, keen and -relentless to a degree; and yet with it all, however misguided the efforts -of these Churchmen, however cruel their methods, it is only just to their -memories to believe in their purity of motive, and to give them all credit -for pious and earnest desire to combat and stamp out what to them was in -very truth a great evil. - -Different methods were adopted to establish proof and justify the cases -for the accusers, but the one test specially relied upon was to find the -actual presence of what has already been described as the "witch mark"[12] -upon the person of the suspected. When this was found, or supposed to be -found, it was the deliberate practice to pass through it a sharp -needle-like instrument, and if no pain was felt or blood drawn, then guilt -was held to be firmly established. - -[Illustration: "A RUNNING STREAM THEY DARE NA CROSS!" J. Copland.] - -So frequent were the accusations that the "pricking of witches" became a -recognised calling: one individual, John Kincaid by name, having such a -reputation for skill in this unhallowed work that he seems to have been -employed in the principal witch trials of this period, such an entry as-- - - "Item, mair to Jon Kinked for brodding of her VI. lib. Scotts" - -being of quite common occurrence in the notes of expenses still on -record. - -It is to this second or later period of persecution that the record of -witch charge and punishment in the south-west of Scotland really belongs, -and from 1656 the records of the civil and ecclesiastical courts teem with -accounts of searching enquiry and trial. It must further be remembered -that over and above the regularly constituted enquiries of State and -Church a great number of Commissions were granted by the Privy Council to -gentlemen in every county, and almost in every parish, to try persons -accused of witchcraft, many of whom suffered the extreme penalty,[13] and -of which no particulars can now be gleaned. - -It is now our purpose to set forth as completely as possible such relative -matter and extracts from existing documents as will describe the -proceedings as they actually took place in the distinctive localities of -the Dumfries and Galloway district, but it may perhaps be here fittingly -noted, not without a certain sense of gratification, that this -south-western district, though far from blameless, compares more than -favourably with other districts in Scotland, both in fairness of judgment -and rigour of punishment. - - -PROCEEDINGS IN GALLOWAY. - -_Presbytery of Kirkcudbright, April, 1662._--A person, named James Welsh, -confessed himself guilty of the crime of witchcraft before the Presbytery -of Kirkcudbright; but the justices refused to put him upon his trial, -because he was a minor when he acknowledged his guilt, and had retracted -his extra-judicial confession; but on the 17th of April, 1662, they -ordered him to be scourged and put in the correction house, having so -grossly "prevaricated and delated so many honest persons." - -_Kirkcudbright, 1671._--At an Assize held in the burgh of Dumfries in 1671 -eight or more females were charged with witchcraft; five of them were -eventually sent for trial to Kirkcudbright. - -_Dalry Kirk-Session, 1696._--Elspeth M'Ewen, an old woman living alone at -a place called Bogha, near the farm of Cubbox, in Balmaclellan, was -suspected by the country-side of various acts of "witching." In -particular, she was believed to have at her command a wooden pin that was -movable and that could be withdrawn from the base of the rafters resting -on the walls of the cottage, which particular part of the building was in -these old days called the "kipple foot." - -With this pin Elspeth was supposed to have the supernatural power of -drawing an exhaustive milk supply from her neighbour's cows merely by -placing it in contact with the udder, and this it was reported she -practised freely. Other cantrips laid to her door included capricious -interference with the laying power of her neighbour's hens, causing them -sometimes to fail altogether, at others to produce in amazing -plenteousness. - -At last complaint was made to the Session, and the beadle, by name -M'Lambroch, was sent away with the minister's mare to bring her before the -Session. On the journey there is a tradition that the mare in a panic of -fright sweated great drops of blood at the rising hill near the Manse, -since known as the "Bluidy Brae." - -After being examined she was sent to Kirkcudbright, where she lay in -prison for about two years. - -_Dalry Kirk-Session, October 15th, 1697._--The following entry evidently -refers to the expense of her maintenance in prison: "Given for alimenting -Elspet M'Koun, alledged of witchcraft in prison, £01.01.00." - -_Kirkcudbright, 1698._--In Kirkcudbright prison Elspeth M'Ewen was so -inhumanely treated that she frequently implored her tormentors to -terminate a life which had become a grievous burden to her. - -In March, 1698, a Commission was appointed by the Privy Council for her -trial, along with another woman, Mary Millar, also accused of witchcraft, -"to meet and conveen at Kirkcudbright." The following is an extract from -the said Commission:-- - -_Extract from "Commission for Judging of Elspeth M'Cowen and Mary Millar, -alleadged Guilty of Witchcraft, 1698."_ - -"The Lords of his Majesties privie Councill, being informed that Elspeth -M'Cowen and Mary Millar, both within the Stewartry of Kirkcudbright, -presently prisoners within the tolboth of Kirkcudbright, are alleaged -guilty of the horid cryme of witchcraft, and hes committed severall -malifices; and considering it will be a great deall of charges and -expenses to bring the saids Elspeth M'Cowen and Mary Millar to this place, -in order to a tryall before the Lords commissioners of justiciary: -Besides, that severall inconveniences may aryse by there transportation. -And the saids Lords lykewayes considering that this horid cryme cannot be -tryed and judged by any persons in the countrie without a warrant and -commission from their Lordships for that effect; And the saids Lords being -desyreous to have the said matter brought to a tryall, that the persones -guilty may receive condigne punishment, and others may be deterred from -committing so horid a cryme in time coming; They do hereby give full -power, warrant and commission, to Sir John Maxwell of Pollock,--Maxwell of -Dalswintoune, Hugh M'Guffock of Rusco, Adam Newall of Barskeoche, Dunbar -of Machrymore, Thomas Alexander, Stewart Depute of Kirkcudbright, Robert -M'Clellend of Barmagachan, and Mr Alexander Fergussone of Isle, Advocate; -And declare any three of the foresaids persones to be a sufficient quorum, -the said Stewart Depute of Kirkcudbright being one of the three, To take -tryall off, and to judge and do justice upon the saids Elspeth M'Cowen and -Mary Millar, for the cryme of witchcraft. And in order thereto, To meitt -and conveen at Kirkcudbright, the second ffryday of Apryle next to come, -and there to accept for this present commission, and upon there acceptance -to administrate the oath of fidelity to the person whom the Lord Justice -Clerk or James Montgomery of Langshare, Clerk to the Justice Court, shall -depute and substitute to be clerk to the present Commissione, With power -to the saids Commissioners or their said quorum, to choyse their own Clerk -for whom they shall be answerable, In caise that the saids Lords Justice -Clerk and James Montgomery, shall refuse to nominate a Clerk in this -matter, they being first requyred so to doe, With power lykewayes to the -saids persones hereby commissionat or their said quorum, To create, make, -and constitute Serjants, Dempsters, and other Members of the said court, -And to Issue out and cause raise precepts or lybells of indictment at the -instance of Samuell Cairnmount, writer in Kirkcudbright, as procurator -fiscall for his Majesties interest in the said matter, against the saids -Elspeth M'Cowen and Mary Millar, accused of Witchcraft, ffor sumonding and -citeing them upon ffyfteen dayes, by delyvering to them a full copie of -the lybell or indictment, with the names and designationes of the Assyzers -and witnesses subjoined; And for citeing there assyzers and witnesses in -the ordinary and under the usual paynes and certificationes, To compear -before the saids Commissioners hereby commissionat, ... With power to the -saids Commissioners or their said quorums, To decern and Adjudge them to -be burned, or otherwise to be execute to death within such space and after -such a manner as they shall think fit, and appoints the saids -commissioners, there said quorum or Clerk, to transmit the haill process -which shall be ledd before them against the said Elspeth M'Cowen and Mary -Millar, and severall steps thereof and verdict of the inquest to be given -thereupon to the saids Lords of his Majesties privie Councill, betwixt and -the ffyfteenth day of June nixt to come."(27) - -On the 26th of July the committee of Privy Council reported that they had -examined the proceedings of the commissioners in the case of Elspeth -M'Ewen (the report signed by the Lord Advocate), who had been pronounced -guilty upon her own confession and the evidence of witnesses "of a compact -and correspondence with the devil, and of charms and of accession to -malefices." It was ordered that the sentence of death against Elspeth -should be executed under care of the Steward of Kirkcudbright and his -deputies. - -Found guilty by her own confession, a certain means to end a miserable -life, Elspeth M'Ewen suffered the extreme penalty of being burned at the -stake, the execution taking place in what is now known as Silver Craigs -Park, on the 24th day of August, 1698. - -The following extracts connected with the trial and execution are taken -from some old Kirkcudbright records, which were brought to light by the -late Mr James Nicholson:-- - -"Ane accompt of my (George Welsh) depursements as Thessr.[14] from -Michaelmas, 1697, to Michaelmas, 1698, as follows-- - - Item for Item to Barbara Roddin for ane pound and ane half - of candle yt night the Assyse sat on Elspet M'Keown 000 09 00 - - 22 July, 1698. Item to the men that took William Kirk, by - Ba. Campble's order 000 04 00 - - Item given to him yt day 000 03 00 - - Item for Satterday, Sunday and Monday yrafter 000 09 00 - - Item given to William Kirk of earnest by Ba. Campble's - orders in money and in aill with him 00j 0j 00 - - Item to William Kirk for six days at three shills per - day 000 18 00 - - 4 Aut., 1698. Item to William Kirk for twenty days tyme - yt he was in prison at ffour shills per day, is 004 00 00 - - 20 Aut., 1698. Item given to the Proveist to give William - Kirk to buy drink, and by his orders to buy ane leg - mutton 000 ij 00 - - Item. Sspent by the Proveist wt Howell and Ba. Dunbar, the - day of Elspet M'Keown's execution, ane gill brandie 000 04 06 - - Item be the Proveist's order, to William Kirk to buy meal - wt. 000 10 00 - - Item payed in James M'Colm's yt the Proveist drank with - Ba. Dunbar and oyrs the day of Elspet M'Keoun's - execution 000 06 00 - - Item to Wm. Kirk to buy meill wt. 000 07 06 - - Item to Wm. Kirk to buy meill wt. 000 07 06 - - Item payed to Barbara Roddin for candles to Elspet - M'Keoun's guard 000 17 00 - - Item to Mart. M'Keand for ffour Ells and three quarters - Red, to William Kirk, at twenty shill Scots per Ell, is 004 15 00 - - Item to Helin Martin for plaiding to be hose to him 000 08 00 - - Item to thrid whyt and collured 000 03 00 - - Item for ane Bonnet to him 000 09 00 - - Item for harne to be pockets, and for shoen 000 17 00 - - Item for three ells harne to be ane shirt, and for making - yrof. 001 00 00 - - Item for ane long gravate to him 000 12 00 - - 24th Aut., 1698. Item given to the Proveist to give him - the day of execution 002 16 00 - - Item for peits to burn Elspet wt. 00j 04 00 - - Item for twa pecks of colls 000 16 00 - - Item for towes, small and great 000 04 00 - - Item for ane tarr barle to Andrew Aitken 00j 04 00 - - Item to Hugh Anderson for carrying of the peits and colls 000 06 00 - - Item to William Kirk qn she was burning, ane pint of aill 000 02 00 - - Item payed to Robert Creighton, conform to precept, viz., - eight shill Scots for beating the drumm at Elspet - M'Queen's funerall, and to James Carsson, his wife - threeteen shillings drunken by Elspet's executioner, at - seall times 00j 0j 00 - -It would thus appear that the executioner (William Kirk) had to be kept in -jail in order that he should be forthcoming at the execution. He seems to -have been an old, infirm man, without relations or friends, and on 8th -July, 1699, he addressed the following petition to the Provost and -Magistrates:-- - -"To the Right Honorable my Lord Provest, Baylies, and Cownsell of the -Royal Burgh of Kirkcut.--Humbly sheweth, That yor Honors patchioner is in -great straits in this dear time and lik to sterv for hwnger, and whan I go -to the cowntrie and foks many of them has it not and others of them that -hes it say they are overburdened with poor folk that they are not able to -stand before them, and they will bid me go hom to the town to maintain me -and cast stanes at me. May it therefore please your honors to look upon my -indigent condition and help me for the Lord sake, and yor honors pettioner -shall ever pray." - -In answer to the above "earnest cry and prayer" there appears the -following entry in the "Thessr's" account:-- - -"8th Jully, 1699. - -"The sd day the magistrates and Counsell ordains the Thessr. to give the -petitioner the next week six shill Scots forby his weekly allowance." - -Another document, which throws a curious side-light on Elspeth M'Ewen's -trial, is the sentence against one Janet Corbie, who advised Elspeth to -plead not guilty. It is as follows:-- - -"Kirkcudbright, -- day of July, 1698. - -"The same day, it being most palpably and cleirly evident and made appear -to ye magistrates and Consell yt. Janet Corbie, dauter of Wm. Corbie, -hath been and as yet continues in a most scandlous carrige, abusing of her -neybors by scandlous expressions, whereffor there hath been fformer ffines -put upon her, and that she is a persoun yt leeves by pyckering and -stealing as is most justly suspect yrof, and yt she hath been endevouring -to harden Elspeth M'Keoun, wha is in ye laigh sellar as ane wich, in -endevouring to dissuad her to confess and that people sinned ther sowl wha -said she was a wich, and ffor her constant practis in abuse of ye Lord's -Day emploing herselff yrin ofthymes in stealing her neybors guids such as -unyuns and bowcaill and taking them to ye countrie and makin sale yr of, -and sevll oyr thing yt upon just grownds could be mayd appere so yt to -long she hath been suffered to resyde in this place; yrfor, and yt ye -place may be troubled with such a miscrent, and scandlous person nae -langer in tym coming, ye magistrates and consell out of a due sens of yr -dutie and of ye justice of her sentens, ordains the said Janet Corbie to -remain in prison while Munday morning neist att ten o'clock and then to be -taken ffurth of the tolboth by ye officers and wt tuck of drum to be -transported over the ferry bote, to be exported in all tyme coming from ye -sosiety or convercacioune of all guid Christians and indwellers in ye -place, and never to return yrto, prohibiting and discharging all -inhabitants, qur parents, relaciouns, or any oyrs wtin ye toun's bouns, to -harbor, reset, convers, commune with, or entertane the said Janet or -receve her to their society or company at any place or tyme in all tyme -coming, and yt under ye pain of fforty pounds Scots muney to be peyd by -ilk transgressor, toties quoties to ye toun's Thessr. atower whatever oyer -punishment the magistrets and consell sall think fit further to impose, -and ordains thir presents to be publish at ye Mercat Cross yt non may -pretend ignorans in tyme coming, and the magistrats ordane to see the -sentence put in execution." - -_Extracts from Minute Book of the Kirk-Session of Kirkcudbright._(28) - -"Janet M'Robert in Milnburn is delated to the Session for Witchcraft, the -signs and instances qrof (whereof) are afterwards recorded. The Session -therefor recommends to the Magistrates to apprehend and incarcerate her -till tryall be had of that matter." - -"Feb. 6, 1701. - -"As to Janet M'Robert in Milnburn, it is delated by Elizabeth Lauchlon, -lawfull daughter to John Lauchlon yr., (there) that the sd. (said) -Elizabeth went to Janet's house, when she was not within, and looking in -at the door saw a wheel going about and spinning without the help of any -person seen by her, and she went in and essayed to lay hold of the said -wheel, but was beat back to the door and her head was hurt, though she saw -nobody. And yt. (that) after she was in the said Janet's House (being at -school with her) the Devil appeared to her in the likeness of a man, and -did bid her deliver herself over to him, from the crown of her head to the -sole of her foot, which she refused to do, saying she would rather give -herself to God Almighty. After the Devil went away the sd. (said) Janet, -who was present with her, laid bonds on her not to tell. And yr after he -came a second time to her, being in Janet's house alone, in the likeness -of a gentleman, and desired her to go with him, and yr after disappeared, -seeming not to go out at the door. - -"Robert Crichton's wife farther delates, that when she was winnowing corn -in Bailie Dunbar's barn, the said Janet came in to her and helped her, -tho' not desired, till she had done, and desired of her some chaff for her -cow. She gave her a small quantity in her apron, with which she seemed not -to be satisfied, so upon the morrow thereafter, the said Robert Crichton's -wife's breast swelled to a great height, which continued for about the -space of five weeks, so that the young child who was then sucking decayed -and vanished away to a shadow, and immediately yr after their cow took -such a distemper that her milk had neither the colour nor taste that it -used to have, so yt no use could be made of it, all which happened about -three years ago. - -"It is further delated by Howell, that being one day in John Robertson's -in the Milnburn, he desired to buy two hens. They said they had none, but -perhaps Janet M'Robert would do it, and accordingly he asked Janet, who -answered she had none to sell to him. He replied, 'you have them to eat my -goodmother's bear when it is sown; but (said he), my rough lad (meaning -his dog) will perhaps bring them to me.' She answered, 'your rough lad -will bring none of my hens this two days;' and before that he went to the -town, the dog went mad to the beholding of many. - -"Further, it is delated, that a friend of the said Janet's living in -Rerwick, whose wife was lying on childbed, did send his daughter to Janet -to borrow some money which she refused to give at the first, yet upon a -second consideration she gave her two fourteens, but still assured the -Lass that she would lose them. 'What,' (says the Lass) 'am I a child yet?' -and for the mare security she took a purse out of her pocket in which -there were no holes, and took out some turmour (turmerick) which she had -in it, and did put in the two fourteens and threw the neck of her purse -(as she used perhaps to do) assuring herself that she should not lose them -now, and went home, and when she came there, she opened the purse to take -out the two fourteens, and she had nothing. - -[Illustration: "A WITCH TRIAL." J. Copland.] - -"Further, it is delated by John M'Gympser's wife, Agnes Kirk, that the -said Janet came one day there, and desired a hare's bouk (carcase) which -she refused, and since that time their dog hath neither been able to run -or take ane hare." - -"Feb. 12th, 1701. - -"As to Janet M'Robert, John Bodden in Milnburn delates, that at the laik -wake of his child three years ago, Patrick Linton's son heard a great -noise about Janet's house, so yt he was afraid to go out at the door, and -John Bodden himself going to the door heard it also, at which he was -greatly affrighted. Upon the morrow yr after, the said Janet went into -John's house, and they told her what they heard the night before about her -house. Janet answered, 'It is nothing but my clocken hen'; but John -declared that 'all the hens within twenty miles would not have made such a -noise.' - -"The sd. John further delates that, upon the Wednesday after Janet was -incarcerated, he did see about cock-crow a candle going through the said -Janet's house, but saw nothing holding it." - -The Finding-- - -"April 10th, 1701. - -"As to Janet M'Robert, an extract of the delations against her being sent -to Edinburgh, and a commission written for to pursue her legally it was -denyed in regard they judged the delations not to be sufficient -presumptions of guilt, so as to found a process of that nature. -Notwithstanding thereof the said Janet consented to an act of banishment, -and went hence to Ireland." - -_Extracts from Session Book of Twynholm._(29) - -"18th April, 1703. - -"Jean M'Murrie in Irelandton, suspect of witchcraft, being aprehended and -incarcerated in the tolbooth of Kirkcudbright upon a warrant from the -civil magistrate, the minr. (minister) is desired to cause cite to the -next Session any whom he can find to have any presumptions of witchcraft -agt the said Jean." - -"25th April, 1703. - -"The minister reports that he (as he was desired) has caused cite some -persons anent Jean M'Murrie's suspected witchcraft, such as-- - -"1st. Florence Sprot, who being called and compearing, declares that by -the report of the country Jean M'Murrie has been under the name of a witch -for many years. - -"2d. John M'Gown in Culcray, in Tongland, declares, that he having a -daughter of Jean M'Murrie's with him, the said Jean came one day to his -house before her daughter went from him, and the sd Jean having conceived -some anger because her daughter came to him without the said Jean's -consent, she staying a little in his house, went away to a neighbour's -house, and stayed there all night, and the said John going to her -to-morrow, when she saw the said John she inquired how it came to pass -that he took her daughter without her consent; and he desiring her back -again to his house, but she by no entreatie wd (would) go to his house, -and left the said John in a rage, and within about four days his wife took -a dreadful stitch thro' her, as if she had been stricken with a whinger or -knife, and his wife desiring earnestly that Jean M'Murrie would come and -see her, but the sd Jean would never come to see her (altho' bidden by -Janet Dallan in Irlandton), and so the said John's wife continued in great -pain until she died. - -"3d. Issobel M'Gown in Netherton, who, being called and compearing, -declares that Jean M'Murrie has been under the name of a witch for many -years by the report of the country. - -"4th. Christian Bisset in Glencroft, declares that Jean M'Murrie has been -under the name of a witch since she came to the parish, which is more than -ten years." - -"2nd May, 1703. - -"Janet M'Haffie in the Mark of Twynhame, declares that, in harvest 1700, -Jean M'Murrie came one night to the said Mark after they had been at the -Mill, and the said Janet M'Haffie going to milk the kye, disowned the said -Jean (not knowing that it was she), neither did any other about the Mark -own the said Jean that night, and Jean going away without any alms that -night, upon the morrow their milk was made useless, having a loathsome -smell, likewise the said Janet M'Haffie fell sick, and was like a daft -body for about eight days, at the end whereof both the sd. Janet and their -milk grew better." - -"2nd May, 1703. - -"Margaret Kingan in Inglishtown, declares along with Quintin Furmount, -kirk-officer, that John Neilson in Waltrees said to them, that this last -ware Jean M'Murrie was selling about a peck of corn to the said John, and -the said John would not give the said Jean what she would have for the -said corn, and so the said Jean went away from him in anger, and the said -John's horse did sweat until he died." - -"2nd May, 1703. - -"Robert Gelly and Sarah M'Nacht, in Chappell in Tongland, heaving been -hearing sermon in Twynhame this day, were desired by the minister to wait -upon the Session, which was to meet after sermon, which accordingly they -did, and the said Sarah declares before the Session that upon a day about -Midsummer last, Jean M'Murrie came into the Chappel and sought a piece -bread to a lass that she had with her, and Sarah M'Nacht said she had no -bread ready. Jean M'Murrie said, she (viz. the lass that was with her) -would it may be take some of these pottage (Sarah having some pottage -among her hands) but, however, Sarah gave her none, and Jean M'Murrie -going away muttering, said, either 'you may have more loss,' or 'you shall -have more loss,' and within about six hours or thereby thereafter, Robert -Gelly lost a horse, and that the said Jean came never to Robert Gelly's -house since that time, and the said Robert declares that he has still the -thoughts that his horse was killed with divelrie." - -"2nd May, 1703. - -"Robert Bryce, Robert M'Burnie, and William Brown, ruling elders, declared -that Thomas Craig in Barwhinnock said to them that upon a day more than -two years ago Jean M'Murrie came to his house and sought his horse, and -began to discourse to the sd Thomas and his wife about flesh. Thomas said -they had no flesh. She went away in a rage and said, 'God send them more -against the next time she should come there,' and within a week the said -Thomas lost a quey by drowning." - -The finding:-- - -"9th May, 1703. - -"Robert Bryce attended the Presbytery. The minister reports that Jean -M'Murray, having sought an Act of Banishment to transport herself out of -the Stewartrie of Kirkcudbright within or at the end of ten days, and -never to be found within the same again under the pain of death, is let -out of Prison." - -Members of the Kirk-Session of Twynholm at this time:--William Clark, -Minister; James Robison, Thomas Robison, John Herries, Ninian M'Nae, -Robert Bryce, James Milrae, William Milrae, William Brown, Thomas Sproat, -James M'Kenna, Alexander Halliday, Robert M'Burnie. - -_Parish of Urr._--The following is an extract from the Presbytery records -of Dumfries, dated 22nd April, 1656:--(30) - -"John M'Quhan in Urr, compeared, confessing that he went to Dundrennan, to -a witch-wife, for medicine for his sick wife, and that he got a salve for -her, and that the wife said to him, 'If the salve went in his wife would -live, if not she would die.' Janet Thomson in Urr, compearing, confessed -that she went to the said witch, and got a salve to her mother, and that -the witch bade her take her mother, and lay her furth twenty-four hours; -and said that her mother got her sickness between the mill and her ain -house, and bade her tak her to the place where she took it, and wash her -with (elder) leaves. She also confessed that the deceased Thomas M'Minn -and his friends sent her at another time to the same witch, whose name is -Janet Miller. They were both rebuked (by the Presbytery), and referred to -their own Session to be rebuked from the pillar in sackcloth, and the -witch Janet Miller was further detained, the parish minister to announce -from the pulpit that all who could were required to give evidence 'of sic -devilish practices.'" - -_Kirkpatrick-Durham Kirk-Session._--At Bridge of Urr, Isobel M'Minn called -Jean Wallace a witch. Jean told the Session. Both women were summoned to -appear. The Session decided there was no witchcraft in the matter. - -"The Session, having shown them the evil of such strife and scolding, and -having exhorted them to live in peace and be reconciled to each other, -made them promise each to other that no such strife should be between them -any more."(31) - -_Parish of Carsphairn._--An arbitrary incident of witch detection took -place during the ministry of John Semple, a man who, if somewhat -eccentric, was graced with extraordinary piety and natural ability. - -Of him it is recorded that "Upon a certain time when a neighbouring -minister was distributing tokens before the Sacrament, and was reaching a -token to a certain woman, Mr Semple (standing by) said 'Hold your hand, -she hath gotten too many tokens already: she is a witch,' which, though -none suspected her then, she herself confessed to be true, and was -deservedly put to death for the same."(32) - -John Semple died at Carsphairn about the year 1667. - -_Extract from Minnigaff Kirk-Session Records._--"There being a flagrant -report yt. some persons in this parish in and about the house of Barcly -(Bargaly) have practised that piece of devilrie, commonly called 'turning -the riddle,' as also it being reported yt. ye principal person is one -Malley Redmond, an Irish woman, for present nurse in the house of Barcly -to ye young lady Tonderghie, as also yt. Alex. Kelly, Gilbert Kelly his -son, and Marion Murray, formerly servant in Barcly, now in Holme, were -witnesses yrto, the Session appoints ye said Malley and ye said witnesses -to be cited to ye nixt meeting." - -Malley, after some delay, at length appeared, but positively denied having -"practised that piece of devilry turning the riddle," but acknowledged -that she had seen it done in her father's house in Ireland by two girls on -the occasion of something having been stolen, "to fear ye guilty person -yt. it might restore yt. was stolen." Malley was exhorted to be ingenuous, -but she persisted in asserting her innocence. The Session, therefore, -resolved to proceed to proof. The proceedings occupy a number of pages, -and are too long for insertion; but the particulars are comprehended in -the deposition of Marrion Murray:-- - -"Marrion Murray, aged 18 years, having been sworn, purged of malice and -partial counsel, deponeth yt. she (not having seen any other person doing -it before her), together with ye nurse held the riddle between ym. having -a pair of little schissors fastened into ye rim of the riddle, whereof ye -nurse Malley Redmond held one point and she the other, and that ye nurse -mumbled some words mentioning Peter and Paul, and that when the nurse said -these words the riddle stirred less or more, and after ye nurse had said -ye words she bad ye deponent say them too, and that she accordingly said -the same things back again to the nurse, and that the deponent had said to -ye nurse Malley before ever she meddled with it that if she knew yr. was -anything evil in doing of it she would not meddle with it, and ye nurse -replied yr. was no evil in it, and further that to sift the meddling with -it she offered to take ye child from ye lady's arms, but ye young lady put -her to it, bidding her go do it. As also yt. further ye said Marion -depones yt. ye same day, a little after, ye young lady bad her go to ye -barn and yr do it over again with ye nurse, which she positively refused, -whereupon ye young lady did it herself with all the circumstances she and -the nurse had done it in the chambers before; moreover, that some days -after, the chamber door being close upon the young lady and her nurse -Malley, ye deponent, looking through a hole in ye door, saw ye nurse and -ye lady standing and ye riddle betwixt ym. as before, but heard nothing. -And further, yt. ye lady and her nurse bad her deny these things, but did -not bid her swear to it." - -For her participation in the affair the young lady Tonderghie, Mrs Janet -Blair, was cited before the Session, and having expressed her penitence -for being ensnared into such sinful practices, she and Marion Murray -subscribed a declaration to be read before the congregation, "abhorring -and renouncing all spelles and charmes usual to wizards; and having been -rebooked and exhorted to greater watchfulness for the future, they were -dismissed." - -The originator of the affair, Malley Redmond, after making her appearance -to be "rebooked" before the congregation, was banished the parish. But the -execution of the sentence was, through influence, delayed "till Tonderghie -younger, his child, should be weaned."(33) - -_Parish of New Luce._--The only point of interest in connection with the -parish of New Luce is that the chief witness against Maggie Osborne, who -was burned as a witch at Ayr, was an elder in the Moor Kirk of Luce, to -which reference has already been made. - -_Parish of Whithorn._--An old woman named Elspeth M'Keand lived on the -farm of Palmallet, near Whithorn. On one occasion she was arraigned before -the magistrates of Whithorn for some supposed uncannie doings, but the -authorities, not endorsing the general belief, set her at liberty. So -disappointed and enraged were the community at her liberation that they -caught her and inserted a host of new brass pins in her body, and -afterwards dragged her down to the shore at Dinnans, holding her below -water until life was nearly extinct. The old woman never fairly recovered -from this cruel treatment, and when she died her remains were objected to -as not being fit to rest in the Kirkyaird.(34) - -_Parish of Kirkmaiden._--In the parish of Kirkmaiden we find a zealous -prosecutor of witches in the person of the Rev. Mr Marshall, who was -ordained in 1697. He was assisted in his efforts by a woman brought from -the town of Wigtown, who was credited with possessing an expert faculty of -at once being able to distinguish and pick out witches and warlocks from -amongst ordinary mortals, however similar to them in outward appearance. - -All the adults in the parish were summoned to attend at the Parish Church -on a given date and passed through the church from one door to the other. -The minister placed himself in the precentor's box, with writing materials -at his hand, the witch-finder being seated beside him. When witch or -warlock passed, the woman tramped on the minister's toes and the name was -at once recorded. A long list was thus made out, and the Kirk-Session -afterwards inquired into the charges brought against the various -individuals, which proceedings were afterwards inserted in the Session -records. - -The stigma thus cast upon many families in the district was only removed -by influence being brought to bear to destroy by burning the accusing -pages of the Session records. - -Tradition asserts that retribution at the hands of the Kirkmaiden witches -overtook the reverend gentleman, for, taking his accustomed walk from the -manse to the church, a hare running out of the churchyard crossed his -path, and from that time forward he was never again able to open his mouth -in the pulpit of Kirkmaiden Church. He was shortly afterwards translated -to Kirkcolm, and though he often visited Kirkmaiden he could never occupy -the pulpit, even on the day of Sacramental observance.(35) - - * * * * * - -So late as 1805 a trial took place at Kirkcudbright connected with -witchcraft which aroused considerable excitement in the district, creating -keen interest as well in legal circles. - -This was the trial of "Jean Maxwell," who was accused of "pretending to -exercise witchcraft, sorcery, enchantment, and conjuration, and -undertaking to tell fortunes." - -The point which is of note, and calls for accentuation is, that Jean -Maxwell was arraigned, not for being a witch, but for the imposition of -pretending to possess witch power. This has been commented upon by -Professor John Ferguson of Glasgow in his paper, "Bibliographical Notes on -the Witchcraft Literature of Scotland" (_Publications of the Edinburgh -Bibliographical Society_, vol. iii., 74 (1899), in which he says: "It will -be noticed that Jean is indicted for PRETENDING to exercise witchcraft, -etc. In fact, the indictment is made under the Act of George II., cap. 5, -which repeals the statutes against witchcraft.... It is an interesting -case, as having occurred under the repealing Act." - -The following is the indictment:-- - -"Jean Maxwell, present prisoner in the Tolbooth of Kirkcudbright, you are -indicted at the instance of Robert Gordon, writer in Kirkcudbright, -Procurator-Fiscal of the Steward Court of the Stewartry of Kirkcudbright -for his Majesty's interest; that albeit by the Act of Parliament passed in -the ninth year of the Reign of King George the Second, Cap. 5th, intituled -'An Act to repeal the Statute made in the first year of the Reign of James -the First, intituled, "An Act against Conjuration, Witchcraft, and dealing -with Evil and Witched Spirits;" except so much thereof as repeals an Act -of the fifth year of the Reign of Queen Elizabeth, against Conjurations, -Inchantments, and Witchcraft.' And to repeal an Act passed in the -Parliament of Scotland in the Ninth Parliament of Queen Mary, intituled -'Anentis Witchcraft; and for punishing such persons as pretend to exercise -or use any kind of Witchcraft, Sorcery, Inchantment, or Conjuration.' It -is enacted 'That if any person shall from and after the twenty-fourth day -of June next, pretend to exercise or use any kind of Witchcraft, Sorcery, -Inchantment, or Conjuration, or undertake to tell Fortunes or pretend from -his or her skill or knowledge in ocult or crafty science, to discover -where or in what manner any goods or chattels supposed to have been lost, -may be found; every person so offending being therefore lawfully convicted -on Indictment of Information, in that part of Great Britain called -England; or on Indictment or Libel, in that part of Great Britain called -Scotland, shall for every such offence suffer imprisonment for the space -of one whole year without Bail or Mainprize; and once in every quarter of -the said year, in some Market Town of the proper County, upon the Market -Day there, stand openly on the Pillory for the space of one hour; and also -shall (if the Court by which such Judgment shall be given think fit) be -obliged to give surety for his or her good behaviour, in such sum, and for -such time as the said Court shall judge proper, according to the -circumstances of the offence; and in such case shall be further imprisoned -until such sureties be given.' - -"Notwithstanding of the said Act of Parliament, you, the said Jean -Maxwell, are Guilty, Actor, Art and Part of pretending to exercise -Witchcraft, Sorcery, Inchantment, and Conjuration; and of undertaking to -tell fortunes, &c., &c. (in the manner particularly mentioned in the -Deposition of Jean Davidson, hereto annexed). In so far as you the said -Jean Maxwell, did, upon Thursday the twenty-seventh, Friday the -twenty-eighth, and Saturday the twenty-ninth days of December last, in the -year one thousand eight hundred and four, and upon Tuesday the first and -Tuesday the eighth days of January last, in the year one thousand eight -hundred and five, or upon some one or other of the days or nights of these -months, or of the month of November immediately preceding, or of the month -of February immediately following, at Little Cocklick, in the Parish of -Urr, and Stewartry of Kirkcudbright, pretend to Tell Fortunes by Tea Cups -and the grounds of Tea; and did tell to Jean Davidson, Servant to Francis -Scott, farmer in Little Cocklick aforesaid, that she would soon bear a -Bastard to a certain young man, Hugh Rafferton; which you said you could -prevent by certain means. And you, the said Jean Maxwell, caused the said -Jean Davidson to rub or anoint her forehead and other parts of her head -with a liquid contained in bottle produced by you, which so much -intoxicated and disordered the said Jean Davidson that she would have done -anything that you the said Jean Maxwell had asked her to do; and you the -said Jean Maxwell, availing yourself of the situation that she the said -Jean Davidson was in, declared to her that the Devil would speedily appear -and tear her in pieces, unless she obeyed you, the said Jean Maxwell, in -every particular. And you, the said Jean Maxwell, caused the said Jean -Davidson take oaths of Secrecy for the purpose of concealing your wicked -and felonious purposes. That on the said twenty-seventh day of December -last you, the said Jean Maxwell, caused the said Jean Davidson produce a -Guinea Note, which you pretended to hold up in a small bit of paper, -putting round it some lint, and stitching in it nine pins, after which you -gave it to the said Jean Davidson and ordered her to cast it into the -fire, which she did accordingly. And you, the said Jean Maxwell, then -ordered the said Jean Davidson to bring one of her shifts and three -shillings with it, which you sewed up in the tail of the shift, and said -that the shift was to be consumed in the fire, as an Offering to the -Devil, who was to appear at the time of the burning of the shift, in the -shape of either a Bull or a Swine; and at the same time you, the said Jean -Maxwell, gave to the said Jean Davidson a powder sewed up in a piece of -fine linen and stuck through with nine pins, which you injoined her to -wear at her breast till the day of her death, and tell no mortal of it. -That on the said twenty-eighth day of December last you, the said Jean -Maxwell, told the said Jean Davidson that the Devil had rejected two -sixpences of the money formerly sent him in the tail of the shift; that he -insisted in lieu of the sixpences to have two shillings with heads on -them; and that he was up and stirring, and must be satisfied; and the said -Jean Davidson, having furnished the shillings, you, the said Jean Maxwell, -after stamping on the ground twice or thrice with your foot, pretended to -hand them to Satan as if he had stood behind you. That on the said -twenty-ninth day of December last you, the said Jean Maxwell, declared to -the said Jean Davidson that the Devil was still up, and that he must have -a man's shirt of plain linen, and in it a shoulder of mutton; and the said -Jean Davidson, terrified by your threats, gave you a check shirt of the -said Francis Scott's, her master, together with a Shoulder of Mutton, also -his property, tied up in the shirt; and you the said Jean Maxwell, tied up -these articles in your own Budget; and then, telling the said Jean -Davidson that all this was insufficient to lay the Devil, you asked her -for half-a-crown more; and the said Jean Davidson in confusion and fright -gave you a Dollar, which you said would do as well, and that at any rate -it must not be taken back being once offered; and then you the said Jean -Maxwell, went to the back of the byre at Little Cocklick aforesaid, and -returned and told the said Jean Davidson that you had laid the Devil so -that he could not come nearer her than the back of the byre, but cautioned -her strongly not to travel that way nor farther after it was dark. That on -the said first day of January last, you the said Jean Maxwell returned to -Little Cocklick aforesaid, and told the said Jean Davidson, that Hugh -Rafferton was to be with her on the Thursday ensuing, very lovingly and -ready to marry her, or do whatever she should ask of him: and moreover, -you the said Jean Maxwell declared that, if the said Jean Davidson used -Hugh Rafferton harshly, and refused to marry him, Hugh Rafferton would -lose his reason and go stark mad at the end of eight weeks; that in the -meantime however you must have another Guinea Note for the Devil, with a -faced shilling in it; and the money was furnished by the said Jean -Davidson; when you the said Jean Maxwell clipped or pretended to cut the -note, in small pieces with scissors, pretending that in this manner it was -to be presented to the Devil alongst with the faced shilling. That soon -after this, you the said Jean Maxwell, told the said Jean Davidson that -the first note was not accepted, and that you must have an Old and very -Tattered Note and three Shillings more, which having been furnished by the -said Jean Davidson, you the said Jean Maxwell bound up the Note with paper -and lint, and having stuck it with nine pins gave it to the said Jean -Davidson who threw it into the fire; and you the said Jean Maxwell, after -stamping on the ground, handed the three Shillings behind you so that -Satan might receive them as you pretended he had received the former -presents; that these things being done, you the said Jean Maxwell left the -said Jean Davidson at her father's house at Killymingan, in the Parish of -Kirkgunzeon, on the said first day of January last, declaring that Hugh -Rafferton should wait on her in deep humility on the Thursday ensuing; and -that all the money offered to Satan should be returned into the said Jean -Davidson's Chest on the subsequent Friday morning by sun-rising; and that -all should be, and really was, perfectly right. That on the said eighth -day of January last you the said Jean Maxwell again waited on the said -Jean Davidson, at the house of the said Francis Scott, in Little Cocklick -aforesaid, and told that all was gone wrong, that the Devil had proved too -strong for you, the said Jean Maxwell, and had rent a check apron given -you by the said Jean Davidson formerly for a burnt offering; and you the -said Jean Maxwell pretended to show the distinct marks of Satan's claws, -and the mark of his Thumb on your arm, adding, that he could not be laid -without the aid of John M'George, commonly called the 'Devil-Raiser' of -Urr; and for that end, you the said Jean Maxwell demanded Two Notes more, -and three pieces of flesh meat, one of them to be pork, which you -professed to roll up at great peril in the check apron; and you the said -Jean Maxwell also insisted to have the said Jean Davidson's duffle cloak, -but the said Jean Davidson, having by this time got into the use of her -reason, got the better of the terror of the oaths of secresy imposed upon -her by the said Jean Maxwell, managed so as to detain you until a -Constable was sent for, who took you into Custody and carried you before -the Reverend Dr James Muirhead of Logan, one of his Majesty's Justices of -the Peace for the Stewartry of Kirkcudbright, in whose presence you -emitted a Declaration, upon the ninth day of January last, in the year one -thousand eight hundred and five, which Declaration is subscribed by your -mark, and by the said Dr James Muirhead, because you declared that you -could not write; and the said declaration being to be used in evidence -against you the said Jean Maxwell, will in due time be lodged with the -Steward Clerk, that you may have an opportunity of seeing the same. - -"At least times and place aforesaid, WITCHCRAFT, SORCERY, INCHANTMENT, and -CONJURATION, were pretended to be exercised and used, and fortunes were -undertaken to be told, all in manner particularly before mentioned; and -you the said Jean Maxwell, are Guilty Actor, Art and Part of the said -crimes; All which, or part thereof, being found proven by the Verdict of -an Assize before the Steward-Depute of the Stewartry of Kirkcudbright, and -his Substitutes, in a Court to be holden by them or either of them within -the Court-House of Kirkcudbright, upon the twenty-first day of June, in -the present year one thousand eight hundred and five; you the said Jean -Maxwell, Ought to be imprisoned in the Tolbooth of Kirkcudbright by the -space of one whole year without Bail or Mainprize; and once in every -quarter of the said year, to stand Openly in the Jugs or Pillory, at the -Market Cross of the Burgh of Kirkcudbright, by the space of one hour; and -to be farther imprisoned in the said Tolbooth, for your good behaviour, in -such sum and for such time as the said court shall judge proper, agreeably -to the provisions and enactments of the said Act of Parliament, to deter -others from committing the like crimes in time coming." - -The Procurator-Fiscal concluded his Proof, and the Steward-Depute remitted -the Cause to the Verdict of the Assize. - -The persons that passed upon the Assize of the said Jean Maxwell, returned -their Verdict to the Court; and the tenor thereof is as follows:-- - -"At Kirkcudbright, the 21st day of June, 1805, the Assize being enclosed, -did make choice of Alexander Melville of Barwhar to be their Chancellor, -and William Mure, Factor for the Earl of Selkirk, to be their Clerk; and -having considered the Indictment raised at the instance of Robert Gordon, -Writer in Kirkcudbright, Procurator-Fiscal of Court for His Majesty's -interest, against Jean Maxwell, present Prisoner in the Tolbooth of -Kirkcudbright, the Pannel, with the Interlocutor of the Steward-Depute of -the Stewartry of Kirkcudbright thereon, and the whole Proof adduced, they -Unanimously Find the said Jean Maxwell Guilty of the Crimes charged -against her in the said Indictment. In Testimony, whereof, &c. - - (Signed) ALEXR. MELVILLE, Chancellor. - ( " ) WILL. MURE, Clerk." - -(Court adjourned for a week.) - -"Kirkcudbright, 28th June, 1805. - -"The Steward-Depute having considered the Verdict of the Assize, bearing -date the twenty-first day of June current, and returned into Court that -day against Jean Maxwell, the Pannel, whereby she is found guilty of -pretending to exercise WITCHCRAFT, SORCERY, INCHANTMENT, and CONJURATION, -and of undertaking to tell fortunes, contrary to the Enactments and -Provisions of the Act of Parliament passed in the 5th year of the Reign of -King George the Second, Chapter fifth, in the manner charged against her -in the Indictment, at instance of the Procurator-Fiscal of Court; the -Steward Depute, in respect of the said Verdict, Decerns and Adjudges the -said Jean Maxwell to be carried back from the Bar to the Tolbooth of -Kirkcudbright, and to be Imprisoned therein for the space of One Whole -Year, without Bail or Mainprize; and Once in every Quarter of the said -year to stand openly upon a Market day in the Jugs or Pillory, at the -Market Cross of the Burgh of Kirkcudbright, for the space of One Hour, -&c.--(Signed) ALEXR. GORDON." - -It only remains to be added that this sentence was rigorously carried out. - -A small, and now scarce volume, containing a full account of the trial, -was published at Kirkcudbright the same year, of which the following is a -copy of the title-page:-- - - REMARKABLE TRIAL - OF - JEAN MAXWELL - THE - Galloway Sorceress: - - Which took place at KIRKCUDBRIGHT - on the twenty-eighth day of June last, - 1805: - - For Pretending to Exercise - WITCHCRAFT, SORCERY, INCHANTMENT, - CONJURATION, etc. - - "And that distilled by Magic slights - Shall raise such artificial sprights, - As by the strength of their illusion - Shall draw him on to his confusion." - --_Macbeth._ - - KIRKCUDBRIGHT: - Printed by Alexander Gordon. - 1805. - - -PROCEEDINGS IN DUMFRIESSHIRE. - -Concerning Dumfriesshire there falls to be recorded numerous instances of -accusation and trial, which includes the ever-to-be-regretted consummation -of fanaticism in this district--the burning of nine unhappy women on the -Sands of Dumfries in the year 1659. - -_Burgh of Dumfries._ - -_Extract from the Dumfries Burgh Treasurer's Books, May 27th, -1657._--Detailed items of expenditure incurred at the burning of two women -convicted of witchcraft: "For 38 load of peitts to burn the two women, £3 -12s (Scots). Mair, given to William Edgar for ane tar barrell, 12s; for -ane herring barrell, 14s. Given to John Shotrick, for carrying the twa -barrells to the pledge (house), 6s. Mair, given to the four officers that -day that the whiches was burnt, at the provest and bayillis command, 24s. -Given to Thomas Anderson for the two stoups and the two steaves (to which -the women were tied), 30s."(36) - -_Resolution of Kirk-Session of Dumfries, 1658._--The Kirk-Session of -Dumfries, after solemn deliberation on the subject, required the minister -to announce from the pulpit that all persons having evidence to give -against such as were under suspicion of "the heinous and abominable sin of -witchcraft," should be ready to furnish the same to the Session without -delay; and at their next meeting the elders wisely qualified the order, by -resolving that anyone who charged another with being guilty of "sic -devilisch practises," without due reason, should be visited with the -severest discipline of the Kirk.(37) - -_Official Information regarding the burning of the nine women on the Sands -of Dumfries, 13th April, 1659._ - -These women were first strangled and then burned. The following -particulars were gleaned from the books of the High Court of Justiciary -kept at the Register House, Edinburgh:-- - -_1659._--The Court was opened at Dumfries on the 2nd of April, in the -above year, by the "Commissioners in Criminal Cases to the people in -Scotland," Judge Mosley and Judge Lawrence; and that ten women, each -charged with divers acts of witchcraft, were brought before them for -trial. The proceedings appear to have lasted until the 5th. One of the -accused, Helen Tait, had a rather narrow escape--the jury finding by a -plurality of voices that the "dittay" in her case was "not cleirly -proven." Nevertheless, before being dismissed from the bar, she was -required to find security to the extent of £50 sterling for her good -behaviour, and that she would banish herself from the parish. The nine -other unfortunates were all convicted, as is shown by the subjoined -minute, giving the finding of the jury and the deliverance of the judge, -as pronounced by the official dempster, "F. Goyyen":--(38) - -"_Drumfreis, the 5th of Apryle, 1659._--The Commissioners adjudges Agnes -Comenes, Janet M'Gowane, Jean Tomson, Margt. Clerk, Janet M'Kendrig, Agnes -Clerk, Janet Corsane, Helen Moorhead, and Janet Callon, as found guilty of -the severall articles of witchcraft mentioned in the dittayes, to be tane -upon Wednesday come eight days to the ordinar place of execution for the -burghe of Drumfreis, and ther, betuing 2 and 4 hours of the afternoon, to -be strangled at staikes till they be dead, and therefter ther bodyes to be -burned to ashes, and all ther moveable goods to be esheite. Further, it is -ordained that Helen Moorhead's moveables be intromitted with by the -Shereff of Nithsdaile, to seize upon and herrie the samin for the King's -use."(39) - -[Illustration: THE BURNING OF THE NINE WOMEN ON THE SANDS OF DUMFRIES, -APRIL 13TH, 1659. (Sketch by J. Copland, Dundrennan.)] - -_Resolution of the Dumfries Presbytery regarding the attendance of -clergymen before the carrying out of the sentence, and at the actual -"burning" of the women, on the Sands_:-- - -"5th April, 1659. - -"The Presbytery have appoynted Mr Hugh Henrison, Mr Wm. M'Gore, Mr George -Campbell, Mr John Brown, Mr Jo. Welsh, Mr George Johnston, Mr Wm. Hay, and -Mr Gabriel Semple, to attend the nine witches, and that they tak thair own -convenient opportunity to confer with them; also that they be assisting to -the brethren of Dumfries and Galloway the day of the Execution."(40) - -_Dumfries, 14th November, 1664._--An edict from the Town Council: "The -Counsall being informed that Janet Burnes, commonly reputed a witche, and -quho hath bein banished out of severall burghis, and put out of this burgh -in the month of August last, for cheating the people upon pretence of -knowledge of all things done by them in tym past, or that may fall out in -tym cuming, with certification to be scurgit if ever she was sein within -the burgh theireafter; and being well informed that she was sein within -the town on Saturday, they have ordaint that intimation be made by touk of -drum, that non of the inhabitants resset or give meit or drink unto the -said Janet Burnes."(41) - -_Court of Justiciary, Tolbooth of Dumfries, May 18th, 1671._--Warrant for -the execution of two alleged witches: "Magistrates of Drumfreis, Forasmuch -as in ane Court of Justiciarie, holden be us within the Tolbuthe of -Drumfreis, upon the fyftein day of May instant, Janet Muldritche, and -Elspeth Thomsone, now found guiltie be ane assyze of the severall articles -of witchcraft specified in the verdict given against them thereanent, were -decerned and adjudged be us, The Lords Commissioners of Justiciary, to be -tane upon Thursday next, the eighteen day of May instant, betwixt two and -four houres in the afternoune, to (the) ordinare place of executione, for -the toune of Drumfreis, and there to be worried at ane stake till they be -dead; and theirafter their bodies to be burnt to ashes, and all their -moveable goods and geir to be escheit. You shall thairfoir cause put the -said sentence to due executione, whereanent their presents shall be your -warrand. Given at Drumfreis the sixteen day of May, 1671."(42) - -_Court of Justiciary, Dumfries, 1709._--Last trial for witchcraft in -Scotland: The accused was named Elspeth Rule; the indictment against her -being that she was by habit and repute a witch, and had used threatening -expressions towards persons at enmity with her, who, in consequence of -such menace, suffered from the death of friends or the loss of cattle, -while one of them became mad. - -The jury by a majority of votes found the charges proven; and the judge -condemned the prisoner to be burned upon the cheek with a hot iron and -banished for life. It is told how, when this brutal act of branding the -cheek was being carried out, smoke was seen issuing from the poor woman's -mouth.(43) - - _Dumfries and Major Weir, the notorious Edinburgh warlock--a slight - connecting link with Dumfries._ - - In his more youthful days Major Weir led an active military life, - serving as an officer in the Puritan Army during the Civil War (1641). - In the Registers of the Estates under March 3rd, 1647, reference is - made to a supplication by Major Thomas Weir, asking "that the - Parliament wald ordain John Acheson, Keeper of the Magazine, to - re-deliver to the supplicant the band given by him to the said John - upon the receipt of are thousand weight of poulder, two thousand - weight of match, and an thousand weight of ball, sent with the - supplicant to Dumfries for furnishing that part of the country." - -_Presbytery of Dumfries (Southern District), March, 1692._--Marion Dickson -in Blackshaw, Isobel Dickson in Locherwood, Agnes Dickson (daughter of -Isobel), and Marion Herbertson in Mouswaldbank, had for a long time been -"suspected of the abominable and horrid crime of witchcraft," and were -believed to have "committed many grievous malefices upon several persons -their neighbours and others." It was declared to be damnifying "to all -good men and women living in the country thereabouts, who cannot assure -themselves of safety of their lives by such frequent malefices as they -commit." - -Under these circumstances, James Fraid, John Martin, William Nicolson, and -Thomas Jaffrey in Blackshaw, John Dickson in Slop of Locherwoods, John -Dickson in Locherwoods, and John Dickson in Overton of Locherwoods, took -it upon them to apprehend the women, and carried them to be imprisoned at -Dumfries by the sheriff, which, however, the sheriff did not consent to -till after the six men had granted a bond engaging to prosecute. Fortified -with a certificate from the Presbytery of Dumfries, who were "fully -convinced of the guilt (of the women), and of the many malefices committed -by them," the men applied to the Privy Council for a commission to try the -delinquents. - -The Lords ordered the women to be transported to Edinburgh for trial.(44) - -_Kirk-Session of Caerlaverock._--Charge of alleged divination brought at -their instance, before the Dumfries Presbytery, 22nd March, 1697: -"Compeared John Fergusson in Woodbarns, who acknowledged his scandalous -carriage in charming and turning the key at Bankend conform to the -accusation, but says he knew not there was any evil in it. The Presbytery -appoint him to stand on the pillar in the church of Caerlaverock, and be -sharply rebuked for his scandalous _practice_ and recommends him to the -magistrates to be secured till he give bail to answer and satisfy conform -to this act." - -The actual circumstance connected with this charge of alleged divination -are briefly as follows:--About the middle of January, 1697, two men -returning from Dumfries entered the tavern of William Nairns at Bankend of -Caerlaverock. These were John Fergusson of Woodbarns, Cummertrees, and -William Richardson, Cummertreestown. On leaving the inn Richardson -discovered that a sack of provisions had been taken from the saddle of his -horse which had been tied to a ring at the door. Entering the house, he -made known his loss, declaiming loudly against the thief. In the utmost -sympathy with his friend's loss, Fergusson declared he could soon find out -who the thief was, and called out that two Bibles should be brought to him -at once, to which the landlord stoutly demurred; but Fergusson threatened -that unless he got his own way he "would make bloody work among them," and -two Bibles were accordingly brought to the said John Fergusson, "who -brought a key out of his pocket and put the one end of it within one Bible -and the bowl end out, clasping the Bible upon it, and two holding the bowl -of the key upon their fingers. The said John then read three verses of the -50th Psalm out of the second Bible, beginning always at the 18th verse, -always naming a person before he began to read, till they came to William -M'Kinnell in the same town; and when they named him, and were reading the -said Scripture, the key and the Bible turned about and fell on the table. -This was done three times, as attested by James Tait, mason, who is -quartered in Townhead; James Fergusson, servitor to George Maxwell of -Isle; George Fergusson in Bankend; and William Nairns, in whose house it -was done."(45) - -_Extracts from Irongray Kirk-Session Records._ - -"September 24th, 1691. - -"David Muirhead of Drumpark and his wife, being called before the Session -and examined anent ane strife betwixt them and Janet Sinklar, submitted -themselves to the will of the Session. Janet Sinklar also submitted to the -will of the Session for saying that she doubted Drumpark's wife of murder -and witchcraft, and is appointed to receive publick rebuke before the -congregation." - -"August 30, 1691. - -"William Anderson in Hall of Forest, being called before the Session for -bringing his child to a smith to be charmed with ane forge hammer, -confessed his sin and received a rebuke before the Session." - -"November 13, 1692. - -"John Charters in Barncleugh, being called before the Session as witness -nominat by James Wright to prove witchcraft against Janet Kirk, denied -that he knew anything of witchcraft in her. Margaret Smyth, wife of John -Jonston, being called before the Session, declared in her hearing that -Janet Kirk, being brought in to Elizabeth Jonston, being grievously -tormented with sickness like to distraction, pronounced these words, that -'if God had taken the health from her let Him given it again, and if the -devil had taken it from her to give it her again.' On which she was -rebuked." - -"April 16th, 1693. - -"Jean Stot (Ingleston) confessed before the Session that she blessed God -if Jean Grier's prayings had any pith that they lighted on a kow and not -on a person, and did say that Jean Kirkpatrick did gather root grown -briers on a Saboth day, and nominat Agnes Patton for a witness." - -The Session found "wrath and malice among the inhabitants of Ingleston," -and the minister was sent as peacemaker. "Jean Stot obeyed the minister -and forgave Jean Grier, and also required forgiveness of her, which she -refused till further advisement."(46) - -_Parish of Irongray._--Traditional account of the sacrifice of a reputed -witch by enclosing her in a tar-barrel, setting it alight, and rolling it -into the Water of Cluden:-- - -"In the reign of James VI. of Scotland, or under the early Government of -his son Charles, tradition tells of a woman that was burnt as a witch in -the Parish of Irongray, about seven miles west from Dumfries. In a little -mud-walled cottage, in the lower end of the Bishop's Forest, and nigh the -banks of the Water of Cluden, resided a poor widow woman, who earned her -bread by spinning with a _pole_, and by weaving stockings from a clue of -yarn depending from her bead-strings. She lived alone, and was frequently -seen on a summer's eve, sitting upon a jagged rock, which overhung the -Routing burn, or gathering sticks, late in a November evening, among the -rowan-tree roots, nigh the dells which signalise the sides of that -romantic stream. She had also, sometimes, lying in her window a -black-letter Bible, whose boards are covered with the skin of a _fumart_, -and which had two very grotesque clasps of brass to close it with when she -chose. Her lips were sometimes seen to be moving when she went to church, -and she was observed to predict shower or sunshine at certain periods, -which predictions often came to be realised.... - -"The Bishop of Galloway was repeatedly urged to punish this witch; and -lest it should be reported to the king that he refused to punish witches, -he at last caused her to be brought before him, nigh to the spot. She was -rudely forced from her dwelling, and several neighbours of middle or of -old age were cited to declare all the wicked things she had done. - -"She was sentenced to be drowned in the Routing burn, but the crowd -insisted that she should be shut up in a tar-barrel and hurled into the -Cluden. Almost against the Bishop's consent, this latter death was -consummated. The wretched woman was enclosed in a barrel, fire was set to -it, and it was rolled, in a blaze, into the waters of Cluden. - -"Such, says the tradition of no very doubtful date, was the savage end of -one who was reputed a witch. The spot where, 'tis said, the prelate sat, -is yet called Bishop's Butt. The well from which she drew the water for -her domestic use, and where the young rustic belles washed their faces, -still retains the name of the Witch's Well; and a pool in the Cluden, nigh -to the well, often bears the name of the Witch's Pool. Even some rocks -nigh to the Routing Bridge are still pointed out, where she was wont to -sit; and a hollow into which, say some, she used to throw an elfin clue. -That wood yet feathering the hill side west from Drumpark, always bears -the name of the Bishop's Forest; and the sylvan ravine, furrowed by a -brawling brook, has been, by some now in their graves, named the Warlock's -Glen."(47) - -_Parish of Closeburn._--Janet Fraser, called before the Presbytery of -Dumfries, 1691. Her remarkable revelations:-- - -"The person is a young woman, unmarried, of the age of about twenty years, -whose name is Jonet Fraser, or, as we in the south used to pronounce it, -Frissel, who then lived, and yet lives, with her father, Thomas Frissell, -a weaver to his trade, a man of unblamed conversation, in the sheriffdome -of Dumfries, in the countrey thereof called Nithisdale, and parochin of -Closeburn, six miles, or thereby, from the town of Dumfriece. - -[Illustration: "PENANCE." (Sketch by J. Copland, Dundrennan.)] - -"She is, and hath been for a long time, a person in the judgment of all -that know her a serious Christian; and was for a good time before this -befell her, more then ordinary exercised in private condition with God, as -the relation after-specified gives the reader a little touch. - -"She can read print, but cannot write herself; but whatever she saw in -vision, was at times able to give ane exact account of it, after all was -over; and accordingly did give the relation following to some creditable -gentlemen, and some country people, her acquaintance:-- - -"The time of my exercise was eight years, and all this time was troubled -with the appearance of a thing like a _bee_, and other times like a black -man, and that also at severall times, and in severall places. - -"Then at the end of the eight year, I being at prayer, the black man did -appear as at other times, he being upon the one side of me, and there -appearing upon the other side a bonny hand and a rod in it, and the rod -was budding; and I said, 'Is that Thy hand and Thy rod, O Lord?' And I was -content to embrace the one, and flee the other. Then, upon that night -eight nights, I was coming home near hand unto my dwelling, I grew very -drowsie, and fell asleep, and there was a voice said to me, 'Awake, why -sleepest thou?' And there was lightning round about me; and I looking up -to the top of a bush that was at my hand, there was the shape of a dove -that went alongst with me in company to the house. - -"Then, about three quarters of a year thereafter, the rod appeared again -to be a double rod, or a rod that was springing and forthcoming, and after -that time I was never troubled with the black man any more." - -Her first revelation was on the 4th of June, 1684, but it is very -difficult to make out what her visions portended:--"On the 5th day of -November, 1684, I being at prayer, there appeared unto me, in a bodily -shape, three persons (as to my sight all in white), and they goe round -about me the way the sun goeth; their coming was still after one manner, -when I was at my duty, only I discern he that spoke first at one time, -spoke first at all times, and so continued to speak by course, with -Scripture notes, naming books, chapter, and verse--sometimes all the -verse, sometimes a part." - -She was greatly concerned about the _suffering remnant_, and had many -mysterious responses as to that. This intercourse with spirits continued -for some years, and is very circumstantially detailed in the MS., at the -conclusion of which is this additional miracle:-- - -"Besides what the reader has had formerly, he has likewise this following -account of a passage that befell this holy woman, the 1st May, 1687, which -was Sunday. This Jonet Frazer, and a young lass, a sister daughter of -hers, about 17 or 18 years of age, having gone out into the fields, and -both of them lying down on the grass near the water of Nith, which is but -a bow-draught from her father's house, and both of them reading their -Bibles, and lying about the distance of four yards the one from the other, -this Jonet Frazer is taken with a great drouth, and goes to the water of -Nith to take a drink, leaving her Bible open at the place where she was -reading, which was the 34th chap. of Esaiah, from verse 5 to 11, -inclusive, which begins--'For my sword shall be bathed in heaven; behold -it shall come down on the people of Idumea, and upon the people of my -curse, to judgment,' etc. And when she had returned immediately as shoon -as she could take a drink of water, she sees her Bible is coloured with -bloud, as she thought, though afterwards, upon inspection and tryall it -was not bloud, but red as bloud, and such as no person by the colour could -discern from bloud; upon which she asks the other lass, 'If any thing had -been near her Bible?' And she answered, 'Nothing that she saw.' She asks, -'How could it then be that her Bible was covered over with bloud?' Which -both of them going near, found to be the very same place where Jonet was -reading, viz., from verse 5 to 11, and some farther of the 34th chap., so -as the print was not at all legible. The other lass would have her wipe -off the blood, but she could not, but carried it as it was to her father, -and a brother of hers, a godly young man, who is dead since, and some -others, and did show it to them, who were curious to taste it, and it had -a welsh taste, as if it had been some metear; the hens and birds would not -pick it up. - -"The very next Lord's day, 8th May, this Jonet being in her father's barn -about ane hour alone, some little time before sunset, she came to the door -of the barn to read, and while she was reading, about the 49th verse of -Jeremiah, the like bloud did cover all that place which she was reading, -viz., from the 46th verse to the 54th, as I remember, so thick as it -marred all the print and made it unintelligible, nor did she ever perceive -it fall down upon the book, or observe it till it did cover and spread -over all that place; and it is to be remarked, she was standing within the -door, the thatch of the barn being over her head and over the book that -she was reading on, and that the bloud covered the print in the very time -wherein she was reading, it spread over that part of it. - -"The very next Sabbath thereafter, 15th of May, while she is again in that -same barn, reading the 14th chap. of Revelations, the like bloud fell on -the book, and covered all the chapter from the 9th verse to the end of the -chapter, in the very act of the reading it, and which, she said, that she -perceived it not, but about half ane inches distance from the book before -it fell down upon it. - -"The relater heirof is Maister Henry Maxwell, of Dalswinton, who dwells -within two miles of the place where she dwells; saw the Bible, and the -bloud upon all the three places of that Bible, which is still extant. - -"It is not bloud, for it is as tough as glew, and will not be scrapped off -by a knife as bloud will; but it is so like bloud as none can discern any -difference by the colour." - -After this course of vision and bloody showers, Mrs Frazer, it would -appear, fell under the suspicion of dealing with evil, in the place of -good, spirits. For in the year 1691 she was called before the Presbytery -and confessed: "That she pretended to prophecying and seeing of visions, -and that she had sinned greatly in being deluded by Satin, causing her -prophecie and see things future. Her book was appointed to be examined by -two of the Presbytery; and on her second appearance she acknowledged that -she was possessed by some evil spirit, and humbly besought the prayer of -the ministers and of all others; upon which the further examination of -herself and the witnesses was delayed. Nothing more is heard of her."(48) - -_Records of Penpont Presbytery, 1706._ - -From January to March in the year 1706 the Presbytery of Penpont was -occupied with the case of the Rev. Peter Rae, minister of Kirkbride. Mr -Rae was slandered by a woman who alleged that he called her a "witch," and -when sick said to her, "They say you have my health, so give it again if -you have it," and also called her to come near hand him, and when she came -he presently bled her on the "forrit" (forehead). - -It was proved that Mr Rae did call her a witch, and did in his illness -endeavour to draw blood from her brow, for which he was rebuked. - -In 1737 Mr Rae was translated from Kirkbride (an extinct parish in -Nithsdale now embraced in the parishes of Durisdeer and Sanquhar) and -became minister of Kirkconnel. He was also clerk to the Presbytery of -Penpont, before whom in earlier years he appeared. He is perhaps better -known as the author of _The History of the Late Rebellion_[15] (1715). A -man of outstanding ability, his memory is honoured by a mural tablet -placed in the south wall of Kirkconnel church. - -_Glencairn Kirk-Session Records._ - -"Apryl nynth, 1694."--Case of Margret M'Kinch (not "_M'Onrick_," as given -by Monteith,[16] p. 44). In the evidence it is stated that: - -"Robert Muir in Dunregon came in to James Rodgerson's hous, drew his knyf -and offered to blood her abov ye b----" [paper torn--breath (?)]. - -"On Apryl nynth, 1694, Margt. M'Kinch gave in an wrytten list of ye names -who had sclandered her by calling her an witch, earnestly desiring ye -Session to put the same to ---- [proof(?)] that she myght be free from ye -scandal." - -[Gap in the records, 1694-1700.] - -10th September, 1704.--"Appoints yt it be publickly intimate upon Sabbath -first that no Heritor, tennent, or Householder whatsomever within this -paroch resett our harbour Jaunet Harestanes, sometime in Keir paroch, with -certification." - -24th September, 1704.--"Appointment obeyed in makeing intimation anent -Jaunet Harestanes, reputed to be under the _mala-fama_ of witchcraft." - -14th November, 1707.--Case of Alexander Deuart (not "_Douart_" as given by -Monteith, p. 44):-- - -Alex. Deuart, gardener, at Maxwelton, is charged with having "brought back -some stolen goods by charm or enchantment or some other pretended ocult -quality in herbs, along with some mutterings and gestures, as makes him so -commonly reputed a charmer that he is sought unto by persons from divers -corners of the country to the great scandal of religion. The said Alex. -being interrogated primo--Did you bring back those things which was stolen -from Maxwelton--aiz., six pair sheets, ten ------ [undecipherable], three -aprons, at one time; a large silver tumbler at another time; and a book at -a third time? - -_A._ Yes; I was the causer, but had no hand in it myself. - -_Q._ Did you not take money for the bringing of them back? - -_A._ I told them I could do such things if it was not injurious to any, -and told that he took money for the bringing of them back. - -_Q._ How did you bring them back? - -_A._ I cannot tell that, for I promised not to tell where I received my -art. - -_Q._ Did you make use of herbs as it is reported of you in order to the -bringing of them back? - -_A._ I did make use of herbs in part, but not for the bringing of them -back. - -_Q._ How did you make use of the herbs that you might know where they -were? - -_A._ I laid them under my head and dreamed of them. - -_Q._ What are the herbs which had that effect upon your sleep? - -_A._ I will not tell that to any living if they should saw me asunder. - -_Q._ How came the cloaths back? - -_A._ I must cause some brother of trade who dwells near hand them to tell -them who have them that they must be brought back and they should not be -wronged. - -_Q._ Why did you not tell of the people who took away these cloaths, -seeing thieves ought to be discovered for the good of the country? - -_A._ It doth not belong to me to put out any man, otherwise I should be in -eternity this day eight days. - -_Q._ Did any person bring the things back, or how came they back? - -_A._ I brought them not back, but the people who took them away brought -them back. - -_Q._ But how could the silver tumbler be brought back and put in a -fast-locked room? - -_A._ The person who took it flung it in at the window upon one of the -shelves. - -(_Notandum_--Now it was told him that all the windows were fast-snecked, -as the servants who went in to take up the tumbler declared.) - -_Q._ Did you not say when the tumbler was got, 'I must have the hair that -was in and about it, for it is the hair of a horse which belonged to a man -who is shortly to be hanged for stealing?' - -_A._ Yes. - -_Q._ Did you not say to Sir Walter Laurie, 'lock me ever so close in a -room and I will cause all the cloaths that were taken away hang down upon -the spouts of the tower upon the morrow morning?' - -_A._ Yes. - -_Q._ Did you not say before me, the Minister, 'lock the cloaths again in -as fast a room as you can, and I'll cause them, for a little money, go all -back in the place where they were?' - -_A._ Yes. - -_Q._ Why did you not bring back the silver spoon that was lost? - -_A._ It was in Edinburgh, and the name was scraped out, and I could not -bring it back until I went to Edinburgh. - -_Q._ Why did you not bring back the mattock and other things? - -_A._ It had been on fire. - -_Q._ Why did you not bring back all the aprons, for there is one of them -awanting yet? - -_A._ I could not bring it back because it was burnt, and when a thing is -hid beneath the ground or the like I can't get wott of that. - -_Q._ Did you not mutter some words when you used these charms? - -_A._ Yes. - -_Q._ What are they? - -_A._ 'Cloaths, cloaths, cloaths, and other things lost.' - -_Q._ Whether did you use such charms afore Hallow-een as throwing nuts in -the fire, sowing seeds up and down the house, and herbs to every corner, -going backwards from the fire to the door, round the close backwards, up -the stairs backward, and to your bed backward? - -_A._ Yes. - -_Q._ Being told by a Minister that from what he had heard there was either -devolrie in it, or he was the thief himself. To which he replied, 'I shall -make it out to be no devolrie; or if it be devolrie, it is unknown to -me.' - -_Q._ Did you not bring back a book of Mrs Violet's? - -_A._ Yes. - -_Q._ Did you not say you could cause any woman in London come down to you -if but told her name? - -_A._ I could do it, and I can. - -_Q._ Did you not say in the presence of Sir Walter Laurie, Bailie Corbet -in Dumfries, James Gordoun, Wryter, Yr., and me, that you could cause any -of us dance naked? - -_A._ I did, if you would take what I give you; and also added that he -could cause any woman follow him if she would take what he would give her. - -_Q._ Alexander, where learned you that art? - -_A._ I learned it from the gardener at Arnistoun, now dead, but was at my -brothering. - -_Q._ But are there any alyve that was at your brothering? - -_A._ No. - -After all which, the Moderator said unto him: 'Saunders, did you not say -to me when I was poseing you privately about these things, and telling you -that from all I had heard from you that I was convinced that you were -either a thief or a devol?' and you replied, 'Pursue me, sir, before -either Session or Presbytery, and I shall show that I am neither.' And -now, Saunders, after all these interrogatories are considered, I rather -think you did take these things yourself, and therefore you can get no -testificat (certificate) until your business be further cognosed upon." - -13th July, 21st Sept., and 26th Oct., 1712.--Complaint from Jean Howatson -in Nies that Margaret Nivison in Crichen had called her "a witch and a -resetter of witches." - -Both rebuked for their "scandelous and offensive expressions," and -"Injoyned to abstain from any such offensive carriage in time comeing, -certifying withall that if they be found quarrolling with one another -unjustly this process shall be revived again upon them." - -_Indirect references affecting Durisdeer and Torthorwald._ - -_Parish of Durisdeer._--In 1591 a member of the family of Douglas of -Drumlanrig, "Barbara Naipar, spous to Archibald Douglas," was accused of -witchcraft and condemned to be burned on the Castle Hill of Edinburgh. -Examination of the indictment shows that the charge was really implication -in the crime by countenancing and seeking help from "users and abusers of -witchcraft," which, as we have seen, carried with it the extreme penalty. - -The following is the extract from Pitcairn's _Criminal Trials_:-- - -"May 8, 1591.--Barbara Naipar, spous to Archibald Douglas, burges of -Edinburgh (brother to the Laird of Carschogill), Dilaitit of sindrie -poyntis of witchcraft, contenit in Dittay gewin in against hir be Mr David -M'gill of Cranstoun--Rydell, advocat to our soverane lord. - -"The Assyse, be the mouth of Robert Cuningham, chancillor, ffand, -pronunceit, and declarit the said Barbara Naipar to be fylit, culpabill -and convict of the seiking of consultation from Annie Sampsoune, ane wich, -for the help of Dame Jeane Lyonne, Lady Angus, to keip hir from vomiting -quhen sche was in breeding of barne. Item, for the consulting with the -said Annie Sampsoune, for causing of the said Dame Jeane Lyonne, Lady -Angus, to love hir, and to gif hir the geir awin hir agayne, and geiving -of ane ring for this purpois to the said Anny, quhill sche had send her -ane courchie (kerchief) of linning and swa for contravening of the Act of -Parliament, in consulting with hir and seiking of hir help, being ane -wich, &c." - -"Dome was pronunceit against Barbara Naipar, the sister-in-law of the -Laird of Coshogle."[17] - -_Torthorwald, 1596._--As Saul consulted the Witch of Endor, so in later -days was the powers of witchcraft invoked by the most exalted to find out -what fate or fortune the future held for them. - -Of the wife of Captain James Stewart, Earl of Arran, it is told "that she -got a response from the witches that she would be the greatest woman in -Scotland, and that her husband should have the highest head in that -kingdom. Both which fell out; for she died, being all swelled out in an -extraordinary manner; and he, riding to the south, was pursued by the Lord -Torthoral (called Douglas[18]), whose whole family the said Captain James -intended to have extirpated, and was killed, and his head carried on the -point of a spear and placed upon the battlements of Torthorwald -Castle."(49) - -[Illustration] - - - - -_CHAPTER IV._ - -FAIRIES AND BROWNIES. - - "There's als much virtue, sense, and pith, - In Annan or the Water of Nith, - Which quietly slips by Dumfries, - Als any water in all Greece; - For there, and several other places, - About mill-dams, and green brae faces, - Both eldrich elfs and brownies stayed, - And green-gowned fairies daunced and played." - --_Effigies Clericorum._ - - -No part of the folk-lore of a district finds more favour than that -particular vestige which tells of the doings of "fairies and brownies," -the mere expression "fairy" at once calling up and suggesting green-clad -dainty figures, dwelling amid picturesque sylvan surroundings; although -probably the memory of the "brownie," and the stories of his helpful -midnight task, strike the more human note. - -It is the "fairy," however, outshining the humbler toiling "brownie," not -only in gallant bearing and romantic surroundings, but in the further -possession of greater supernatural power, that is the more fascinating -survival of superstitious tradition. - -Popularly imagined, they were diminutive in form, elegant in appearance, -and richly attired. They dwelt in a land of their own, in woodland dells -where - - "Underneath the sylvan shade - The fairies' spacious bower was made," - -or in beautiful palaces underneath the green conical mounds, so numerous, -particularly in Galloway and the south-west of Scotland. Their lives and -affairs were ruled by the utmost ceremony and grandeur. A King or Queen -presided over their destinies. Their pageants and tournaments were the -very reflection of Courtly gallantry. Processions were a frequent form of -display; and clothed in exquisite green raiment, and mounted on bravely -caparisoned milk-white steeds of the finest mettle, they passed with -haughty mien and lordly air, that impressed to the utmost the minds of the -mortals who might chance to meet them in all their pomp and bravery. The -banquet-board and feast also were daily in evidence, and through their -princely halls, to the most exquisite music, the stately dance went round. - -The attitude of the fairies towards mankind was, generally speaking, -kindly and helpful, so much so that by the country people they were often -termed the "good neighbours" and the "wee fouk"; but underneath all their -display of nobility, an elfin craftiness and capriciousness of disposition -existed, malignant to a degree. They did not, for example, ride unarmed, -but had bows and arrows of peculiar power and potency slung at their sides -ready to assail the too curious human being or menacing beast. The bows -themselves were fashioned from the ribs of men buried "where three Lairds' -lands meet," and the arrows, which hung in quivers made from adders' -sloughs, were "tipped with deadly plagues." When mortals offended, it was -on their cattle the fairies usually wreaked their vengeance by shooting -them with their magic bows and arrows. Such elf-shot cattle exhibited all -the symptoms of malignant cramp. Animals quite as innocent, but who, -blunderingly unconscious, threatened to trample their diminutive bodies -under foot as they passed along, were as summarily treated--at least that -was a common explanation to account for puzzling forms of cattle-ill; for -the wound of the true elf arrow was so small that evidence of penetration -was almost impossible of vision, unless by the eye of those favoured and -deeply skilled in fairy-craft practice. A less vague and more material -description of the fairy arrows was, that "these fatal shafts were formed -of the bog reed, pointed with white field flint, and dipped in the dew of -hemlock." To this day the triangular flints of the Stone Age are -associated with the fairy superstition, being popularly known as "elf -bolts," and the occasional turning up of these flints on cultivated land, -finds a superstitious explanation in the belief that a shower of these -arrows discharged into a field was quite sufficient to blast and wither -the expected crop. - -The special characteristic of the evil element in the disposition of the -fairies was however, a persistent practice of kidnapping unchristened -infants, substituting for them baby imps of their own, which in old-world -phraseology were known as "changelings." Such changelings could only be -detected and expelled by certain charms and mystic practice, which also -permitted the real babe to be restored. The explanation of such kidnapping -was that every seventh year "Kain," in the form of a living sacrifice from -the ranks of the fairies, was demanded by Satan, their master, as the -price of the supernatural privileges they enjoyed, but as a mortal infant -was as readily accepted, the fairies naturally acted in accordance, much -preferring to lay a human babe at the feet of the Evil One. - -Very naturally the thought of such disastrous possibilities to the -domestic life and joy of the people created means and measures to render -this particular design of the fairies impotent and inefficient. The -cutting of a cross on the head of the cradle, or even over the doorway of -the cottage itself, was supposed to "kep skaith" by means of its sacred -significance; and immediately before the birth of a child it was a common -practice to surround the expectant mother with everything about the -household made of steel, such as scissors, wool-clippers, knives, needles, -and so forth, which it was firmly believed kept the evil disposition of -the fairy spirits at bay, and prevented any unhallowed tampering with the -child. It was also customary for the friends of the house when the child -was born, to form a guarding circle round it during the darkness of the -night, while one of their number was specially employed in waving about -the open leaves of a Bible. The risk of abduction immediately ceased after -the child was christened. It may here be mentioned that at all times the -sound of a church bell immediately broke the fairy power and spell. - -The abduction of human beings was not altogether confined to babes, and it -will be remembered that James Hogg's fine ballad of "Kilmeny" is founded -on a young maiden being carried off to Fairyland, who in the course of -time is allowed to return to the world again when, as so beautifully -expressed in the ballad, - - "Late, late in the gloamin' - Kilmeny cam' hame." - -Young married women were more especially liable to be carried off, for the -utilitarian purpose of nursing the fairy children, and young men were also -occasionally supposed to be stolen away. - -It may be noted that it was not considered good for mortals to meet with -fairies face to face, however much by accident. Death might even follow -such a meeting, although apparently quite natural in form. - -Touching upon the very core of unreality of fairy semblance it would seem -to have been a general belief, that seen through eyes of those gifted with -supernatural power such as in olden days the "seers" were believed to -possess, the whole fairy fabric crumbled to its true appearance. Golden -treasure became ordinary stone, fairy palace changed to gloomy cavern, and -the beautiful beings themselves became ugly and repulsive goblins. - -Before passing to gather up the remnants of this fairy-lore in Galloway -and Dumfriesshire, it may be of interest to refer to the theory which has -been advanced to account for the firm belief by our forefathers in the -existence of "fairies and brownies," which briefly is, that fairies and -brownies were none other than straggling and isolated survivors of the -race of the ancient Pictish Kingdom of Scotland, for like the fairy and -brownie of popular imagination, the Picts dwelt in underground abodes, -being what is termed "mound-dwellers." They were a small people, untiring -in their labours, and possessing great strength, or as it has been aptly -expressed, "they were 'unca wee' bodies, but terribly strong." As well as -being small in stature, they were hairy in body and fleet of foot. They -were clever builders, as their underground dwellings excavated at the -hands of antiquarians throughout Scotland yet affirm. Indeed there is a -tradition that the 12th century Cathedral of Glasgow was largely built by -industrious and skilful Picts, brought from Galloway for that purpose. - -A strong point in the theory certainly is, that the localities known as -the prehistoric abiding places of the Picts are almost invariably -associated with fairy-lore and tradition, which has floated down to us on -the misty tides of time. At all events it may be in part at least -accepted, in so far as it is founded on a basis of fact, and if it does -not quite explain the splendour and high-born attributes of Fairyland, it -at least goes far to account for the unvarying popular description of -"Brownie"--his untiring energy, his shy disposition, and his not very -attractive appearance, all of which William Nicholson has painted with -strokes of genius in his matchless poem, "The Brownie of Blednoch."[19] - - -FAIRIES IN GALLOWAY. - -The great distinctive headland of the Mull of Galloway is traditionally -described as the scene of the last stand made by the Picts, as they were -driven backwards and seawards to destruction by the overwhelming force of -the Scots. - - "There rose a King in Scotland, - A fell man to his foes, - He smote the Picts in battle, - He hunted them like roes, - Over miles of red mountain - He hunted as they fled - And strewed the dwarfish bodies - Of the dying and the dead." - -Not far from this classic spot, a favourite haunt of the fairies is -located. South of Portankill there is a small fortification called the -Dunnan. On this spot there came once upon a time to a man sitting there, -on a fine summer evening, an old-fashioned looking, diminutive woman -dressed in green, carrying a tiny ailing child on her back, and holding a -little wooden water stoup in her hand. She earnestly asked this man to go -to the far-famed and quite near "Well of the Co'" and bring her some of -the healing water for the decrepit little morsel she carried, as she was -tired and done. Churlishly enough the man refused, and roughly told her -she could go her own errands. The little woman bore his abuse patiently -enough, then, naming him, solemnly warned him "never again to sit down on -her hoose-riggin' or he might look to it"--and then somehow she seemed to -disappear. The man began to regret his ungracious conduct, all the more -that it was generally believed that beneath the "Dunnan" lived the -fairies, and if that was so, then at that very moment he was actually on -their "hoose-riggin'." Much disturbed in mind, he made for home; but -tradition affirms that from that day forward everything went wrong--cattle -died and crops failed, and eventually, going one night to the Dunnan to -watch a vessel that was likely to come ashore and so help his own evil -plight, he was stricken with illness at the hands of the fairies--so the -country-side said--and died. - -There is yet another rather dramatic relic of fairy-lore concerning -Kirkmaiden, which tells of an attempt by the fairies to seize upon the -newly-born child of a herd and his wife, who were in the service of Sir -Godfrey M'Culloch, and who lived in a little cottage at Auchneight, which -was frustrated by a timely call for Divine aid. On the afternoon of the -day of his son's birth the herd received an urgent message to proceed at -once to his master's castle of Cardoness, in the Stewartry of -Kirkcudbright. There were many little domestic matters to attend to before -the poor man could leave his wife and child to set out on his long -journey, and the night was already well advanced before he left his home. -It was not without anxiety and misgiving he took his way north along the -western shore of Luce Bay, "down the path towards the Loup and the Co' of -the Grennan," a place with a very uncanny reputation, for it was the night -of the last day of October--of all times of the year the most dreaded by -mortals--the night - - "When Fairies ... dance, - Or ower the lays, with splendid blaze, - On sprightly coursers prance." - -[Illustration: "IN FAIRY GLADE." Sketch by J. Copland, Dundrennan.] - -It was very dark, and his progress was slow. When he reached the "Loup" he -was rather startled to see a faint glimmering light seawards. To his -consternation this came steadily towards him, and gradually took the -form of a coach lighted with blue lamps, drawn by six horses, and coming -smartly on. It passed, and he could see it was crowded with elfish figures -and surrounded by a galloping body-guard. His terror was not abated when -he was made aware that a little blue torch, a sure forerunner of death, -was burning on the side of the track they had passed along. Meanwhile his -young wife and child were all alone in the cottage. About midnight the -mother, to whom the night seemed unending, was startled by hearing the -trample of horses, the jingle of bridles, the lumber of wheels, and a -buzzing sound of voices. Clasping the child close in her arms, -terror-stricken she waited. The door of the cottage flew open. The whole -kitchen was lit up with a strange unnatural light, and she saw her bed -surrounded by a throng of little excited green-clad people, who kept up a -constant chattering. Then one more richly clad and taller than the others -imperiously waved his hand for silence, and addressing the almost crazed -woman, said-- - -"This is Hallow-eve. We have come for your child, and him we must have." - -"Oh, God forbid!" shrieked the poor woman in her agony, and almost -instantly there was darkness and silence as of the grave. - -When the poor woman came to her senses, for she had fainted, she made bold -to leave her bed, and lighting her cruisie lamp, she was overjoyed to find -that her child was sleeping sweetly and soundly. Everything in the cottage -was evidently undisturbed. - -As some slight corroboration of this legend, it is told how the tenant of -Barncorkerie, going to his door about midnight that same Hallow-eve, was -startled to see a group of tiny horsemen riding in hot haste through the -meadows a bowshot from his door. - -The story of the Barncorkerie Fairy, in this same immediate neighbourhood, -illustrates how the good offices of the fairy aided an old helpless woman -in her day of necessity at the expense of an undutiful son. - -On the road shorewards to Portencockerie Bay (Kirkmaiden) there is a -bypath by way of what is known as the Bishop's Castle. One day there came -by this road an old woman, weary of foot and sad of heart. Sitting down -she wept quietly to herself, bemoaning her poverty and the unkindness of -her son, and more particularly of his new-made wife, who scorned her and -refused to give her even the bare necessities of life. With her eyes fixed -on the ground, she almost unconsciously let her attention turn to a round -whorl-like stone, with a hole through it, lying at her feet. Not attaching -much importance to it she, almost absent-mindedly, picked it up, and as -she did so she thought she heard some one whispering to her, but turning -round and seeing no one she became a little frightened, and putting the -curious little stone in her pocket, she rose to make her way home, which, -by the way, bore the curious name of "Keekafar." - -That same night, at the gloaming, as she was lighting her cruisie lamp, -the cottage door seemed to open of its own accord, and, looking down, she -saw a diminutive little woman clad in green, who, with a pleasant smile, -asked how she prospered? - -The old woman was a proud old woman, so she answered that she was getting -along very comfortably. - -But the little old woman laughed a kindly laugh and said, "Not much -comfort an' a toom meal-barrel in the hoose." - -The Fairy, for it was a fairy, chatted away to her for a little, and -gradually won from her the whole story of her troubles; then, as she rose -to go, she said, "If ye've still got that queer little stone ye fand -to-day wi' the hole in it, just tie a little bit grey wurset thread -through it, and lay it on the meal-ark. It'll maybes be a help." - -Next night, about the same time (as it afterwards appeared), the old -woman's son Godfrey, who lived with his wife on his own little croft at -Portencockerie, was startled to find when he came home a little tiny woman -perched on a high stool at his fireside. - -"What want ye here?" he cried; and his wife, joining him, began to scold -also. "Tak' yer gait, we want nae beggars here," she shouted. - -The Fairy looked at them steadily with her little grey piercing eyes, then -stepping from the stool on to the long wooden kitchen settle she turned to -the frightened man and woman, and in a tiny penetrating voice that made -them even more frightened, said--"The poor folk! much they get at your -hands! But thy old mother shall never want; she shall live at your cost. -Her meal-ark will be always full, and yours shall supply it!" - -And so it came about. Godfrey and his wife, under the influence of fear, -tried hard to make amends, but the old woman received their advances with -the utmost indifference. - -The Compass Stone, on the hill above Port Logan towards the south, was -also a favourite place for the fairies holding their gatherings, and there -is a small field at Logan known as the Fairy Park. It is said that a -large company of fairies were observed by two individuals, who at the time -were not near each other, crossing the fields near Kenmure, in the parish -of Stoneykirk. One of the individuals said they seemed to be all talking -together, and there was a continual buzz of conversation as of a large -assemblage of people gathered together. - -A hill between Ringuinea and the Float is associated with the fairies. Two -young women went from Ringuinea one summer morning to bring the cows home -to be milked, when they met what seemed to be a very beautiful child, whom -they unsuccessfully made every endeavour to catch hold of. Skilfully, -however, and with evident little exertion, the little figure eluded their -grasp, with the result that their futile chase led to their being -hopelessly behind time for the milking. - -Another story tells that the farmer of Ringuinea was going down the Black -Brae, when he met a very small person handsomely dressed in green. -Thinking it was a strange child, he enquired where he was going so early -in the morning. The supposed child answered that there was an ox down -below that had annoyed him and his people for a long time by always -standing on the top of their dwelling-place, but that he would trouble -them no more. The farmer proceeded down the brae, and found one of his -best bullocks lying dead. He went for assistance, and proceeding to skin -the bullock, and knowing what to look for, they found an elf-shot right -through the heart. - -Kirkmaiden seems to have been a much-favoured district of the "wee fouk." -The Nick of the Balloch, on the road from Barncorkerie to Castle Clanyard, -Curghie Glen, and the Grennan were notoriously fairy-occupied; and between -Kirkbride and Killumpha their imaginary tracks left on the stones and -rocks used to be pointed out and traced. There is a curious lingering -tradition in the Rhinns that the fairies of Kirkmaiden always wore red -caps instead of green. - -Before passing from this district of the Rhinns, reference may be made to -what was firmly believed to be the kidnapping by fairies of a little boy -of two years of age. The child wandered out unperceived by its mother. On -being missed, an anxious search was made during the whole day by almost -every person in the neighbourhood, but no trace of the child could be -found. Late in the evening, however, from the top of the heugh, beside -Slock-an-a-gowre, he was discovered, by the merest accident, asleep on a -green plot on the cliff far below, fully two miles from his home. How he -got there to this day is a mystery. To assume that any person carried or -left him there seems highly improbable, and to suppose the child to have -of itself crossed dykes, drains, glens, and cornfields seems even more -improbable. It was therefore attributed to the fairies, all the more that -the little boy lisped that he had followed other little boys wearing green -clothes.[20] - -Away midst the solitary grandeur of the high lands of Galloway, where the -Merrick lordly towers, and where the bleat of the sheep and the cry of the -whaup, the tumble and plash of burn and stream, are the only sounds that -greet the shepherd's ear as he pursues his long and lonely beat, a -beautiful fairy legend lingers, though human and homely enough in its -trend:-- - -"A shepherd's family had just taken possession of a newly-erected onstead, -in a very secluded spot among 'the hills o' Gallowa',' when the goodwife -was, one day, surprised by the entrance of a little woman, who hurriedly -asked for the loan of a 'pickle saut.' This, of course, was readily -granted; but the goodwife was so flurried by the appearance of 'a neibor' -in such a lonely place, and at such a very great distance from all known -habitations, that she did not observe when the little woman withdrew or -which way she went. Next day, however, the same little woman re-entered -the cottage, and duly paid the borrowed 'saut.' This time the goodwife was -more alert, and as she turned to replace 'the saut in the sautkit' she -observed 'wi' the tail o' her e'e' that the little woman moved off towards -the door, and then made a sudden 'bolt out.' Following quickly, the -goodwife saw her unceremonious visitor run down a small declivity towards -a tree which stood at 'the house en'.' She passed behind the tree, but did -not emerge on the other side, and the goodwife, seeing no place of -concealment, assumed she was a fairy. - -In a few days her little 'neibor' again returned, and continued from time -to time to make similar visits--borrowing and lending small articles, -evidently with a view to produce an intimacy; and it was uniformly -remarked that, on retiring, she proceeded straight to the tree, and then -suddenly 'gaed out o' sight.' - -One day, while the goodwife was at the door, emptying some dirty water -into the jaw-hole (sink or cesspool), her now familiar acquaintance came -to her and said: - -'Goodwife, ye're really a very obliging bodie! Wad ye be sae good as turn -the lade o' your jaw-hole anither way, as a' your foul water rins directly -in at my door? It stands in the howe there, on the aff-side o' that tree, -at the corner o' your house en'.' - -The mystery was now fully cleared up--the little woman was indeed a fairy; -and the door of her invisible habitation being situated 'on the aff-side -o' the tree at the house en',' it could easily be conceived how she must -there necessarily 'gae out o' sight' as she entered her sight-eluding -portal."(50) - -Probably the most characteristic fairy story extant in the whole -south-western district of Scotland is that which centres round the green -mound on which the ruined Castle of Myrton, a stronghold of the M'Cullochs -in bygone days, stands. Within the policies of Monreith House, in the -parish of Mochrum, on the beautifully-wooded shore of the White Loch of -Myrton, this mound of Myrton is peculiarly interesting in the links its -story joins of prehistoric days, fairy tradition, and seventeenth century -family history. - -The following account is drawn from _The Hereditary Sheriffs of -Galloway_:-- - -"Sir Godfrey M'Culloch, having squandered his patrimony and sold his -estates in Mochrum to the Maxwells of Monreith, took up house at -Cardoness. Here a neighbour, William Gordon, having poinded some cattle -straying on his lands, Sir Godfrey joined a party illegally convened to -release them. A fray was the result, in which M'Culloch, in the words of -his indictment, 'did shot at the said Gordon with a gun charged, and by -the shot broke his thigh-bone and leg, so that he immediately fell to the -ground, and within a few hours thereafter died of the same shot wound.' -Sir Godfrey fled the country, and some years after ventured on a Sunday to -attend a Church in Edinburgh. A Galloway man was among the congregation, -who, recognising him, jumped up and cried: 'Pit to the door; there's a -murderer in the kirk!' This was done, M'Culloch arrested, tried, -condemned, and his head 'stricken fra his body' the 5th of March, 1697." - -So say the _Criminal Records_. There is a very different local version of -the story:-- - -Long before the fatal encounter, and before he had entered on the evil -courses which led to his ruin, Sir Godfrey, young and curly, sat at a -window in the Tower of Myrtoun watching the operations of a gang of -workmen forming a new sewer from his house to the White Loch below it. -Suddenly he was startled by the apparition close beside him of a very -little old man whose hair and beard were snowy white, whose strangely-cut -costume was green, and who seemed in a state of furious wrath. Sir Godfrey -received him, notwithstanding, with the greatest urbanity, and begged to -be told in what way he could serve him. - -The answer was a startling one: "M'Culloch," said the visitor, "I am the -King of the Brownies![21] My palace has been for ages in the mound on -which your Tower stands, and you are driving your common sewer right -through my chalmer of dais." - -Sir Godfrey, confounded, threw up the window and ordered the workmen to -stop at once, professing his perfect readiness to make the drain in any -such direction as might least incommode his Majesty, if he would -graciously indicate the same. His courtesy was accepted, and Sir Godfrey -received a promise in return from the now mollified potentate that he, the -said King, would stand by and help him in the time of his greatest need. - -It was long after this that the Knight of Myrtoun disposed of his enemy in -the summary way we have already mentioned, and for which he was condemned -to die. The procession had started for the place of execution; a crowd -was collected to see the awful sight, when the spectators were surprised -by seeing a very little man with white hair and beard, dressed, too, in an -antique suit of green, and mounted on a white horse. He issued from the -castle rock, crossed the loch without a moment's hesitation, and rode -straight up to the cart on which Sir Godfrey, accompanied by the -executioner and a minister, was standing. They plainly saw Sir Godfrey get -on the horse behind the little man, who was no other than the King of the -Brownies (and thus fulfilled his promise by arriving in his hour of need): -the two recrossed the loch, and, mounting the castle rock, they -disappeared. When the astonished crowd again turned their eyes to the cart -a figure was still there, and wondrous like Sir Godfrey; it was, -therefore, generally believed that he had met a felon's doom, and most -people thought no more about it. A few only knew better, but these cared -little to speak about the matter. At rare intervals, however, one of the -initiated would impart the story to a friend, and tell how a head had -rolled upon the ground, leaving a bleeding trunk upon the scaffold; then -adding in a confidential whisper, "It was no' him ava; it was just a kin' -o' glamour."(51) - -The presence of fairies was not unknown in the Whithorn district, and a -realistic account of the last appearance of the fairies there has been -preserved in _Droll Recollections of Whithorn_, by James F. Cannon:-- - -"A farmer's wife on the Glasserton estate was engaged in washing at a -stream near her house, when a trig little creature of her own sex, and -perfectly human in shape and general semblance, suddenly arrested her -attention. The mistress stared with amazement at the mite of a body that -stood by her side, and the astonishment of the former was not lessened -when, with an appealing look on her tiny features, the elf solicited the -favour of 'a wee sowp o' milk for an unweel wean.' They then entered -freely into conversation, and walked together to the byre, where the Fairy -was duly supplied with what she had asked for. She was very profuse with -her thanks, and foretold that her donor would never be without a pinch of -snuff (of all things) while she should require it. It was not a very -hazardous prediction, nor did it give promise of great remuneration for -the obligation conferred; but there was a note of gratitude in it which -was thoroughly appreciated by her to whom it was spoken. I believe, -however, there was an additional hint dropped that the milk pails of the -elf's patroness would always be well filled, and her husband's field -crops abundant."(52) - -A poetical version of the above tradition has been elaborated by Mr -Cannon, and appears in the _Bards of Galloway_, under the title of "The -Langhill Fairy."[22] - -"Riddling in the reek" was the common country-side expression for a -rough-and-ready method of treating a fairy changeling so that it might be -restored to its proper human constitution. A realistic account of such an -ordeal is preserved in _Galloway Gossip_ (Wigtownshire). It sets forth how -a child, whose parents lived in Sorbie village, behaved in such a fretful, -passionate, and vixenish way that the parents were at last forced to the -unwelcome conclusion that it was not their child at all, but a changeling. -Much distressed they sought the advice of a wise woman living at -Kirkinner, who plainly enough substantiated the suspicion. Beseeching her -help, the sybil pointed out the great risk they all ran with interference -with things uncanny, but on their consenting to place themselves entirely -in her hands and implicitly obey her in every detail, she promised to -make the attempt to restore their child on the following Aul' Hallowe'en -Nicht. - -[Illustration: "RIDDLING IN THE REEK." Sketch by J. Copland, Dundrennan.] - -"When Aul' Hallowe'en came, everything was ready and set in order, and -just a few minutes before nine, in came Lucky M'Robert, and without saying -a word steekit the door ahint her. - -She then set two stools beside the fire, which, as usual at that time and -for long after, was made on a slightly raised place in the middle of the -floor, paved with water-stones. She motioned Peggy and Jamie to sit down -on them, and lighting the candle, with the ether-stane on it, put it on -the kerl, or long candlestick, and set it between them, and then took the -rowan-wood and biggit it on the fire. - -The wean looked terrified, and ran under the bed, but she pulled it out -and tied his legs and arms together with some red clouts she had in her -pouch, and threw't into the riddle, and lifting it up went towards the -fire, the wean twining and kicking and swearing most viciously. - -Mally had previously breeked her petticoats, and as soon as a thick reek -rose from the burning rowan-tree, she held the wean amang the thickest -o't, and riddled it in the riddle till ye wud hae thocht it wud hae been -chokit. - -The wean cursed and yelled, and spat at her, and called her a' that was -bad, but she took nae notice; then it begged and fleech't with the father -and mother to save't, for it was chokin', and went on pitiful, and then it -begood and cursed them, and abused them terribly. - -Then there came knockings to the door, and cries and noisings all over the -house; but she riddled away, and nobody ever heeded them, till at last the -wean gave a great scraich, and rase out of the riddle, and gaed whirling -up amang the reek like a corkscrew, and out at the lumhead, out of sight. - -Everything was then quiet for a minute or two, and at last a gentle -knocking came to the door, and Mally asked who was there, and a voice -cried-- - -'Let me in, I'm wee Tammie M'K----.'"(53) - -The district of Dalry seems to have been particularly favoured by the -beings of supernatural power. Witchcraft abounded, and now we shall see -that Fairyland was represented. - -The place, above all, of fairy association was the Holm Glen, with which -is associated a legend of the abduction of a youth, and an abortive -attempt to win freedom after serving seven years. Round this vestige of -fairy-lore Dr Robert Trotter has woven a well-told mantle of narrative, -from which an extract is well worth quoting:-- - -"I rose early upon the morning of Hallowe'en, and having dressed myself, I -went out to the harvest field, just as the minute hand of my watch pointed -to half-past five. I began busily to arrange and set up the stooks, which -a storm of wind and rain the preceding evening had blown down. I had not -been long occupied in this manner when I heard the tramping of horses' -feet, the giggling and laughing of the riders, and the jingling of their -bridle bits. I instantly turned round to see what this troop of early -travellers could be; but my eye rested not then on the broad holm of -Dalarran and the grey turrets of Kenmure Castle, of which there was a -goodly prospect from the place where I stood--but it fell upon the tall -form of a young man standing close by my side, dressed in a riding-cloak -of the lightest Lincoln green ever worn by a Nottingham Archer. By his -side hung a hunting-horn of the purest silver, whilst his spurs and the -diamond chased scabbard of his sword glanced clear and bright in the rays -of the rising sun. - -'I wish thee good speed, John Gordon,' said he in a well-known voice. 'I -am thy old friend William Hoatson, who, thou mayest remember, was found -drowned about seven years since in the Water of Taarfe, near Red Lyon. But -I am not dead, as is generally believed, but was carried away by the -fairies of Holm Glen, and a body resembling mine placed in the river ford. -And I have been permitted to appear unto thee at this time, knowing that -thou art a fearless man, and one that seeketh after the Kingdom of Heaven; -and I request thee, in the name of Heaven, that this night thou wilt win -me back to my family and to the world!' - -I expressed the happiness which I felt in meeting so unexpectedly with one -whom I had so long considered to be dead. I shook him heartily by the -hand, and offered him my friendship and assistance. - -'Oh, John!' said he, 'this night will I be offered up a sacrifice in hell, -and thou alone can save me from destruction.' - -He spoke this so mournfully that the tears trickled down my cheek, and I -sobbed aloud. - -'Wilt thou promise,' continued he, 'to come this night at twelve o'clock, -unarmed and alone, and stand by this ancient thorn-bush, where thou wilt -see forty-one horsemen riding past, everyone dressed as I am at present? -Pull me down from the chestnut-brown steed upon which I ride, for I will -be the last man of that gay troop. They will turn me into a variety of -frightful shapes in thy arms, and lastly into the appearance of a red-hot -coulter; but thou must hold me fast in the name of Heaven, for if thou -let me slip from thy hands they will take thee soul and body, and I also -will be lost for ever!'"(54) - -The conclusion of the story is not very happy, for John's courage entirely -failed him. Through fear he refused his aid, but ever afterwards was -haunted and crossed by the evil influence of the night-riding of the -fairies of Holm Glen. - -Other places in Kirkcudbrightshire which have the lingering touch of fairy -romance hovering around them are Hazelfield, Auchencairn, the Nick of -Lochenkit, "where the fairies have been seen dancing in thousands by the -pale light o' the new moon on her third nicht," and on the "rugged height -of Bengairn." - -The last Galloway fairy reminiscence we shall quote before passing into -Dumfriesshire illustrates the malignant side of their nature, and tells of -the drowning of the Morrisons in Edingham Loch, near the present town of -Dalbeattie:-- - -"A' the hale o' braid Gallowa' has heard the story of the drownin' o' hale -ane-an'-twenty o' the Morrisons o' Orr, in the Loch of Edingham, nae -farder gane than Yule was a seven year. Ye mind that year the frost held -on frae Hallowe'en till Februar, and at Yule the ice was mair than thretty -inches in thickness, and wad hae carried a' the fouk in sax parishes -roun' wi' perfect safety. On that day mony a weel-fared, sturdy chiel had -been busy plying the channelstane, wi' a' their skill an' might, frae -early morn, and it was not till the last blinks of the sun had lang -disappeared off Brownie Fells that the contest was putten aff till the -following day, and ilka ane turned his face homewards. But they hadna -ha'en their feet three minutes on the side when the moon glowered o'er the -tappin o' Lotus, and showed the ice they had so lately left, clad wi' unco -players frae side to side; and muckle mirth, din, and deray was there, -bumpers o' the red wine were flowin' roun', and there tripped maidens, -jimp and tall as yon rowan-trees by the burnie side and fairer than the -snow on Logan braes. Swiftly the weary players returned to the margin of -the loch, but nane durst venture on the ice for a considerable time. But -there were three neibor lairds, in the three Mailins of Culloch, Cocklick, -and Drumlane. A' the three were surnamed Morrison, and ilka ane had seven -strapping sons, wha never feared skaith frae man nor deil, and sae they a' -quickly joined the thrang. Bit strange to tell, the very moment the last -o' the ane-an'-twenty was aboon deep water, the ice rent from en' to en' -wi' a crack a thousan' times louder than thunner, and dancers, players, -and Morrisons a' disappeared in the twinkling of an eye, and the ice -again resumed its former solidity, without crack or flaw. And mony a time -sinsyne has the midnight wanderer observed the loch covered o'er with -light-footed dancers, blithely footing it on the limpid wave, and among -them the three-times-seven youths, gaily clad in elfin weeds of sylvan -green, and mounted on gallant steeds of the milk-white foam. Their spears -are of the green bulrashes with targets of the braidest flutterbaus; they -ha'e braid swords o' the segg, and cockades of the water-lily; but they ay -tak' the gate lang or the first peep o' day, and the place they left -retains no the sma'est prent o' their airie feet, nor nane can tell the -gate they fled."(55) - -On the sharp descent of the Dalbeattie Road towards Dumfries there yet -lingers the tradition of fairy song and music being heard 'mid the leafy -surroundings of the Long Wood. - - -FAIRIES IN DUMFRIESSHIRE. - -To Allan Cunningham we are indebted for several examples of fairy-lore -gathered together in his own particular district of Nithsdale. - -The three following illustrate the expression of gratitude on the part of -the fairies when a good turn was served, or a request complied with:-- - -"Two lads were opening with the plow a fairy-haunted field, and one of -them had described a circle around a fairy-thorn, which was not to be -plowed. They were surprised when, on ending the furrow, a green table was -placed there, heaped with the choicest cheese, bread, and wine. He who -marked out the thorn sat down without hesitation, eating and drinking -heartily, saying, 'Fair fa' the hands whilk gie.' His fellow-servant -lashed his steeds, refusing to partake. The courteous plowman 'thrave,' -said my informer, 'like a breckan, and was a proverb for wisdom and an -oracle of local rural knowledge ever after!' - -A woman of Auchencreath, in Nithsdale, was one day sifting meal warm from -the mill; a little, cleanly arrayed, beautiful woman came to her, holding -out a basin of antique workmanship, requesting her courteously to fill it -with her new meal. Her demand was cheerfully complied with. In a week the -comely little dame returned with the borrowed meal. She breathed over it, -setting it down basin and all, saying aloud, 'Be never toom.' The guidwife -lived to a goodly age, without ever seeing the bottom of her blessed -basin. - -A woman, who lived in the ancient Burgh of Lochmaben, was returning late -one evening to her home from a gossiping. A little, lovely boy, dressed -in green, came to her, saying, 'Coupe yere dish-water farther frae yere -doorstep; it pits out our fire!' This request was complied with, and -plenty abode in the good woman's house all her days."(56) - -The advent of summer was an occasion of special rejoicing on the part of -the fairies, and was celebrated by a triumphal march or ride known as the -"Fairy Rade," which was accompanied by much, and brave, display. - -The ceremony usually took place on the eve of Roodmas (May 3rd), and the -following account is supposed to have been narrated by an old Nithsdale -woman to Allan Cunningham:-- - -"I' the nicht afore Roodsmass,[23] I had trysted wi' a neebor lass, a -Scots mile frae hame, to tak anent buying braws i' the Fair. We hadnae -sutten lang aneath the haw-buss till we heard the loud laugh o' fowk -riding, wi' the jingling o' bridles an' the clanking o' hoofs. We banged -up, thinking they wad ryde owre us--we kent nae but it was drunken fowk -riding to the Fair i' the fore-nicht. We glowr'd roun' and roun', an' sune -saw it was the Fairie Fowks' Rade. We cowered down till they passed by. A -leam o' light was dancing owre them, mair bonnie than moon-shine; they -were a' wee, wee fowk, wi' green scarfs on, but ane that rade foremost, -and that ane was a guid deal langer than the lave, wi' bonnie lang hair -bun' about wi' a strap, whilk glented lyke stars. They rade on braw wee -whyte naigs, wi' unco lang swoaping tails an' manes hung wi' whustles that -the win' played on. This, an' their tongues whan they sang, was like the -soun' of a far-awa' Psalm. Marion and me was in a brade lea fiel' whare -they cam' by us; a high hedge o' haw-trees keepit them frae gaun through -Johnnie Corrie's corn, but they lap a' owre't like sparrows an' gallop'd -into a green knowe beyont it. We gaed i' the morning to look at the -tredded corn, but the fient a hoof-mark was there, nor a blade -broken."(57) - -The accompanying almost idealistic fairy-tale accentuates the idea of the -instinct of natural affection with which the fairies were always credited, -and their preference for a human mother to nurse their offspring:-- - -"A fine young woman of Nithsdale was sitting singing and rocking her -child, when a pretty lady came into her cottage, covered with a fairy -mantle. She carried a beautiful child in her arms, swaddled in green -silk. - -'Nurse my child,' said the Fairy. - -The young woman, conscious to whom the child belonged, took it kindly in -her arms and laid it to her breast. - -The lady instantly disappeared, saying, 'Nurse kin', an' ne'er want!' - -The young mother nurtured the two babes, and was astonished whenever she -awoke at finding the richest suits of apparel for both children, with meat -of most delicious flavour. This food tasted, says tradition, like loaf -mixed with wine and honey. It possessed more miraculous properties than -the wilderness manna, preserving its relish even over the seventh day. - -On the approach of summer the Fairy lady came to see her child. It bounded -with joy when it beheld her. She was much delighted with its freshness and -activity, and taking it in her arms, she bade the nurse follow. Passing -through some scroggy woods, skirting the side of a beautiful green hill, -they walked midway up. On its sunward slope a door opened, disclosing a -beauteous porch, which they entered, and the turf closed behind them. The -Fairy dropped three drops of a precious dew on the nurse's left eye-lid, -and they entered a land of most pleasant and abundant promise. It was -watered with fine looping rivulets, and yellow with corn; the fairest -trees enclosed its fields, laden with fruit, which dropped honey. - -The nurse was rewarded with finest webs of cloth and food of ever-during -substance. Boxes of salves, for restoring mortal health and curing mortal -wounds and infirmities, were bestowed on her, with a promise of never -needing. - -The Fairy dropped a green dew over her right eye, and bade her look. She -beheld many of her lost friends and acquaintances doing menial drudgery, -reaping the corn and gathering the fruits. - -'This,' said she, 'is the punishment of evil deeds!' - -The Fairy passed her hand over her eye, and restored its mortal faculties. -She was conducted to the porch, but had the address to secure the heavenly -salve. - -She lived, and enjoyed the gift of discerning the earth-visiting spirits, -till she was the mother of many children; but happening to meet the Fairy -lady who gave her the child, she attempted to shake hands with her. - -'What e'e d'ye see me wi'?' whispered she. - -'Wi' them baith,' said the dame. - -She breathed on her eyes, and even the power of the box failed to restore -their gifts again!"(58) - -The element of romantic imagery is also manifest in the following -tradition:-- - -"A young man of Nithsdale, being on a love intrigue, was enchanted with -wild and delightful music and the sound of mingled voices, more charming -than aught that mortal breath could utter. With a romantic daring peculiar -to a Scottish lover he followed the sound, and discovered the fairy -banquet. A green table, with feet of gold, was placed across a small -rivulet, and richly furnished with pure bread and wines of sweetest -flavour. Their minstrelsy was raised from small reeds and stalks of corn. -He was invited to partake in the dance, and presented with a cup of wine. -He was allowed to depart, and was ever after endowed with the second -sight."(59) - -A vivid example of the method of restoring a "changeling" to its own -natural and innocent form has already been described in connection with -Sorbie village, in Wigtownshire. The following, quite as realistic, -describes a similar uncanny ceremony in Dumfriesshire:-- - -"A beautiful child, of Caerlaverock, in Nithsdale, on the second day of -its birth, and before its baptism, was changed, none knew how, for an -antiquated elf of hideous aspect. It kept the family awake with its -nightly yells; biting the mother's breasts; and would neither be cradled -or nursed. The mother, obliged to be from home, left it in charge of the -servant girl. - -The poor lass was sitting bemoaning herself. 'Wer't nae for thy girning -face I would knock the big, winnow the corn, and grun the meal!' - -'Lowse the cradle band,' quoth the elf, 'and tent the neighbours, an' I'll -work yer wark.' - -Up started the elf, the wind arose, the corn was chafed, the outlyers were -foddered, the hand-mill moved around, as by instinct, and the knocking -mell did its work with amazing rapidity. - -The lass and her elfin servant rested and diverted themselves, till, on -the mistress's approach, it was restored to the cradle, and began to yell -anew. The girl took the first opportunity of slyly telling her mistress -the adventure. - -'What'll we do wi' the wee diel?' said she. - -'I'll work it a pirn,' replied the lass. - -At the middle hour of night, the chimney-top was covered up, and every -inlet barred and closed. The embers were blown up until glowing hot, and -the maid, undressing the elf, tossed it on the fire. It uttered the -wildest and most piercing yells, and, in a moment, the fairies were heard -moaning at every wonted avenue, and rattling at the window boards, at the -chimney head, and at the door. - -'In the name o' God, bring back the bairn!' cried the lass. - -The window flew up; the earthly child was laid unharmed on the mother's -lap, while its grisly substitute flew up the chimney with a loud -laugh."[24](60) - -A further narrative, bringing out the idea of gratitude for a favour, and -resentment at insult, has been gleaned from the parish of Closeburn:-- - -"Two men were ploughing down, in Closeburn parish, when they both felt a -strong smell of burning cake. One of them said in an off-hand kind o' -way-- - -'Yer cake's burnin'.' - -'Make us a spurtle tae burn it wi', then,' said a voice apparently close -at hand. - -The man, good-naturedly, did as directed, and laid the article down on the -ground. On returning to the spot he found the spurtle taken away, and -bread and cheese left in its place. He partook of both, and likewise gave -some to his horses, but his companion would neither taste himself nor -allow his horses to taste. An affront of this kind could not be -overlooked, and he had not gone many steps until he dropped down dead in -the furrow."(61) - -A noted fairy tryste in this Nithsdale district was the Ward-Law Hill, -Dalswinton. It came to pass, however, that the green ring where the -fairies had danced and gambolled became in the times of the Persecution a -place of worship. On this account no longer could the fairy revelry and -dance continue, and it was firmly believed in the district that sounds of -lamentation and regret, proceeding from no earthly voices, were heard in -the neighbourhood of this favourite fairy-haunt for many years afterwards. - -The gardens of Drumlanrig Palace (Thornhill) were also a reputed -gathering-place of the fairies, who were often seen dancing in the -gloaming in the glade opposite to Jock o' the Horn.[25] - -There is a "Fairy Knowe" at Sanquhar, described by Simpson[26] as "a -beautiful little green knoll which overlooks what is called the Waird, ... -formerly covered with the waving broom, with green spaces here and there, -the dancing-places of the sportive fairies." - -The braes of Polveoch, at the west end of the Bank Wood, between -Kirkconnel and Sanquhar, was also a favourite trysting-place of the -fairies. "Here the good little folks assembled on May Day to celebrate the -advent of summer; contingents came in from Kello Water, Glen Aylmer, and -Glen Wharry, and when all had gathered together they rode merrily over the -knowes towards the Bale Hill, in whose sunward slope a beauteous doorway -was said to open for them, which they entered two at a time, the green -turf closing over the last pair to get in."(62) - -In Annandale the great fairy strength and palace lay in the heart of -Burnswark Hill. The reputation of these Annandale fairies seems to have -been rather disposed towards evil than good. Young men as well as young -women were carried off, the former to act as very slaves and beasts of -burden. The following is the account of the abduction of a young woman -belonging to Corrie:-- - -"One fair Corrie damsel, who was supposed to have died, appeared to her -brother, and informed him that she was not dead, but kept in bondage among -the fairies, who, when they carried her off, had left in the bed an image -of her, which had been buried in her stead. She entreated him to repair -alone to the barn on the following night, set open the doors, and watch -there till the hour of midnight, when he would see three forms pass before -him, of which she would be the last. She told him he was then to seize -fast hold of her, to repeat certain words which she instructed him to use, -and that he might thus effect her rescue. Unfortunately, the brother's -courage failed him when the hour of trial came, so that the captive sister -was never released from elfin thraldom and restored to her family."(63) - -It may be noted in passing that all the place-names in this district -ending in "sheen" refer to fairy occupation of the land. _Sidh_ -(pronounced shee) is a fairy, with the diminutive _sidhean_ (sheen), which -more especially carries the meaning of Fairy Hill. Examples of these may -be cited in Auchensheen, Colvend; Brishie, Minnigaff; Knocknishy, -Whithorn; and Shawn, Stoneykirk. - - -THE BROWNIE. - -The "Brownie,"[27] as already indicated, was a domestic spirit of a -familiar and useful kind. Grotesque in figure, small in stature, but very -strong, his presence and help were cheerfully accepted in the -farm-steading or household he elected to serve. His self-imposed and often -heavy task was always performed in the dark hours of the night. No work -came amiss to Brownie--reaping, threshing, sheep-shearing, and gathering, -churning, and even meaner kitchen drudgery--and all in the most -disinterested fashion, a bowl of cream, or as Nicholson phrases it, "a -cogfu' o' brose" being all that he would accept at their hands. The offer, -indeed, of other than this simple food, or the leaving out for him of -clothing, was fatal, and compelled Brownie, in obedience to some condition -of his existence not understood, to forsake the abode of the gift-givers -and depart, generally reluctantly, to seek other quarters. - -However arduous the efforts of the night it would seem that he was always -finished in sufficient good time to drink his cream at leasure and blow up -the smouldering embers of the fire to bask his full length in its warmth, -for at heart Brownie was, when not actually working, much disposed to take -his ease. At first cock-crow, however, he disappeared. - -Endowed with a life of many years, he seems to have been attached in some -instances to the same family for generations, but his service was only -given to good and worthy people, although isolated instances of help to -the unfortunate poor were common enough experiences. - -He would also seem to have had the moral welfare of young folks at heart, -and would seat himself at the kitchen fireside and listen to their -chatter. He was singularly alive to unworthy intentions, particularly in -connection with love affairs, which he took means of opposing in his own -way. - -The prosperity of the family with whom he had attached himself was -affected by their disposition and actions towards him, of which the -following is an example:-- - -"A place called Liethin Hall, in Dumfriesshire, was the hereditary -dwelling of a noted brownie. He had lived there, as he once communicated -in confidence to an old woman, for three hundred years. He appeared only -once to every new master, and indeed seldom shewed more than his hand to -anyone. On the decease of a beloved master he was heard to make moan, and -would not partake of his wonted delicacy for many days. The heir of the -land arrived from foreign parts and took possession of his father's -inheritance. The faithful Brownie shewed himself, and profered homage. The -spruce Laird was offended to see such a famine-faced, wrinkled domestic, -and ordered him meat and drink, with a new suit of clean livery. The -brownie departed, repeating loud and frequently these ruin-boding lines-- - - 'Ca, cuttie, ca! - A' the luck o' Liethin Ha' - Gangs wi' me to Bodsbeck Ha.' - -Liethin Ha' was, in a few years, in ruins, and 'bonnie Bodsbeck' -flourished under the luck-bringing patronage of the brownie."(64) - -In the olden days there was a brownie attached to the family of Maxwell of -Dalswinton said to be so energetic as to easily perform the work of ten -men, and threshing with such vigour as to keep the servants awake at -nights with the dirling of its elfin flail. - -He seems to have been passionately devoted to the service of the Laird's -daughter, a strikingly comely dame. A lover naturally appeared, and their -meetings were made all the easier through Brownie's help, and eventually -he saw his beloved lady married to a husband he heartily approved of. - -"In course of time the hour of need came nigh, and a servant was sent away -to bring the 'canny wife.' The night was dark as a December night could -be, and the wind was heavy among the groves of oak. The brownie, enraged -at the loitering serving-man, wrapped himself in his lady's fur cloak; and -though the Nith was foaming high flood, his steed, impelled by -supernatural spur and whip, passed it like an arrow. Mounting the dame -behind him, he took the deep water back again to the amazement of the -worthy woman, who beheld the red waves tumbling around her, yet the -steed's foot-locks were dry. - -'Ride nae by the auld pool,' quo' she, 'lest we should meet wi' Brownie.' - -He replied--'Fear nae, dame, ye've met a' the brownies ye will meet.' - -Placing her down at the hall gate, he hastened to the stable, where the -servant lad was just pulling on his boots; he unbuckled the bridle from -his steed, and gave him a most afflicting drubbing." - -There is a sequel to this story which does not end happily: "It was the -time of the Reformation; and a priest, more zealous than wise, exhorted -the Laird to have this Imp of Heathenism baptised, to which he in an evil -hour consented, and the worthy reforming saint concealed himself in the -barn to surprise the brownie at his work. He appeared like a little, -wrinkled, ancient man, and began his nightly moil. The priest leapt from -his ambush, and dashed the baptismal water in his face, solemnly repeating -the set form of Christian rite. The poor brownie set up a frightful and -agonising yell, and instantly vanished never to return."(65) - -Allan Cunningham further tells of a brownie of a humorous turn of mind who -held sway about Newabbey:--"The Abbey lands in the parish of Newabbey, -were the residence of a very sportive one. He loved to be, betimes, -somewhat mischievous. Two lasses, having made a fine bowlful of buttered -brose, had taken it into the byre to sup while it was yet dark. In the -haste of concealment they had brought but one spoon; so they placed the -bowl between them, and took a spoonful by turns. - -'I hae got but three sups,' cried the one, 'an' it's a' done!' - -'It's a' done, indeed,' cried the other. - -'Ha, ha!' laughed a third voice, 'Brownie has gotten the maist o't.'"(66) - -As indicating the great skill in gathering the sheep together, the -following tradition lingers in Galloway of a brownie who had spent the -night long at this task. In the morning not only had he the sheep -together, but amongst them was half a dozen hares. "Deil tak' thae wee -grey beasties," he muttered, when this was pointed out to him, "they cost -me mair fash than a' the lave o' them." - -In Scottish literature the brownie has a distinctive place, his unique and -wonder-creating personality being used with rare effect. It is, however, -the particular part of Scotland we are dealing with--the south-west--that -has produced the most typical examples, in prose as well as in poetry, for -Dumfriesshire claims that fine Covenanting story, "The Brownie of -Bodsbeck," while Galloway has yielded that inimitable poetical gem, "The -Brownie of Blednoch," the quotation of which in full may fittingly close -the chapter:-- - -THE BROWNIE OF BLEDNOCH. - - There cam a strange wight to our town-en' - And the fient a body did him ken'; - He tirled na lang, but he glided ben - Wi' a dreary, dreary hum. - - His face did glare like the glow o' the west, - When the drumlie cloud has it half o'ercast; - Or the struggling moon when she's sair distrest-- - O sirs! 'twas Aiken-drum. - - I trow the bauldest stood aback, - Wi' a gape and a glower till their lugs did crack, - As the shapeless phantom mum'ling spak-- - "Hae ye wark for Aiken-drum?" - - O had ye seen the bairns' fright, - As they stared at this wild and unyirthly wight, - As he stauket in 'tween the dark and the light, - And graned out, "Aiken-drum!" - - "Sauf us!" quoth Jock, "d'ye see sic een;" - Cries Kate, "There's a hole where a nose should hae been; - And the mouth's like a gash which a horn had ri'en; - Wow! keep's frae Aiken-drum!" - - The black dog, growling, cowered his tail, - The lassie swarfed, loot fa' the pail, - Rob's lingle brack as he men't the flail, - At the sight o' Aiken-drum. - - His matted head on his breast did rest, - A lang blue beard wan'ered down like a vest; - But the glare o' his e'e nae Bard hath exprest, - Nor the skimes o' Aiken-drum. - - Roun' his hairy form there was naething seen - But a philibeg o' the rashes green, - And his knotted knees played ay knoit between; - What a sight was Aiken-drum! - - On his wauchie arms three claws did meet, - As they trailed on the grun' by his taeless feet; - E'en the auld guidman himsel' did sweat, - To look at Aiken-drum. - - But he drew a score, himsel' did sain, - The auld wife tried, but her tongue was gane; - While the young ane closer clasped her wean, - And turned frae Aiken-drum. - - But the canny auld wife cam' till her breath, - And she deemed the Bible might ward aff scaith, - Be it benshee, bogle, ghaist, or wraith-- - But it fear'dna Aiken-drum. - - "His presence protect us!" quoth the auld guidman; - "What wad ye, whare won ye--by sea or by lan'? - I conjure ye speak--by the Beuk in my haun!" - What a grane gae Aiken-drum. - - "I lived in a lan' whar we saw nae sky, - I dwalt in a spot whare a burn rins na by; - But I'se dwall now wi' you, if ye like to try-- - Hae ye wark for Aiken-drum? - - "I'll shiel' a' your sheep i' the mornin' sune, - I'll berry your crap by the light o' the moon, - And baa the bairns wi' an unken'd tune, - If ye'll keep puir Aiken-drum. - - "I'll loup the linn when ye canna wade, - I'll kirn the kirn, and I'll turn the bread; - And the wildest fillie that ever ran rede - I'se tame't," quoth Aiken-drum! - - "To wear the tod frae the flock on the fell-- - To gather the dew frae the heather-bell-- - And to look at my face in your clear crystal well, - Might gie pleasure to Aiken-drum. - - "I'se seek nae guids, gear, bond, nor mark; - I use nae beddin', shoon, nor sark; - But a cogfu' o' brose 'tween the light and dark, - Is the wage o' Aiken-drum." - - Quoth the wylie auld wife, "The thing speaks weel; - Our workers are scant--we hae routh o' meal; - Gif he'll do as he says--be he man, be he de'il, - Wow! we'll try this Aiken-drum." - - But the wenches skirled "He's no' be here! - His eldritch look gars us swarf wi' fear, - And the fient a ane will the house come near, - If they think but o' Aiken-drum. - - "For a foul and a stalwart ghaist is he, - Despair sits brooding aboon his e'e bree, - And unchancie to light o' a maiden's e'e, - Is the grim glower o' Aiken-drum." - - "Puir slipmalabors! ye hae little wit; - Is'tna Hallowmas now, and the crap out yet?" - Sae she silenced them a' wi' a stamp o' her fit; - "Sit yer wa's down, Aiken-drum." - - Roun' a' that side what wark was dune, - By the streamer's gleam, or the glance o' the moon; - A word or a wish--and the Brownie cam' sune, - Sae helpfu' was Aiken-drum. - - But he slade ay awa' or the sun was up, - He ne'er could look straught on Macmillan's cup;[28] - They watched--but nane saw him his brose ever sup, - Nor a spune sought Aiken-drum. - - On Blednoch banks, and on crystal Cree, - For mony a day a toiled wight was he; - While the bairns played harmless roun' his knee, - Sae social was Aiken-drum. - - But a new-made wife, fu' o' rippish freaks, - Fond o' a things feat for the first five weeks, - Laid a mouldy pair o' her ain man's breeks; - By the brose o' Aiken-drum. - - Let the learned decide, when they convene, - What spell was him and the breeks between; - For frae that day forth he was nae mair seen, - And sair missed was Aiken-drum. - - He was heard by a herd gaun by the _Thrieve_, - Crying "Lang, lang now may I greet and grieve; - For alas! I hae gotten baith fee and leave, - O, luckless Aiken-drum." - - Awa'! ye wrangling sceptic tribe, - Wi' your _pros_ and your _cons_ wad ye decide - 'Gain the 'sponsible voice o' a hale country-side - On the facts 'bout Aiken-drum? - - Though the "Brownie o' Blednoch" lang be gane, - The mark o' his feet's left on mony a stane; - And mony a wife and mony a wean - Tell the feats o' Aiken-drum. - - E'en now, light loons that jibe and sneer - At spiritual guests and a' sic gear, - At the Glashnoch Mill hae swat wi' fear, - And looked roun' for Aiken-drum. - - And guidly fo'ks hae gotten a fright, - When the moon was set, and the stars gied nae light, - At the roaring linn in the howe o' the night, - Wi' sughs like Aiken-drum. - -[Illustration] - - - - -_CHAPTER V._ - -WRAITHS AND WARNINGS. - - "There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, - Than are dreamt of in our philosophy." - --_Hamlet._ - - -In the bygone days of a more primitive and simple life, widespread belief -existed in the outward and physical manifestation of the call of Death, -which took the form of what were commonly known as "wraiths" and -"warnings." - -The "wraith" was the natural-looking semblance of one about to die, or -just immediately dead, appearing life-like, usually at some distance from -the body, but so realistic as to be unvaryingly mistaken for the actual -person. A further point is, that such appearances gave rise to no fear or -apprehension unless seen at some considerable distance from their usual -surroundings. - -The "warning," on the other hand, refers to noises and sounds heard within -the immediate precincts of the sick-chamber, but without any physical -explanation or evidence of the cause, although the nature of the sound or -other phenomenon might be simple enough in character. Such unusual -occurrences happening under usual circumstances carried with them the -superstitious significance of the near presence of death. - -In dealing, firstly, with the wraith, it may at once be noted that a great -many accounts of such appearances are still existent in the south-west of -Scotland. - -The following is a hitherto unrecorded instance which happened in the -early twenties of last century in the neighbourhood of Dalbeattie:-- - -"In the late autumn of the year 182--, an old man, a cottar on a farm in -the parish of Buittle, was raising a basketful of potatoes in his 'yaird,' -on the rise of the hill slope that lifts itself into rugged prominence as -it stretches towards Palnackie past Kirkennan Woods. His son William was -away at Glencaple Quay (a distance of twelve miles as the crow flies) with -a Water of Urr sloop unloading timber, and was not expected home before -the end of the week. The old man had just finished his task when he very -distinctly saw the figure of his son passing from the roadway and turn -round the end of the house as if to go inside. Somewhat surprised, the old -man lifted his basket and walked down the garden path into the kitchen, -where his daughter Margaret was preparing the mid-day meal. - -'What brings Wullie hame 'ee noo, and whaur's he gaun?' was the double -query he put to his daughter. - -'Guidsake, faither! what are ye talkin' aboot? There's nae Wullie here,' -answered Margaret, startled out of her usual composure. - -'But I saw him come roon' the house-en', and he had a queer drawn look -aboot his face that fairly fleyed me! I houp there's naething happened -him!' - -The old man, almost absently, looked at the brass-faced clock ticking in -the corner between the fireplace and the white-scoured dresser, and saw -that it was ten minutes to twelve. In the evening twilight a messenger -rode up to the little homestead and broke the sad news of the death by -drowning of 'Wullie,' a few minutes before twelve that day, when the tide -was at its full, and almost at the very time that his father had seen his -semblance, with drawn face, pass the house-en'. He had fallen between the -side of the sloop and the quay wall, to almost immediately disappear, -very probably having received serious injury as he fell." - -Another typical example may be cited from the Glencairn district, the -folk-lore of which has been so exhaustively collected by Mr John Corrie:-- - -"One afternoon a well-known lady, Mrs G----, was setting out to call upon -a neighbour who lived about half-a-mile distant across the moor, when she -saw her friend, evidently bent upon the same errand, coming towards -herself. Retracing her steps, she entered the house again to wait her -friend's arrival. Her expected visitor not appearing, Mrs G---- went to -the door to see what detained her, but although she looked in every -direction there was no one to be seen. As the afternoon was now well -advanced, Mrs G---- decided to defer her visit until the following day. -Walking across on the morrow, she remarked in the course of conversation: - -'I saw you on the way to see me yesterday! What made you turn half-road?' - -'Me coming to see you!' exclaimed her friend, 'I can assure you I wasna -that, for I was scarce frae my ain fireside the hale day.' - -A week later Mrs G----'s friend and neighbour died, and her corpse was -carried to the churchyard, over the very track her wraith had appeared on -the afternoon of her intended call."(67) - -At Dunreggan, Moniaive, as curious an instance happened some fifty years -ago, when the father of a schoolboy, sitting at the fireside with his -wife, saw the semblance of his son enter the cottage and pass "doon the -hoose." Not greatly surprised, but still wondering, he called his wife's -attention to the early return of the boy from school. Very sceptical, and -assuring him that he must be mistaken, the good woman went herself into -the room, to find nothing there, although she looked behind the door and -elsewhere to make sure that no boyish prank was being played. Despite her -assurances the husband was not convinced, and remained in a very uneasy -state of mind, when soon afterwards his worst fears were realised, and the -body of the boy was brought home, to pass through the kitchen to be laid -upon the bed--"doon the hoose." - -MacTaggart, in his _Gallovidian Encyclopedia_, gives several examples, of -which the following instance which happened to a very intimate friend, of -whose intelligence and probity he had the highest regard, may be given:-- - -"Last vacans" (quoth he), "I gaed awa' to my uncle's, or rather my -grandfather's, to stap a week or twa, and play mysel' amang the -Moorhills, neive trouts, and learn twa or three tunes on the flute. Weel, -I hadna been there ony time aworth till I saw as queer a thing as ought -ever I saw, or may see. A'm out at the house-en' ae morning, about aught -o'clock, and a bonny harrest morning it was: Weel, ye see, a'm making a -bit grinwan to mysel' to tak' down wi' me to a deep pool that was i' the -burn fu' o' trouts, and this I was gaun to do after breakfast time, for as -yet I hadna gat my sowens. Weel, ye see, I'm tying on my grin wi' a bit o' -wax'd thread, whan by the house-en' comes my auld grandfather wi' his -clicked staff, that he ay had wi' him, in ae han', and in the tither his -auld loofie o' a mitten, which he hadna as yet drawn on. He cam' close by -me, and gaed a kinn o' a luik at what I was doing, then wised himsel' awa' -alang the hip o' o'e hill, to look how the nowt did, and twa young foals, -as was his usual wont. Weel, awa' he gaed; I was sae thrang when he gaed -by that I never spake to him, neither did he to me, and I began to think -about this when I was mair at leisure, and gaed a glent the road he tuik, -just to see like how the auld body was coming on, for he was on the -borders o' four score, yet a fearie fell auld carle, and as kine a body as -ever I saw; sae I gaed a glent, as I was saying, alang by the scarrow o'e -hill, and did see him winglan awa' by the back side o' the auld saugh -Lochan. And in course o' time, maybe no' ten minutes after, I stepped my -waes in to see gin I could get a cap or twa o' sowens and get off to the -trouts; whan wha think ye's just sitting on the sattle-stane at the -ingle-cheek taking a blaw o' the pipe--but auld granfaither. - -'Lord, preserve me,' said I, and said na mair; I glowr'd about me awsomly. - -'What's wrang wi' the boy?' (quoth my auntie). - -'Come out' (quo' I) 'and I'll tell ye,' which she did. - -We gaed up the hill a bit, to be sure, as she said, o' the thing I had -seen; we saw nought ava, and came back again in an unco way. That vera -night granfaither grew ill, which was on a Saturday teen, and he was dead, -puir body, or sax o'clock on Monday morning." - -From the Farm of Killumpha, in Kirkmaiden, comes another kindred -episode:-- - -"The farmer's wife, Mrs Anderson, had gone to Ayrshire on a visit to her -father. One night during her absence John M'Gurl, the cotman, was gaun -through the close after dark to take a look at the horses and see that -everything was right; for the outhouses were a good way from the -dwelling-house, maybe three hundred yards. When he was crossing ower from -the byres to go to the stable he saw a white-clad woman coming towards -him, which he thought was very like the figure of Mrs Anderson, and he -wondered if she had come back unexpectedly. She came quite close to him, -and he saw plainly it was her, and stopped to speak to her, but she -suddenly disappeared. Next night news came that Mrs Anderson was dead, and -had died suddenly."(68) - -At Balgreggan House, in the same district, a young woman in the service of -the house was much startled to meet, as she passed along a passage with a -lighted lamp in her hand, the semblance of a gentleman of the house, -attired in military dress, and whom she knew perfectly well was far from -his home at the time. The local confirmation of the uncanny nature of the -appearance bears that about the same time the gentleman had actually died -abroad. - -The last example to be quoted has a personal interest, being an incident -in the family history of the writer:-- - -One clear moonlight Sunday night, also in the early twenties of the last -century, a young girl, who afterwards became my paternal grandmother, was -returning home from a neighbouring farm in the near district of -Dalbeattie. She was walking along, with never a thought in her head of -anything approaching the supernatural, when to her dismay and -consternation she was noiselessly joined by a figure in white, who passed -through, be it noticed, and did not leap or jump over, a rough larch fence -running along the roadside. The figure accompanied her along a short -straight part of the road, then left her as noiselessly as it had -approached. Taking to her heels, and with only the spur that terror can -give, she reached her own door, to tumble into the farm kitchen and -collapse on the floor. - -[Illustration: "AN EERIE COMPANION." Sketch by J. Copland, Dundrennan.] - -The sequel of the episode is, that three days later, a coasting schooner, -in which her brother was a sailor, was caught in a strong gale of wind -whilst on the passage from Liverpool to the Water of Urr, and was never -more heard tell of. My grandfather, or rather the lad who was to be my -grandfather, scoured the Solway shore from point to point on horseback for -several days, but all that the sea gave up was a small wooden chisel -technically known as a "fid," used for splicing large ropes, and which -bore the initials of the young girl's brother, and which is now in the -writer's possession.[29] - -The "warning," at all events what is accepted as such, has many forms and -varieties. Some of the more commonly accepted forms are the switch-like -strokes, usually three in number, across the window of the sick-chamber, -or even other windows in the house; the falling of pictures without -apparent cause; the baying of dogs in the watches of the night; the -footfall and apparent sound of footsteps in the house, heard overhead or -coming along passages, or ascending or descending stairs, and so realistic -that the door is expectantly opened, only to find nothing there; the -stopping of clocks at the time of the passing of the spirit; and the noise -as of approaching wheels and crunching gravel at the doors of country -houses when death hovers near. - -Many examples and accounts of such things taking place are extant and -seriously believed in; indeed, there is not a parish in the whole district -we are treating of but on enquiry gives ample proof of the generality of -belief in such portents. - -Belief in the switch-like strokes across the window is in this district, -perhaps, the commonest of all. - -Of the footfall type an example may be quoted from Moniaive. It is told -how an old lady, in her younger days in the service of a medical man in -Moniaive, for a time heard persistent strange footfalls in an upper room -of the house. The doctor afterwards was seized with sudden illness, lay -down on a sofa and died over the very spot where the strange noises had -been heard. - -Only the other day an account of the mysterious stopping of a clock -associated with death appeared in the local newspapers, which may in part -be given:-- - -"Mrs Stoba, who lived alone in a cottage at Greenmill, Caerlaverock, died -suddenly during the night of Thursday last, from heart failure. Her blind -not being drawn up on Friday morning, some neighbours forced the door -about half-past ten, and found that she had passed away. It is a singular -coincidence that an eight-day clock which had been her property, and is -now in the house of her son, the burgh officer of Dumfries, stopped at -five minutes before midnight on Thursday, although it was wound up, and -there was no apparent reason for the stoppage."(69) - -A special form of warning is the "Licht before Death." In the parish of -Tynron it is recounted how this mysterious light illumined up, on one -occasion, the whole interior of a byre where a woman was engaged milking -cows, and how afterwards she learned that her mother had died the same -evening. - -Mr John Corrie (Moniaive) gives a good example of this form from the -parish of Glencairn:-- - -"An old Glencairn lady, on looking out of the door one dark night, saw a -strange light shining in the vicinity of a house where an acquaintance -lived. Entering the house she commented on what she had seen, and -expressed the hope that 'it wasna the deid licht.' Her fears were -ridiculed, but next morning it transpired that a member of the family over -whose dwelling the light was seen had committed suicide." - -There is another illustration from Glencairn, and perhaps a more valuable -one, on account of the precision of its details:-- - -"Peggy D----, when going to lock her door one night, saw a light go past, -carried, as she supposed, by a neighbour. There was nothing unusual in -this, but there was a high stone dyke with a flight of steps in it close -to the foot of the garden, and she was surprised to see the light and -supposed light-bearer pass right through the obstructing fence as if -nothing of the kind had been there, and although the ground below the -house was very uneven, the light itself was never lost sight of for a -moment. Peggy, rooted to the spot, watched the light go down through the -fields, then along the public road until the churchyard was reached. -When turning in that direction it passed through the locked gate with the -same apparent ease that the other obstacles had been surmounted, and, -entering the graveyard, became lost to sight among the tombstones. A week -later Peggy D----'s daughter was carried a corpse to the same -churchyard."(70) - -[Illustration: "DEID LICHTS." Sketch by J. Copland, Dundrennan.] - -Other old and significant terms associated with the premonition of death -are the "dead-watch," or "dede-chack," really the peculiar clicking noise -made by wood-worms; and the "dede-drap," which was the rather eerie sound -made by the intermittent falling of a drop of water from the eaves; and -"dead-bell," a tingling in the ears, believed to announce a friend's -death. - -Other expressions of a similar nature are the "dede-spall," which is the -semi-molten part of the grease of a candle (so called from its resemblance -to wood-shaving) when it falls over the edge in semi-circular form, and -which, if pronounced, and turning with an appearance of persistence toward -some person in particular, was supposed to indicate the approaching hand -of death. - -Another curious term is the "dede-nip," whose origin is a little more -puzzling. It is described as a blue mark which appears on the body of a -person about to die and without the physical explanation of a blow. It is -also associated with the "blew-spot" of witchcraft already described.[30] - -The following selected verses from "The Death of Dear-meal Johnny," by the -Bard of Corrie (Dumfriesshire), are quoted on account of their reference -to several of these old-world superstitious terms:-- - - "Oft his wraith had been seen gliding - 'Mang the meal sacks i' the spence, - Till the house, folks scarce could bide in, - Terrified maist out o' sense. - - 'Neath his head the death-watch tinkled, - Constant as the lapse of time; - Frae his bed the dead licht twinkled, - Wi' its blue and sulphurous flame. - - 'Neath the bed auld Bawty[31] scrapit, - A' day, thrang as thrang could be; - Made a hole, sae grave-like shapit, - Folk glowered quaking in to see. - - On the dreary kirkyaird road, aye - By night he raised sic eldritch howls; - Weel he kenned his maister's body - Soon must mix amang the mools. - - Frae the wattles dead-draps spatter'd; - At the can'les dead-speals hang; - Pyets rave the thack, and chatter'd; - In folk's lugs the dead-bell rang." - -The last class of warnings to be noticed are special appearances and -portents occurring before death in well-known local families. - -In the family of Kirkpatrick of Closeburn the tradition was, that when a -death was about to take place in the family a swan invariably made its -appearance on the loch that surrounded the castle. "The last omen of this -nature on record saddened the nuptials of Sir Thomas, the first baronet, -when marrying for the third time. On the wedding-day his son, Roger, went -out of the castle, and, happening to turn his eyes towards the loch, -descried the fatal bird. Returning, overwhelmed with melancholy, his -father rallied him on his desponding appearance, alleging a stepmother to -be the cause of his sadness, when the young man only answered 'Perhaps ere -long you may also be sorrowful,' expiring suddenly that very night."(71) - -The death of a member of the family of Craigdarroch is believed to be -heralded by a sudden and simultaneous peal of household bells. - -In Western Galloway there lingers a tradition concerning the old church of -Kirkmaiden (in Fernes), the ancient burying-place of the M'Cullochs of -Myrton, whose lands, in 1682, passed to the Maxwells of Monreith. When the -parish ceased to exist as a separate parish and was joined to that of -Glasserton, the pulpit and bell were removed to be taken across Luce Bay, -there to be placed in the new church of the same name of Kirkmaiden. -Although the day was fine and the wind fair, a storm sprang up, and down -went boat and bell to the bottom, for, as true believers knew, the bell -had been consecrated, and on no account could it ring 'neath the rafters -of a Presbyterian building. Yet, ring it did not cease to do, for on the -approaching death of any of the representatives of the old family of -Myrton a solemn knell comes up from the watery depths to record the -passing of the soul to the vast unknown. - - "An' certes, there are nane, I trow, - That by Kirkmaiden bide, - Will, when they hear the wraith-bell jow, - Gae oot at Lammastide." - -[Illustration: A MIDNIGHT REVEL.] - - - - -_CHAPTER VI._ - -DEATH CUSTOMS AND FUNERAL CEREMONY. - - "Or ever the silver cord be loosed." - --_Ecclesiastes xii. 6._ - - -When that sure hand called Death knocked at the cottar's or laird's door, -or stalked with unhalting step into moorland farm or upland home to beckon -away some weary inmate, the actual decease, or passing, was of itself -associated with significant observance. - -The nearest relative bent down to the dying face to receive the last -breath. The door was kept ajar,[32] although not too wide, that the spirit -might be untrammelled in its flight.[33] - -The spirit fled the poor dead eyes were closed, also by the nearest -relative, and generally kept so by means of copper coins placed upon them. - -The looking-glass in the death-chamber was covered with a white cloth. The -clock was stopped, or at least the striking-weight removed. The daily -routine of work was discontinued, such days of enforced idleness being -known as the "dead days." On the farm, for example, no matter the season, -the appropriate labour of ploughing, seed sowing, or even harvest, at once -ceased. The household companions of dog and cat were rigidly excluded from -the stricken house; indeed, it was not uncommon for the cat to be -imprisoned beneath an inverted tub, for it was believed that if either of -these animals should jump or cross over the dead body, the welfare of the -spirit of the deceased would certainly be affected. - -The body was then washed, and dressed in its last garments, the hands of -females being crossed over the breast, those of the other sex being -extended by the sides. Last of all a plate of salt was placed upon the -breast, either from the higher idea of future life being signified by the -salt, which is the emblem of perpetuity, or from a more practical notion, -however unlikely, that by this means the body would be prevented from -swelling. - -Of the curious custom of "sin-eating"--that is, the placing of a piece of -bread upon the salt by a recognised individual known as the sin-eater, -who, for money reward, at the same time partook of it, thereby, as it was -believed, absorbing to himself all the sins of the deceased--there is -little to be gleaned in this district. The term "dishaloof" still exists, -however, as a vestige of the custom in lowland Scotland.(72) - -There falls to be mentioned here a quaint superstition associated with -"bee folklore," as described by the late Patrick Dudgeon, Esq. of Cargen, -Kirkcudbrightshire, who specially studied this matter. The custom was, -when a death took place, to at once go to the bee-hives, or skeps, and -whisper the tidings of the sad event to the bees. This was followed by -"putting the bees in mourning"--that is, attaching black ribbons to each -of the skeps.[34] - -Mr Dudgeon, in a paper on the subject,(73) observes that "the custom was -very general some time ago, and several of my correspondents mention -instances of old people having seen it observed. It is not altogether -extinct yet." - -The last toilet completed, it was the usual custom for friends and -neighbours to manifest their sympathy by watching, or "waulking," the -dead. Through the long hours of night, by the glimmering candle-light at -the silent bedside, this was really a service that called for some -resolution, as tales of dead bodies coming back to life were fully -believed in these superstitious days. Occasionally special candles were -used for "the watching," known as Yule candles. These were the remains of -specially large candles burned at Yule, and extinguished at the close of -the day, what was left of the candle being carefully preserved and locked -away, to be burned at the owners' own "waulking." - -Visiting the house of the dead for the sake of seeing the corpse was a -regular practice, and, it may be added, that to touch the corpse was -considered a sure safeguard against all eerie dreams of death and ghostly -trappings, as well as a counter-influence to illness and disease. - -With the encoffining, or "kistin'" of the dead, a further, stage was -reached. The ceremony was apparently religious, and one of deep solemnity, -the minister, or one of his elders or deacons, attending to see the -remains of the deceased placed in the coffin, to offer up prayer, and -generally to console and sympathise with the bereaved. In reality, the -official presence of the minister, elder or deacon, was directly due to an -Act of Parliament,[35] actually framed and passed, incongruous as it may -appear, for the "improvement of Linen manufacture within the Kingdom." -The clerical representative was present in the house of mourning, to be -fully satisfied that "the corpse was shrouded in home made linen, and that -not exceeding in value twenty shillings per ell." - -This curious Act had as curious a sequel, for, prompted by an evident -spirit of fair dealing, the Linen Act was rescinded in the first -Parliament of Queen Anne in favour of a "Woollen Act," insisting upon the -exclusive use of "wool" as a material for shrouds, under exactly the same -pains and penalties as the previous Act laid down to compel the use of -linen. In course of time such rigid intrusive conditions, despite the law, -came to be disregarded, and people shrouded their dead as they thought -best, and in material of their own choice. It was, however, usual for the -undertaker to safeguard those concerned in any such infringement by -charging half the statutory fine in his account, taking credit to himself -for the other half as being the informer against himself. This was usually -entered as the first item of his undertaking expenses, being expressed in -his bill against the relatives as: "To paying the penalty under the Act -for burying in Scots Linen." - -The custom of relatives and intimate friends being at the encoffining or -"kistin'" is to some extent associated with the "lykewake," or -"latewake," of Roman Catholic usage. Although now quite unknown among -adherents of the Scottish Presbyterian Church, such wakes were at one time -common enough, even after the Reformation. They were, however, attended by -such unseemly behaviour that in 1645 the General Assembly passed an edict -to suppress them. - -[Illustration: FUNERAL HOSPITALITY. Sketch by J. Copland, Dundrennan.] - -That the custom still continued is brought out by the knowledge that in -1701 it was found necessary to revive and enforce the statute against the -practice. - -The culminating feature of the rites of bereavement, the funeral ceremony, -was in these old days (particularly between the years 1700 and 1800) an -occasion altogether outstanding in social importance. It was an occasion, -however, very often marred by the profuse liberality and use of -stimulants, lavish hospitality in the house of mourning being too -frequently followed by ludicrous and extraordinary results as the body was -being conveyed to its last resting-place. "A funeral party," for example, -"had wended their way for miles through deep snow over Eskdale Moor, bound -for Moffat Churchyard. On arriving at the burial-ground it was actually -discovered that they had dropped the coffin by the way, the back having -fallen from the cart on which it was being conveyed."(74) - -Ten o'clock in the morning saw the commencement of the funeral ceremonies, -this being so generally understood that no special hour was mentioned in -"the bidding to the buriall." The setting-out for the churchyard, however, -or the "liftin'," as it was termed, did not, as a rule, take place for -several hours later, and in many instances not until well on in the -afternoon. This delay, as well as giving ample time to partake of -refreshment, was really meant to enable all the guests to gather together, -many of them travelling long distances, which were not made shorter by bad -roads or inclement weather. A precaution sometimes taken before the -company moved off was to send someone to the top of the nearest height to -signal when the horizon was clear and no more guests in sight. - -The place of entertainment was usually the barn. Planks laid along the -tops of wooden trestles formed a large table, on which were piled up a -superabundance of food and drink, while a constant feature of the -entertainment was an imposing array of tobacco pipes already filled by the -women who had sat beside, or watched, the dead body. It was not considered -seemly for the women of the house to mingle with the male guests. The -usual custom in Galloway and Nithsdale was for the women folk to sit -together in a room apart. - -As the company gathered they formed themselves into relays--for the number -of guests as a rule exceeded the accommodation of even the largest -barn--and entered the place set aside for refreshment. This took the form -of what were known as "services," and these in their usual order were, -after each guest had been proffered a pipe of tobacco:-- - - (a) Bread and cheese, with ale and porter. - - (b) A glass of whisky, with again bread and cheese. - - (c) A glass of rum and biscuits. - - (d) A glass of brandy and currant bun. - - (e) Wine and shortbread (or burial bread). - -It was not, be it mentioned in passing, a very unusual thing for some of -the company to enter the barn again, and undertake the "services" a second -time. - -The natural consequence of all this is obvious, but to a certain extent -the situation could be saved by the use of a private receptacle called the -"droddy bottle," into which the liquor could be poured to be taken home, -or at least carried outside. Before partaking of each individual "service" -it was solemnised by the minister offering up an appropriate prayer, a -clerical task which must have been trying in the extreme. - -As instancing the prodigality of preparation in the way of food, notice -may be taken of a funeral in the parish of Mochrum, where two bushels (160 -lbs.) of shortbread were provided, and it is quite unnecessary to suggest -that the supply of spirits would be in proportion. - -The following account of funeral expenses, drawn from a Wigtownshire -farmer's book of expenses in 1794, may here be included, as it affords an -excellent illustration of how the expenses of an ordinary funeral were -swelled by the amounts paid for alcoholic liquor:-- - - Mrs G.--One gallon brandy £0 18 0 - 15 gills gin 0 7 6 - Six bottles of wine 0 17 0 - One gallon rum 0 16 0 - To the coffin 1 5 0 - To the mort-cloath and grave digging 0 2 0 - To bread 0 5 9 - J. C. for biding and walking and other attendance 0 4 0 - J. S. for whiskie and ale at sitting up 0 3 1 - -Of the expenses of funerals in a higher rank of life those incurred on the -deaths of Grierson of Lag and his third son, John Grierson, afford full -and interesting information. Mr John Grierson, third son of the Laird of -Lag, died early in 1730, and to one Jean Scott the purveying of the meat -and drink considered requisite for the friends attending the funeral was -entrusted. The bill came to about £160 Scots.[36] When the Laird himself -died, on the last day of the year 1733, there was a repetition of the -feasting and drinking at the house of the deceased, at the kirkyard, and -at an adjoining house, which had evidently been requisitioned for the -accommodation of several of the gentlemen, among whom were Lord Stormonth, -Sir Thomas Kirkpatrick, Maxwell of Carriel, and others who had come from a -distance to assist. The account begins two days before the death of the -Laird, and ends on January 14. In round figures the cost of the meat and -drink consumed at the Laird's funeral came to £240 Scots. - -The following are the detailed accounts:--(75) - -ACCOTT. OF THE FFUNERALS OF MR JOHN GRIERSONE. - - 1730. _To Jean Scott._ - - Feb. 23rd. 2 bottels clarit to these as set up all night wt - ye corps £0 3 0 - - do. 1 bottel of brandy for do. 0 1 6 - - Feb. 24th. 1 bottel of clarit when the sear-cloath[37] was - put on 0 1 6 - - do. 1 bottel clarit when the grave-cloaths was put on 0 1 6 - - do. At the in-coffining where the ladys was, 1 bottel - clarit, 2 bottels white wine, and 1 bottel - Cannary 0 6 2 - - do. In the beg room wt the Gentelmen before the corps - was transported--2 bottels white wine 0 3 0 - - do. When the company returned--10 bottels clarit 0 15 0 - - do. 2 bottels brandy for Gentelmen's Servts. 0 3 0 - - do. 2 bottels clarit to Sir Robert's Servts. 0 3 0 - - Feb. 26th. 1 bottel clarit to Sir Robert's Servts. 0 1 6 - - March 2nd. 1 bottel clarit to Sir Robert's Servts. 0 1 6 - - March 4th. 1 bottel clarit to Sir Robert's Servts. 0 1 6 - - March 5th. In the two rooms when at meat 22 bottels clarit 1 13 0 - - do. ffor the Servts. and Gentelmen's Servts., 4 - bottels of brandy 0 6 0 - - do. at night when the Gentelmen returned--25 - bottels of clarit 1 17 6 - - do. 2 bottels brandy to Rockhall wt bottels 0 3 0 - - March 6th. 2 bottels clarit at dinr wt Sr Walter Laurie and - Cariel 0 3 0 - - do. Ale from the 23rd of ffebr., till this day 1 19 6 - - do. To 1 baccon ham 0 9 0 - - do. To a rosting piece of beef 0 6 6 - - do. To a rost pigg 0 2 6 - - do. To 2 rost gease 0 3 0 - - do. To 1 rost turkey 0 4 0 - - do. To a calf's head stwed wt wine and oysstars 0 3 6 - - do. To 2 dish of neats' tongues 0 8 0 - - do. To 2 dish of capons and fowls 0 6 0 - - do. To a passtie 0 7 0 - - March 6th. To a dozn. of tearts 0 6 0 - - do. To 2 dozn. of mincht pys 0 8 0 - - do. To 1 quarter of rost mutton 0 3 6 - - do. To rost veal 0 3 6 - - do. To 1 barrel of oysters, 6 limmons, and other - pickels 0 4 0 - - do. To eating for Tennents and Servants 1 0 0 - - -The following is a note of some of the items of expenditure at the funeral -of the notorious Sir Robert Grierson of Lag himself:-- - - 1733. - - Decr. 29th. 2 bottles small clarit £0 3 0 - - do. 2 flint glasses 0 1 4 - - Decr. 30th. 4 bottles small clarit 0 6 0 - - 1734. - - Janr. 1st. 12 bottles strong clarit 1 4 0 - - do. 3 bottles ffrantinak 1 6 0 - - do. 3 bottles shirry 0 5 6 - - do. 1 bottle more brandy 0 1 6 - - Janr. 7th. 18 double flint glasses - - do. 1 £ double refined shugar - - Janr. 8th. 4 dozn. strong clarit to the lodgeing 4 16 0 - - do. 6 bottles ffrantinak do. 0 12 0 - - do. 6 bottles shirry do. 0 11 0 - - do. 6 more double flint glasses to ye lodgeing - - do. 12 bottles strong clarit sent out to the burying - place 1 4 0 - - do. 12 bottles more strong clarit at night to the - lodgeing 1 4 0 - - Janr. 9th. 4 wine glasses returned from Dunscore - - Janr. 12th. 2 bottles strong clarit to the lodgeing 0 4 0 - - do. 10 bottles strong clarit wt Carriel & more - Gentelmen 1 8 0 - - Janr. 14th. 2 bottles clarit wt Carriel 0 4 8 - - 8 dozn. empty bottles returned - - The Wines amounts to 14 5 5 - - The Entertainments to 6 10 0 - - 1734. ACCOMPT. OF HORSSES. - - Janr. 9th. 2 horses of Lord Stormonds, 2 nights' hay, oats, - & beans £0 5 0 - - do. 2 horses 2 nights, hay, oats, & beans, Sr Thomas - Kirkpatrk 0 5 0 - - do. the smith for Sr Thomas' horsses 0 2 0 - - Pyd. to Charles Herisse, smith, for iron work to - the Hearse 0 5 6 - - Mr Gilbert's horsses 1 4 6 - -Grim legend clings around the account of Lag's last illness and his -funeral. "During the latter part of his life Sir Robert had taken up his -abode in his town-lodging in Dumfries. It was an ancient pile of building -of singular construction, facing the principal part of the High Street of -the town, known as the 'Plainstones.' This old house was called the -'Turnpike,' from the spiral staircase, a characteristic of it, as of many -of the old Edinburgh houses; it was situated at the head of what was -called the Turnpike Close, and little more than two hundred yards from the -Nith. The best known of the many legends regarding Lag is this: that when -he came near his end, and was sorely tormented with gout, he had relays of -servants posted so as to hand up from one to another a succession of -buckets of cold water from the Nith, that he might cool his burning -limbs--but the moment his feet were inserted into the water it began to -fizz and boil. - -In this old Turnpike house[38] Sir Robert died on the 31st December, 1733. -It is related that on this occasion a 'corbie' (raven) of preternatural -blackness and malignity of aspect, perched himself on the coffin, and -would not be driven off, but accompanied the funeral cortčge to the grave -in the churchyard of Dunscore. - -Moreover, when the funeral procession started, and had got some little way -on the Galloway side of the Nith, it was found that the horses, with all -their struggles, and dripping with perspiration, from some mysterious -cause could move the hearse no further. Sir Thomas Kirkpatrick, of -Closeburn, the old friend and comrade of Lag (and his relative), who was -believed to be deep in some branches of the Black Art, was one of the -mourners. This gentleman, the stoutest of Non-jurors, on this occasion -swore a great oath that he would drive the hearse of Lag 'though ---- were -in it!' and ordered a team of beautiful Spanish horses of his own to be -harnessed in place of the others. Sir Thomas mounted and took the reins, -when the horses instantly dashed off at a furious gallop that he could in -no wise restrain, and abated nought of their headlong pace till they -reached the churchyard of Dunscore, where they suddenly pulled up--and -died."(76) - -When the funeral cortčge did start, as already indicated, curious though -quite consequent sequels were far from uncommon. Solemnity and deep -drinking only too frequently ended in unaffected hilarity or even -dissension. - -MacTaggart, in his _Gallovidian Encyclopędia_, has caught and well -recorded the boisterous spirit of this grim funeral festivity, as the -following graphic description amply shows:-- - -"At last the Laird o' the Bowertree Buss gaed his last pawt, was -straughted, dressed, coffined and a'; and I was bidden to his burial the -Tuesday after. There I gaed, and there were met a wheen fine boys. Tam o' -Todholes, and Wull o' the Slack war there; Neil Wulson, the fisher, and -Wull Rain, the gunner, too. The first service that came roun' was strong -farintosh, famous peat reek. There was nae grief amang us. The Laird had -plenty, had neither wife nor a wean, sae wha cud greet? We drew close to -ither, and began the cracks ding-dang, while every minute roun' came -anither reamin' service. I faun' the bees i' my head bizzin' strong i' a -wee time. The inside o' the burial house was like the inside o' a -Kelton-hill tent; a banter came frae the tae side of the room, and was -sent back wi' a jibe frae the ither. Lifting at last began to be talked -about, and at last lift we did. 'Whaever wished for a pouchfu' o' drink -might tak' it.' This was the order; sae mony a douce black coat hang side -wi' a heavy bottle. On we gaed wi' the Laird, his weight we faun' na. Wull -Weer we left ahin drunk on the spot. Rob Fisher took a sheer as we came -down the green brae, and landed himself in a rossen o' breers. -Whaup-nebbed Samuel fell aff the drift too. I saw him as we came across -Howmcraig; the drink was gaen frae him like couters. Whan we came to the -Taffdyke that rins cross Barrend there we laid the Laird down till we took -a rest awee. The inside o' pouches war than turned out, bottle after -bottle was touted owre; we rowed about, and some warsled. At last a game -at the quoits was proposed; we played, but how we played I kenna. Whan we -got tae the kirkyard the sun was jist plumpin' down; we pat the coffin -twice in the grave wrang, and as often had to draw't out again. We got it -to fit at last, and in wi' the moulds on't. The grave-digger we made a -beast o'." - -A notable exception to the practice of the period was the funeral of -William Burnes, father of the National Bard, who was borne from Lochlea to -Alloway Kirkyard, a distance of twelve miles, not a drop of anything -excepting a draught of water from a roadside stream being tasted. - -The funeral festivities, however, did not end with the lowering of the -dead into the grave. There yet remained the final entertainment at the -house of the bereaved. If within reasonable distance at all the funeral -party returned from the churchyard to partake of the entertainment known -as the "draigie,"[39] or "dredgy." Again the drinking was long and deep, -with results that can only too readily be imagined. - -But it must not be assumed that such scenes and proceedings passed without -protest on the part of the Church and those who had the welfare of decency -and morality at heart. The Presbytery of Penpont, for example, in 1736 -issued the following warning to their own district:-- - -"Yet further how unaccountable and scandalous are the large gatherings and -unbecoming behaviour at burials and 'lake-wacks,' also in some places how -many are grossly unmannerly in coming to burials without invitation. How -extravagant are many in their preparations for such occasions, and in -giving much drink, and driving it too frequently, before and after the -corpse is enterred, and keeping the company too long together; how many -scandalouslie drink until they be drunk on such occasions; this practice -cannot but be hurtfull, therefore ought to be discouraged and reformed, -and people that are not ashamed to be so vilely unmannerly as to thrust -themselves into such meetings without being called ought to be affronted." - -Despite protest and counsel, however, the custom of supplying refreshment -to mourners in the form of "services" lingered until well into the -nineteenth century. - -Much good was, however, done in the south-west district of Scotland by the -firm position taken up by Dr Henry Duncan of Ruthwell, Dumfriesshire, a -personality whose memory is still held in the highest esteem and respect. -The method adopted was characteristic of the man, and is described by -himself in the Statistical Account of his Parish:-- - -"The present incumbent fell on a simple expedient by which this practice -has been completely abolished. Having engaged the co-operation of some of -the leading men in the parish, he drew up a subscription paper, binding -the subscribers, among other less important regulations, to give only -_one_ service when they had the melancholy duty of presiding at a funeral -themselves, and to partake of only one service when they attended the -funeral of a neighbour. This paper was readily subscribed by almost every -head of a family in the parish, and whatever was injurious in the practice -was abolished at once, ... and, speaking generally, may be said to have -effectually rooted out the former practice throughout the whole -surrounding district" (March, 1834). - -After the funeral, certain old rites and customs were carried out. On the -death of a tenant the mart, or herezeld (heriot, or best aucht) was seized -by the landowner to substantiate his title. The bed and straw on which the -deceased had lain were burned in the open field. Concerning this practice -Joseph Train in a note to _Strains of the Mountain Muse_, describes how, -"as soon as the corpse is taken from the bed on which the person died, all -the straw or heather of which it was composed is taken out and burned in a -place where no beast can get near it, and they pretend to find next -morning in the ashes the print of the foot of that person in the family -who shall die first." - -A short reference may here be made to the custom of burial without -coffins. - -The spirit of economy went far indeed in these older days, for burial, -particularly of the poor, took place either without a coffin at all, or -they were carried to the grave in one of common and general use, from -which they were removed and buried when the grave-side was reached. - -A doubtful advance upon this method was the introduction of the -"slip-coffin," which permitted of a bolt being drawn when lowered to the -bottom of the grave. A hinged bottom was in this way relieved, which left -the poor dead body in the closest of contact with mother earth. The -motive, of course, was economy, and its use practically restricted to -paupers. On the authority of Edgar, author of _Old Church Life in -Scotland_ (1886), it is gratifying to note that none of these uncoffined -interments had taken place in the South of Scotland for at least 150 -years. - -In this connection a story somewhat against the "cloth" may be given:-- - -"A worthy Galloway minister, feeling that the newly-passed Poor Law Act -with its assessments was burdensome to his flock, seriously proposed to -the Parochial Board of his district that to narrow down the rates a -'slip-coffin' should be made for the poor, out of which the body could -be slipped into its narrow home. The proposal met with scant -consideration, and during the rest of his lifetime the well-meaning man -was known as 'Slip.'"(77) - -[Illustration: A GALLOWAY FUNERAL OF OTHER DAYS. Sketch by J. Copland, -Dundrennan.] - -Before the days of hearses the coffin was borne to the grave on two long -poles or hand-spokes. Over the simple bare coffin the "mort-cloth" was -spread, for the use of which the "Kirk-Session" made a charge, the money -received being devoted to the relief of the poor of the parish. As -superstitious custom refused the rites of Christian burial to those who -died by their own hand, so was also the use of the "mort-cloth" withheld. - -Until comparatively recent days the bodies of suicides were buried at the -meeting of four cross roads, or at all events at some lonely, unfrequented -spot, the remains having not unusually the additional indignity of being -impaled by a stake practised upon them. It is of interest to note that the -name of the "Stake Moss," Sanquhar, may be traced to this callous -practice. - -A superstition of the churchyard itself that still lingers and is worthy -of notice, is that the north side is less hallowed than the other portions -of "God's Acre." The origin of this comes from the Scriptural description -of the last judgment (Matthew xxv.), which tells how "He shall set the -sheep on His right hand, but the goats on His left." - -A recent local writer has thus embodied the idea and its probable -derivation:-- - -"This superstition (he says) is said to have originated in the New -Testament story of the Day of Judgment, when the Lord on entering His -house (the entrance of the old churches being at the west end, or on the -south near the west) would separate the sheep from the goats--the former -to His right hand, the south; and the latter to his left, the north. Our -forefathers would not see their dear ones among the goats, 'for evil,' -said they, 'is there.' This credulous imagining is not exemplified in the -kirkyard alone. Many of our old pre-Reformation churches exhibit evidence -of the superstition in the entire absence of windows in their north walls; -and in general it would appear that in medięval times there was a common -belief in the evil influence of the north, and that thence came all kinds -of ill. - -"In Sanquhar Kirkyard it is evident that the superstition prevailed until -comparatively modern times, for there are no headstones on the north side -of the kirk earlier than the beginning of the last century, all the older -monuments being to the south of the kirk, and at its east and west -ends."(78) - -To the simple earnest dweller in the country there comes at times the -thought that brings with it a comfort all its own, that after "life's -fitful fever" they will be quietly laid to rest underneath the green turf, -within the shadow of the kirk itself. Of this the origin of Carsphairn -parish, in the uplands of Galloway, gives telling proof; for in the year -1645 complaint was made to the Scottish Parliament that in the parishes of -Dairy and Kells numbers of people had to be buried in the fields, because -the houses in which they lived and died were twelve miles from a -churchyard. The issue of this was, that the district of Carsphairn was -erected into a separate parish, and the indignity of such burials came to -an end. - -Before closing a chapter devoted to "death custom" and "funeral ceremony," -the use of the "dead bell" must certainly be referred to. - -In these old days when methods of conveying news and information were -restricted, it was the routine practice when a death occurred for the -"beadle" (sexton) to go, bell in hand, around the district, pausing at -intervals to ring the "passing bell"[40] more particularly in front of the -houses of friends of the deceased, announcing at the same time not only -the death but also the day of burial. The usual form of his intimation -which, with uncovered head, he delivered was:-- - -"Brethren and sisters,--I hereby let ye to wit that our brother (or -sister), named (name, address, and occupation), departed this life at -----of the clock, according to the pleasure Almighty God, and you are all -invited to attend the funeral on ----." - -Particular reference to this custom in the town of Dumfries is given in -the Itinerary of John Ray, naturalist, who visited the town in August, -1662:-- - -"Here (he says) ... we observed the manner of their burials, which is -this: when anyone dies the sexton or bellman goeth about the streets, with -a small bell in his hand, which he tinkleth all along as he goeth, and now -and then he makes a stance, and proclaims who is dead, and invites the -people to come to the funeral." - -On the day of the funeral it was again customary for the "beadle" to ring -the bell, walking in front of the funeral procession ringing it as he -went. This is also noticed by Ray, who notes that "The people and -ministers ... accompany the corpse to the grave ... with the bell before -them." This usage has passed to a form, common enough to this day, -particularly in the country, of tolling the church bell as the funeral -cortčge approaches the churchyard. - -In the scarce _Book of Galloway_ it is recorded how "the beadle had rung -the 'passing bell[41] on the bellknowe of Penninghame,' and it was heard -again when the mourners approached the graveyard." - -The ringing of the "dead bell" had its origin in the superstitious idea -that by this means evil spirits were held at bay. - -[Illustration] - - - - -_CHAPTER VII._ - -GHOST LORE AND HAUNTED HOUSES. - - "There are many ghost stories which we do not feel at liberty to - challenge."--_Sir Walter Scott._ - - -Passing now to gather up the details of superstitious vestige as they -present themselves in the form of ghost traditions and memories of -ghost-haunted houses, we find in the district of Dumfries and Galloway -much of interest to set forth. - -Traversing from Western Galloway to Eastern Dumfriesshire, gleaning as we -go, the legend connected with Dunskey Castle, which yet in ruined solitude -stands sentinel over the rock-bound shore and restless sea at Portpatrick, -first calls for mention. - -The story goes back to the occupation of the Castle in the fourteenth -century by Walter de Curry, a turbulent sea rover, who, becoming much -incensed at the outspoken and fearless utterances of an Irish piper whom -he had taken prisoner and compelled to his service as minstrel and -jester, condemned the unfortunate man to a lingering death from starvation -in the Castle dungeons. - -Tradition asserts, however, that the piper found his way into a secret -subterranean passage leading from the Castle to a cave on the sea-shore, -from which, however, he was unable to find egress, and where he perished -miserably. - -Along this passage the troubled ghost of the piper was long reputed to -march, backwards and forwards, playing the weirdest of pipe music, and so -indicating, as was firmly believed, to the awe-stricken listeners above, -the line of direction of the secret underground passage.[42] - -Perhaps the best-known Galloway ghost story is that of the Ghost of -Galdenoch Tower, in the parish of Leswalt. The Tower was at one time the -property of the Agnews of Galdenoch, but falling on evil days their name -disappeared from the roll of proprietors, when it was used as a -farm-house. For this, however, it was given up, for no other reason than -that it was firmly believed to be haunted. The tradition as told by Sir -Andrew Agnew is as follows:-- - -"A scion of the house had fought in one of the battles for the Covenant, -and after a defeat had craved food and shelter at a house near the scene -of the disaster. He was admitted by the owner, a rough blustering fellow -of Royalist leanings, who allowed him to share in the family supper; and -after a long crack over the incidents of the day, let him make up a bed by -the ingle-side fire. The young soldier rose early, and was in the act of -leaving when his host barred his access to the door, grumbling that he -doubted whether he had been on the right side the day before. Convinced -that he meant to detain him, the youth produced his pistol and shot his -entertainer dead; then rushing to the stables, saddled up, and made his -way to the west. - -Arrived safely at the Galdenoch, the fatted calf was killed, and having -fought all his battles over again round the family board, he went to bed. -But hardly had the lights been extinguished in the tower than strange -sounds announced a new arrival, which proved to be the ghost of the slain -malignant, who not only disturbed the repose of his slayer, but made life -unendurable to all within. - -Nightly his pranks continued, and even after a change of owners the -annoyance was continued to the new tenant and his family. One cold -winter's night they sat round the kitchen fire playing a well-known game. -A burning stick passed merrily from hand to hand: - - 'About wi' that! about wi' that! - Keep alive the priest-cat!' - -The spark was extinguished, and the forfeit was about to be declared, when -one of the party, looking at the hearth, which was now one brilliant mass -of transparent red, observed, 'It wadna be hannie to steal a coal the -noo;' but hardly were the words out of his mouth when a glowing peat -disappeared as if by magic, leaving as clear a vacuum in the fire as when -a brick is displaced from a solid archway. 'That beats a',' was re-echoed -through the wondering group; and but a few moments elapsed before there -was a cry of 'Fire' and the farm-steading was in flames. In the thatch of -the barn that identical 'cube of fire' was inserted, and no one doubted -that it had been done by the ghost. The range of buildings was preserved -with difficulty by the united exertions of the party. - -The tenant's mother sat one morning at her spinning-wheel; an invisible -power bore her along, and plunged her in the Mill-Isle burn, a voice -mumbling the while, 'I'll dip thee, I'll draw thee,' till the old dame -became unconscious. Great was the surprise of the family at dinner-time -when grandmamma was missed. Every corner of the buildings was searched. -The goodman and his wife became alarmed, while the lads and lassies ran -madly about interrogating one another with 'Where's granny?' At last a -well-known voice was heard--'I've washed granny in the burn, and laid her -on the dyke to dry!' Away the whole party ran; and sure enough the poor -old woman lay naked on the dyke, half dead with cold and fright. - -Several of the neighbouring clergymen tried to lay this ghost, but all in -vain. If they sang, the ghost drowned the united efforts of the company. -Eventually, however, it was laid by the Rev. Mr Marshall of Kirkcolm, -already referred to as a zealous prosecutor of witches, by the almost -unclerical method of roaring and shouting it down."(79) - -On the confines of Stoneykirk parish, in the Moor of the Genoch, there is -a plantation locally known as "Lodnagappal Plantin',"[43] concerning which -report tells of an apparition in the form of a headless woman who almost -invariably carried a light for the dire purpose of luring the unwary to -death in the treacherous moss-holes so numerous in the neighbourhood. - -Fuller details are available of yet another "white woman" and her -unwelcome methods. Early last century, when the mail packet crossed from -Portpatrick to Ireland, a carrier, who lived at High Ardwell, regularly -journeyed backwards and forwards to Portpatrick to bring supplies for -the district. On his way home he was more than once alarmed and troubled -by a woman in white, who stopped his horse and even caused his cart to -break down. Once, indeed, the horse was so affected that it became quite -incapable of moving the load, compelling the carrier in great distress to -unyoke, and, mounting the horse, to make for home. His fears were not much -lessened by finding that the white lady was seated behind him. - -The appearances of the ghost became more frequent as time went on, and -eventually the white woman manifested a desire to embrace the carrier, -indicating that if he yielded even only to listen once to her whispered -devotion he might be freed altogether from future interference. The -carrier, after a good deal of doubt and hesitation, at last yielded, but, -wishing to have some substantial barrier between himself and his ghostly -lover, stipulated that she should come to the little back-window of his -cottage on a particular night. The appointed time came, but the carrier, -still very doubtful, had planned accordingly. Cautiously and partially was -the window opened. The white figure was there. Bending down to what -appeared to be the man's face--but what was really the skull of a horse -held towards her--there was a swift savage thrust of the ghostly face -and half of the protruding horse's skull was severed. Thwarted in this -unexpected way, the evil spirit slunk away, muttering "Hard, hard, are the -banes and gristle of your face!" At least that is what the tradition -tells. - -Another tale concerns Auchabrick House, in Kirkmaiden, not far from Port -Logan. The usually accepted story is pretty much as follows: The troth of -a young lady of the house was plighted to a young gentleman whose fortune -was not quite equal to his rank in life. It was the days of privateering, -and to amass some means the young fellow joined an enterprise of this -kind, and was fortunate enough to find himself aboard a superior and -successful vessel. - -Whilst abroad he sent home to the lady of his heart a silk dress and a -considerable sum of money. These, however, fell into the hands of an -unscrupulous brother, who appropriated them to his own use. Perplexed at -not receiving news from home and acknowledgment, the lover wrote again and -again, but the letters were always intercepted by the brother. - -Disaster came, and the wanderer never reached home to learn the true state -of matters, but his ghost came to haunt the place. Fasten the doors as -securely as they might, it always obtained an entry, and the scratch of a -ghostly pen was heard writing and rewriting the stolen letters. Different -plans were tried to relieve this eerie state of affairs. On one occasion a -Bible was placed behind the door through which the ghost seemed to pass, -but this was followed by terrifying and distracting noises, while the -house itself was shaken as if by storm and gale. - -It was also believed that the semblance of the ship on which the wanderer -pursued his calling as a privateer was at times seen to sail along a field -above the house. - -A variation of the main story is that it was a brother of one of the -former ladies of Auchabrick whose shade haunted the place. He had fallen -from his horse and been fatally injured, his ghost taking the form of a -young man, booted and spurred, riding a grey horse. - -At Cardrain, in the same locality, there is another tradition of an -apparition on horseback which time and again rode up to the house, made -fast the horse to a rope hanging from the thatch, then wandered all -through the place. - -In the neighbourhood of Tirally the shade of a departed medical man was -believed to frequent and wander along the sea-shore. There is an authentic -account of the house he occupied being of necessity given up by the tenant -who succeeded him after his death, on account of the strange persistent -and disturbing noises heard in it. - -Passing from the Rhinns of Galloway to the Machars, through the district -of Glenluce, the surprising story of the Devil of Glenluce should -naturally find a place. It will, however, be included in the Appendix, in -all its quaintness, as it occurs in _Satan's Invisible World_, published -in 1685. - -In the history of the town of Wigtown no character stands out in stronger -relief than Provost Coltran, proprietor of Drummorall. In 1683, along with -David Graham, brother of Claverhouse, and Sir Godfrey M'Culloch, he was -appointed to administer the test to the people of Galloway, and was Chief -Magistrate at the drowning of the Martyrs on Wigtown Sands (May 11th, -1685). His private character does not seem to have been beyond reproach, -and it was commonly said that in his life time he had sold himself to the -Devil. - -The story still lingers that at his death the windows of his house looked -as if they were in a blaze of fire, clearly indicating to the popular mind -that the Devil was getting his own, and for long afterwards his ghost, a -terrifying figure snorting fire from his nostrils, walked the earth. Even -the house where he lived and died was for many years avoided after -night-fall. - -Not far from the village of Bladnoch, on the farm of Kirkwaugh, is a spot -known as the Packman's Grave, round which a grim story lingers:-- - -"Tradition has it that an enterprising packman lived in or near Wigtown -long ago. He had a consignment of cloth on board a vessel which put into a -local port. The ship was plague-stricken, and the people in the district, -fearing that the infection might spread by means of the packman and his -cloth, seized both the merchant and his wares, and taking them to -Kirkwaugh dug a deep grave, in which they were deposited--the packman -alive. Even until lately people imagined they saw lights and heard knocks -at the spot, which gets the name of the Packman's Grave to this day."(80) - -Near Sorbie is the farm of Claunch, concerning which there is an old-world -memory of a spectral carriage and pair of horses. The origin of the -tradition is unknown, but the following is an authentic account of its -appearance furnished by a correspondent:-- - -"I can, however, recall the strange experience of one who avowed that it -had come within his ken. He was a blacksmith by trade, and had been doing -some work at the farm. It was a fine moonlight evening when he gathered -his tools together and started on his walk to Whithorn, where he lived. It -chanced that the farmer by whom he had been employed during the day -accompanied him as far as the entrance to the farmyard. As they were -crossing the courtyard, what certainly seemed a spectral carriage and pair -of horses galloped past them, and in another moment disappeared as if it -never had been. - -'What in the name of wonder was that?' ejaculated the smith; to which the -farmer replied-- - -'It's mair than I can tell--but it's no' the first glint o't I hae gotten, -although I haena seen't aften. But dinna ye come owre what ye hae -seen--nae guid'll come o' talkin' aboot it.'"(81) - -The old parish manse of Whithorn, which adjoined the churchyard near to -its main entrance, and which was demolished a good many years ago, had -rather an uncanny reputation, but nothing very definite can be gleaned to -explain this. It certainly was, however, avoided after darkness fell. A -little short lane off the public road, between the north end of Whithorn -and the Bishopton Crofts, is associated with an appearance denoting foul -play towards a very young child. But the most important ghostly -reminiscence that can be gathered in this locality refers to the ghost at -Craigdhu, in the parish of Glasserton, on the shore-road from Whithorn to -Port-William. The following account was communicated by a native of the -district:-- - -"Many rumours used to be afloat in my younger days of people being -terrified by some unearthly shape or other which was believed to show -itself at Craigdhu. Such stories were, however, rather conflicting, some -declaring that it was a spectre of human form and proportions, while -others held that it was more like a huge quadruped of an unknown species; -but I confine my notes to personal testimonies of three individuals whom I -knew. The first of these was a hard-working farm servant, who insisted -that he had seen the something--whatever it was--not once or twice, but -repeatedly. The second testifier was a wood-sawyer, who had occasion to -spend a night in the house belonging to the farm. His first consciousness -of the ghost's presence was when he was ascending the stair to the -sleeping apartment, which a companion and himself were to occupy. This was -manifested by the distinct sound of a lady's silk dress passing him and -his bed-fellow on their way to the garret which was to be their dormitory. -But that, though eerie enough, was nothing to what was to follow. As soon -as they had extinguished their candle and crept into bed _something_ leapt -on the bed and dealt the unfortunate couple some well directed blows with -what seemed like a heavy blunt instrument. The third witness was an -ex-magistrate of Whithorn, who told that he was almost run to earth by -the goblin. He was just able to evade it by reaching the farm-house door -as he was actually being overtaken. Throwing himself against the door, he -was admitted by the farmer himself without a moment's delay. The latter at -once conjectured the cause of his breathlessness and terror--'Aye! come -in, my frien', come in. I ken gey weel what has happened; but ye're safe -here, an' as welcome as I can mak' ye, to bide till daylicht.'"(82) - -The roofless ruin of the little pre-Reformation Church of Kirkmaiden (in -Fernes) in Glasserton parish, so beautifully situated on the very verge of -Luce Bay, has among other associations a tradition of supernatural -intervention and tragedy. - -Many tides have ebbed and flowed since the night of a merry gathering in -the old house of Moure, the original home of the Maxwells of Monreith. As -the evening wore on, some harmless rallying and boasting took place -concerning bravery and indifference towards darkness and things uncanny. -Among the guests was a young man in the hey-day of youth and recklessness, -who rashly wagered that he would that very night, and without delay, ride -to the Maiden Kirk and bring away the church bible as a proof that he had -been there. Amidst much careless talk and banter he galloped off. The -night wore on, but the young man did not return. As it was but a short -ride from Moure to the Kirk the greatest anxiety prevailed. Next day, in a -bleak spot, his dead body was found, as also his horse lying stiff beside -him. Of robbery and violence there was no evidence, but the entrails of -both man and beast had been carefully drawn from their bodies, and were -found twisted and entwined round some old thorn bushes close beside them. -It was afterwards found that he had reached the church and was on his way -back. - -Some ten miles northward, along this eastern shore of Luce Bay, are the -ruined Barracks of Auchenmalg, built in the days of the free-trade as a -means of suppressing the traffic. A whisper of the old building being -haunted exists, but further than that the idea is associated with some -deed of violence in the smuggling days nothing very definite can be -gleaned. - -Passing from Wigtownshire, by way of Kirkcowan, towards -Kirkcudbrightshire, it may be noted that Dr Trotter has preserved a ghost -story concerning Craighlaw House, originally a fifteenth century square -keep, now the oldest part of a mansion-house of three distinct periods. -The story conveys that the ghost appeared on one occasion by the side of -the large arched kitchen fire-place, during the absence of the cook at -the well. Much alarmed at the sight on her return she screamed and -collapsed. Her master, sceptical of anything supernatural, fervently -expressed the wish that he himself might meet the cause of the alarm, -which he actually did, and shot at it with no effect, much to his own -alarm. Dr Trotter adds that "since the ghost was laid everything has been -quiet."(83) - -In Kirkcudbrightshire, still passing eastwards, the legends and eerie -associations that cluster around Machermore Castle first meet us, and call -for narration. - -The following details are taken from an article entitled "The White Lady -of Machermore," contributed to the _Galloway Gazette_ some years ago by -James G. Kinna, author of the _History of the Parish of Minnigaff_:-- - -"Pleasantly situated on the east bank of the Cree, about a mile from the -town, Machermore Castle is a prominent feature in the landscape as the -traveller approaches Newton-Stewart by rail from the south. For wellnigh -three hundred years the grey old Castle of Machermore bravely weathered -the storms, and it would have continued to do so unscathed had not modern -times necessitated structural changes. The Castle now presents a happy -instance of the blending of the old and new styles of architecture--an -adaptation of the past to present requirements. - -It is a curious circumstance that although certain spots near Machermore -Castle have always been associated with the name of the White Lady no one -has ever actually seen the mysterious being. And yet there are few of the -older residenters in the parish of Minnigaff who have not heard their -grandfathers speak of her as a reality. - -Machermore Castle is believed to have been built about the latter end of -the sixteenth century. Tradition says that it was at first intended to -build the Castle on the higher ground, a little to the north-east of the -present site, but that during the night the foundation stones were always -removed, so that what was built during the day was carried off by unseen -hands and deposited in another place. As it was no use to strive against -the supernatural, the Castle was eventually built where the materials were -always found in the morning. - -In the Castle itself was a room reputed to be haunted. In this instance -the particular apartment was in the north-west angle, and was always known -as Duncan's room. Projecting from the top corner of the outer wall in the -same part of the Castle was the finely-carved figurehead of a man. A close -inspection revealed the fact that the neck was encircled by an -exquisitely-chiselled lace ruffle of the Tudor period. This piece of -sculpture was always known as Duncan's head. On the floor of Duncan's room -there was the mark of a bloody hand, distinctly showing the impress of the -fingers, thumb, and palm. It was said that removing that part of the -flooring had been tried so as to eradicate all trace of the bygone -tragedy, but the mark of the bloody hand appeared in the new wood as fresh -as before. From the history of Machermore at least this legend is -ineffaceable, and the annals of the parish of Minnigaff are incomplete -which do not contain a reference to this remarkable phenomenon. - -It is a good many years since the incident I am about to relate took -place, but the circumstances are as fresh in my memory as if it had -happened but yesternight; nor am I ever likely to forget my first and only -visit from the White Lady. On that occasion I happened to be the sole -occupant of Duncan's room, but as usage had worn off all prejudice against -the occupation of that particular bedroom amongst the members of the -household, little or no importance was attached to the general belief that -the room was haunted. - -It was a midsummer night, and I had been asleep, but had awakened, and -lay wondering what time it was, just as a clock on one of the landings -struck twelve. As the last stroke died away I distinctly heard a footstep -coming upstairs. All being perfectly quiet in the Castle at that hour, I -could hear the slightest sound. Nearer and nearer to the door of my room -came the midnight visitant, until it seemed to enter; but although the -room was flooded with moonlight I saw no one come in, yet I was perfectly -conscious that some mysterious presence was near me. I was not in the -least frightened at the time. Although wide awake I could see nothing. A -peculiar sound resembling the opening and shutting of a stiff drawer now -came from the corner of the room where was the impress of the bloody hand. -I then sat up in bed and called out, "Who's there? what do you want?" but -got no answer. After this I must confess to feeling uncomfortable, a state -which changed to something like positive fear as a rustling sound -resembling that made by a silk dress passed out of the room. All this time -the door remained closed. Nothing, therefore, possessing a material body -could either have entered or left the room without its entrance or exit -being noticed, but although I looked in the direction from which the -moving sound proceeded nothing could be seen. It was with a sense of -relief that I listened with bated breath and palpitating heart to the -retreating footsteps as they slowly descended the stairs and gradually -died away in the distance, and then all was silent again, ... and here the -mystery rests." - -There is a tradition that somewhere about Machermore Castle there is -buried under a flat stone a kettle full of gold: - - "Between the Castle and the River Cree - Lies enough o' gold to set a' Scotland free." - -The spell of the White Lady for good or evil is exercised no longer in the -ancestral home of the Dunbars of Machermore. - -Between Kirkdale House and Cassencarry, on the beautiful sea-girt road -leading from Creetown to Gatehouse, there stood many years ago a little -cottage in a sequestered situation among the woods, where a young girl was -murdered by her sweetheart under the saddest of circumstances. - -In and around the cottage immediately afterwards unaccountable noises were -heard, and the ghost of the unfortunate girl seen, which curiously enough, -as the tradition tells, at once ceased when the young man was brought to -justice. - -There is also a further tradition about a gypsy killing a woman near -Kirkdale Bridge. At twelve o'clock at night, it is said, the ghost of a -woman with half of her head cut off, and all clad in white, appears at -Kirkdale Bridge, and slowly wends its way along the road and disappears by -the wooded pathway leading to Kirkdale Bank.(84) This apparition is firmly -believed in by folks in that locality. - -The district of Dalry has furnished us with tales of witch and fairy lore. -Of ghost tradition there are also authentic details, of which the most -important concerns the old mansion-house of Glenlee. The following details -are extracts from a paper on the subject contributed to the _Gallovidian_ -(Winter, 1900):-- - -"In the north of Kirkcudbrightshire, in the beautiful district of the -Glenkens, on the banks of the Ken, nearly opposite to the village of Dalry -but on the other side of the river, stands the fine mansion-house of -Glenlee Park, at one time the residence of Lord Glenlee, one of the Judges -of the Court of Session. Silent and solitary, and untenanted for years now -except by a caretaker, this eligible residence has the reputation of being -haunted by a lady who walks about dressed in grey silk. - -A lady, who is still alive, tells how the grey lady appeared to her one -evening as she was sitting in front of her dressing-glass waiting on her -maid to come and do up her hair. While looking into the mirror she became -aware of someone or something behind her, and then saw a lady enter by the -door of her room, pass across the floor, and disappear through a door -which communicated with a dressing-room. As the house was full of company -at the time she wondered whether some of the strangers had mistaken the -way to her room; but she waited in vain for her return, and just as she -was thinking of going to explore the mystery it occurred to her that there -had been no sound of doors opening or of footfalls on the floor, nor was -there any sound in the direction in which the lady had disappeared, and -finally it struck her that the lady was not dressed like anyone in the -house. - -On another occasion the same lady was sitting up with her husband, who was -seriously ill, and during the night a kind of rap was heard on the door, -or about the door, which roused her to go and see what it was. Upon -opening the door a face stared at her, but spoke not, and passed silently -along the dimly-lighted corridor out of sight. - -A guest at Glenlee, before going off to some entertainment one evening ran -up to his bedroom for something or other, and to his surprise there was a -lady standing at his dressing-table putting some finishing touches to her -toilette. He at once withdrew, thinking that some of the ladies in the -hurry of the moment had gone into the wrong bedroom. When he came down -again they were all upon the point of departure, and called to him to come -along--but before getting into the carriage he said, - -'You have forgotten one of the ladies.' - -'Oh, no!' they said, 'everyone is here, and but for your lingering we -should have been off.' - -One evening at dark the butler was hastening down the avenue on some -errand to the lodge-keeper's, when suddenly a lady hurried past him, and -he heard nothing but a faint rustle as of her dress, or the faint -flickering of the remaining autumn leaves in the breeze overhead. As it -was at a time when all the ladies were supposed to be indoors curiosity -piqued him to follow her and watch her movements. She hurried on without -once looking round, and finally disappeared through a disused cellar door -which he knew to be locked and rusted from want of use. Not till then did -it strike the butler that there was anything uncanny about the lady that -had hurried past him in the gloom of the evening. - -No satisfactory explanation of these unpleasant experiences has ever been -established. - -Mr Blacklock, in his notes on _Twenty Years' Holidaying in the Glenkens_, -makes mention of the Glenlee ghost, and adds that Lady Ashburton was -said to have poisoned her husband, who was afflicted with _morbus -pediculus_. 'Whatsoever a man soweth that shall he also reap'--and there -is a further tradition that Lady Ashburton's butler poisoned her in turn, -in order to possess himself of some valuables which he coveted. - -[Illustration: THE HEADLESS PIPER OF PATIESTHORN. Sketch by J. Copland, -Dundrennan.] - -The disturbances are chiefly connected with the old part of the house, the -bedroom and dressing-room previously mentioned, which seem to be the chief -haunts of this yet unlaid ghost." - -In the village of Dalry itself there stood a row of houses called -Bogle-Hole, on the site now occupied by the school. In one of these houses -a man was said to have poisoned his wife, and the ghost of the murdered -woman has, according to credible authority, appeared even within recent -years. - -The following singular story is connected with the lonely district of the -Moor of Corsock: - -"Many years ago a drover, while making his way north and crossing that -wild and thinly populated district which lies between the head of the -parish of Parton and the Moor of Corsock had the following uncanny -experience: He had left the Parton district late in the afternoon with the -intention of reaching a farm-house some miles north of the village of -Corsock. By the time he reached the path over Corsock Hill, however, it -had become dark, and occasional flashes of lightning foretold that a storm -was at hand. With loud peals of thunder, vivid flashes of lightning, and a -downpour of rain the storm at last broke. The only shelter near at hand -was some thorn bushes by the roadside, under which the drover crept and -stayed for fully an hour, while the storm raged and the darkness -increased. When the storm had somewhat abated the drover set out once -more, hurrying as fast as the darkness would allow him. He had reached a -very desolate part of the moor when his collie gave a low whine and crept -close to his master's heels. The drover stood up for a moment to try and -find a reason for the dog's behaviour, when down in the glen between the -hills he heard what at first appeared the sound of bagpipes, which -increased quickly to a shrill piercing wailing that struck terror to his -heart, the collie creeping closer and closer to his heel whining in a way -that showed he was as much frightened as his master. - -Standing irresolute, a blaze of blue light flashed right in front of him, -in the centre of which appeared the figure of a piper, his pipes standing -like horns against the background of blue light. The figure moved -backwards and forwards playing the wildest of music all the time. It next -seemed to come nearer and nearer, and the drover, now transfixed to earth -with terror, saw that the piper was headless, and his body so thin that -surrounding hills and country could be seen right throught it. A blinding -flash of fire, followed by an ear-splitting clap of thunder, brought -matters to a close for the time being, and the drover fell prostrate among -the heather. When he recovered his senses the strange light had gone, and -with it the headless piper. The storm had cleared off, and in due time he -reached the farm, where he was put up for the night. When he told his -story no one spoke for a moment or two, then the farmer's aged father -broke silence: 'Aye, aye, lad, ye hae seen the ghost o' the piper wha was -murdered on his wey frae Patiesthorn.[44] I hae had the same fearsome -experience myself, tho' its mair than saxty years syne.'"(85) - -In the Dundrennan district of Kirkcudbright a persisted belief lingers -concerning a headless lady haunting the Buckland Glen. The following -narrative which has been handed down lends an increased interest to the -tradition:-- - -Long ago a Monkland farmer, accompanied by one of his farm-lads, was on -his return from Kirkcudbright at a very late hour. The farmer was riding a -small Highland pony, the boy being on foot. It was about midnight when -they got to that part of Buckland Glen where a small bridge crosses the -Buckland Burn. They had just crossed the bridge when the pony suddenly -stood up and swerved, almost throwing the farmer out of the saddle. - -"What's wrang wi' ye the nicht, Maggie--what's tae fricht ye, my lass?" - -"Eh, Maister, did ye see that?" whispered the lad. "See--yonner it's -again!" - -The old man looked, and muttering to himself whispered, "Aye, it's there, -laddie! It's a' true what hes been mony a time telt! That's the ghost o' -the headless leddy wha was murdered in the glen in the aul' wicked times. -We'll no gang by, but gang doon the lane and slip hame by Gilroanie." - -Turning the quivering pony they wended their way along the woods which -thickly fringe the Buckland Burn, as it leads to the shore at the -Manxman's Lake, and reached home without further difficulty than keeping -in hand the frightened pony. The curious fact was a week later discovered -that two disreputable characters had lain in wait, for the purpose of -robbery or perhaps worse, at a lonely turn on the Bombie road about a -quarter of a mile from Buckland Brig. They had learned that the farmer had -been to Kirkcudbright to draw a sum of money, and, had the sudden -appearance of the Buckland ghost not turned their path, another tragedy -might have been that night enacted in the Buckland Glen. - -[Illustration: THE GHOST OF BUCKLAND GLEN. Sketch by J. Copland, -Dundrennan.] - -Concerning the parish of Rerwick the account of "A true relation of an -apparition, expressions, and actings of a spirit which infested the house -of Andrew Mackie, in Ringcroft of Stocking, in the parish of Rerwick, in -the Stewartry of Kirkcudbright in Scotland, 1695, by Mr Alexander Telfair, -Minister of that parish, and attested by many other persons who were also -eye and ear witnesses," will be found in its original form in the -Appendix. - -One of the most interesting weird stories connected with Galloway, centres -round a mansion-house in the neighbourhood of Castle-Douglas. - -A lady renting it for a few years tells how she was twice or thrice -disturbed in the night by hearing a horse trotting round to the front -door, and on getting up to look out of the window always found there was -nothing to be seen, and nothing to be done but to return shivering to -bed. Several years after, returning to the neighbourhood, she met the -owner of the house, who asked her to go and see the improvements he had -recently effected. On being shown over the house she was told that the -room she had slept in had had the partition taken down between it and the -dressing-room next it to make a large room, and strangely enough, when -taking down the wall, a horse's skull was discovered built into the wall. - -The only connecting link to the above curious circumstance is that a -former proprietor paid a hurried visit to the town of Dumfries at the time -of the terrible epidemic of cholera (1832), the journey being naturally -accomplished in these days on horseback. Unfortunately, he contracted the -disease and died shortly after his return. - -Until some years ago a huge boulder lay at the roadside on the way from -Dalbeattie to Colvend, not far from the cottage known as the "Wood -Forester's." The story was, that this was the scene of foul play long ago, -the victim being a woman, whose ghost afterwards haunted the neighbourhood -in the black hours of the night. - -Bearing upon this, an exceedingly graphic account has been furnished the -writer of such an apparition having been seen by the captain of a local -coasting vessel[45] late one night as he was walking from Kippford to -Dalbeattie. It made its appearance near Aikieslak, which is the next house -to the "Wood Forester's," and not very far away. The figure walked in -front, stopped when he stopped, and finally disappeared, to his intense -relief, in the wood to the left. - -The parish of Kirkbean is particularly rich in ghostly record, no fewer -than six haunted, or once haunted localities having been noted.(86) -Traversing the parish from Southwick towards Newabbey, the first eerie -place of note is a field above Torrorie known as the "Murder Fall." The -ghost in this instance was that of a man who came to an untimely end by -hanging. - -Between Mainsriddel and Prestonmill there is a sequestered part of the -road known as "Derry's How," once reputed to be haunted by an evil spirit -in the form of a black four-footed beast. The third uncanny place was a -farm-house in this same immediate neighbourhood. The ghostly manifestation -was here that of sound--well-defined sounds of footsteps passing along a -passage to the foot of a staircase, pausing, then seeming to return along -the passage again. The sound persisted for many years, and was recognised -and described by different individuals always as footsteps, which of -themselves were so natural as to give rise to no alarm. - -Between Prestonmill and Kirkbean--midway between the two villages--there -is a small plantation, with, on the other side of the road, a larger wood. -The road itself at this particular part forms a hollow. This natural -arrangement of wood and road, known locally as the "Howlet's Close," was -the reputed domain of a "lady in white," but so little can be gleaned -concerning her appearance that even the origin of the tradition seems to -be quite forgotten. - -The "Three Cross Roads" near Arbigland is the next spot of ghost-lore -association, round which there lingers a rather romantic tale. A young -lady, a member of the well-known family of Craik (of Arbigland) had fixed -her affections upon a young groom in her father's employment, a lad of -good physique and manners, but, of course, apart in social status. The -course of true love, however, did not run true, the romantic attachment -having a most tragic ending. One day a single report of fire-arms was -heard, and soon afterwards the lifeless body of the young man, whose name -was Dunn, was discovered. The law took the view of suicide having been -committed, but it was generally believed in the district that a brother of -the young lady, incensed at her devotion to one he thought so far beneath -her, had himself taken the young man's life. This deed of violence took -place at the "Three Cross Roads," and this was the place where the -victim's ghost was afterwards reported to have been seen. - -Another part of the road on the confines of the parish, and near to where -it enters that of Newabbey, is associated with the midnight wanderings of -yet another "lady in white," but concerning this "poor ghost" also, -tradition withholds her story. - -There comes down through the long flight of centuries, a curious old story -of supernatural sequence to the tragic death of John Comyn at the high -altar of the Minorite Friary in Dumfries (February 10th, 1306), when the -impetuous dagger-thrust of the Bruce, followed by the death dealing -strokes of Kirkpatrick and Lindsay, completed the all-significant tale of -murder and sacrilege. - -The terrors of the day had passed, and night had fallen. With simple and -earnest pomp the death-watch over the slain was being held by the troubled -and anxious Friars. Wearily the hours dragged on. It was the dead of -night, and many of them slumbered--all indeed, save one aged Friar, who, -as the chronicler[46] tells, "with terror and astonishment heard a ghostly -voice mournfully call out, 'How long, O Lord, shall vengeance be -deferred?' and in reply an answering wail, 'Endure with patience until the -anniversary of this day shall return for the fifty-second time,'" rising -to the chancel roof with terrible clearness. The aged monk bowed his head, -praying earnestly that evil might be averted, but it was otherwise to fall -out. - -Fifty-two years have passed away, and the hand of hospitality is being -extended in the fortress of Caerlaverock Castle. In the great hall the -flickering firelight fitfully lights up the faces of two men who have been -served with a parting cup of wine, for the hour draws late. The host is -Roger Kirkpatrick, the guest James Lindsay, and they are the sons of -Kirkpatrick and Lindsay, whose daggers despatched the Red Comyn. Goodwill -and friendship evidently prevail as they rise to part for the night, but -the rift is in the lute, and an ugly savage look comes to the face of -Lindsay as he is left alone in his room in the west tower. - -An hour later a stealthy figure creeps up the eastern turret stair. There -is a single well-directed thrust, and deep sleep becomes the deeper sleep -of death, so sure has been the stroke that sends Roger Kirkpatrick, son of -"Mak' Siccar," to his doom. - -A bridled and a saddled steed stands beyond the confines of the castle -walls, and Lindsay, leaping to his seat, terror at his heart, rides into -the darkness of the night. Daybreak comes, the alarm is given, and almost -red-handed the murderer is taken, not three miles from the castle gates, -from which he had deemed himself many leagues away. - -Hurried to Dumfries, doom is pronounced, and the common place of execution -claims him for its own. The ghostly call of the night, "How long?" echoing -through the monastery walls, is fulfilled. - -With the history of the South-western district of Scotland the life story -of Sir Robert Grierson of Lag, or "Aul' Lag," as he is to this day called, -is intimately associated. In a previous chapter we have dealt with the -superstitious happenings at his death and funeral. Mention must now be -made of a legend which concerns the passing of his soul, and which is not -yet forgotten in Dumfries and Galloway. - -The year of grace, 1733, was wearing fast towards Yule, when one stormy -night a small vessel found herself overtaken, at the mouth of the Solway, -by a gale of wind that was almost too much for her. Close-hauled and -fighting for every foot of sea-way she was slowly forcing her way -up-channel against the angry north-west blast when a strange adventure -befel her. In a lull following a savage squall the moon broke through the -black flying cloud, lighting up the storm-tossed sea and revealing to -those aboard another struggling sail far astern. Curiously the seamen -gazed, but searching glance gave place to wonder, and wonder to fear, when -they saw what had at first seemed a craft like themselves, come rushing -onwards in the very teeth of the wind, and with as much ease as if running -"free" before it. The moon dipped, and again darkness descended on the -face of the waters, but not for long. Once again the moonlight pierced the -curtain of flying cloud. Then was seen what surely was the strangest craft -that ever sailed the tossing Solway sea--a great State-coach, drawn by six -jet-black horses, with out-riders, coachmen, and a great retinue of -torch-bearers, footmen, and followers, furiously driving onwards over the -foam-crested waves. As the phantom carriage plunged nearer, the skipper, -regaining some little of his courage, ran forwards, hailing in sailor -fashion--"Where bound? and where from?"--and the answer came back, clear -and distinct across the raging waters--"To tryst with Lag! Dumfries! -from--Hell!" - -[Illustration: "TO TRYST WITH LAG." Sketch by J. Copland, Dundrennan.] - -A similar legend exists in connection with the death of William, Duke of -Queensberry, appointed High Commissioner to James VII., 1685, and whose -attitude towards the Covenanters is still remembered against him. - -"Concerning the death of the Duke of Drumlanrig, _alias_ Queensberry, we -have the following relation: That a young man perfectly well acquainted -with the Duke (probably one of those he had formerly banished), being now -a sailor and in foreign countries, while the ship was upon the coast of -Naples and Sicily, near one of the burning mountains, one day they espied -a coach and six, all in black, going towards the mount with great -velocity; when it came past them they were so near that they could -perceive the dimensions and features of one that sat in it. - -The young man said to the rest--'If I could believe my own eyes, or if I -ever saw one like another, I would say that it is the Duke.' - -In an instant they heard an audible voice echo from the mount--'Open to -the Duke of Drumlanrig!' upon which the coach, now near the mount, -vanished. - -The young man took pen and paper, and upon his return found it exactly -answer the day and hour the Duke died."(87) - -Of Drumlanrig Castle itself, the writer of _Drumlanrig and the Douglases_ -notes, that "like all old baronial residences, this castle was believed to -be haunted by the ghosts of the dead. The most alarming legend was -connected with what was known as the 'Bloody Passage,' where a foul murder -had been committed, and the very spot was marked out by the stains of -blood, which no housemaid's scrubbing could obliterate. It is the passage -on the south side of the castle running above the drawing-room, from which -a number of bed-chambers enter. Here, at midnight, the perturbed spirit of -a lady, in her night clothes, parades, bewailing her sad fate, but by whom -she had suffered tradition tells not. There is also a haunted room on the -east side of the castle, on the fourth storey from the ground, where in -former times fearful noises used to be heard." - -Passing from Thornhill to Moniaive by way of Penpont and Tynron a -conspicuous land-mark is the truncated peak of Tynron Doon, the abrupt -ending of the hill range dividing the valley of the Scaur from that of the -Shinnel. Round Tynron Doon there linger memories of a spectre in the form -of a headless horseman restlessly riding a black horse. The local -tradition is, that the ghost was that of a young gentleman of the family -of M'Milligan of Dalgarnock, who had gone to offer his addresses to the -daughter of the Laird of Tynron Castle. His presence was objected to, -however, by one of the young lady's brothers. Hot words followed, and in -high wrath the suitor rode off; but mistaking his way he galloped over the -steepest part of the hill and broke his neck, and so, with curses and -words of evil on his very lips, his spirit was not allowed to pass -untroubled to the realms beyond. - -In the adjoining parish of Glencairn the following ghost vestiges have -been gleaned:--"At Auchenstroan and Marwhirn a white woman is seen; at -Pentoot and Gaps Mill 'pens' a crying child (supposed to have been -murdered) is heard. The Nut Wood at Maxwellton was long supposed to -harbour an emissary of the Evil One, and woe betide the traveller who -failed to gain the running waters of Cairn or Shinnel. Jarbruck and -Kirkland bridges were also of evil repute."(88) - -In the district of Sanquhar there are numerous stories of supernatural -appearance and ghostly visit. - -Connected with Sanquhar Castle, or Crichton Peel as it is otherwise -termed, now a ruined remnant, there are two distinctive ghost legends. - -The first is concerned with the fate--in the far-off old unhappy days--of -a servitor of Sir Thomas Kirkpatrick of Closeburn, who "suffered" -innocently at the hands of the sixth Lord Crichton. In this instance the -ghost was not seen, but manifested its presence by strange chain-clanking -noises within the castle walls. - -The other is yet another "Lady in White," whose rare appearance foretold -grief or misfortune to the Crichton family. The legend runs that it was -the ghost of a young maiden who had been wronged and murdered by one of -the Lords of Sanquhar. - -Littlemark, a small farm on the Eliock estate, three miles from Sanquhar, -was the scene, some two hundred years ago, of the murder of a pedlar, who -came into the district with a large and valuable quantity of goods carried -on a pack-horse. - -The ghost which was supposed to haunt the neighbourhood was curiously -enough not that of the pedlar himself, but took the form of the bundle or -"pack" itself, moving slowly above and along the ground. - -Stories which tell of the visitations and appearances of the ghost of -Abraham Crichton, erstwhile Provost of Sanquhar, are to this day well -remembered in the district. A merchant in Sanquhar, he seems in life to -have been a shrewd and active citizen, with the reputation of being very -wealthy. In 1734 he became Provost, succeeding his brother in that office, -and also inheriting the possession of Carco. But evil days came, and in -1741 he was declared a bankrupt. The deed which seems chiefly to have -marked him out for unrest in the next world was the share he took in the -abolition of the services in the old parish church of Kirkbride and of its -existence as a separate parish. An actual attempt, at his instigation, to -"ding doon the Whigs' sanctuary," to use his own expression, was -frustrated by Divine intervention--it was said--in the form of a violent -storm. The workmen were obliged to desist, and shortly afterwards Abraham -met his death by a fall from his horse near Dalpeddar. With this as an -introduction, let Dr Simpson continue the story as it is set down in the -_History of Sanquhar_:--"Though declared a bankrupt before his death, the -good people of Sanquhar were convinced that he must have somewhere -secreted his money, and acted a fradulent part. On this account it was -supposed that he could not rest in his grave, and hence the belief of his -frequent appearances in the sombre churchyard, to the affrightment of all -and sundry who passed near the burying-ground in the evening dusk. The -veritable apparition of this worthy was firmly credited by the populace, -who were kept in a state of perpetual alarm. Many a maid, with her -milk-pail on her head, dashed the whole to the ground when the ghost -showed himself at a kirkyard wall, and ran home screaming with affright, -and finally fell on the floor in a faint. The exploits of the resuscitated -Provost was endless. He assailed all who dared to pass near his -resting-place, young and old, men and women. The consternation became -universal, the attention of the whole district was directed to the -subject, which, indeed, became a topic of discussion throughout the -south-west of Scotland. Its merits were discussed also in the Edinburgh -forum, and attracted the attention of the learned North Briton, Thomas -Rudiman.[47] - -At length the matter came to a crisis, and it was found necessary to do -something to allay the popular excitement. In those days it was believed -that certain sacred charms were effectual in allaying a ghost, and that -the charm, whatever it might be, was chiefly to be employed by a minister -of the gospel. The next thing, then, was to find a person of this order -who had the sanctity and fortitude necessary to accomplish the feat. The -individual fixed on was a venerable minister of the name of Hunter, in the -parish of Penpont. During the night he went to the churchyard, and on the -following day gave out that he had laid Abraham's ghost, and that in -future no person need have the least alarm in passing the churchyard, as -he never again would trouble anyone. Mr Hunter's statement was implicitly -believed, and nothing supernatural has since been seen within the ancient -burying-ground of Sanquhar. To add to the seeming mystery which Mr Hunter -wished to keep up, when questioned on what he had said or done to the -spirit he replied, 'No person shall ever know that.' In order, however, to -prevent all such annoyances for the time coming, and to retain Abraham -more effectually within the bounds of his narrow cell, it was deemed -prudent to keep down the flat gravestone with a strong band of iron or -stout chain. This precaution, it was supposed, would keep the popular mind -more at ease." - -To Poldean, in Wamphray, situated at the north-west corner of the parish, -on the Annan, about five miles from Moffat, there is a curious old-world -ghost reference in _Law's Memorials_, edited by Kirkpatrick Sharp. In the -narrative, which is here given, Poldean is described as "Powdine in -Annandale":-- - -"Also in the south-west border of Scotland, in Annandale, there is a house -called Powdine belonging to a gentleman called Johnston; that house hath -been haunted these fifty or sixty years. At my coming to Worcester, 1651, -I spoke with the gentleman (being myself quartered within two miles of the -house). He told me many extraordinary relations consisting in his own -knowledge; and I carried him to my master, to whom he made the same -relations--noises and apparitions, drums and trumpets heard before the -last war; yea, he said, some English soldiers quartered in his house were -soundly beaten by that irresistible inhabitant.... He tells me that the -spirit now speaks, and appears frequently in the shape of a naked arm." - -Three and a half miles north-east of Lochmaben, on the banks of the Annan, -stands the turreted ruin of Spedlins Tower, the old home of the Jardines -of Applegarth. - -Grim, gaunt, and lonely, one of the best accredited ghost legends in the -south-west of Scotland lingers round its walls. The story has been told -many times, and the version here selected is that of Francis Grose, the -antiquary, who described the Tower in his _Antiquities of Scotland_ -(1789-91):-- - -"Spedlins Tower is chiefly famous for being haunted by a bogle or ghost. -As the relation will enliven the dullness of antiquarian disquisition, I -will here relate it as it was told me by an honest woman who resides on -the spot, and who, I will be sworn from her manner, believed every -syllable of it. In the time of the late Sir John Jardine's grandfather, a -person named Porteous, living in the parish of Applegarth, was taken up on -suspicion of setting fire to a mill, and confined in the lord's prison, -the pit or dungeon, at this castle. The lord being suddenly called to -Edinburgh on some pressing and unexpected business, in his hurry forgot to -leave the key of the pit, which he always held in his own custody. Before -he discovered his mistake and could send back the key--which he did the -moment he found it out--the man was starved to death, having first, -through the extremity of hunger, gnawed off one of his hands. Ever after -that time the castle was terribly haunted till a Chaplain of the family -exorcised and confined the bogle to the pit, whence it could never come -out, so long as a large Bible, which he had used on that business, -remained in the castle. It is said that the Chaplain did not long survive -this operation. The ghost, however, kept quietly within the bounds of his -prison till a long time after, when the Bible, which was used by the whole -family, required a new binding, for which purpose it was sent to -Edinburgh. The ghost, taking advantage of its absence, was extremely -boisterous in the pit, seeming as if it would break through the iron door, -and making a noise like that of a large bird fluttering its wings. The -Bible being returned, and the pit filled up, everything has since remained -perfectly quiet. But the good woman declared, that should it again be -taken off the premises no consideration whatever would induce her to -remain there a single night." - -Jardine Hall, the new home of the Jardines, to which the family had -removed, is situated on the opposite side of the river Annan, its windows -overlooking the old walls of Spedlins Tower. It also was by no means free -from a share of the haunting of the dead miller, for during the time the -Bible had gone to Edinburgh to be re-bound, the ghost, getting out of the -dungeon, crossed the river and presented itself at the new house, making a -great disturbance, and actually hauling the baronet and his lady out of -bed. Some accounts indeed, say that so terrifying was its behaviour that -the unhappy owner of Jardine Hall refused to wait until the Bible was -repaired, but recalled it hastily before it reached the Capital, in order -that its holy presence might quell the restless spirit and keep it -confined to its dungeon. - -The Bible which plays so prominent a part in the story is an old -black-letter edition, printed by Robert Baker, A.D. 1634. It is covered -with old calf-skin, and inclosed in a massive brass-bound box made out of -one of the old beams of Spedlins Tower itself, which, needless to say, is -most carefully preserved. - -The spirited ballad of "The Prisoner of Spedlins," by Robert Chambers, may -here not inappropriately be included:-- - - To Edinburgh, to Edinburgh, - The Jardine he maun ride; - He locks the gates behind him, - For lang he means to bide, - - And he, nor any of his train, - While minding thus to flit, - Thinks of the weary prisoner - Deep in the castle pit. - - They were not gane a day, a day, - A day but barely four, - When neighbours spake of dismal cries - Were heard from Spedlins Tower. - - They mingled wi' the sighs of trees - And the thud-thud o' the linn; - But nae ane thocht 'twas a deein' man - That made that eldrich din. - - At last they mind the gipsy loon - In dungeon lay unfed; - But ere the castle key was got - The gipsy loon was dead. - - They found the wretch stretch'd out at length - Upon the cold, cold stone, - With starting eyes and hollow cheek, - And arms peeled to the bone. - - * * * * * - - Now Spedlins is an eerie house, - For oft at mirk midnight - The wail of Porteous' starving cry - Fills a' that house wi' fright: - - "O let me out, O let me out, - Sharp hunger cuts me sore; - If ye suffer me to perish so, - I'll haunt you evermore." - - O sad, sad was the Jardine then, - His heart was sorely smit; - Till he could wish himself had been - Left in that deadly pit. - - But "Cheer up," cried his lady fair, - "'Tis purpose makes the sin; - And where the heart has had no part - God holds his creature clean." - - Then Jardine sought a holy man - To lay that vexing sprite; - And for a week that holy man - Was praying day and night. - - And all that time in Spedlins House - Was held a solemn fast, - Till the cries waxed low, and the boglebo - In the deep red sea was cast. - - * * * * * - - There lies a Bible in Spedlins Ha', - And while it there shall lie - Nae Jardine can tormented be - With Porteous' starving cry. - - But Applegarth's an altered man, - He is no longer gay; - The thought of Porteous clings to him - Until his dying day. - -The mansion-house of Knockhill, in the parish of Hoddom, was the scene of -a tragedy in the earlier part of last century, which had the sequence of -ghost visitation. It is referred to in the "Irvings of Hoddom," an -interesting contribution to the family history of the district. Shortly -the story is as follows:--A young man named Bell who had been -surreptitiously visiting his sweetheart, one of the maids in the house, -was heard by the butler, who shot him as he was escaping through a -basement window. The butler was tried and acquitted, but Knockhill was -afterwards haunted by the ghost of the victim so much that servants would -not remain. At last the proprietor, then a Mr Scott, asked the Rev. W. -Wallace Duncan, then helper to Mr Yorstoun, parish minister, to sleep in -the house, with the result, it is told, that from then the ghost -disappeared from Knockhill.(89) - -In this same parish of Hoddom, the student of Carlyle will remember that -"old John Orr," the only schoolmaster that Carlyle's father ever had, -"laid a ghost." It was in "some house or room at Orchard, in the parish of -Hoddom. He entered the haunted place, was closeted in it for some time, -speaking and praying. The ghost was really and truly laid, for no one -heard more of it."(90) - -Bonshaw Tower, on the Kirtle (parish of Annan), the original home of the -Irvings, also contributes to the ghost-lore of the district. - -Tradition tells that a daughter of the house was thrown from the -battlements of the Tower by her own relatives, whom she had deeply -incensed by her determination to marry a "Maxwell," with which family the -Irvings held long and bitter feud. It is, or rather was, the ghost of this -young lady who haunted the Tower of Bonshaw, but she has not been visible -within living memory. - -Blackett Tower, also on the Kirtle (parish of Kirkpatrick-Fleming), was a -border fortress well known in the records of border raid and foray. It was -for long the home of the family of Bell. - -The ruined tower has a ghost legend which claims it as the abode of a -spectre known as "Old Red-Cap, or Bloody Bell." A poetical descriptive -reference to the tower and its phantom occurs in the poem of "Fair Helen." -The passage is of undoubted vigour and masterly touch, and is here given, -the author, William Scott Irving, at the same time offering the opinion -"that the legends and anecdotes of 'Bloody Bell' would fill a large quarto -volume": - - Of Blackett's Towers strange tales are told: - The legendary lore of old, - That dread belief, whose mystic spell - Could people Gothic vault or cell - With being of terrific form, - And superstition bound the charm. - 'Tis said, that here, at the night's high noon, - When broad and red the eastern moon - Beams through the chinks of its vast saloon, - A ghastly phantom takes its stand - On the wall that frowns o'er wear and strand, - A bloody dagger in its hand, - And ever and aye on the hollow gale - Is heard its honorie and wail - Dying along the distant vale. - The 'nighted peasant starts aghast - To hear its shriekings on the blast; - Turns him to brave the wintry wind, - Nor dares he lingering look behind, - But hurries across the moaning flood, - And deems its waters swollen with blood-- - Such are the tales at Lyke-wake drear, - When the unholy hour of night draws near, - When the ban-dog howls, and the lights burn blue, - And the phantom fleets before the view; - When "Red-Cap" wakes his eldrich cry, - And the winds of the wold come moaning by.(91) - -The Old Hall of Ecclefechan (Kirkconnel Hall) is also supposed to be -haunted. Little is known about it, but the opinion has been expressed -that "the mysterious apparition of the 'Ha' Ghost' seems to have haunted -the place from the distant past, and its mysterious and noisy -demonstrations have from time to time disturbed the residents. It is said -to make its appearance before and at the time of the death of any member -of the family."(92) - -In the parish of Eskdalemuir there is a farm-house called Todshawhill. It -is on the Black Esk, about three miles in a south-westerly direction from -the Parish Church. With the name of this farm there is associated the -memory of something uncanny, known far and wide as the "Bogle of -Todshawhill." It seems rather to have been a "brownie" than a "ghost," but -some account of it is here given as described by Dr Brown and embodied in -an antiquarian account of the parish. According to Dr Brown, one of the -bogle's biographers, this creature made a stay of a week, less or more, at -Todshawhill farmhouse, disappearing for the most part during the day, only -to reappear towards evening. Its freaks and eccentricities very naturally -attracted a number of people to the neighbourhood, and among the number, -Thomas Bell from Westside, the neighbouring farmer, who, in order to -assure himself that it had flesh and blood like other folks, took it up -in his arms and fully satisfied himself that it had its ample share of -both. In appearance it resembled an old woman above the middle, with very -short legs and thighs, and it affected a style of walk at once so comical -and undignified that the Rev. Dr aforesaid was compelled to pronounce it -"waddling." The first intimation or indication of its presence in these -parts was given, I understand, at the head of Todshawhill Bog, where some -young callants who were engaged in fastening up the horses of the farm -heard a cry at some little distance off--"Tint, Tint, Tint"--to which one -of the lads, William Nichol by name, at once replied, "You shall not tine -and me here," and then the lads made off, helter-skelter, with the -misshapen little creature at their heels. In his terror one of the lads -fell head foremost into a hole or moss hag, and the creature, "waddling" -past him to get at the rest, came into violent contact with a cow, which, -naturally resenting such unceremonious treatment, pushed at it with its -horns, whereupon the creature replied, "God help me, what means the cow?" -This expression soothed, if it did not wholly allay, the fears of all -concerned, for they at once concluded that if the creature had been a -spirit it would not have mentioned the name of Deity in the way it -did.(93) - -The last account to be quoted of supernatural visitation in the -south-western district of Scotland is a particularly striking one, and is -taken from an interesting contribution to a recent number of _Chambers's -Journal_ dealing with apparitions:-- - -"In the Lowlands of Scotland stood an old manor house, where the owner's -wife was on her death-bed. The ancient furniture still remained in the -room, so the invalid lay in a four-post bed, with curtains all round it, -wherein many generations of the family had been born and died. The -curtains were drawn at its foot and on the side nearest the wall, but they -were open on the other to a blazing fire, before which sat an attendant -nurse. A tall screen on her left hand shielded her from the draught from a -door, whose top was visible above it; and as the nurse sat there she -became conscious that the door was opening and that a hand seemed to rest -for a moment on the top of the screen. Presently, as she watched, -half-paralysed with fear, a figure appeared from behind the screen--the -figure of a young woman clothed in a sacque of rich brocade, over a pink -silk petticoat, and wearing a head-dress of the time of Queen Anne. This -figure advanced with a gentle undulating movement to the bed and bent down -over it. Then the nurse jumped up and stretched out her hand to the -bell-pull; and, lo! when she looked again the figure had vanished, and her -patient lay there dead, with an expression of rapturous content on her -sunken face.(94) - -Later, when the last sad rites had been accomplished, this nurse wandered -into the picture gallery in company with the housekeeper, and pausing -before a certain portrait, exclaimed that there was the original of the -unknown lady. - -'Ah,' came the answer, 'that lady lived here when Queen Anne was on the -throne. They say she had a sad life with her lord, and died young. Ever -since she is believed, when the mistress of the manor dies, to appear -beside the bed, and--and'---- - -'You need not tell me more,' said the nurse, 'for I also have seen -her.'"(94) - -No account of superstitious belief in Galloway would be complete without -reference to three remarkable tracts, giving quaint and circumstantial -accounts of alleged supernatural visitations from the spirit-world beyond. -In their order of publication these are--(_a_) "The Surprising Story of -the Devil of Glenluce"; (_b_) "A True Account of an Apparition which -infested the house of Andrew Mackie, in Ringcroft, Parish of Rerwick, and -Stewartry of Kirkcudbright in 1695, ... Mr Alexander Telfair"; and (_c_) -"The Laird o' Coul's Ghost." - -The "Devil of Glenluce" first appeared in an old work on _Hydrostaticks_ -by George Sinclair, Professor of Philosophy and afterwards of Mathematics -in the University of Glasgow. This work was published in 1672. It was -again printed in his more important work, _Satan's Invisible World_, in -1685. The theme is concerned with the persecution of one Gilbert Campbell, -a weaver, and his family, in the village of Glenluce, by an evil and -tormenting spirit. As a chapbook this curious work had a very wide -circulation. - -The "True Account of the Rerwick Apparition" when first published called -for two editions within the first year, and with many alterations it was -also published in London under the title of "New Confutation of Sadducism, -being a narrative of a Spirit which infested the house of Andrew Mackie of -Ringcroft, Galloway, in 1695." Only the site of Ringcroft of Stoking, -marked by some old fir trees, remains, near the village of Auchencairn. - -"The Laird o' Coul's Ghost" seems to have originally appeared as a -chapbook, and is thought to have been first published in 1750. It is -supposed to be--and the purpose is quaintly carried out--an account of -four conferences which the Rev. William Ogilvie (Minister of Innerwick, -East Lothian, 1715-1729), held with the restless spirit of Thomas Maxwell, -Laird of Cuil, a small estate in the parish of Buittle, in Galloway, and -who in his lifetime had done a dishonourable action which tormented him -beyond the grave. - -As these tracts have a direct bearing on the general consideration of -superstitious record in the South-west of Scotland, and as they are not -particularly easy of access, it has been deemed advisable to reprint them, -and include them as an appendix to this volume. - -[Illustration] - - - - -APPENDIX. - - -"Surprising Story of the Devil of Glenluce," reprinted from _Satan's -Invisible World_, written by George Sinclair, and printed in Edinburgh in -the year 1685. - -This is that famous and notable Story of the Devil of Glenluce, which I -published in my _Hydrostaticks_, _anno_ 1672, and which since hath been -transcribed word by word by a learned pen, and published in the late book -intitutled _Saducismus Triumphaius_, whom nothing but the truth thereof, -and usefulness for refuting Atheism could have perswaded to transcribe. -The subject matter then of this story is a true and short account of the -troubles wherewith the family of one Gilbert Campbel, by profession a -Weaver in the old Parish of Glenluce in Galloway, was exercised. I have -adventured to publish it _de novo_ in this book, first because it was but -hudled up among purposes of another nature. But now I have reduced it to -its own proper place. Next, because this story is more full, being -enlarged with new additions, which were not in the former, and ends not so -abruptly, as the other did. - -It happened (says my informer, Gilbert Campbel's son, who was then a -student of philosophy in the Colledge of Glasgow) that after one Alexander -Agnew, a bold and sturdy beggar, who afterwards was hanged at Drumfries -for blasphemy, had threatened hurt to the familie because he had not -gotten such an almes as he required, the said Gilbert Campbel was -often-times hindered in the exercise of his calling, and yet could not -know by what means this was done. This Agnew, among many blasphemous -expressions had this one, when he was interrogate by the judges whether or -not he thought there was a God, he answered, he knew no God but salt, -meal, and water. When the stirs began first there was a whistling heard -both within and without the house. And Jennet Campbel, going one day to -the well to bring home some water, was conveyed with a shril whistling -about her ears, which made her say, "I would fain hear thee speake as well -as whistle." Hereupon it said, after a threatening manner, "I'le cast thee -Jennet into the well." The voice was most exactlie like the damsel's -voice, and did resemble it to the life. The gentlewoman that heard this -and was a witness thought the voice was very near to her own ears, and -said the whistling was such as children use to make with their smal -slender glass whistles. - -About the middle of November the Foul-Fiend came on with new and -extraordinary assaults, by throwing of stones in at the doors and windows -and down the chimney-head, which were of great quantity and thrown with -force, yet by God's providence there was not one person in the family that -was hurt. This did necessitate Gilbert Campbel to reveale that to the -Minister of the Parish and to some other neighbours and friends which -hitherto he had suffered secretly. Notwithstanding of this, his trouble -was enlarged; for not long after he found often-times his warp and threeds -cut as with a pair of sizzers, and not only so, but their apparel were cut -after the same manner, even while they were wearing them--their coats, -bonnets, hose, shoes--but could not discern how or by what mean. Only it -pleased God to preserve their persons, that the least harm was not done. -Yet in the night time they had not liberty to sleep, something coming and -pulling their bedcloaths and linnings off them and leaving their bodies -naked. Next their chests and trunks were opened and all things in them -strawed here and there. Likewise the parts of their working-instruments -which had escaped were carried away and hid in holes and bores of the -house, where hardly they could be found again. Nay, what ever piece of -cloath or household-stuff was in any part of the house it was carried away -and so cut and abused that the goodman was necessitate in all haste and -speed to remove and transport the rest to a neighbour's house, and he -himself compelled to quite the exercise of his calling, whereby he only -maintained his family. Yet he resolved to remain in his house for a -season; during which time some persons about, not very judicious, -counselled him to send his children out of the family here and there to -try whom the trouble did most follow, assuring him that this trouble was -not against the whole family, but against some one person or other in it, -whom he too willingly obeyed. Yet, for the space of four or five dayes -there were no remarkable assaults as before. The Minister hearing thereof -shewed him the evil of such a course, and assured him that if he repented -not and called back his children he might not expect that his trouble -would end in a right way. The children that were nigh by being brought -home, no trouble followed, till one of his sons called Thomas that was -farest off came home. Then did the Devil begin afresh, for upon the Lord's -Day following, in the afternoon, the house was set on fire; but by the -help of some neighbors going home from sermon, the fire was put out and -the house saved, not much loss being done. And Munday after being spent in -private prayer and fasting, the house was again set on fire upon the -Tuesday about nine o'clock in the morning, yet by the speedy help of -neighbors it was saved, little skaith being done. - -The Weaver being thus vexed and wearied both day and night, went to the -Minister of the Parish, an honest and Godly man, desiring him to let his -son Thomas abide with him for a time, who condescended, but withal assured -him that he would find himself deceived; and so it came to pass, for -notwithstanding that the lad was without the family yet were they that -remained in it sore troubled both in the day time and night season, so -that they were forced to wake till midnight and sometimes all the night -over, during which time the persons within the family suffered many -losses, as the cutting of their cloaths, the throwing of piets, the -pulling down of turff and feal from the roof and walls of the house, and -the stealing of their cloaths, and the pricking of their flesh and skin -with pins. - -Some Ministers about, having conveened at the place for a solemn -humiliation, perswaded Gilbert Campbel to call back his son Thomas, -notwithstanding of whatsoever hazard might follow. The boy returning home -affirmed that he heard a voice speak to him, forbidding him to enter -within the house or in any other place where his father's calling was -exercised. Yet he entered, but was sore abused, till he was forced to -return to the Minister's house again. - -Upon Munday, the 12 of February, the rest of the family began to hear a -voice speak to them, but could not well know from whence it came. Yet from -evening till midnight too much vain discourse was kept up with Satan, and -many idle and impertinent questions proposed, without that due fear of God -that should have been upon their spirits under so rare and extraordinary a -trial. They came that length in familiar discourse with the Foul-Thief -that they were no more afrayed to keep up the clash with him than to speak -to one another. In this they pleased him well, for he desired no better -than to have sacrifices offered to him. The Minister, hearing of this, -went to the house upon the Tuesday, being accompanied with some gentlemen, -one James Bailie of Carphin, Alexander Bailie of Dunraged, Mr Robert Hay, -and a gentlewoman called Mistris Douglas, whom the Minister's wife did -accompanie. - -At their first in-coming the Devil says, "_Quum literarum_, is good -Latine." These are the first words of the Latine rudiments which -schollars are taught when they go to the grammar school. He crys again, "A -dog." - -The Minister, thinking that he had spoken it to him, said, "He took it not -ill to be reviled by Satan, since his Master had troden that path before -him." - -Answered Satan, "It was not you, sir, I spoke it to; I meant by the dog -there," for there was a dog standing behind backs. - -This passing, they all went to prayer, which being ended, they heard a -voice speaking out of the ground from under a bed in the proper countrey -dialect, which he did counterfeit exactly, saying, "Would you know the -witches of Glenluce? I will tell you them"--and so related four or five -persons' names that went under a bad report. - -The Weaver informed the company that one of them was dead long ago. - -The Devil answered and said, "It is true, she is dead long ago, but her -spirit is living with us in the world." - -The Minister replied, saying (though it was not convenient to speak to -such an excommunicat and intercommuned person), "The Lord rebuke thee, -Satan, and put thee to silence; we are not to receive information from -thee whatsoever fame any person goes under; thou are seeking to seduce -this family, for Satan's kingdom is not divided against itself." - -After which all went to prayer again, which being ended (for during the -time of prayer no noise or trouble was made, except once that a loud -fearful youel was heard at a distance) the Devil with many threatnings -boasted and terrified the lad Tom, who had come back that day with the -Minister, that if he did not depart out of the house he would set all on -fire. - -The Minister answered and said, "The Lord will preserve the house and the -lad too, seeing he is one of the family and hath God's warrant to tarry in -it." - -The Fiend answered, "He shall not get liberty to tarry; he was once put -out already, and shal not abide here, though I should pursue him to the -end of the world." - -The Minister replied, "The Lord will stop thy malice against him." - -And then they all went to prayer again, which being ended, the Devil said, -"Give me a spade and a shovel, and depart from the house for seven days, -and I will make a grave and ly down in it, and shall trouble you no more." - -The goodman answered, "Not so much as a straw shal be given thee through -God's assistance, even though that would do it." The Minister also added, -"God shal remove thee in due time." - -The Spirit answered, "I will not remove for you; I have my commission from -Christ to tarry and vex this family." - -The Minister answered, "A permission thou hast indeed, but God will stop -it in due time." - -The Devil replied, "I have, sir, a commission which perhaps will last -longer than your own." - -The Minister died in the year 1655, in December. The Devil had told them -that he had given his commission to Tom to keep. - -The company enquired at the lad, who said there was a something put into -his pocket, but it did not tarry. - -After this the Minister and the gentlemen arose and went to the place -whence the voice seemed to come, to try if they could see or find any -thing. After diligent search, nothing being found, the gentlemen began to -say, "We think this voice speaks out of the children," for some of them -were in their beds. - -The Foul-Spirit answered, "You lie; God shall judge you for your lying, -and I and my father will come and fetch you to hell with warlock thieves:" -and so the Devil discharged the gentlemen to speak any thing, saying, "Let -him speak that hath a commission (meaning the Minister), for he is the -servant of God." - -The gentlemen, returning back with the Minister, sat down near the place -whence the voice seemed to come, and he opening his mouth spake to them -after this manner: "The Lord will rebuke this spirit in his own time and -cast it out." - -The Devil answering, said, "It is written in the _9th of Mark_, The -Disciples could not cast him out." - -The Minister replyed, "What the Disciples could not do, yet the Lord, -having hightned the parents' faith, for His own glory did cast him out and -so shall He thee." - -The Devil replyed, "It is written in the _4th of Luke_, 'And He departed -and left him for a season.'" - -The Minister said, "The Lord in the dayes of His humiliation not only got -the victory over Satan in that assault in the wilderness, but when he came -again his success was no better, for it is written (_John 14_), 'Behold -the Prince of this World cometh and hath nothing in me,' and being now in -glory He will fulfil His promise, and (_Rom. 16_) 'God shal bruise Satan -under your feet shortly.'" - -The Devil answered, "It is written (_Matth. 25_) 'There were ten virgins, -five wise & five foolish; and the bridegroom came, the foolish virgins had -no oyl in their lamps, and went unto the wise to seek oyl, and the wise -said, Go and buy for your selves; and while they went the bridegroom came -and entered in, and the door was shut, and the foolish virgins were sent -to hell's fire.'" - -The Minister answered, "The Lord knows the sincerity of His servants, and -though there be sin and folly in us here, yet there is a fountain opened -to the house of David for sin and for uncleanness. When He hath washen us -and pardoned our sins for His name's sake He will cast the unclean spirit -out of the land." - -The Devil answered and said, "Sir, you should have cited for that place of -Scripture the 13 chap. of _Zech._," and so he began at the first verse and -repeated several verses, and concluded with these words, "'In that day I -will cause the prophet and the unclean spirit pass out of the land'; but -afterwards it is written, 'I will smite the Shepherd, and the sheep shall -be scattered.'" - -The Minister answered and said, "Well are we that our blessed Shepherd was -smitten, and thereby hath bruised thy head, and albeit in the hour of His -sufferings His Disciples forsook Him (_Matth. 26_). Yet now having -ascended on high He sits in glory, and is preserving, gathering in, and -turning His hand upon His little ones, and will save His poor ones in this -family from thy malice." - -The Minister returning back a little and standing upon the floor, the -Devil said, "I knew not these Scriptures till my father taught me them." - -Then the Minister conjured him to tell whence he was. - -The Foul-Fiend replyed that he was an evil spirit come from the bottomless -pit of hell to vex this house, and that Satan was his father; and -presently there appeared a naked hand and an arm, from the elbow down, -beating upon the floor till the house did shake again, and also he uttered -a most fearful and loud cry, saying, "Come up, Father, come up; I will -send my father among you; see, there he is behind your backs." - -The Minister said, "I saw indeed an hand and an arm when the stroak was -given, and heard." - -The Devil said to him, "Say you that? It was not my hand, it was my -father's: my hand is more black in the loof." - -"O," said Gilbert Campbel, "that I might see thee as well as I hear thee!" - -"Would you see me?" says the Foul-Thief; "put out the candle and I shal -come butt the house among you like fire balls. I shall let you see me -indeed." - -Alexander Bailie of Dunraged says to the Minister, "Let us go ben and see -if there be any hand to be seen." - -The Devil answered, "No, let him come ben alone; he is a good honest man, -his single word may be believed." - -About this time the Devil abused Mr Robert Hay, a very honest gentleman, -very ill, with his tongue, calling him witch and warlock. A little after, -the Devil cryes (it seems out of purpose and in a purpose), "A witch, a -witch, ther's a witch sitting upon the ruist, take her away:" he meant a -hen sitting upon the balk of the house. - -These things being past, all went to prayer, during which time he was -silent. Prayer being ended, the Devil answered and said, "If the goodman's -son's prayers at the Colledge of Glasgow did not prevail with God: my -father and I had wrought a mischief here ere now." - -To which Alexander Bailie of Dunraged replied, "Well, well, I see you -confess there is a God, and that prayer prevails with Him, and therefore -we must pray to God, and commit the event to Him." - -To whom the Devil replied, "Yea, sir, you speak of prayer with your -broad-lipped hat (for the gentleman had lately gotten a hat in the fashion -with broad lipps). I'le bring a pair of shears from my father, which shall -clip the lipps off it a little." Whereupon he presently imagined that he -heard and felt a pair of shears going round about his hat, which caused -him lift it to see if the Foul-Thief had medled with it. - -During this time several things, but of less moment, passed, as that he -would have Tom a merchant, Rob a smith, John a minister, and Hue a lawier, -all which in some measure came to pass. As to Jennet, the goodman's -daughter, he cryes to her, "Jennet Campbel, Jennet Campbel, wilt thou cast -me thy belt?" - -Quoth she, "what a widdy would thou do with my belt?" - -"I would fain (says he) fasten my loose bones closs together with it." - -A younger daughter sitting busking her puppies, as young girls use to do, -being threatned by the Fiend that he would ding out her harns, that is, -brain her, answered without being concerned, "No, if God be to the fore," -and so fell to her work again. - -The goodwife of the house having brought out some bread was breaking it, -to give everyone of the company a piece. - -Cryes he, "Grissel Wyllie, Grissel Wyllie, give me a piece of that hard -bread (for so they call their oat cakes). I have gotten nothing this day -but a bit from Marrit"--that is, as they speak in that countrey, -Margaret. - -The Minister said, "Beware of that, for it is a sacrificing to the Devil." - -The girle was called for, and asked if she gave him any hard bread. "No," -says she, "but when I was eating my due piece this morning something came -and clicked it out of my hand." - -The evening being now far spent, it was thought fit that every one should -withdraw to his own home. Then did the Devil cry out fearfully, "Let not -the Minister goe home, I shall burn the house if he go," and many other -ways did he threaten. - -After the Minister had gone foorth Gilbert Campbel was very instant with -him to tarry, whereupon he returned, all the rest going home. When he came -into the house the Devil gave a great gaff of laughter: "You have now, -sir, done my bidding." - -"Not thine," answered the other, "but in obedience to God have I returned -to bear this man companie, whom thou doest afflict." Then did the Minister -call upon God, and when prayer was ended he discharged the Weaver and all -the persons of the familie to speak a word to the Devil, and when it spake -that they should only kneel down and speak to God. - -The Devil then roared mightily and cryed out, "What! will ye not speake to -me? I shall strike the bairns and do all manner of mischief." - -But after that time no answer was made to it, and so for a long time no -speech was heard. Several times hath he beat the children in their beds, -and the claps of his loof upon their buttocks would have been heard, but -without any trouble to them. While the Minister and gentlemen were -standing at the door readie to go home the Minister's wife and the -goodwife were within. - -Then cryed Satan, "Grissel, put out the candle." - -Sayes she to the Minister's wife, "Shall I do it?" - -"No," says the other, "For then you shal obey the Devil." - -Upon this he cryes again with a louder shout, "Put out the candle." The -candle still burns. The third time he cries, "Put out the candle," and no -obedience being given to him he did so often reiterate these words and -magnify his voice that it was astonishment to hear him, which made them -stop their ears, they thinking the sound was just at their ears. At last -the candle was put out. "Now," says he, "I'le trouble you no more this -night." - -I must insert here what I heard from one of the Ministers of that -Presbytrie, who with the rest were appointed to meet at the Weaver's house -for prayer and other exercises of that kind. When the day came, five only -met. But before they went in they stood a while in the croft, which layes -round about the house, consulting what to do. They resolved upon two -things--First, there should be no words of conjuration used, as commanding -him in the name of God to tell whence he was or to depart from the -familie, for which they thought they had no call from God. Secondly, that -when the Devil spake none should answer him, but hold on in their -worshipping of God and the duties they were called to. When all of them -had prayed by turns and three of them had spoken a word or two from the -Scripture, they prayed again, and then ended without any disturbance. When -that brother who informed me had gone out, one Hue Nisbet, one of the -company, came running after him, desiring him to come back, for he had -begun to whistle. "No," sayes the other, "I tarried as long as God called -me, but go in again I will not." - -After this the said Gilbert suffered much loss, and had many sad nights, -not two nights in one week free, and thus it continued till April; from -April till July he had some respite and ease, but after he was molested -with new assaults, and even their victuals were so abused that the family -was in hazard of starving, and that which they eat gave them not their -ordinary satisfaction they were wont to find. - -In this sore and sad affliction Gilbert Campbel resolved to make his -addresses to the Synod of Presbyters for advice and counsel what to do, -which was appointed to conveen in October, 1655--namely, whether to -forsake the house or not? The Synod, by their committy appointed to meet -at Glenluce in February, 1656, thought fit that a solemn humiliation -should be kept through all the bounds of the Synod; and, among other -causes, to request God in behalf of that afflicted family, which, being -done carefully, the event was that his troubles grew less till April, and -from April to August he was altogether free. About which time the Devil -began with new assaults, and taking the ready meat that was in the house -did sometimes hide it in holes by the door-posts, and at other times did -hide it under the beds, and sometimes among the bedcloaths, and under the -linnings, and at last did carry it quite away, till nothing was left -there, save bread and water. This minds me of a small passage, as a proof -of what is said. The goodwife one morning making pottage for the -children's breakfasts had the tree-plate, wherein the meal lay, snatched -from her quickly. - -"Well," says she, "let me have the plate again." Whereupon it came flying -at her without any skaith done. 'Tis like if she had sought the meale too -she might have got it; such is his civility when he is entreated. A small -homage will please him ere he want all. After this he exercised his malice -and cruelty against all persons in the family in wearying them in the -night time by stirring and moving thorow the house, so that they had no -rest for noise, which continued all the moneth of August after this -manner. After which time the Devil grew yet worse by roaring, and -terrifying them by casting of stones, by striking them with staves on -their beds in the night time. And upon the 18 of September, about -midnight, he cryed out with a loud voice, "I shall burn the house." And -about three or four nights after he set one of the beds on fire, which was -soon put out without any prejudice, except the bed itself. - -Thus I have written a short and true account of all the material passages -which occurred. To write every particular, especially of lesser moment, -would fill a large volum. The goodman lived several years after this in -the same house; and it seems that by some conjuration or other the Devil -suffered himself to be put away, and gave the Weaver a peaceable -habitation. This Weaver has been a very odd man that endured so long these -marvellous disturbances. - - -"A True Relation of an Apparition, Expressions and Actings, of a Spirit -which infested the house of Andrew Mackie, in Ringcroft of Stocking, in -the Parish of Rerwick, in the Stewartry of Kirkcudbright, in Scotland." -Printed in Edinburgh by George Mosman, and sold at his shop in the -Parliament Close, 1696. - -Whereas many are desirous to know the truth of the matter, as to the Evil -Spirit and its actings, that troubled the family of Andrew Mackie, in -Ringcroft of Stocking, &c., and are liable to be mis-informed, as I do -find by the reports that come to my own ears of that matter; therefore -that satisfaction may be given, and such mistakes cured or prevented, I, -the Minister of the said parish (who was present several times, and was -witness to many of its actings, and have heard an account of the whole of -its methods and actings from the persons present, towards whom, and before -whom it did act), have given the ensuing and short account of the whole -matter, which I can attest to be the very truth as to that affair; and -before I come to the relation itself, I premise these things with respect -to what might have been the occasion and rise of that spirit's appearing -and acting. - -1. The said Andrew Mackie being a mason to his employment, 'tis given out, -that when he took the mason word, he devoted his first child to the Devil; -but I am certainly informed he never took the same, and knows not what -that word is. He is outwardly moral; there is nothing known to his life -and conversation, but honest, civil, and harmless, beyond many of his -neighbours; doth delight in the company of the best; and when he was under -the trouble of that evil spirit, did pray to the great satisfaction of -many. As for his wife and children, none have imputed any thing to them as -the rise of it, nor is there any ground, for aught I know, for any to do -so. - -2. Whereas it is given out that a woman, _sub mala fama_, did leave some -clothes in that house in the custody of the said Andrew Mackie, and died -before they were given up to her, and he and his wife should have kept -some of them back from her friends. I did seriously pose both him and his -wife upon the matter; they declared they knew not what things were left, -being bound up in a sack, but did deliver entirely to her friends all they -received from the woman, which I am apt to believe. - -[Illustration: "RINGCROFT OF STOCKING," NOW NO LONGER IN EXISTENCE. -(Sketch by J. Copland, Dundrennan.)] - -3. Whereas one, ---- Macknaught, who sometime before possessed the house, -did not thrive in his own person or goods. It seems he had sent his son to -a witch-wife who lived then at the Routing Bridge, in the parish of -Irongray, to enquire what might be the cause of the decay of his person -and goods. The youth, meeting with some foreign soldiers, went abroad to -Flanders, and did not return with an answer. Some years after there was -one John Redick in this parish who, having had occasion to go abroad, met -with the said young Macknaught in Flanders, and they knowing other, -Macknaught enquired after his father and other friends; and finding the -said John Redick was to go home, desired him to go to his father, or -whoever dwelt in the Ringcroft, and desire them to raise the door -threshold, and search till they found a tooth, and burn it, for none who -dwelt in that house would thrive till that was done. The said John Redick -coming home, and finding the old man Macknaught dead and his wife out of -that place, did never mention the matter nor further mind it till this -trouble was in Andrew Mackie's family, then he spoke of it and told the -matter to myself. Betwixt Macknaught's death and Andrew Mackie's -possession of this house there was one Thomas Telfair who possessed it -some years. What way he heard the report of what the witch-wife had said -to Macknaught's son I cannot tell; but he searched the door threshold and -found something like a tooth, did compare it with the tooth of a man, -horse, nolt, and sheep (as he said to me), but could not say which it did -resemble, only it did resemble a tooth. He did cast it into the fire, -where it burnt like a candle or so much tallow; yet he never knew any -trouble about that house by night or by day, before or after, during his -possession. These things premised being suspected to have been the -occasion of the troubles, and there being no more known as to them than -what is now declared, I do think the matter still unknown what may have -given a rise thereto, but leaving this I subjoin the matter as follows: - -In the month of February, 1695, the said Andrew Mackie had some young -beasts, which in the night-time were still loosed and their bindings -broken, he taking it to be the unrulyness of the beasts, did make stronger -and stronger bindings, of withes and other things, but still all were -broken. At last he suspected it to be some other thing, whereupon he -removed them out of that place; and the first night thereafter one of them -was bound with a hair-tedder to the back of the house, so strait that the -feet of the beast only touched the ground, but could move no way else, yet -it sustained no hurt. Another night, when the family were all sleeping, -there was the full of a back creel of peats set together in the midst of -the house floor, and fire put in them; the smoke wakened the family, -otherwise the house had been burnt; yet nothing all the time was either -seen or heard. - -Upon the 7th of March there were stones thrown in the house in all the -places of it; but it could not be discovered from whence they came, what, -or who threw them. After this manner it continued till the Sabbath, now -and then throwing both in the night and day, but was busiest throwing in -the night-time. - -Upon Saturday, the family being all without, the children coming in saw -something which they thought to be a body sitting by the fireside, with a -blanket (or cloth) about it, whereat they were afraid. The youngest, being -a boy about nine or ten years of age, did chide the rest saying, "Why are -you feared, let us saine (or bless) ourselves, and then there is no ground -to fear it." He perceived the blanket to be his, and saining (or blessing) -himself, ran and pulled the blanket from it saying, "Be what it will, it -hath nothing to do with my blanket;" and then they found it to be a -fourfooted stool set upon the end, and the blanket cast over it. - -Upon the Sabbath, being the 11th of March, the crook and pot-cleps were -taken away, and were awanting four days, and were found at last on a loft, -where they had been sought several times before.--This is attested by -Charles Macklellan of Colline, and John Cairns in Hardhills. It was -observed that the stones which hit any person had not half their natural -weight; and the throwing was more frequent on the Sabbath than at other -times, and especially in time of prayer, above all other times, it was -busiest then, throwing most at the person praying. The said Andrew Mackie -told the matter to me upon Sabbath after sermon. - -Upon the Tuesday thereafter I went to the house, did stay a considerable -time with them and prayed twice, and there was no trouble. Then I came out -with a resolution to leave the house, and as I was standing speaking to -some men at the barn end I saw two little stones drop down on the croft at -a little distance from me, and then immediately some crying out of the -house that it was become as ill as ever within; whereupon I went into the -house again, and as I was at prayer it threw several stones at me, but -they did no hurt, being very small; and after there was no more trouble -till the eighteenth day of March, and then it began as before, and threw -more frequently greater stones, whose strokes were sorer where they hit, -and thus it continued to the 21st. Then I went to the house, and stayed a -great part of the night, but was greatly troubled; stones and several -other things were thrown at me, I was struck several times on the sides -and shoulders very sharply with a great staff, so that those who were -present heard the noise of the strokes. That night it tore off the -bedside, and rapped upon the chests and boards as one calling for -access.--This is attested by Charles Macklellan of Colline, William -Mackminn, and John Tait in Torr. That night as I was once at prayer, -leaning on a bedside, I felt something pressing on my arm; I, casting my -eyes thither, perceived a little white hand and arm from the elbow down, -but presently it evanished. It is to be observed that, notwithstanding of -all that was felt and heard, from the first to the last of this matter, -there was never anything seen, except that hand I saw; and a friend of the -said Andrew Mackie's said he saw as it were a young boy about the age of -fourteen years, with gray clothes, and a bonnet on his head, but presently -disappeared, as also what the three children saw sitting at the fireside. - -Upon the 22d the trouble still increased, both against the family and -against the neighbours who came to visit them, by throwing stones and -beating them with staves; so that some were forced to leave the house -before their inclination.--This is attested by Charles Macklellan in -Colline, and Andrew Tait in Torr. Some it would have met as they came to -the house, and stoned with stones about the yards, and in like manner -stoned as they went from the house, of whom Thomas Telfair in Stocking was -one. It made a little wound on the said Andrew Mackie's brow; did thrust -several times at his shoulder, he not regarding; at last it gripped him so -by the hair, that he thought something like nails of fingers scratched his -skin. It dragged severals up and down the house by the cloathes.--This is -attested by Andrew Tait. It gripped one Keige, miller in Auchencairn, so -by his side that he entreated his neighbours to help, and cried it would -rive the side from him. That night it lifted the cloathes off the children -as they were sleeping in bed, and beat them on the hips as if it had been -with one's hand, so that all that were in the house heard it. The door bar -and other things would go through the house as if a person had been -carrying them in their hand, yet nothing seen doing it.--This is attested -by John Telfair in Auchinleck, and others. It rattled on the chests and -bedsides with a staff, and made a great noise; and thus it continued by -throwing stones, striking with staves and rattling in the house, till the -2d of April. At night it cryed "Whist, whist," at every sentence in the -close of prayer; and it whistled so distinctly that the dog barked and ran -to the door, as if one had been calling to hound him. - -Aprile 3d, it whistled several times and cryed "Whist, whist."--This is -attested by Andrew Tait. - -Upon the 4th of April Charles Macklellan of Colline, landlord, with the -said Andrew Mackie, went to a certain number of ministers met at Buittle, -and gave them an account of the matter, whereupon these ministers made -public prayers for the family, and two of their number, viz., Mr Andrew -Ewart, minister of Kells, and Mr John Murdo, minister of Crossmichael, -came to the house and spent that night in fasting and praying, but it was -very cruel against them, especially by throwing great stones, some of them -about half a stone weight. It wounded Mr Andrew Ewart twice in the head, -to the effusion of his blood, it pulled off his wig in time of prayer, and -when he was holding out his napkin betwixt his hands it cast a stone in -the napkin and therewith threw it from him. It gave Mr John Murdo several -sore strokes, yet the wounds and bruises received did soon cure. There -were none in the house that night escaped from its fury and cruelty. That -night it threw a fiery peat amongst the people, but it did no hurt, it -only disturbed them in time of prayer. And also in the dawning as they -rose from prayer the stones poured down on all who were in the house to -their hurt.--This is attested by Mr Andrew Ewart, Mr John Murdo, Charles -Macklellan, and John Tait. - -Upon the 5th of April it set some thatch straw on fire which was in the -barn yard; at night, the house being very throng with neighbours, the -stones were still thrown down among them. As the said Andrew Mackie and -his wife went out to bring in some peats to the fire, when she came to the -door she found a broad stone to shake under her foot, which she never knew -to be loose before; she resolved with herself to see what was beneath it -in the morning thereafter. - -Upon the 6th of April, when the house was quiet, she went to the stone and -there found seven small bones, with blood and some flesh, all closed in a -piece of old suddled paper; the blood was fresh and bright. The sight -whereof troubled her, and being afraid laid all down again and ran to -Colline's house, being a quarter of a mile distant; but in that time it -was worse than ever before, by throwing stones and fire balls in and about -the house, but the fire as it lighted did evanish. In that time it threw -a hot stone into the bed betwixt the children, which burnt through the -bed-cloathes; and after it was taken out by the man's eldest son, and had -layen on the floor more than an hour and a half, the said Charles -Macklellan of Colline could not hold it in his hand for heat.--This is -attested by Charles Macklellan. It thrust a staff through the wall of the -house above the children in the bed, shook it over them and groaned. When -Colline came to the house he went to prayer before he offered to lift the -bones; all the time he was at prayer it was most cruel, but as soon as he -took up the bones the trouble ceased.--This is attested by Charles -Macklellan. He sent them presently to me, upon sight whereof I went -immediately to the house. While I was at prayer it threw great stones -which hit me, but did no hurt, then there was no more trouble that night. - -The 7th of April being Sabbath, it began again and threw stones, and -wounded William Macminn, a blacksmith, on the head; it cast a plough-sock -at him and also a trough stone upwards of three stone weight, which did -fall upon his back, yet he was not hurt thereby.--Attested by William -Macminn. It set the house twice on fire, yet there was no hurt done, in -respect some neighbours were in the house who helped to quench it. At -night in the twilight as John Mackie, the said Andrew Mackie's eldest -son, was coming home, near to the house, there was an extraordinary light -fell about him and went before him to the house with a swift motion; that -night it continued after its wonted manner. - -April 8th, in the morning as Andrew Mackie went down the close he found a -letter both written and sealed with blood. It was directed on the back -thus, "3 years thou shall have to repent a nett it well," and within was -written, "Wo be to thee Scotland Repent and tak warning for the doors of -haven ar all Redy bart against thee, I am sent for a warning to thee to -flee to God yet troublt shall this man be for twenty days, repent repent -repent Scotland or else thou shall." In the middle of the day the persons -alive who lived in that house since it was built, being about twenty-eight -years, were conveined by appointment of the civil magistrate before -Colline, myself, and others, and did all touch the bones, in respect there -was some suspicion of secret murder committed in the place, but nothing -was found to discover the same. - -Upon the 9th of April the letter and bones were sent to the ministers, who -were all occasionally met at Kirkcudbright; they appointed five of their -number, viz., Mr John Murdo, Mr James Monteith, Mr John Macmillan, Mr -Samuel Spalding, and Mr William Falconer, with me, to go to the house and -spend so much time as we were able in fasting and prayer. - -Upon the 10th of April we went to the house, and no sooner did I begin to -open my mouth but it threw stones at me and all within the house, but -still worst at him who was at duty. It came often with such force upon the -house that it made all the house to shake, it broke a hole through the -timber and thatch of the house and powred in great stones, one whereof, -more than a quarter weight, fell upon Mr Monteith's back, yet he was not -hurt. It threw another with great force at him when he was praying, bigger -than a man's fist, which hit him on the breast, yet he was neither hurt -nor moved thereby. It was thought fit that one of our number with another -person should go by turns and stand under the hole in the outside, so -there was no more trouble from that place; but the barn being joined to -the end of the house, it brake down the barn door and mid wall and threw -stones up the house, but did no great hurt. It gripped and handled the -legs of some as with a man's hand, it hoised up the feet of others while -standing on the ground, thus it did to William Lennox of Millhouse, -myself, and others. In this manner it continued till ten o'clock at -night, but after that there was no more trouble while we were about the -house.--This is attested by Messrs James Monteith, John Murdo, Samuel -Spalding, Wm. Falconer, William Lennox, and John Tait. - -The 11th, 12th, and 13th it was worse than ever it was before, for not one -that came into the house did escape heavy strokes. There was one Andrew -Tait in Torr, as he was coming to stay with the family all night, by the -way his dog catched a thulmart, when he came in he cast it by in the -house; thereafter there were other three young men who came in also, and -when they were all at prayer the Evil Spirit beat them with the dead -thulmart and threw it before them. The three who knew it not to be in the -house were greatly affrighted, especially one Samuel Thomson, a chapman, -whom it also gripped by the side and back, and thrust as if it had been an -hand beneath his clothes and into his pockets, he was so affrighted that -he took sickness immediately.--This is attested by Andrew Tait. - -The 14th being the Sabbath, it set some straw on fire that was in the barn -yard, and threw stones till ten o'clock at night; it threw an dike spade -at the said Andrew Mackie, with the mouth toward him, but he received no -hurt; while an meal-sive was tossed up and down the house, the said -Andrew Mackie takes hold of it, and as it were with difficulty gets the -grip keeped, at last all within the rim is torn out. Thereafter it threw a -handful of the sive rolled together at Thomas Robertson in Airds, who was -witness to this, yet in all its actings there was never any thing seen, -but what I mentioned before. - -Upon the 15th of April, William Anderson, a drover, and James Paterson, -his son-in-law, came to the house with Colline in the evening. Colline -going home a while within night, the said Andrew Mackie sent his sons to -convey him; as they returned they were cruelly stoned, and the stones -rolled amongst their legs, like to break them. Shortly after they came in, -it wounded William Anderson on the head, to the great effusion of his -blood. In time of prayer it whistled, groaned, and cryed "Whist, -whist."--This is attested by John Cairns. - -The 16th it continued whisting, groaning, whistling, and throwing stones -in time of prayer; it cryed "Bo, bo," and kick, cuck, and shook men back -and forward, and hoised them up as if to lift them off their knees.--This -is attested by Andrew Tait. - -The whole family went from the house, and left five honest neighbours to -wait on the same all night; but there was no hurt done to them, nor the -family where they were, nor to those neighbours who stayed in the said -Andrew Mackie's house, only the cattle were cast over other to the hazard -of killing them, as they were bound to the stakes, and some of them were -loosed.--This is attested by John Cairns. - -Upon the 18th they returned to their house again, and there was no hurt to -them or their cattle that night, except in a little house, where there -were some sheep, it coupled them together in pairs by the neck with straw -ropes, made of an bottle of straw, which it took off an loft in the stable -and carried to the sheep house, which is three or four pair of butts -(arrow shots) distant, and it made more ropes than it needed for binding -the sheep, which it left beside the straw in the sheep-house.--This is -attested by Andrew Tait. - -Upon the 19th it fired the straw in the barn, but Andrew Mackie put it -out, (being there threshing) without doing any harm. It shot staves -through the wall at him, but did no hurt. - -The 20th, it continued throwing stones, whistling, and whisting, with all -its former words. When it hit any person, and said, "Take you that till -you get more," that person was sure immediately of another; but when it -said, "Take you that," the person got no more for a while.--This is -attested by John Tait. - -The 21st, 22nd, and 23rd it continued casting stones, beating with staves, -and throwing peat mud in the faces of all in the house, especially in time -of prayer, with all its former tricks. - -The 24th being a day of humiliation appointed to be kept in the parish for -that cause, all that day from morning till night it continued in a most -fearful manner without intermission, throwing stones with such cruelty and -force that all in the house feared lest they should be killed. - -The 25th it threw stones all night, but did no great hurt. - -The 26th it threw stones in the evening and knocked several times on a -chest, as one to have access; and began to speak and call those that were -sitting in the house witches and rooks, and said it would take them to -hell. The people then in the house said among themselves, if it had any to -speak to it now, it would speak. In the meantime Andrew Mackie was -sleeping. They wakened him, and then he, hearing it say "Thou shalt be -troubled till Tuesday," asked, "Who gave thee a commission?" - -To whom it answered, "God gave me a commission, and I am sent to warn the -land to repent, for a judgment is to come if the land do not quickly -repent," and commanded him to reveal it upon his peril; and if the land -did not repent it said it would go to its father and get a commission to -return with a hundred worse than itself, and would trouble every -particular family in the land. - -Andrew Mackie said to those that were with him, "If I should tell this I -would not be believed." - -Then it said, "Fetch betters; fetch the Minister of the parish and two -honest men upon Tuesday's night, and I shall declare before them what I -have to say." Then it said, "Praise me and I will whistle to you; worship -me and I will trouble you no more." - -Then Andrew Mackie said, "The Lord who delivered the three children out of -the fiery furnace, deliver me and mine this night from the temptations of -Satan." - -Then it replied, "You might as well have said, Shadrach, Meshach, -Abednego." In the meantime, while Andrew Mackie was speaking, there was -one James Telfair in Buittle who was adding a word, to whom it said, "You -are basely bred, meddling in other men's discourse, wherein you are not -concerned." It likewise said, "Remove your goods, for I will burn the -house." - -He answered, "The Lord stop Satan's fury and hinder him of his designs." - -Then it said, "I will do it, or you shall guide well."--All this is -attested by John Tait in Torr and several others who cannot subscribe. - -Upon the 27th it set fire to the house seven times. - -The 28th, being the Sabbath, from sun-rising till sun-setting it still set -the house on fire--as it was quenched in one part, instantly it was fired -in another--and in the evening, when it could not get its designs -fulfilled in burning the house, it pulled down the end of the house, all -the stonework thereof, so that they could not abide in it any longer, but -went and kindled their fire in the stable. - -Upon the Sabbath night it pulled one of the children out of the bed, -gripping him, as he thought, by the craig and shoulders; and took up a -block of a tree as great as a plough-head, and held above the children, -saying, "If I had a commission I would brain them." Thus it expressed -itself, in the hearing of all who were in the house.--Attested by William -Macminn and John Crosby. - -The 29th, being Monday, it continued setting fire to the house. The said -Andrew Mackie finding the house so frequently set on fire, and being weary -quenching it, he went and put out all the fire that was about the house, -and poured water upon the hearth; yet after it fired the house several -times, when there was no fire within a quarter of a mile of the -house.--This is attested by Charles Macklellan and John Cairnes. In the -midst of the day, as Andrew Mackie was threshing in the barn, it whispered -in the wall and then cried, "Andrew, Andrew," but he gave no answer to it. -Then with an austere angry voice as it were, it said, "Speak;" yet he gave -no answer. Then it said, "Be not troubled; you shall have no more trouble, -except some casting of stones upon Tuesday to fulfill the promise," and -said, "Take away your straw." I went to the house about 11 o'clock; it -fired the house once after I went there. I stayed all night till betwixt -three and four on Tuesday's morning, during which time there was no -trouble about the house, except two little stones dropped down at the -fireside as we were sitting down at our first entry. A little after I went -away it began to throw stones as formerly.--This is attested by Charles -Macklellan and John Tait. - -Upon Tuesday's night, being the 30th of April, Charles Macklellan of -Colline, with several neighbours, were in the barn. As he was at prayer he -observed a black thing in the corner of the barn, and it did encrease as -if it would fill the whole house. He could not discern it to have any form -but as if it had been a black cloud; it was affrightning to them all, and -then it threw bear-chaff and other mud upon their faces; and after did -gripp severals that were in the house by the middle of the body, by the -arms and other parts of their bodies, so strait that some said for five -days thereafter that they thought they felt these gripps. After an hour or -two of the night was thus past there was no more trouble.--This is -attested by Charles Macklellan, Thomas Macminn, Andrew Paline, John -Cairnes, and John Tait. - -Upon Wednesday's night, being the 1st of May, it fired a little -sheep-house; the sheep were got out safe, but the sheep-house was wholly -burnt. Since there has not been any trouble about the house by night nor -by day. - -Now all things aforesaid, being of undoubted verity, therefore I conclude -with that of the Apostle, _1 Peter v., 8-9_, "Be sober, be vigilant; -because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, -seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist steadfast in the faith." - -This relation is attested, as to what they particularly saw, heard, and -felt, by Andrew Ewart, minister of Kells; James Monteith, minister of -Borgue; John Murdo, minister of Crossmichael; Samuel Spalding, minister of -Parton; William Falconer, minister of Kelton; Charles Macklellan of -Colline, William Lennox of Millhouse, Andrew Tait in Torr, John Tait in -Torr, John Cairns in Hardhills, William Macminn, John Crosby, Thomas -Macminn, Andrew Paline, &c. - - -"The Laird o' Coul's Ghost: an Eighteenth Century Chapbook. An Account of -Mr Maxwell, Laird of Coul, his Appearance after Death to Mr Ogilvie, a -Minister of the present Establishment at Innerwick." (Abridged.) - -Upon the third day of February, 1722, at seven o'clock at night, after I -had parted with Thurston [his name Cant], and was coming up the Burial -Road, one came riding up after me: upon hearing the noise of his horse's -feet, I took it to be Thurston, but upon looking back, and seeing the -horse of a greyish colour, I called "Who is there?" The answer was, "The -Laird of Coul [his name Maxwell], be not afraid." Then looking to him by -the help of the dark light which the moon afforded, I took him to be -Collector Castellow designing to put a trick upon me, and immediately I -struck at him with all my force with my cane, thinking I should leave upon -him a mark, to make him remember his presumption; but being sensible, I -aimed as well as ever I did in my life, yet my cane finding no resistance, -but flying out of my hand the distance of about 60 feet, and observing it -by its white head, I dismounted and took it up, and had some difficulty -in mounting again, what by the ramping of my horse and what by reason of a -certain kind of trembling throughout my whole joints, something likewise -of anger had its share in the confusion; for, as I thought, he laughed -when my staff flew away. Coming up with him again, who halted all the time -I sought my staff, I asked once more "Who he was?" He answered, "The Laird -of Coul." I enquired, "If he was the Laird of Coul, what brought him -hither?" and "What was his business with me?" - -_Coul_--The reason of my waiting on you is that I know you are disposed to -do for me a thing which none of your brethren in Nithsdale will so much as -attempt, though it serve to ever so good purposes. I told him I would -never refuse to do a thing to serve a good purpose, if I thought I was -obliged to do it as my duty. He answered, since I had undertaken what he -found few in Nithsdale would, for he had tried some upon that subject, who -were more obliged to him than ever I was, or to any person living: I drew -my horse, and halted in surprise, asking what I had undertaken? - -_Ogilvie_--Pray, Coul, who informed you that I talked at that rate? - -_Coul_--You must know that we are acquainted with many things that the -living know nothing about. These things you did say, and much more to that -purpose; and all that I want is that you fulfil your promise and deliver -my commissions to my loving wife. - -_Ogilvie_--'Tis a pity, Coul, that you who know so many things, should not -know the difference between an absolute and a conditional promise. - -But did I ever say that if you would come to Innerwick and employ me that -I would go all the way to Dumfries upon that errand? That is what never so -much as once entered into my thought. - -_Coul_--What was in your thought I do not pretend to know, but I can -depend upon my information that these were your words; but I see you are -in some disorder; I will wait on you again, when you have more presence of -mind. - -By the time we were got to James Dickson's inclosure below the churchyard, -and while I was collecting in my mind whether ever I had spoken these -words he alleged, he broke from me through the churchyard with greater -violence than ever any man on horseback is capable of, and with such a -singing and buzzing noise as put me in greater disorder than I was all the -time I was with him. I came to my house, and my wife observed something -more than ordinary paleness in my countenance, and would allege that -something ailed me. I called for a dram and told her I was a little -uneasy. After I found myself a little eased and refreshed, I retired to my -closet to meditate on this the most astonishing adventure of my whole -life. - -THE SECOND CONFERENCE. - -Upon the 5th of March, 1722. Being at Blarehead baptising the shepherd's -child, I came off at sunsetting, or a very little after. Near Will. -White's march the Laird of Coul came up with me on horseback as formerly, -and, after his first salutation, bid me not be afraid, for he would do me -no harm. I told him I was not in the least afraid, in the name of God and -of Christ my Saviour, that he would do the least harm to me; for I knew -that He in whom I trusted was stronger than all them put together, and if -any of them should attempt even to do the horse I rode upon harm, as you -have done to Dr Menzies' man,[48] if it be true that is said, and -generally believed about Dumfries, I have free access to complain to my -Lord and Master, to the lash of whose resentment you are as much liable -now as before. - -_Coul_--You need not multiply words upon that head, for you are as safe -with me and safer, if safer can be, than when I was alive. - -I said--Well then, Coul, let me have a peaceable and easy conversation -with you for the time we ride together, and give me some information about -the affairs of the other world, for no man inclines to lose his time in -conversing with the dead without having a prospect of hearing and learning -something that may be useful. - -_Coul_--Well, sir, I will satisfy you as far as I think it proper and -convenient. Let me know what information you want from me. - -_Ogilvie_--Well, then, what sort of body is it that you appear in, and -what sort of a horse is it that you ride on that appears so full of -mettle? - -_Coul_--You may depend upon it 'tis not the same body that I was witness -to your marriage in, nor in which I died, for that is in the grave -rotting; but it is such a body as answers me in a moment, for I can fly as -fast as my soul can do without it, so that I can go to Dumfries and return -again before you ride twice the length of your horse: nay, if I incline -to go to London, or to Jerusalem, or to the moon, if you please, I can -perform all these journeys equally soon, for it costs me nothing but a -thought or wish; for this body you see is as fleet as your thought, for in -the same moment of time that you carry your thoughts to Rome I can go -there in person. And for my horse, he is much like myself, for 'tis Andrew -Johnstoun, who was seven years my tenant, and he died 48 hours before me. - -_Ogilvie_--So it seems when Andrew Johnstoun inclines to ride you must -serve him for a horse, as he now does you? - -THE THIRD CONFERENCE. - -Upon the 9th of April, 1722, as I was returning from Old Hamstocks, Coul -struck up with me upon the back, at the foot of the ruinous inclosure -before we come to Dodds. I told him his last conversation had proven so -acceptable to me that I was well pleased to see him again, and that there -was a vast number of things which I wanted to inform myself further of, if -he would be so good as to satisfy me. - -_Coul_--Last time we met I refused you nothing that you asked, and now I -expect you will refuse me nothing that I ask. - -_Ogilvie_--Nothing, sir, that is in my power, or that I can with safety to -my reputation and character. What then are your demands upon me? - -_Coul_--All I desire is that, as you promised that Sabbath day, you will -go to my wife, who now possesses all my effects, and tell her the -following particulars, and desire her in my name to rectify these matters. -First, that I was justly owing to Provost Crosby £500 Scots, and three -years' interest; but upon hearing of his death, my good-brother (the laird -of Chapel) and I did forge a discharge narrating the date of the bond, the -sum, and other particulars, with this onerous clause that at that time it -was fallen by and could not be found, with an obligation on the Provost's -part to deliver up the bond as soon as he could hit upon it, and this -discharge was dated three months before the Provost's death; and when his -only son and successor, Andrew Crosby, wrote to me concerning this bond, I -came to him and showed him that discharge, which silenced him, so that I -got my bond without more ado. And when I heard of Robert Kennedy's death, -with the same help of Chapel, I got a bill upon him for £190 sterling, -which I got full and compleat payment of, and Chapel got the half. When I -was in Dumfries the day Thomas Greer died, to whom I was owing an account -of £36 sterling, Chapel, my good-brother, at that time was at London, and -not being able of myself, being but a bad writer, to get a discharge of -the account, which I wanted exceedingly, I met accidentally with Robert -Boyd, a poor writer lad in Dumfries. I took him to Mrs Carrick's, gave him -a bottle of wine and told him that I had paid Thomas Greer's account, but -wanted a discharge, and if he would help me to it I would reward him. He -flew away from me in great passion, saying he would rather be hanged, but -if I had a mind for these things I had best wait till Chapel came home. -This gave me great trouble, fearing that what he and I had formerly done -was no secret. I followed Boyd to the street, made an apology that I was -jesting, commended him for his honesty, and took him solemnly engaged that -he should not repeat what had passed. I sent for my cousin Barnhourie, -your good-brother, who with no difficulty, for one guinea and a half -undertook and performed all that I wanted, and for one guinea more made me -up a discharge for £200 Scots, which I was owing to your father-in-law and -his friend Mr Morehead, which discharge I gave in to John Ewart when he -required the money, and he, at my desire, produced it to you, which you -sustained. A great many of the like instances were told, of which I cannot -remember the persons' names and sums. But, added he, what vexes me more -than all these is the injustice I did to Homer Maxwell, tenant to Lord -Nithsdale, for whom I was factor. I had borrowed 2000 merks from him, 500 -of which he borrowed from another hand, and I gave him my bond. For -reasons I contrived, I obliged him to secrecy. He died within the year. He -had nine children, and his wife had died a month before himself. I came to -seal up his papers for my lord's security. His eldest daughter entreated -me to look through them all, and to give her an account what was their -stock and what was their debt. I very willingly undertook it, and in going -through his papers I put my own bond in my pocket. His circumstances -proved bad, and the nine children are now starving. These things I desire -you to represent to my wife; take her brother with you, and let them be -immediately rectified, for she has sufficient fund to do it upon, and, if -that were done, I think I would be easy and happy. Therefore I hope you -will make no delay. - -_Ogilvie_--After a short pause I answered--'Tis a good errand, Coul, that -you are sending me to do justice to the oppressed and injured; but -notwithstanding that I see myself among the rest that come in for £200 -Scots, yet I beg a little time to consider on the matter. - -THE FOURTH CONFERENCE. - -Upon the 10th of April, 1722, coming from Old Camus, upon the post road I -met with Coul, as formerly, upon the head of the path called the _Pease_. -He asked me if I had considered the matter he had recommended? I told him -I had, and was in the same opinion that I was of when we parted: that I -could not possibly undertake his commission unless he would give it in -writing under his hand. I wanted nothing but reason to determine me, not -only in that, but all other affairs of my life. I added that the list of -his grievances was so long that I could not possibly remember them without -being in writing. - -I know, said he, that this is a mere evasion; but tell me if your -neighbour, the laird of Thurston, will do it? I would gladly wait upon -him. - -_Ogilvie_--I am sure, said I, he will not, and if he inclined so I would -do what I could to hinder him, for I think he has as little concern in -these matters as I. But tell me, Coul, is it not as easy for you to write -your story as it is to tell it, or to ride on--what-is-it-you-call-him? -for I have forgotten your horse's name. - -_Coul_--No, sir, 'tis not, and perhaps I may convince you of it -afterwards. - -_Ogilvie_--I would be glad to hear a reason that is solid for your not -speaking to your wife yourself. But, however, any rational creature may -see what a fool I would make of myself if I should go to Dumfries and tell -your wife that you had appeared to me and told me of so many forgeries and -villainies which you had committed, and that she behoved to make -reparation. The event might, perhaps, be that she would scold me; for as -'tis very probable, she will be loth to part with any money she possesses, -and therefore tell me I was mad, or possibly might pursue me for calumny. -How could I vindicate myself? how should I prove that ever you had spoken -with me? Mr Paton and the rest of my brethren would tell me that it was a -devil who had appeared to me, and why should I repeat these things as -truth, which he that was a liar from the beginning had told me? Chapel and -Barnhourie would be upon my top and pursue me before the Commissary, and -everybody will look upon me as brainsick or mad. Therefore, I entreat you, -do not insist upon sending me an April errand. The reasonableness of my -demand I leave to your consideration, as you did your former to mine, for -I think what I ask is very just. But dropping these matters till our next -interview, give me leave to enter upon some more diverting subject; and I -do not know, Coul, but through the information given to me, you may do as -much service to mankind as the redress of all the wrongs you have -mentioned would amount to, &c. - - - - -Authorities Consulted and Quoted. - - - No. Page - - 1. Cromek's Remains of Nithsdale and Galloway Song, appendix - p. 228 11 - - 2. Hereditary Sheriffs of Galloway, vol. II., p. 13 14 - - 3. Do. do. p. 459 15 - - 4. _Gallovidian_, vol. IV., p. 40 17 - - 5. Andrew Donaldson, Esq., Ardwell, Stranraer, letter from 24 - - 6. Do. do. 24 - - 7. Do. do. 25 - - 8. Do. do. 26 - - 9. Do. do. 29 - - 10. Cromek's Remains of Nithsdale and Galloway Song, appendix - p. 230 31 - - 11. Wigtown: Historical and Descriptive Sketches, by Fraser, - p. 359 34 - - 12. East Galloway Sketches (Dalry), p. 349 35 - - 13. Dumfries and Galloway Antiquarian Society, Transactions - of--"Superstitious Custom in Galloway," by J. M'Kie - (March, 1895) 40 - - 14. John Copland, Esq., The Studio, Dundrennan, letter from 43 - - 15. Do. do. 44 - - 16. Do. do. 46 - - 17. Do. do. 49 - - 18. Dumfries and Galloway Antiquarian Society, Transactions - of--"Folk-Lore in Tynron," by James Shaw (November, 1887) 50 - - 19. Folk-Lore of Uppermost Nithsdale, by Wilson, p. 17 52 - - 20. The Bard and Belted Knight, by Johnstone, p. 21 53 - - 21. Cromek's Remains of Nithsdale and Galloway Song, appendix - p. 233 56 - - 22. Andrew Donaldson, Esq., Ardwell, Stranraer, letter from 57 - - 23. East Galloway Sketches (Dalry), p. 350 58 - - 24. Scottish Gallovidian Encyclopedia (2nd ed.), p. 114 59 - - 25. Law's Memorials, edited by Kirkpatrick Sharpe 62 - - 26. The Book of Galloway (privately printed) 64 - - 27. History of Galloway, by Mackenzie, vol. II., appendix p. 37 77 - - 28. Do. do. p. 40 82 - - 29. Do. do. p. 42 87 - - 30. History of Dumfries, by M'Dowall (2nd ed.,) p. 375 91 - - 31. The Book of Kirkpatrick-Durham, by Stark, p. 94 93 - - 32. The Scots Worthies (Howie), by John Semple 93 - - 33. History of the Parish of Minnigaff, by Jas. G. Kinna, p. 119 96 - - 34. Wigtown: Historical and Descriptive Sketches, by Fraser, - p. 360 97 - - 35. Kirkmaiden, Guide to, by Andrew Donaldson, p. 40 98 - - 36. History of Dumfries, by M'Dowall (2nd ed.), p. 377 111 - - 37. Do. do. p. 375 112 - - 38. Do. do. p. 376 113 - - 39. Do. do. p. 376 113 - - 40. Do. do. p. 376 115 - - 41. History of Dumfries, by M'Dowall (2nd ed.), p. 375 116 - - 42. Do. do. p. 377 116 - - 43. Do. do. p. 379 117 - - 44. Domestic Annals of Scotland, vol. III., p. 66 118 - - 45. History of Dumfries, by M'Dowall (2nd ed.), pp. 378 and 379 120 - - 46. Dumfries and Galloway Antiquarian Society, Transactions - of--"Kirk-session Records of Irongray Parish, 1691-1700" - (February, 1906) 122 - - 47. Unique Traditions of the West and South of Scotland, by - Barbour--"The Witch's Well" 124 - - 48. History of Witchcraft in Scotland, by C. Kirkpatrick Sharpe, - p. 160 131 - - 49. Law's Memorials, edited by Kirkpatrick Sharpe 141 - - 50. The Testimony of Tradition, by M'Ritchie, p. 115 161 - - 51. Hereditary Sheriffs of Galloway, by Agnew, vol. II., pp. 168 - and 169 164 - - 52. Droll Recollections of Whithorn, by Jas. F. Cannon, p. 105 166 - - 53. Galloway Gossip, by "Saxon"--"Riddled in the Reek"--p. 289 169 - - 54. _Dumfries and Galloway Magazine_, 1822--"Glenkens - Anecdotes"--p. 456 172 - - 55. The Castle-Douglas Miscellany, 1827 174 - - 56. Cromek's Remains of Nithsdale and Galloway Song, appendix - p. 241 176 - - 57. Cromek's Remains of Nithsdale and Galloway Song, appendix - p. 239 177 - - 58. Do. do. p. 242 179 - - 59. Do. do. p. 238 180 - - 60. Do. do. p. 246 182 - - 61. Dumfries and Galloway Antiquarian Society, Transactions - of--"Folk-Lore of Glencairn," by John Corrie (February, - 1891) 183 - - 62. Folk-Lore of Uppermost Nithsdale, by Wilson, p. 75 184 - - 63. Bard and Belted Knight, by Johnstone, p. 19 185 - - 64. Cromek's Remains of Galloway and Nithsdale Song, appendix - p. 265 188 - - 65. Do. do. p. 266 190 - - 66. Do. do. p. 268 191 - - 67. Dumfries and Galloway Antiquarian Society, Transactions - of--"Folk-Lore of Glencairn," by John Corrie (February, - 1891) 202 - - 68. Galloway Gossip, by "Saxon," p. 175 205 - - 69. _Dumfries Standard_ 209 - - 70. Dumfries and Galloway Antiquarian Society, Transactions - of--"Folk-Lore of Glencairn," by John Corrie (December, - 1890) 212 - - 71. Drumlanrig and the Douglases, by Ramage, p. 185 214 - - 72. Celtic Lecture, Glasgow University, by Dr Henderson 218 - - 73. Dumfries and Galloway Antiquarian Society, Transactions - of--"Bee Folk-Lore," by P. Dudgeon (May, 1892) 218 - - 74. Life and Times of the Rev. John Wightman, D.D., p. 120 224 - - 75. The Laird of Lag, by Lieut.-Col. Fergusson, appendices II. - and III., p. 251 227 - - 76. Do. do. p. 144 232 - - 77. Old Church Life in Scotland, by Edgar (2nd series), p. 249 239 - - 78. Memorials of Sanquhar Kirkyard, by Tom Wilson (_Courier - and Herald_, Dumfries) 240 - - 79. Hereditary Sheriffs of Galloway, by Agnew, vol. II., p. 164 248 - - 80. Wigtown: Historical and Descriptive Sketches, by Fraser, - p. 208 253 - - 81. Jas. F. Cannon, Esq., Edinburgh, letter from 254 - - 82. Do. do. 256 - - 83. Galloway Gossip, by "Saxon," p. 337 258 - - 84. The Tinkler-Gypsies of Galloway, by M'Cormick, p. 123 263 - - 85. John Copland, Esq., The Studio, Dundrennan, letter from 269 - - 86. Dumfries and Galloway Antiquarian Society, Transactions - of--"Kirkbean Folk-Lore," by Sam. Arnott, Esq. (November, - 1894) 274 - - 87. Appendix to the earlier (1774, 1781, 1816) editions of - Howie's Scots Worthies 282 - - 88. John Corrie, Esq., Burnbank, Moniaive, letter from 283 - - 89. Dumfries and Galloway Antiquarian Society, Transactions of - (March 14th, 1902) 293 - - 90. Reminiscences of Thomas Carlyle, by Froude (Longmans, Green - & Co., 1881) 294 - - 91. Poets of Dumfriesshire, by Miller (1910), p. 220 295 - - 92. Dumfries and Galloway Antiquarian Society, Transactions of - (November 18th, 1898) 296 - - 93. Dumfries and Galloway Antiquarian Society, Transactions - of--"Antiquities of Eskdalemuir," by Rev. John C. Dick - (November 18th, 1896) 297 - - 94. Concerning Certain Apparitions, by Frances M'Laughlin - (_Chambers' Journal_, January 1909) 299 - - - - -GLOSSARY. - - The student of Scots dialect will not always find the quoted - vernacular running through the text quite pure, many words having been - unconsciously modified by a too free use of phonetic spelling. - - -A - -ADDER-STANE, the adder-bead charm. - -ADOWE, stir. - -AIRLESS, heirless. - -AIRT, direction. - -ANON, immediately, thereupon. - -ASK, newt. - -AVA, at all. - -AWSOMLY, in fear. - - -B - -BACKGANE, not thriving, wasting. - -BAGS, entrails. - -BAYILLIS, bailies. - -BEES BIZIN', noises in the head caused by alcohol. - -BELDAM, an old woman. - -BELTANE, the festival of May first. - -BEK, bake. - -BENISON, prognostication for good. - -BENSHEE, a banshee or fairy, really an Irish fairy. - -BERRY, thresh. - -BESOME, broom. - -"BEST AUCHT," the most valuable possession, usually a horse or ox, claimed -by the superior on the death of a farm tenant. - -BICKERING, moving noisily. - -BIEN, prosperous. - -BIGGIT, built. - -BINWUD, ivy. - -BLACK-SPAULD (SPAUL), a pleuritic disease of cattle. - -BLEW SPOT, a significant witch-mark also another term for "dede-nip." - -BLINMENS' BAWS, common puff-ball (devil's snuff-box). - -BLINKING, attractive, comely. - -BLUIDY-FINGERS, foxglove. - -BOGLE-BO, hobgoblin. - -BOOR-TREE, elder-tree. - -BOWCAIL, cabbage. - -BOWTE, to strike against. - -BRATTLE, a clattering sound. - -BRECKAN, bracken. - -BREERS, briars - -"BROCKEN," the important medięval place of witch festival in Germany (see -_Faust_). - -BROSE, pease-meal mixed with boiling water. - -BUMBEE, humble-bee. - -BUTTER-SKEP, butter-basket. - -BYKE, a wasp's or bee's nest. - - -C - -"CA CUTTIE CA," called upon to eat freely, even greedily. - -"CANNIE MOMENT," significant time. - -CANTIE, canty, contentedly. - -CANTRIP, charm or spell. - -CAP, caup, a wooden bowl. - -CARLE, a man. - -CERTES, certainly. - -CHAMPIT, bruised. - -CHANNEL-STANE, curling-stone. - -CHESSEL, the tub for pressing cheese. - -CHICKEN-WORT, chicken-weed. - -CHIST (KIST), a wooden box. - -CHOWED, chewed. - -CLOWT, cloth. - -COG, a wooden domestic vessel. - -COGFU', the full of such a vessel. - -COMPEARED, appeared. - -COUPE, to empty or capsize. - -COUTERS, thick mucous secretion. - -COUTHIE, in rude comfort. - -COWER, to bend down. - -COWES, bushes, more particularly of the broom. - -COWSHERNE, cow-dung. - -CRAFT, croft or field. - -CRONE, hag, old woman. - -CROUSELY, proudly. - -"CRUMMIE," a term for cows with usually crooked horns. - -CRUNE, a murmuring sound, sometimes threatening. - -CRUPPEN, contracted. - - -D - - DEAD-BELI } - } - DEDE-CHACK } - } - DEDE-DRAP } - } - DEID-LICHT } See text, pages 210 to 213. - } - DEDE-NIP } - } - DEDE-SPALL } - } - DEDE-SPEAL } - } - DEAD-WATCH } - -DEIL'S MILK, milky sap. - -DEMPSTER, judge. - -DEERAY, disorder. - -DIVINATION, conjuration. - -DOME, doom. - -DONNERT, stupid. - -DOOR (DOUR) here used (page 59) in the sense of sour or astringent. - -DRABBLED, slobbered. - -DRUBBING, thrashing. - -DRUGGET, coarse woollen cloth. - -DRUMLIE, thick. - -DWINED, pined away or wasted. - - -E - -EEN, eyes. - -"EFFIGIES CLERICORUM," a mock poem on the clergie when they met to consult -about taking the Test in the year 1681 (printed A.D. MDCXVII.). - -ELFIN, fairy. - -ESHEITE, forfeited. - - -F - -FALD, fold. - -FARINTOSH, whisky. - -FASH, trouble. - -FEARIE, used here (page 203) in the sense of fearless. - -FEAT, tidy. - -FEATS, clever doings. - -FECKET, under-jacket. - -FEN, to strive hard for the means of livelihood. - -FEY, a small field or croft. - -FIENT, no one at all. - -FIRSLE, to rustle. - -FLEYED, frightened. - -FLUTTERBAWS, puff-balls (see blinmens' baws). - -FOGGY, mossy. - -FORFOCHTEN, exhausted. - -FOWK, people. - -FRENZIET, eccentric, mad. - -FUMART, pole-cat. - - -G - -GALL, bile. - -GARS, makes or compels. - -GAUR, to compel. - -GELLOCKS, earwigs. - -GIRN, girning, whining, or fretting. - -GLAMOUR, bewitchment. - -GLED, kite. - -GLENTED, sparkled, gleamed. - -GLOWER, to gaze intently. - -GOWAN, mountain daisy. - -GOWK'S SPITTLES, plant froth (discharged by an insect, Cicada). - -GREETS, cries or weeps. - -GRINWAN, a noose of horse-hair attached to a stick or rod. - -GRUN, ground, referring to the grinding of grain. - -GYRE-CARLINE, a mother-witch. - - -H - -HAED, possessed. - -"HAGGERT WEE GRANUM," a rather ragged small old woman. - -HAG-RIDDEN, bewitched (_lit._, ridden by a witch). - -HALD, hall. - -HALE, well, in good health. - -HALLOW-EVE, the night before All-Hallow. - -HALVE, a hand-fishing net on a wooden frame. - -HANNIE, suitable, a fitting time. - -HANTLE, much. - -HAURNED, roasted. - -HAURPAN, brain-pan or skull. - -HAWCKET, probably finely chopped. - -HAWS, fruit of the hawthorn. - -HEREZELD, the best beast on the land, given to the landlord on the death -of a farm tenant. - -HERIOT, the fine exacted by the superior on the death of a tenant. - -HERRIE, confiscate. - -HEUGH, a small height or eminence. - -HIP O', shoulder or edge of. - -HINNIE-SUCKLES, honeysuckle. - -HOOSE-RIGGIN', roof. - -HOOVES, abdomen, (_lit._, swollen by gaseous distension). - -HOWE, depth. - -HOUK, to dig up. - -HOWLET, an owl. - -HOWS, house. - -HYNT, caught up. - - -I - -ILK, the same name. - -ILL E'E, evil eye. - - -J - -JIMP, neat and slender. - -JOW, ringing of a bell. - - -K - -KAIN, rent or exchange in kind. - -"KELLY," Satan, Old Nick. - -KEP SKAITH, avert evil. - -KEPPIT, caught. - -KILTED, tucked up. - -KIMMER, witch-wife or "gossip." - -KNAG, keg, or wooden vessel. - -"KNOCK THE BIG," to hull the barley. - -KOW, a goblin. - -KYE, cows or oxen. - - -L - -LAIR, quagmire, to entice into a quagmire. - -LAMMASTIDE, August, beginning of. - -LAVE, remainder. - -LIFT, vault of the heavens. - -LINGLE, leather-thong. - -LOCHEN, small loch or tarn. - -LOOFIE, fingerless glove. - -LOUPES, jumps. - -LOURING, lowering of clouds. - -LOUTHE, abundance. - -LOWNE, silent, still. - -LOWSE, loosen. - -LUGS, ears. - - -M - -MALEFICES, offences. - -MALISON, prognostication for evil. - -MART, a fattened ox (killed at Martinmas for winter use). - -MAUN, must. - -MAUT, meal. - -MEAL-ARK, meal chest. - -MEALL, male. - -MEIKLE, much. - -MEIL, meal. - -METTLE, with spirit. - -"MILKED THE TETHER," extracted the milk by witchcraft through the halter. - -MINNIE, mother. - -MOOLS, earth or soil. - -MORT-CLOTH, funeral pall. - -MOU', mouth. - -MUIR-ILL, a disease specially affecting black cattle. - - -N - -NAIG, riding-horse or nag. - -NAPPLE-ROOTS, heath peas. - -NEERS, kidneys. - -NEIST, nearest or next. - -NETTLE-STINGERS, nettle leaves. - -NIEVE, hand or fist. - -NOB, nose, also boat's prow. - -NOOL-SHEARINGS, horn parings. - -NOWT, oxen (a corrupt form is noat). - - -O - -O'ERSWAK, sound of breakers. - -ONSTEAD, home or farm-steading. - - -P - -PADDOCK, a frog. - -PAWKY, shrewd and crafty. - -PAWT, movement of foot, kick. - -PHILIBEG, a pouch worn in front of a kilt. - -PICKLE, small quantity. - -PIG, an earthenware vessel. - -PINGLE, a small pan. - -PIRN, a reel. - -PIZION, poison. - -PLOTCOCK, the Devil. - -POULDER, gun-powder. - -POYNTIS, points. - -POW, head or skull. - -PREENS, pins. - -PUDDOCKS (YELLOW), here (page 58) probably the toad-stool fungus. - -PYCKERING, pilfering. - -PYET, magpie. - -PYKED, picked. - - -Q - -QUARTER-ILL, a disease of cattle affecting one limb or quarter only. - -QUEEN (QUEAN), girl, damsel. - - -R - -RASPS, raspberries. - -"RAVE THE THACK," tear the thatch. - -REAMIN, full to overflowing. - -REDE, wild. - -REDE, counsel. - -REID, red. - -REMEID, remedy. - -RIDDLE, sieve. - -RIDDLE-TURNING, divination by means of a riddle balanced on the points of -scissors. - -RINNEN DOON (DARN), a disease of cattle with diarrhoea present. - -RIPPISH, cleanly. - -RESSET, receive. - -ROSSEN, clump of thorns. - -ROUTH, abundance. - -ROWANS, mountain-ash berries. - -RUE, regret. - -RYDAND, riding. - -RYE-BOWT (RYBAT), hewn stone. - - -S - -SAIN, to make the sign of the cross. - -SALL, shall. - -SAMIN, same. - -SARK, shirt or chemise. - -SAUGH, willow. - -SAWNS, sands. - -SCAITH, injury. - -SCAUM, thin mist. - -SCARROW (SCARRIE), stony incline. - -SCLATER, wood-louse. - -SCRUNKED, dried (_lit._, shrunk). - -SEGG, yellow iris plant. - -SHEIP, sheep. - -SHEARINGS, clippings or parings. - -SHIELING, a shepherd's hut. - -SHILPED (SHILPIT), puny and shrunken. - -"SICH AND GREIN," sigh and regret. - -SIDE-ILL, a disease of cattle named from the situation of the disease. - -SIEW, sieve. - -SINDRIE, sundry. - -SKAITH, injury. - -SKELLET, dead-bell. - -SKIMES, side-glances. - -SKIRL, a shrill cry. - -SLADE, glided. - -SLAVERIN', saliva running down. - -SLOCKENED, quenched, _i.e._, put out. - -SLUDGE, miry-mud. - -SMOORED, smothered. - -SORNING, exacting free board and lodging. - -SOUGH, moaning as of wind. - -SOWENS, a dish made by steeping, fermenting, and then boiling the husks or -siftings of oats in water. - -SPANGS, leaps or bounds. - -SPATTER'D, dropped. - -SPENCE, country parlour. - -SPURTLE, porridge-stick. - -STANCE, stand. - -STARNIES, stars. - -STAVERING, sauntering. - -STICK AND STOWRE, completely. - -STRAUGHTED, straightened in preparation for burial. - -STRICKEN HOUR, a full hour. - -STUE, stew or concoction. - -SUGHS, moaning of the wind. - -SWARFED, swooned. - -SWEIR, reluctant. - -SWITCHING, threshing with a thin stick or switch. - -SYNE, afterwards. - - -T - -TADE, toad. - -TAIL-ILL, a disease of animals affecting the tail. - -"TAK' THE GAIT," peremptory dismissal. - -TAIN ALOWE, caught fire. - -TAPPIN, the crest of a hill. - -TATE, spot (_lit._, a small lock of hair). - -THACKLESS, roofless. - -THIGGING, begging. - -THRAW, a twist. - -THREID, thread. - -THRISSLES, thistles. - -TIRLED, rattled at the door. - -TOD, a fox. - -TOOM, empty. - -TOUK OF DRUM, sound of drum. - -TREDDED, trodden. - -TRYSTED, made an appointment with. - - -U - -UNCA, unusually. - -UNCHANCY, ill-omened. - -UNSONSY, ill-proportioned. - -UNYIRTHLY, unearthly. - - -V - -VAUNTY, inclined to be boastful. - -VACANS, holidays. - - -W - -WALPURGIS NIGHT, Eve of First of May, a night of witch revelry (see witch -Sabbath). - -WAUCHIE, clammy. - -WARBLES, a parasitic worm disease of cattle. - -WATER-ILL, a disease of the kidneys in cattle. - -WATTLES, wooden roof supports on which the thatch is placed. - -WHOMEL'D, turned round and round (_lit._, upset). - -WHORLED, wheeled or spun. - -WIGHT, man or fellow. - -WIND A CLEW, a witchcraft rite in which a reel of coloured thread is -wound. - -WINGLAN, walking feebly. - -WIRREIT, strangled. - -WIS, know. - -WITCH'S SABBATH, the gathering together of all the witches of Scotland on -the evening between the first Friday and Saturday of April. - -WITHRE-SHINES, contrarily (_lit._, against the sun's course). - -WONS, dwells. - -WYLIE, wily. - -WYME, belly. - -WYTE, blame. - - -Y - -YAIRD, yard or garden. - -YELL, barren, dry. - -YESTREEN, last night. - -YILL-BOAT, ale-barrel or brewing tub. - -YIRBS, herbs. - -YOWLED, howled. - -YULE, Christmas, also Hogmanay (December 31st). - -[Illustration] - - - - -INDEX. - - - A - - Abbey of Glenluce, 15, 61 - - Abbey of Holm-Cultram, 16 - - Abraham Crichton, Ghost of, 285 - - Abraham Crichton, Laying of ghost of, 287 - - Act against Witchcraft (1563), 66 - - Act for burying in Scots linen (1686), 220 - - Adder Beads, 55 - - Agnew, Sir Andrew, 245 - - Agnews of Galdenoch, 245 - - Aikieslak (Dalbeattie), 274 - - Aikendrum, 191 - - Alloway Kirk, 17 - - Annan River, 290 - - Auchabrick House (ghost legend), 250 - - Auchencairn, 300 - - Auchenmalg Barracks, 257 - - Auchensheen (Colvend), 185 - - Auchenstroan (Glencairn), 283 - - - B - - Ballad--Prisoner of Spedlins, 291 - - Balmaghie, 46 - - Bard of Corrie, 213 - - "Bards of Galloway," 166 - - Barnamon (Stoneykirk), 37 - - Barncorkerie, 154 - - Barr, 13 - - Beadle (Sexton), 241 - - Bee Folklore, 218 - - Bell of St. Ninian (Clog Rinny), 243 - - Bellknowe of Penninghame, 243 - - Bengairn, 172 - - Bess o' Borgue, 17 - - Birns, 47 - - Bishop's Castle (Kirkmaiden), 154 - - Bishopton Crofts (Whithorn), 254 - - Blackaddie (Sanquhar), 51 - - Black Art, 10, 16 - - "Black Clud's Wyme," 16 - - Black Esk, 296 - - Blackett Tower (legend of spectre), 294 - - Bladnoch, 64 - - Blew Spot, 213 - - Blink o' an ill e'e, 26 - - "Bloody Bell," 295 - - "Bloody Passage" (Drumlanrig), 282 - - "Bluidy Brae," 73 - - Bodsbeck Ha', 188 - - Bogha (Balmaclellan), 72 - - Bogle-Hole (Dalry), 267 - - Bonshaw Tower, 294 - - "Book of Galloway," 62 - - Bower, Walter, Abbot of Inchcolm, 277 - - Boyd, Rev. Mr (Dalry, 1690), 34 - - Breath-blasting, 182 - - Brig o' Ken, 18 - - Brishie (Minnigaff), 185 - - "Brocken" of Dumfries and Galloway, 7 - - Brocklock Burn, 42 - - Brownie, The, 186 - - Brownie o' Blednoch, 149, 191 - - Brownie of Newabbey, 190 - - Buckland Burn, 270 - - Buckland Glen, Ghost of, 269 - - Buittle, 301 - - Burial without Coffins, 237 - - Burnfoot, 45 - - Burnes, William (father of Poet), funeral of, 234 - - - C - - Caerlaverock Castle, 2, 10, 277 - - Cairn, 283 - - Cairnmon (Stoneykirk), 37 - - Cantrip Incantations, 58 - - Cardoness Castle, 151 - - Cardrain, Ghost of, 251 - - Carlin's Cairn, 35 - - Carrick, 13 - - Carsphairn Parish (origin of), 55 - - Castle-Douglas, 63 - - Cassencarry, 262 - - Changelings, 182 - - Charles the Second, 36 - - Charms against Witchcraft, 54 - - Churchyard Superstitions, 239 - - Cere-cloth, 227 - - Clash, The (Kirkmaiden), 23 - - Claunch (Sorbie), 253 - - Clay Slap (Glenluce), 14 - - "Clog Rinny" (Bell of St. Ninian), 243 - - Closeburn, 49 - - Cocklick, 173 - - Coltran, Provost (Wigtown), Ghost of, 252 - - Comyn, John (murder of and ghostly legend), 276 - - Corbie, Janet, Sentence of, 80 - - Corrie (Dumfriesshire), 53 - - Craigdhu (Glasserton), 254 - - Craighlaw House (ghost legend), 257 - - Craik of Arbigland (family tragedy), 275 - - Crichton Family, 284 - - Crawick Mill, Witches of, 50 - - "Cromek's Remains," 10, 182 - - Cubbox (Balmaclellan), 72 - - Culloch, 173 - - Cumberland, 46 - - Cunningham, Allan, 9 - - - D - - Dalry, 34, 35, 57, 263 - - Dalry Kirk, 17 - - "Daemonologie," 67 - - Dead-bell, 212 - - Dead-bell (skellat), 241 - - Dead-days, 217 - - Dead-watch, 212 - - "Dear Meal Johnny," 213 - - Death Customs and Funeral Ceremony, 216 - - Dede-chack, 212 - - Dede-drap, 212 - - Dede-nip, 212 - - Dede-spall, 212 - - Dee, The, 47 - - Deid-lichts, 213 - - Derry's Howe (Kirkbean), 274 - - Devil's Grace, 62 - - Devil of Glenluce, 252 - - "Devil-Raiser of Urr," 106 - - Dinnans (Whithorn), 97 - - Douglas, Sir Wm., of Gelston, 62 - - Dream of the Abbot of Tungland, 16 - - Dribblings (Kirkmaiden), 24 - - "Droll Recollections of Whithorn" (Cannon), 165 - - Drumlane, 173 - - Drumlanrig Castle, 282 - - Drummore, 55 - - Drumrash, 269 - - Duncan, Henry, of Ruthwell, 235 - - Dunbars of Mochrum, 262 - - Dundrennan, 269 - - Dunnan Fort, 149 - - Dunreggan (Moniaive), 202 - - Dunskey Castle, 244 - - - E - - Edinburgh Bibliographical Society publications (note on Jean Maxwell), 99 - - "Effigies Clericorum," 142 - - Elf-cups, 55 - - Eliock, 284 - - Elspeth M'Ewen-- - Suspected of Witchcraft, 72 - Examined, 73 - Prison Expenses, 73 - Commission appointed for new trial, 74 - Execution at Silver Craigs, Kirkcudbright, 77 - Note of expenses of trial and execution, 78 - Executioner's petition, 80 - - Encoffining, or "kistin'," 219 - - Eskdalemuir Parish, 296 - - Eskdale Moor (funeral adventures), 223 - - - F - - Fairies and Brownies, 143 - - Fairies-- - Attitude towards mankind, 143 - Capriciousness of, 144 - Elf-shot wounds, 144 - Explanation of fairy and brownie belief, 148, 149 - "Fairy Rade," 176 - Fairy Park (Logan), 157 - Feasting and dancing, 143 - "Good neighbours," 144 - Kidnapping by, 145 - Pageants, 143 - Practices to counteract fairy influence, 146 - Unreality of fairy fabric, 147 - "Wee fouk," 144 - - Fairy-lore in Galloway and Dumfriesshire (from West to East)-- - Dunnan Fort, 149 - Kirkmaiden, 151 - Barncorkerie, 154 - Compass Stone (Port Logan), 156 - Ringuinea, 157 - Nick of the Balloch, 158 - Curghie Glen, 158 - Grennan, 158 - Kirkbride, 158 - Killumpha, 158 - Slock-an-a-gowre, 158 - Sorbie, 166 - Kirkinner, 166 - Longhill, 166 - Dalry District, 169 - Hazelfield (Auchencairn), 172 - Nick of Lochenkit, 172 - Dalbeattie, 172 - Edingham Loch, 172 - Long Wood (Lochanhead), 174 - Dumfriesshire-- - Caerlaverock, 180 - Auchencreath, 175 - Dalswinton, 183 - Closeburn, 182 - Drumlanrig, 183 - Sanquhar, 184 - Kirkconnel, 184 - Polveoch, 184 - Kello Water, 184 - Glen Aylmer, 184 - Glen Wharry, 184 - Bale Hill, 186 - Annandale, 184 - Lochmaben, 175 - Burnswark, 184 - Corrie, 185 - - Fin M'Coul, 43 - - "Fire Spangs of Faustus," 16 - - Funeral festivities ("Gallovidian Encyclopędia"), 232 - - Funeral refreshment (Draigie), 234 - - Funeral rites and customs, 236 - - Funeral "services," 225 - - - G - - Galdenoch Tower, 245 - - "Galloway Gossip," 166 - - Galloway Mansion near Castle-Douglas, Ghostly story of, 273 - - "Galloway Register," 26 - - "Galloway Traditions," 26 - - Galloway, Western, Traditions of, 22 - - Gap's Mill, Glencairn, 283 - - Garryhorn, 36 - - Gatehouse, 262 - - General Assembly (Condemnatory Acts), 68 - - "Gentle Shepherd" (extract from), 59 - - Ghost-lore and Haunted Houses, 244 - - Ghost Legends of the South-west of Scotland (arranged in their order, - from West to East)-- - Dunskey Castle, 244 - Galdenoch Tower, 245 - "Lodnagappal Plantin'," 248 - High Ardwell, 248 - Auchabrick House, 250 - Cardrain House, 251 - Tirally, 251 - Glenluce, 252 - Provost Coltran (Drummorall), 252 - Packman's Grave (Bladnoch), 253 - Claunch, Sorbie, 254 - Whithorn, 254 - Craigdhu, Glasserton, 255 - Church of Kirkmaiden, 256 - Auchenmalg Barracks, 257 - Craighlaw House, 257 - Machermore Castle, 258 - Creetown, 262 - Kirkdale Bridge, 263 - Glenlee, Dalry, 263 - Bogle-Hole, Dalry, 267 - Moor of Corsock, 267 - Buckland Glen, 269 - Ringcroft of Stocking, 272 - Mansion House near Castle-Douglas, 273 - Wood Forester's, Dalbeattie, 274 - Laird o' Coul's Ghost, 300, 344 - Kirkbean-- - Murder Fall, 274 - Derry's How, 274 - Farm-house, 274 - Howlet's Close, 275 - Three Cross Roads, 275 - Near Newabbey, 276 - Minorite Friary, Dumfries (1306) and Caerlaverock Castle, (1358), 276 - Solway legend of the passing of "Aul' Lag," 278 - Coach legend of passing of William Duke of Queensberry (Drumlanrig), - 281 - Drumlanrig Castle, 282 - Tynron Doon, 282 - Glencairn-- - Auchenstroan, 283 - Marwhirn, 283 - Pentoot, 283 - Gaps Mill, 283 - Nut Wood, 283 - Jarbruck Bridge, 283 - Kirkland Bridge, 283 - Sanquhar Castle, 283 - Littlemark, Sanquhar, 284 - Abraham Crichton's Ghost, 285 - Poldean, Wamphray, 287 - Spedlins Tower, 288 - Jardine Hall, 290 - Knockhill, 293 - Orchard, Hoddom, 294 - Bonshaw Tower, 294 - Blackett Tower, 294 - Kirkconnel Hall, 295 - Todshawhill, 296 - Lowland Manor House, 298 - - Gilchristland, 50 - - Gilroanie, 270 - - "Girzie M'Clegg," 17 - - Glasserton, 165, 215 - - Glencairn, 283 - - "Glencairn Kate," 17 - - Glencaple Quay, 199 - - Glenkens, 19 - - Glenkens, twenty years' holidaying in (Blacklock), 265 - - Glenlee House (ghost narrative), 263 - - Glenluce, 13, 14 - - Greenmill (Caerlaverock), 209 - - Grennan, The, 25 - - Grierson, John, of Lag (funeral expenses of), 227 - - Grierson of Lag, Sir Robert (funeral expenses of), 229 - - Grierson of Lag, Sir Robert (funeral legend), 230 - - Grierson of Lag (Solway legend of his "passing"), 278 - - Grose's "Antiquities of Scotland," 289 - - "Gyre Carline," 8 - - - H - - Hallowmass, 2 - - Hallowmass Rade, 3 - - Hannayston, Witch of, 17 - - Harper's "Rambles in Galloway," 17 - - Hay of Park, 60 - - Heron, Robert (Journey through Western Scotland), 54 - - High Ardwall (white woman apparition), 248 - - Holm Glen (Dalry), 275 - - Howlet's Close (Kirkbean), 275 - - "Hydrostatics," Sinclair's, 300 - - - I - - "Il Penseroso" (extract from), 186 - - Inshanks Moor, 29 - - Irvings of Hoddom, 293 - - - J - - James VI. of Scotland, 67 - - Jarbruck, 283 - - Jardine's of Applegarth, 289 - - Jardine Hall, 290 - - "Jean o' the Howff" (Rerwick), 45 - - "Jock o' the Horn," 182 - - - K - - Kain Bairns, 7 - - "Keekafar" (Kirkmaiden), 155 - - Kells, 35 - - Kells Rhynns, 36 - - Keltonhill, 40 - - Kenmure (Stoneykirk), 157 - - Kenmure Castle (Dalry), 269 - - Killymingan (Kirkgunzeon), 105 - - Killumpha Farm (Kirkmaiden), 204 - - Kilmeny (Jas. Hogg), 146 - - Kincaid, John (Witch-pricker), 70 - - King's Croft of Stocking, 63 - - Kirkdale Bridge, Ghost of, 263 - - Kirkdale House, 262 - - Kirkmaiden, 22, 29, 151 - - Kirkmaiden Church, 30 - - Kirkmaiden, Legend of, 256 - - Kirkmaiden Witches, 29, 32, 98 - - Kirk-session (Borgue) examination for alleged fairycraft, 159 - - Kirkpatricks of Closeburn, 214, 227, 231, 284 - - Kirkpatrick, Roger, 277 - - Kirkpatrick Sharpe, Charles, 288 - - Kirkwaugh (Bladnoch), pedlar's ghost at, 253 - - Kippford, 274 - - Kirkennan Woods (Dalbeattie), 199 - - Kirkland Bridge (Glencairn), 283 - - Knockhill Mansion (tragedy at), 293 - - Knocknishy (Whithorn), 185 - - Knocksheen (Dalry), 17 - - - L - - Lady Ashburton, 267 - - Laird o' Coul's Ghost, 344 - - Langhill Fairy, The, 166 - - Lapps or Finns, 149 - - Latewake, 223 - - Law's Memorials, 287 - - "Lay of the last Minstrel" (extract from), 16 - - Liethin Hall, 187 - - Leswalt, 245 - - Levitical Law, 68 - - Library of Michael Scott (list of works), 16 - - Lichts before death, 209 - - Lindsay, James (Caerlaverock tragedy), 277 - - Little Cocklick (Urr), 101 - - Littlemark Farm, Sanquhar, Ghostly appearance at, 284 - - Locharbriggs Hill, 3 - - Lochar Moss, 8 - - Loch Doon, 36 - - "Lodnagappal Plantin," Apparitions at, 248 - - Logan, 24, 25 - - Logan Mill, 31 - - Lord Crichton (6th), 284 - - Lord Glenlee, 263 - - Lords of Sanquhar, 284 - - Lord Stormonth, 227 - - Lotus Hill (Kirkgunzeon), 173 - - Loup o' the Grennan, 151 - - Low Curghie (Kirkmaiden), 24 - - Luce, 13, 15 - - Luce Bay, 215 - - Lykewake, 223 - - - M - - Machars of Galloway, 33 - - Machermore Castle, Legend of, 258 - - Maggie's gate to Gallowa', 13 - - Mainsriddel, 274 - - "Maggie o' the Moss," 6, 17, 21 - - "Mak' Siccar" (tragedy, Dumfries), 278 - - Manor House in Lowlands (story of apparition), 298 - - Manxman's Lake, 270 - - March Moon, 55 - - Marshall, Rev. Mr (Kirkmaiden), 97, 248 - - Marwhirn, 283 - - Millar, Mary (alleged witch), 74 - - Mary Queen of Scotland (Act against witchcraft), 66 - - Master of Logan (Allan Cunningham), 19 - - Maxwell of Carriel (Carzield), 227 - - Maxwell of Dalswinton, 188 - - Maxwells of Monreith (successors to M'Cullochs), 214 - - Maxwell, Thomas (Laird of Coul), 301 - - Maxwell, Jean, trial of (for pretended witchcraft), 98 - - Maxwell, Jean (copy of title page of publication of trial), 110 - - Meg Elson (Kirkmaiden witch), 32 - - Meg Elson's Elegy, 32 - - Meg Macmuldroch (Galloway witch), 62 - - Melrose Abbey, 16 - - Michael Scott of Balwearie, 15 - - Mochrum Parish (extravagant funeral expenditure), 226 - - Moffat Churchyard, 213 - - Monkland Shore, 44 - - Monreith House, 161 - - Moor of Corsock (ghost of headless piper), 267 - - Moor of the Genoch, 248 - - Moor Kirk of Luce, 13 - - Mort-cloth (use of), 239 - - Mountsallie (Rhinns), Witchcraft at, 57 - - Muirhead, Dr James, 107 - - Mull of Galloway, 149 - - Murder Fall (Kirkbean), 274 - - Myrton Mound (fairy legend), 161 - - M'Cullochs of Myrton, 214 - - M'Culloch, Sir Godfrey, 151 - - M'Millan Cup, 195 - - M'Milligan of Dalgarnock, 283 - - - N - - "Necromancy," 16 - - Newabbey, Witchcraft at, 10 - - Newabbey (ghost of lady in white), 276 - - Nicholas Grier (witch of Hannayston), 17 - - Nick o' the Balloch, 13 - - "Nithsdale Minstrel" (poetical collection), 34 - - Nith, 51, 189 - - Nut Wood, Maxwelton (Moniaive), 283 - - Nicholson, Wm., poet (fairycraft examination, recollection by his - mother), 159 - - - O - - "Old Church life in Scotland" (Edgar), 237 - - Old Hall at Ecclefechan, Ghost at, 295 - - Old House of Park, 61 - - Old John Orr (Carlyle reminiscence), 293 - - Old Meg of Twynholm (reputed witch), 43 - - Old Red Cap (ghost of Blackett Tower), 294 - - Old Turnpike House, Dumfries, 231 - - Orchard, Hoddom (laying of ghost), 294 - - Osborne, "Maggie" (Wigtownshire witch), 11 - - - P - - Packman's Grave (Bladnoch), 258 - - Palmallet (Whithorn), 96 - - Palnackie, 199 - - "Passing Bell" (custom of ringing), 241 - - Passing Bell (reference in "Book of Galloway"), 243 - - Patiesthorn, Legend of, 269 - - "Pawky Auld Kimmer," 65 - - Pentoot (Glencairn), 283 - - "Philosophy of the Devil," 16 - - Picts, 148, 149 - - Poldean, Wamphray (ghost reference), 287 - - Portankill (fairy haunt), 149 - - Porteous, ghost of, at Spedlins Tower, 289 - - Portencockerie Bay (fairy haunt), 156 - - Port Logan, 31, 156 - - Portpatrick, Legend of, 245 - - Port-William, 254 - - Presbytery of Penpont (warning regarding burial festivity abuse), 234 - - Prestonmill, 274 - - "Pricking" of Witches, 70 - - "Prince of Darkness" (and witch revelry), 8 - - Privy Council Commissions (to try cases of witchcraft), 71 - - - R - - Rab's Howff (Rerwick), 45 - - Ray's Itinerary (Dumfries), 242 - - Red Comyn, 277 - - Rerwick, 44 - - Rerwick Apparition, 272, 321 - - Rhinns, 25 - - Rhonehouse, 40 - - "Riddling in the Reek," 166 - - "Ridden post by a witch," 5 - - Ringdoo Point, 15 - - Ringcroft of Stocking, 272 - - Ringcroft of Stocking, site of, 300 - - Robert the Bruce, 36 - - "Robin Goodfellow," 186 - - Roodmas, 176 - - Rotten Row (Whithorn), 33 - - - S - - Sanquhar, 50 - - Sanquhar Castle (ghostly legends), 283 - - Sanquhar, History of (Simpson), 184, 285 - - Sanquhar Kirkyard, 240 - - "Satan's Almanac," 16 - - "Satan's Invisible World," 300 - - Scots Money, 227 - - Shaws of Craigenbay and Craigend, 35 - - Shawn (Stoneykirk), 185 - - Shennaton (Bladnoch), 64 - - Shinnel Water, 283 - - Shirmers, 269 - - Sin-eating, 218 - - Sir Chesney Shaw, 35 - - Sir Walter Scott, 16, 244 - - Slip Coffins, 237 - - Solway Firth, 8 - - "Soothsayers' Creed," 16 - - Spell-casting, 60 - - Spedlins Tower, Ghost of, 288 - - Spedlins Tower Bible, 291 - - St. Ninian, 39 - - Stake Moss, Sanquhar, 239 - - State and Church (action against witchcraft), 22 - - Stewartry of Kirkcudbright, 151 - - Stoneykirk, 36, 248 - - Suicides, Burial of, 239 - - Surprising Story of the Devil of Glenluce, 299, 302 - - Sweetheart Abbey, 2, 10 - - - T - - Tam o' Shanter, 6, 17 - - Telfair, Alexander (Minister of Rerwick), 272 - - Three Cross Roads (Kirkbean), 275 - - Tirally (Kirkmaiden), 56 - - Tirally, Ghost at, 251 - - Todshawhill, Bogle of, 296 - - Tolbooth of Kirkcudbright, 108 - - Tongland, 16 - - Tower of Craigend, 35 - - Traditional Witchcraft described, 1 - - Train, Joseph (account of funeral superstitions), 236 - - True account of an apparition in Ringcroft, parish of Rerwick, 299, 321 - - Tynron, 49 - - Tynron Doon, Spectre of, 282 - - - U - - "Unique Traditions of the West and South of Scotland" (Barbour), 35 - - Upper Nithsdale, 50 - - - W - - "Warlock Feckets," 55 - - "Walpurgis" (witch festivals), 8 - - Warnings, accounts of from-- - Caerlaverock, 209 - Closeburn, 214 - Corrie, 2 - Craigdarroch, 214 - Dumfries, 213 - Glencairn, 210 - Kirkmaiden (in Fernes), 214 - Moniaive, 208 - Tynron, 209 - - Waterside Hill (Dalry), 19 - - Water of Urr, 207 - - "Waulking" the dead, 219 - - Walter de Curry, 244 - - Well of the Co' (Kirkmaiden), 150 - - White Loch of Myrton, 161 - - Whithorn, Old Manse, 254 - - Whinnieliggate, 40 - - Whithorn (similar legend to Tam o' Shanter), 33 - - White Lady of Machermore, 258 - - "Witch Cake," 9 - - "Witch Chronicle, The," 16 - - Witches Gathering, 3 - - Witch Marks, 8, 70 - - Witch Narrative, 21 - - Witch Narrative (Southern Kirkcudbrightshire), 40 - - Witches Sabbath, 7 - - Witches' Stairs (Crawick), 50 - - Witches' Rocks (Portpatrick), 36 - - William, Duke of Queensberry (legend of ghostly coach), 281 - - Witchcraft, proceedings against, in Galloway-- - Kirkcudbright (Presbytery, 1662), 72 - Kirkcudbright, 1671, 72 - Dalry (Kirk-session, 1696), 72 - Dalry (Kirk-session, 1697), 73 - Kirkcudbright, 1698, 74 - Kirkcudbright, 1698, 80 - Kirkcudbright, 1701, 82, 86, 87 - Twynholm, 1703, 87 - Urr (parish of) 1656, 91 - Kirkpatrick-Durham (parish of), 92 - Carsphairn (parish of), 93 - Minnigaff (parish of), 93 - New Luce (parish of), 96 - Whithorn (parish of), 96 - Kirkmaiden (parish of), 97 - Kirkcudbright, 1805, 97 - Maxwell, Jean, trial of (pretended witchcraft), 98 - - Dumfriesshire (proceedings in)-- - Burgh of Dumfries, 1657, 111 - Kirk-Session of Dumfries, 1658, 111 - Dumfries (official information regarding the judicial burning of - nine women), 112 - Dumfries (attendance of clergy at the burning), 115 - Dumfries (resolution against Janet Burnes, alleged witch), 115 - Dumfries (warrant of execution against two alleged witches), 116 - Dumfries (last trial for witchcraft in Scotland, Elspeth Rule), 117 - Dumfries (Presbytery of--Southern district), 118 - Caerlaverock, Kirk-session records, 118 - Irongray, Kirk-session records, 120 - Irongray Parish (traditional account of witch punishment), 122 - Closeburn Parish, 124 - Penpont Presbytery, 131 - Glencairn Kirk-session records, 132 - Glencairn, Case of Alexander Deuart, 133 - Durisdeer, 138 - Torthorwald, 140 - - Wood Foresters', Dalbeattie (scene of murder and ghost appearance), 273 - - Warnings, 207, 208, 209, 210, 211, 212 - - Wraiths-- - Seen at Balgreggan House, 205 - " Buittle, 199 - " Dalbeattie, 205 - " Glencairn, 201 - " Kirkmaiden, 204 - " Moniaive, 202 - - Wraiths (account of from "Gallovidian Encyclopędia"), 202 - - Wylliehole, Witch of, 53 - - - Y - - Yule, 278 - - Yule Candles, 219 - - - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[1] The Well of the Co', Kirkmaiden, once much celebrated for the healing -and medicinal properties of its waters. - -[2] These berries make excellent preserves. - -[3] Heather after being burned. - -[4] "Confessions of Isobell Goudie." - -[5] Dwining. - -[6] Shall be. - -[7] Stubble. - -[8] Kiln. - -[9] Sighing. - -[10] A famous haunt of witches in the parish of Rerwick. - -[11] Extract from King James's _Daemonologie concerning Sorcery and -Witchcraft_ (1597):-- - -"The persons that give themselves to witchcraft are of two sorts, rich and -of better accompt, poore and of baser degree. These two degrees answere to -the passions in them, which the divell uses as means to entice them to his -service: for such of them as are in great miserie and povertie, he allures -to follow him, by promising unto them great riches and worldly commoditie. -Such as though rich, yet burne in a desperate desire of revenge, he -allures them by promises to get their turne satisfied to their heart's -contentment." - -[12] "The witch mark is sometimes like a blewspot, or a little tate, or -reid spots, like flea-biting; sometimes also the flesh is sunk in, and -hallow, and this is put in secret places, as among the hair of the head, -or eyebrows, within the lips, under the armpits, _et sic de ceteris_." Mr -Robert, minister at Aberfoill, in his _Secret Commonwealth_, describes the -witch's mark--"A spot that I have seen as a small mole, horny, and -brown-coloured; through which mark, when a large brass pin was thrust -(both in buttock, nose, and rooff of the mouth) till it bowed and became -crooked, the witches, both men and women nather felt a pain nor did bleed, -nor knew the precise time when this was being done to them (their eyes -only being covered)."--_Law's "Memorials," ed. by C. Kirkpatrick Sharpe._ - -[13] The extreme penalty took two forms. The condemned were either in the -first place strangled or, to use an old expression, "wirreit" and then -burned; or, worse still, they were straightway burned quick (alive). - -[14] Thessr = Treasurer. - -[15] Printed in Dumfries by his brother, Robert Rae, 1718. - -[16] _The Parish of Glencairn_, Rev. John Monteith. - -[17] Coshogle mansion-house or keep, belonging to the Douglases, was -situated on the hill overhanging the Enterkine burn, above the farm-house -of the same name. A marriage stone, built into a cottage wall, is all that -remains of the structure. - -[18] Sir James Douglas of Parkhead, styled Lord Torthorwald as having -married the heiress of that barony, was afterwards run through the body on -the High Street of Edinburgh by a nephew of Captain James Stewart, and -died without uttering one word. On clearing away the rubbish, which till -lately covered the pavement of the Chapel at Holyrood House, his tombstone -was found, with this mutilated inscription:--"Heir lyes ane nobil and -potent Lord James Douglas--and Cairlell and Torthorall wha mariet Daime -Elizabeth Cairlell, air and heretrix yr. of, wha was slaine in Edinburgh -ye 14 day of July, in ye yeir God 1608."--_Law's Memories._ - -[19] Another theory associates the fairies with the dwarfish Lapps or -Finns who, driven out of their own country, settled in the outlying -districts of Scotland. - -[20] The mother of William Nicholson the poet, a native of Borgue, where -her family had long been settled, and a woman of great intelligence, often -told that in her day there lived a man belonging to Borgue parish whose -mother and grandmother had been examined before the Kirk-Session regarding -his having been carried away by the fairies. - -[21] "Brownie" here synonymus with "Fairy." - -[22] Langhill (now Longhill), adjacent to the Rispain Roman Camp, about a -mile from Whithorn on the Glasserton Road. - -[23] Roodmass: The festival of the finding of the Holy Cross (May 3rd). - -[24] "When the mother's vigilance hinders the fairies from carrying her -child away, or changing it, the touch of fairy hands and their unearthly -breath make it wither away in every limb and lineament like a blighted ear -of corn, saving the countenance, which unchangeably retains the sacred -stamp of divinity. The way to cure a breath-blasted child is worthy of -notice. The child is undressed and laid out in unbleached linen new from -the loom. Water is brought from a blessed well, in the utmost silence, -before sunrise, in a pitcher never before wet; in which the child is -washed, and its clothes dipped by the fingers of a maiden. Its limbs, on -the third morning's experiment, plump up, and all its former vigour -returns."--_Allan Cunningham, in "Cromek's Remains of Nithsdale and -Galloway Song."_ - -[25] The leaden figure of a man connected with a cascade, once a prominent -feature of the gardens. - -[26] Simpson's _History of Sanquhar_. - -[27] The "Brownie" of Scotland corresponds with the "Robin Goodfellow" of -England. - - "Tells how the drudging goblin sweat - To earn his cream bowl duly set, - When in one night, ere glimpse of morn, - His shadowy flail hath threshed the corn - That ten day labourers could not end; - Then lies him down the lubber fiend, - And, stretched out all the chimney's length, - Basks at the fire his hairy strength, - And crop-full out of door he flings - Ere the first cock his matin rings." - --_Il Penseroso_ - -[28] A communion cup, belonging to M'Millan, the well-known ousted -minister of Balmaghie, and founder of a variety of the species -_Covenanter_. This cup was treasured by a zealous disciple in the parish -of Kirkcowan, and long used as a test by which to ascertain the orthodoxy -of suspected persons. If, on taking the precious relic into his hand, the -person trembled, or gave other symptoms of agitation, he was denounced as -having bowed the knee to Baal, and sacrificed at the altar of idolatry; -and it required, through his future life, no common exertion in the good -cause, to efface the stigma thus fixed upon him.--_Note to original -edition._ - -[29] Several striking examples of wraith appearance may be found in -Wilson's _Folk-lore of Uppermost Nithsdale_ (1904). - -[30] A wonderfully graphic account of a manifestation of "deid lichts" to -a Dumfries lady occurs in the _Dumfries and Galloway Monthly Magazine_, -1822, p. 169. - -[31] The dog. - -[32] - - "Open lock, end strife, - Come death and pass life." - --"Meg Merrilees" in _Guy Mannering_. - -[33] There seems to have been some variation in this usage. On the -Borders, for example, the door was usually left wide open. (See -Preparatory Note to "Young Bengie," _Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border_.) - -[34] Bearing upon this last statement of Mr Dudgeon's, the writer has been -told of a comparatively recent instance in the parish of Anwoth. - -[35] "In the second session of the first Parliament of James VII., held at -Edinburgh, 1686, an Act was passed called the 'Act for Burying in Scots -Linen,' in which it was ordained, for the encouragement of the linen -manufactures within the kingdom, that no person whatsoever, of high or low -degree, should be buried in any shirt, sheet, or anything else, except in -plain linen or cloth, of Hards made and spun within the kingdom, and -without lace or point. There was specially prohibited the use of Holland, -or other linen cloth made in other kingdoms: and of silk, woollen, gold, -or silver, or any other stuff than what was made of Hards spun and wrought -within the kingdom, under the penalty of 300 pounds Scots for a nobleman, -and 200 pounds for every other person for each offence. One-half of this -penalty was to go to the informer, and the other half to the poor of the -parish of where the body should be interred. And, for the better discovery -of contraveners, it was ordained that every minister within the kingdom -should keep an account and register of all persons buried in his parish. A -certificate upon oath, in writing, duly attested by two "famous" persons, -was to be delivered by one of the relatives to the minister within eight -days, declaring that the deceased person had been shrouded in the manner -prescribed; which certificate was to be recorded without charge. The -penalty was to be sued for by the minister before any judge competent; and -if he should prove negligent in pursuing the contraveners within six -months after the interment, he himself was liable for the said -fine."--_Life and Times of Rev. John Wightman, D.D., of Kirkmahoe._ - -[36] Scots money, equal to one-twelfth value of our present currency, -abandoned after 1760. - -[37] Cere-cloth--a cloth smeared with wax, put upon the body after a -modified embalming, only used, on account of its expense, by the rich. - -[38] "An old antiquarian friend, long since dead, told me that Sir Robert -had grown so corpulent in his latter days that his body could not be -decently carried down the winding stair for burial; and that accordingly a -portion of the wall between the two windows looking on to the Plainstones -had to be temporarily removed, and that through the wide vacancy thus -created the coffin was lowered down. My informant, who was old enough to -remember all about the taking down of the lodging in 1826, added that the -appearance of the wall between the windows justified the -tradition."--Letter from Wm. M'Dowall, Esq., author of the _History of -Dumfries_, to Lieut.-Col. Alexander Fergusson, author of the _Laird of -Lag_. - -[39] A corrupt form of the Latin "dirige," from a Catholic chant for the -dead. - -[40] A commonly used term for the dead bell is "skellat." - -[41] The bell here referred to was the old bell of St. Ninian, the "Clog -Rinny" or bell of Saint Ninian, made of malleable iron coated with bronze, -and which only measured 6-1/2 inches in height. It is mentioned in the -accounts of James IV.: "March 17, 1506, in Penyghame to ane man that bure -Saint Ninian's bell IX._s._" It was in existence at old Penninghame in -1684 when Symson wrote, one hundred and seventy years after. It is -described and illustrated in Wilsons' _Prehistoric Annals of Scotland_ -(1857). - -[42] Curiously enough, a few years ago, workmen engaged in the Portpatrick -water and drainage scheme stumbled upon a large cavernous space at the -very place where the reputed sounds of the ghostly pipe music were heard. - -[43] Lodnagappal (Celtic): The swamp of the horses. - -[44] Patiesthorn, situated at the north end of Parton Mill, overlooking -Drumrash and Skirmers and the Ken below Kenmure Castle. There is no house -now--only Patiesthorn Wood. - -[45] Captain John Garmory of the _Bardsea_, lost afterwards with all hands -on the passage from Liverpool to the Water of Urr. - -[46] Walter Bower, or Bowmaker, Abbot of Inchcolm. - -[47] The account of these wonderful happenings was published in the form -of a chapbook, and obtained a large circulation. - -[48] The first appearance that Coul made was to Dr Menzies' servant at a -time he was watering his master's horse. At some subsequent appearance, -while the lad was upon the same business, whether Coul had done him any -real harm, or that the lad had fallen from his horse through fear and -contusion, is uncertain, but so it was that the lad was found dead on the -road. - - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Witchcraft and Superstitious Record in -the South-Western District of Scotland, by J. 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