05-26-23V.W.

CONTENTS.

LETTER I.

Origin of the general Opinions respecting Demonology among Mankind

-The Belief in the Immortality of the Soul is the main Inducement

to credit its occasional Reappearance-The philosophical Objections

to the Apparition of an abstract Spirit little understood by the Vulgar

and Ignorant-The Situations of excited Passion incident to Humanity,

which teach Men to wish or apprehend supernatural Apparitions-

They are often presented by the sleeping Sense-Story of Somnam-

bulism--The Influence of Credulity contagious, so that Individuals

will trust the Evidence of others in despite of their own Senses-

Examples from the Historia Verdadera of Bernal Dias del Castillo,

and from the Works of Patrick Walker-The apparent Evidence of

Intercourse with the supernatural World is sometimes owing to a

depraved State of the bodily Organs-Difference between this Disorder

and Insanity, in which the Organs retain their Tone, though that of

the Mind is lost-Rebellion of the Senses of a Lunatic against the

Current of his Reveries-Narratives of a contrary Nature, in which

the Evidence of the Eyes overbore the Conviction of the Under-

standing-Example of a London Man of Pleasure Of Nicolai, the

German Bookseller and Philosopher-Of a Patient of Dr Gregory-

Of an eminent Scottish Lawyer deceased-Of this same fallacious

Disorder are other Instances, which have but sudden and momentary

Endurance-Apparition of Maupertuis-Of a late illustrious modern

Poet-The Cases quoted chiefly relating to false Impressions on the

visual Nerve, those upon the Ear next considered-Delusions of the

Touch chiefly experienced in Sleep-Delusions of the Taste-and of

the Smelling-Sum of the Argument.

13

LETTER II.

Consequences of the Fall on the Communication between Men and the

Spiritual World-Effects of the Flood-Wizards of Pharaoh-Text

in Exodus against Witches-The word Witch is by some said to mean

merely Poisoner-Or if in the Holy Text it also means a Divineress, she

must, at any rate, have been a Character very different to be identified

with it-The original, Chasaph, said to mean a Person who dealt in

Poisons, often a Traffic of those who dealt with familiar Spirits-But

different from the European Witch of the Middle Ages-Thus a

Witch is not accessary to the Temptation of Job-The Witch of the

Hebrews probably did not rank higher than a Divining Woman-Ye

it was a Crime deserving the Doom of Death, since it inferred the

owning of Jehovah's Supremacy-Other Texts of Scripture, in like

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manner, refer to something corresponding more with a Fortune-teller

or Divining Woman, than what is now called a Witch-Example of

the Witch of Endor-Account of her Meeting with Saul-Supposed

by some a mere Impostor-By others, a Sorceress powerful enough to

raise the Spirit of the Prophet by her own Art-Difficulties attending

both Positions-A middle Course adopted, supposing that, as in the

Case of Balak, the Almighty had, by exertion of his Will, substituted

Samuel, or a good Spirit in his Character, for the Deception which the

Witch intended to produce-Resumption of the Argument, showing

that the Witch of Endor signified something very different from the

modern Ideas of Witchcraft-The Witches mentioned in the New

Testament are not less different from modern Ideas than those of the

Books of Moses, nor do they appear to have possessed the Power

ascribed to Magicians-Articles of Faith which we may gather from

Scripture on this Point-That there might be certain Powers permitted

by the Almighty to inferior, and even evil Spirits, is possible; and in

some Sense, the Gods of the Heathens might be accounted Demons-

More frequently, and in a general Sense, they were but Logs of Wood,

without Sense or Power of any Kind, and their Worship founded on

Imposture-Opinion that the Oracles were silenced at the Nativity,

adopted by Milton-Cases of Demoniacs-The incarnate Possessions

probably ceased at the same Time as the Intervention of Miracles-

Opinion of the Catholics-Result that Witchcraft, as the Word is

interpreted in the middle Ages, neither occurs under the Mosaic or

Gospel Dispensation-It arose in the ignorant Period, when the

Christians considered the Gods of the Mahommedan or Heathen Na-

tions as Fiends, and their Priests as Conjurers or Wizards Instance

as to the Saracens, and among the Northern Europeans yet unconvert-

ed-The Gods of Mexico and Peru explained on the same System-

Also the Powahs of North America-Opinion of Mather-Gibb, a

supposed Warlock, persecuted by the other Dissenters-Conclu-

sion.

LETTER III.

52

Creed of Zoroaster-Received partially into most Heathen Nations-In-

stances among the Celtic Tribes of Scotland-Beltaine Feast-Gude-

man's Croft Such Abuses admitted into Christianity after the earlier

Ages of the Church-Law of the Romans against Witchcraft-Romish

Customs survive the Fall of their Religion-Instances--Demonology

of the Northern Barbarians-Nicksas-Bhar-geist-Correspondence

between the Northern and Roman Witches-The Power of Fascina-

tion ascribed to the Sorceresses-Example from the Eyrbiggia Saga--

The Prophetesses of the Germans The Gods of Valhalla not highly

regarded by their Worshippers-Often defied by their Champions--

Demons of tlie North--Story of Assueit and Asmund-Action of Eject-

ment against Spectres-Adventure of a Champion with the Goddess

Freya-Conversion of the Pagans of Iceland to Christianity-North-

ern Superstitions mixed with those of the Celts-Satyrs of the North-

Highland Ourisk-Meming the Satyr.

LETTER IV.

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The Fairy Superstition is derived from different Sources-The classical

Worship of the Sylvans, or rural Deities, proved by Roman Altars

discovered-The Gothic Duergar, or Dwarfs, supposed to be derived

from the Northern Laps, or Fins-The Niebelungen-Lied-King Lau-

rin's Adventure-Celtic Fairies of a gayer Character, yet their Plea-

sures empty and illusory-Addicted to carry off human Beings, both

Infants and Adults-Adventures of a Butler in Ireland-The Elves

supposed to pay a Tax to Hell-The Irish, Welsh, Highlanders, and

Manxmen, held the same Belief-It was rather rendered more gloomy

by the Northern Traditions-Merlin and Arthur carried off by the

Fairies-Also Thomas of Erceldoune-His Amour with the Queen of

Elfland-His Reappearance in latter Times-Another Account from

Reginald Scot-Conjectures on the Derivation of the word Fairy. 108

LETTER V.

Those who dealt in Fortune-telling, mystical Cures by Charms, and the

like, often claimed an Intercourse with Fairy Land-Hudhart or

Hudikin-Pitcairn's Scottish Criminal Trials-Story of Bessie Dun

lop and her Adviser-Her Practice of Medicine-and of Discovery of

Theft-Account of her Familiar, Thone Reid-Trial of Alison

Pearson-Account of her Familiar, William Sympson-Trial of the

Lady Fowlis, and of Hector Munro, her step-son-Extraordinary

Species of Charm used by the latter-Confession of John Stewart, a

Juggler, of his Intercourse with the Fairies-Trial and Confession

of Isobel Gowdie-Use of Elf-arrow Heads-Parish of Aberfoyle-

Mr. Kirke, the Minister of Aberfoyle's Work on Fairy Superstitions

He is himself taken to Fairyland-Dr. Grahame's interesting

Work, and his Information on Fairy Superstitions Story of a

Female in East Lothian carried off by the Fairies-Another Instance

from Pennant.
127

LETTER VI.

Ammediate Effect of Christianity on Articles of Popular Superstition-

Chaucer's Account of the Roman Catholic Priests banishing the

Fairles-Bishop Corbett imputes the same Effect to the Reformation

-His Verses on that Subject-His Iter Septentrionale-Robin Good-

fellow, and other Superstitions mentioned by Reginald Scot-Cha

racter of the English Fairies-The Tradition had become obsolete in

that Author's Time-That of Witches remained in Vigour-But

impugned by various Authors after the Reformation, as Wierus,

Naudæus, Scot, and others-Demonology defended by Bodinus,

Remigius, &c.-Their mutual Abuse of each other-Imperfection of

Physical Science at this Period, and the Predominance of Mysticism

in that Department.

152

LETTER VII.

Penal Laws unpopular when rigidly exercised-Prosecution of Witches

placed in the Hand of special Commissioners, ad inquirendum-Pro-

secution for Witchcraft not frequent in the elder Period of the

Roman Empire-Nor in the Middle Ages-Some Cases took place,

however-The Maid of Orleans-The Dutchess of Gloucester

Richard the Third's Charge against the Relations of the Queen

Dowager-But Prosecutions against Sorcerers became more common

In the End of the Fourteenth Century-Usually united with the Charge

of Heresy-Monstrelet's Account of the Persecution against the Wak

denses, under Pretext of Witchcraft-Florimond's Testimony con-

cerning the Increase of Witches in his own Time-Bull of Pope In-

nocent VIII.--Various Prosecutions in foreign Countries under this

severe Law-Prosecutions in Labourt, by the Inquisitor De Lancre

and his Colleague-Lycanthropy-Witches in Spain-In Sweden-

And particularly those apprehended at Mohra.
169

LETTER VIII.

The Effects of the Witch Superstition are to be traced in the Laws of a

Kingdom-Usually punished in England as a Crime connected with Po-

litics-Attempt at Murder for Witchcraft not in itself capital-Trials

of Persons of Rank for Witchcraft, connected with State Crimes-

Statutes of Henry VIII.-How Witchcraft was regarded by the three

leading Sects of Religion in the Sixteenth Century; first, by the

Catholics; second, by the Calvinists; third, by the Church of England

and Lutherans-Impostures unwarily countenanced by individual

Catholic Priests, and also by some Puritanic Clergymen-Statute of

1562, and some Cases upon it-Case of Dugdale-Case of the Witches

of Warbois, and Execution of the Family of Samuel-That of Jane

Wenham, in which some Church of England Clergymen insisted on the

Prosecution-Hutchison's Rebuke to them-James the First's Opinion

of Witchcraft-His celebrated Statute, 1 Jac. I.-Canon passed by the

Convocation against Possession-Case of Mr. Fairfax's Children-Lan-

cashire Witches in 1613-Another Discovery in 1634-Webster's

Account of the Manner in which the Imposture was managed-Supe-

riority of the Calvinists is followed by a severe Prosecution of

Witches-Executions in Suffolk, &c. to a dreadful Extent-Hopkins,

the pretended Witchfinder, the Cause of these Cruelties-His brutal

Practices His Letter-Execution of Mr. Lowis-Hopkins punished-

Restoration of Charles-Trial of Coxe-of Dunny and Callender be-

fore Lord Hales-Royal Society and Progress of Knowledge-Somer-

setshire Witches-Opinions of the Populace-A Woman swum for

Witchcraft at Oakly-Murder at Tring-Act against Witchcraft

abolished, and the Belief in the Crime becomes forgotten-Witch

Trials in New-England-Dame Glover's Trial-Affliction of the

Parvises, and frightful Increase of the Prosecutions-Suddenly put a

Stop to The Penitence of those concerned in them.
192

LETTER IX.

Scottish Trials-Earl of Mar-Lady Glammis-William Barton-

Witches of Auldearne-Their Rites and Charms-Their Transforma-

tion into Hares-Satan's Severity towards them-Their Crimes-Sir

George Mackenzie's Opinion of Witchcraft-Instances of Confession

made by the Accused, in Despair, and to avoid future Annoyance and

Persecution-Examination by Pricking-The Mode of judicial Proce-

dure against Witches, and Nature of the Evidence admissible, opened

a Door to Accusers, and left the Accused no Chance of Escape-The

Superstition of the Scottish Clergy in King James VI.'s Time led

them, like their Sovereign, to encourage Witch-Prosecutions-Case

of Bessie Graham-Supposed Conspiracy to shipwreck James in his

Voyage to Denmark-Meetings of the Witches, and Rites performed

to accomplish their Purpose-Trial of Margaret Barclay in 1618-Case

of Major Weir-Sir John Clerk among the first who declined acting

as Commissioner on the Trial of a Witch-Paisley and Pittenweem

Witches-A Prosecution in Caithness prevented by the Interference

of the King's Advocate in 1718-The last Sentence of Death for

Witchcraft pronounced in Scotland in 1722-Remains of the Witch

Superstition-Case of supposed Witchcraft, related from the Author's

own Knowledge, which took Place so late as 1800.
241

LETTER X.

Other mystic Arts independent of Witchcraft-Astrology-Its Influence

during the 16th and 17th Centuries-Base Ignorance of those who

practised it-Lilly's History of his Life and Times-Astrologer's So-

ciety-Dr. Lamb-Dr. Forman-Establishment of the Royal Society

-Partridge-Connexion of Astrologers with elementary Spirits-Dr.

Dun-Irish Superstition of the Banshie-Similar Superstition in the

Highlands-Brownie-Ghosts-Belief of ancient Philosophers on that

Subject-Inquiry into the Respect due to such Tales in modern Times

-Evidence of a Ghost against a Murderer-Ghost of Sir George Vil-

liers-Story of Earl St. Vincent-of a British General Officer-of an

Apparition in France-of the second Lord Lyttelton-of Bill Jones-

of Jarvis Matcham-Trial of two Highlanders for the Murder of Ser-

geant Davis, discovered by a Ghost-Disturbances at Woodstock,

Anno 1649-Imposture called the Stockwell Ghost-Similar Case in

Scotland-Ghost appearing to an Exciseman-Story of a disturbed

House discovered by the Firmness of the Proprietor-Apparition at

Plymouth-A Club of Philosophers-Ghost Adventure of a Farmer

Trick upon a veteran Soldier-Ghost Stories recommended by the

Skill of the Authors who compose them-Mrs. Veal's Ghost-Dun-

ton's Apparition Evidence-Effect of appropriate Scenery to encou-

rage a Tendency to Superstition-Differs at distant Periods of Life-

Night at Glammis Castle about 1791--Visit to Dunvegan in 1814. 290