Letters on Demonology and Witchcraft
by
Walter Scott
LETTER I
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.
LETTER II
Consequences of the Fall on the
Communication between Man 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
Yet it was a Crime deserving the Doom of Death, since it inferred the
disowning of Jehovah's Supremacy Other Texts of Scripture, in like
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 Nations as Fiends, and their Priests as Conjurers or Wizards
Instance as to the Saracens, and among the Northern Europeans yet
unconverted 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 Conclusion.
LETTER III
Creed of Zoroaster-Received
partially into most Heathen Nations Instances among the Celtic Tribes of
Scotland Beltane Feast Gudeman's Croft-Such abuses admitted into
Christianity after the earlier Ages of the Church-Law of the Romans
against Witchcraft Roman customs survive the fall of their Religion
Instances Demonology of the Northern Barbarians-Niicksas-Bhar-geist-Correspondence
between the Northern and Roman Witches The power of Fascination 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 the Champions Demons of the North Story
of Assueit and Asmund Action of Ejectment against Spectres Adventure
of a Champion with the Goddess Freya Conversion of the Pagans of Iceland
to Christianity Northern Superstitions mixed with those of the Celts
Satyrs of the North-Highland Ourisk-Meming the Satyr.
LETTER IV
The Fairy Superstition is
derived from different sources The Classical Worship of the Silvans, 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 Laurin's Adventure Celtic Fairies of a gayer
character, yet their pleasures 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
re-appearance in latter times Another account from Reginald Scot
Conjectures on the derivation of the word Fairy.
LETTER V
Those who dealt in
fortune-telling, mystical cures by charms, and the like, often claimed an
intercourse with Fairyland Hudhart or Hudikin Pitcairn's Scottish
Criminal Trials Story of Bessie Dunlop and her Adviser Her Practice
of Medicine And of Discovery of Theft Account of her Familiar, Thome
Reid-Trial of Alison Pearson Account of her Familiar, William Sympson-Trial
of the Lady Fowlis, and of Hector Munro, her Stepson 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.
LETTER VI.
Immediate Effect of
Christianity on Articles of Popular Superstition Chaucer's Account of
the Roman Catholic Priests banishing the Fairies Bishop Corbett imputes
the same Effect to the Reformation His Verses on that Subject His Iter
Septentrionale Robin Goodfellow and other Superstitions mentioned by
Reginald Scot Character 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,
Naudζus, 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.
LETTER VII
Penal Laws unpopular when
rigidly exercised Prosecution of Witches placed in the hand of Special
Commissioners, ad inquirendum Prosecution 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 Duchess 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 Waldenses, under
pretext of Witchcraft Florimond's Testimony concerning the Increase of
Witches in his own Time Bull of Pope Innocent 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.
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 Politics 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 the 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, I Jac. I Canon passed by
the Convocation against Possession Case of Mr. Fairfax's Children
Lancashire Witches in 1613 Another Discovery in 1634 Webster's Account
of the manner in which the Imposture was managed Superiority 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 Callendar before Lord Hales Royal Society and
Progress of Knowledge Somersetshire 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.
Scottish Trials Earl of Mar
Lady Glammis William Barton Witches of Auldearne Their Rites and
Charms Their Transformation into Hares Satan's Severity towards them
Their Crimes Sir George Mackenzie's Opinion of Witchcraft Instances of
Confessions made by the Accused, in despair, and to avoid future annoyance
and persecution Examination by Pricking The Mode of judicial Procedure
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.
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 Society 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 Villiers 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 Sergeant 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 Dunton's Apparition Evidence Effect
of Appropriate Scenery to Encourage a Tendency to Superstition Differs
at distant Periods of Life Night at Glammis Castle about 1791 Visit to
Dunvegan in 1814.
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