IN order to satisfy such as desire to be informed, and to prevent the many false Reports concerning the Appa­rition and Actions of an evil Spirit which infested the Family of Andrew Mackie of Ringcroft in the Parish of Rerrick, I have undertaken this following Narrative, having been an Eye and Ear-Witness my self to many of the things therein related, and taken the rest upon the In­formation of others who had been Witnesses in like manner to the several Passages which they gave an Account of. It was not an Itch to appear in Print that induced me to this Undertaking, but meerly to satisfy those who thought it incumbent upon me, as Minister of the Parish, and as having had the best Opportunity to know the whole Affair by the frequent Visits which I was obliged to give unto the afflict­ed Family, according to the Duty of mine Office.

Before I come to the Relation it self, I find it necessary to premise some things concerning the various Conjectures as to what might be the Cause of the Trouble given to that Family by the wicked Spirit.

1. It was given out that the said Andrew Mackie, who is a Mason Stonecutter. by Trade, devoted his first Child to the Devil, at his taking of the Mason-Word A Secret re­serv'd by some of that Trade in Scotland to themselves, which intitles those that have it to some sort of Privileges in the Society, but some way or o­ther the common People have en­tertain'd an ill Idea of it, as an Inchantment, De­vilism, &c.: But this is so far from being true, that he assures me he never took that Word, and moreover that he knows nothing of it. The Man is of good Morals, nor is there any thing known of his Conver­sation, but what hath been honest, civil, and harmless. He delights in the Company of those who are Religious; and by his publick Prayers in his Family, when infested by that evil Spirit, he gave great satisfaction to his honest Neigh­bours, [Page 2] and Evidence that he hath been no stranger to that Duty. And as for his Wife and Children, there was never any thing laid to their Charge which might be look'd upon as a procuring Cause of this Affliction.

2. It was also said, that a Woman of an ill Name had left some Clothes, &c. at that House, in the custody of the said Andrew Mackie; and that the Woman dying, he or his Wife should have detain'd them from her Friends. Where­upon I examin'd them strictly concerning that Matter, and both of them declared, that the said Woman left some things with them put up in a Sack, but they delivered the same as she left it to her Friends, and did not so much as know what was in it.

3. I am informed that there was one Macknaught who for­merly dwelt in that House; and being under a Decay, both as to his Person and Goods, he sent his Son to a Witch, who liv'd at Routing-Bridg, in the Parish of Iron-Gray, to know what might be the Cause of it: But the Youth meeting some Foreign Souldiers in his way, goes along with them to Flanders, and never return'd with his Answer. Some Years after there was one John Redick a Neighbour of Macknaught's, that having occasion to go beyond-Sea, met with young Macknaught in Flanders; who enquiring after his Father and other Friends, and understanding that John Redick was going Home, desired him to acquaint his Father, or any other whom he should find dwelling in Ringcroft, that they must take up the Threshold of the Door and search for a Tooth; which being found, they must burn, for none who dwelt in that House would ever thrive till this was performed. But John Redick returning Home, and finding old Macknaught dead, and his Wife re­moved from the place, took no notice of the Matter, till he heard of the Spirit's infecting Andrew Mackie's Family, and then he told it me.

But there was one Thomas Telfair who dwelt in that same House for some Years, betwixt Macknaught's Death, and Andrew Mackie's Possession of it; and being informed some other way of what the Witch had said to Macknaught's Son, he took up the Threshold, found the Tooth, and and threw it into the Fire, where it burnt like so much Tallow. But he informs me, that he never had any trou­ble during his abode there, neither before nor after he burnt the Tooth. This is all that hath ever been alledged to be the occasion of this Trouble; so that I think the true Cause is still unknown, and shall now come to the Matter of Fact.

In February last, Andrew Mackie above-mentioned, found some young Cattel of his always let loose in the Night, and their Bindings broke; which he conceived to proceed from their own unruliness, and therefore he made stronger Bindings of Withs for them, but they were broken still: Then he began to suspect that it proceeded from some other Cause, and therefore removed the Cattel to another House; but the very first Night after he found one of the Beasts tied with an hair Rope to one of the Beams of the House, so light, that its Feet only touched the Ground, and it could no way move it self, yet it received no hurt.

Some Nights after a great Quantity of Peat Firing made of Earth. was brought into the middle of the House and set on fire, when all the Family was asleep, and if the Smoke had not a­wak'd them, they had certainly been consum'd in the Flames; but they extinguished the Fire, and though they made a narrow search, could neither hear nor see any A­gent.

On the 7th of March following there were Stones thrown into all the parts of the House, but they could not discover from whence they came, nor what threw them; [Page 4] and thus it continued till the Sabbath, throwing in at times both by Day and by Night, but chiefly in the Night­time.

On Saturday, the Family being all without-doors, the Children coming in saw something like a Person sitting by the Fire, with a Blanket about it; which frightned all of them but the youngest, who being about ten Years of Age, chid the rest for being afraid, telling them, that if they bless'd themselves they needed not fear; and per­ceiving the Blanket to be his own, blesses himself, and saying, Be what it will it hath nothing to do with my Blanket, he runs and pulls the Blanket away, but found nothing under it save a four-footed Stool turn'd up-side down.

On the Sabbath, March 11. the Pot-hooks and Hanger were carried out of the Chimney, and being wanted four days, they found them at last in a Cockloft, where they had search'd for them several times before, but could not find them. This is attested by Charles Macklelan Lord of the Mannor. Laird of Collin, and John Cairns of Hardhills.

When it threw Stones at any Person, it was observed that they had not half their natural Weight: It threw them more frequently on the Sabbath than on other days, and more then too when any Body was at Prayer, and most­ly at the Person praying.

Andrew Mackie having acquainted me with the Matter on the Sabbath Afternoon, I went to his House on Tues­day after, where I staid a considerable time, and pray'd twice with the Family, during which time there was no trouble. Then I came out with a Resolution to go Home; but as I was speaking to some Men at the end of the Barn, I saw two little Stones drop down on a Field a little from me; and forthwith some People came out of the House, crying, that the Spirit was become as troublesome there as ever: Whereupon I returned to the House, and while I [Page 5] was at Prayer, it threw several small stones at me which did me no hurt.

After this it gave no farther disturbance to the Family till the 18th day of March, that it began to throw Stones as before, but more frequently and of greater weight, so that they hurt more where they hit than those it threw for­merly: And thus it continued to the 21st, when I went again to the House, where it molested me mightily, threw Stones and divers other things at me, and beat me several times on the Shoulders and Sides with a great Staff, so that those who were present heard the noise of the Blows. That same Night it pull'd off the side of a Bed, knock'd upon the Chests and Boards, as People do at a Door Attested by Charles Mac­clelan of Col­line, William Mackminn, and John Tait of Torr.. And as I was at Prayer, leaning on the side of a Bed, I felt something thrusting my Arm up, and casting my Eyes thitherward perceived a little white Hand and an Arm, from the Elbow down, but it vanished presently.

On the 22d it grew more troublesome, both to the People of the Family, and to the Neighbours who came to visit them; beat them with Stones and Staves, and com­pelled some of them to leave the House, contrary to their Inclination Attested by Charles Mack­clellan of Col­line, and Andr Tait of Torr..

It threw Stones at some People as they came to the House, and would pelt them with Stones about the Yards; and sometimes threw Stones at them as they went from the House, as particularly at Thomas Telfair of Stoc­king.

It wounded the above-named Andrew Mackie, the Ma­ster of the Family, on the Forehead, and thrust him seve­ral times by the Shoulders; which he seeming not to re­gard, it caught him by the Hair, and he felt something like the Nails of one's Fingers scratch the Skin of his Head. And sometimes it would drag People about the House by their Clothes Attested by Andrew Tait.

It caught John Keige, Miller of Achincairn, so fast by the side, that he cried out to his Neighbours for help, say­ing, it would tear one of his Sides from him. That same Night it uncovered the Children as sleeping in Bed, and beat them on the Hips, the Noise whereof was distinctly heard by the People in the House, as if it had been done by a Man's Hand. The Bar of the Door, and other things, would move about the House as if one had been carrying them in their Hand, yet nothing could be seen doing it Attested by John Telfair of Achinleck, and others..

It rattled on the Chests and Bed-sides with a Staff, and continued to throw Stones, and to beat the People with a Stick, till the 2d of April at night.

It would cry Hush, Hush, at the close of every Sentence in Prayer; and whistle so distinctly, that the Dog would bark and run to the Door, as he us'd to do when any one whistled for him to set him on the Cattel.

April 3. It whistled several times, and cry'd Hush, Hush, as is attested by Andrew Tait.

April 4. Charles Macclelan of Collin, Proprietor of the House, and Andrew Mackie Master of the Family, went to a Meeting of Ministers at Buttle, and gave them an Account of the Matter; whereupon those Ministers made publick Prayers for the Family, and two of their Number, viz. Mr. Andrew Aewart Minister of Kells, and Mr. John Murdo Minister of Carsmichael, went to the House and spent that Night in Fasting and Prayer, during which time it was very outragious, and threw great Stones at them, some of them weighing about eight Pounds. It wounded Mr. Andrew Aewart twice in the Head, pull'd off his Wig in the time of Prayer; and as he was holding his Handkerchief betwixt his Hands, threw a Stone into it which forced it from him. It gave Mr. John Murdo seve­ral heavy Blows; but it was observable, that the Wounds and Bruises given by this Spirit were speedily cured. It [Page 7] threw a fiery Peat among the People, which however did them no hurt. It disturb'd them chiefly in the time of Prayer; and in the Dawning, as they rose from Prayer, it poured down Stones upon every one in the House, and hurt them; so that there were none of the Company that Night who did not feel more or less of its Fury. This is attested by Mr. Andrew Aewart, Mr. John Murdo, Charles Mackleland and John Tait.

On the 5th of April it set some bundles of Straw de­sign'd for Thatch, on fire in the Yard. And that same Night, the House being throng'd with Neighbours, it threw down Stones among them. And as Andrew Mac­kie's Wife went to bring in some Peats for firing, she found a broad Stone near the Door shake under her Foot, which she had never perceived to be loose before; whereupon she resolved to see what was beneath it next morning.

And accordingly, on the 6th of April, when the House was quiet, she took up the Stone, under which she found seven small Bones, with some Flesh and Blood, wrapp'd up in a piece of old sullied Paper; but being troubled and frightned at the sight thereof, she laid them down again, and ran to acquaint her Landlord Charles Macclelan of Collin with it, whose House is about a quarter of a mile distant; during this time the Spirit raged more than ever, throwing Stones and Fire-balls in and about the House, but the Fire vanish'd as it fell: It threw likewise an hot Stone into the Bed between the Children, which burnt through the Bed-clothes; and after it was taken out by Andrew Mackie's eldest Son, and had lain above an hour and half on the Floor, Charles Macklelan of Collin; above­mentioned, was not able to hold it in his Hand it was so hot. It did also thrust a Staff through the Wall of the House, shaking the said Staff over the Chidren in the [Page 8] Bed, and groaned. The said Charles Mackleland thinking it fit to go to Prayer before he took up the Bones, it raged cruelly all the while, but as soon as he took up the Bones, it ceased for that time, (as attested by Charles Mackleland). As soon as the Gentleman above-mentioned took up the Bones, he sent them to me; upon which I went imme­diately to the House, and while I was at Prayer, the Spi­rit threw great Stones, which hit, but did not hurt me, and it forbore giving us any farther trouble that Night.

April the 7th, being Sabbath-day, it began again to throw Stones, and wounded William Mackminn a Black­smith on the Head; it did also throw a Plow-share at him, and a Trough of above three stone Weight, which fell on his Back, and yet did not hurt him. That same Night it set the House twice on fire, but it was speedily quench'd by the assistance of the Neighbours. In the Evening, as John Mackie, eldest Son to Andrew above-mentioned, was com­ing to the House, an extraordinary Light fell about him, and went before him to the House, with a swift Motion, and that Night it continued to trouble the House as usu­ally. Attested by W. Mackminn and John Mackie.

April the 8th, as Andrew Mackie went through the Yard in the morning, he found a Letter written and seal'd with Blood, and directed on the back thus, 3 Years tho shall have to repent a net it well; and within was written, Wo be to the Cottland, repent and tak warning, for the Door of Haven ar all redy bart against the; I am sent for a Warning to the to flee to God, yet troublt shall this Man be for twenty days, a 3 rpent repnent opent Scotland, or els tow shall.

In the middle of the Day, all those Persons now alive, who had inhabited that House since it was built, (which is about 28 Years) were ordered by the Civil Magistrate to appear before the Laird of Colline above-mentioned, my [Page 9] self and others; and because there was some suspicion that a secret Murder had been committed in the Place, they were all of them obliged to touch the Bones, but no dis­covery was thereby made.

On the 9th of April the Letter and Bones were sent to a meeting of Ministers at Kirkubright, and they ap­pointed five of their Number, viz. Mr. John Murdo, Mr. James Monteith, Mr. John Mackmillan, Mr. Samuel Spalding, and Mr. William Falconer, to go with me to the House, and spend some time in Fasting and Prayer.

On the 10th we went accordingly, and I no sooner began to open my Mouth, but it threw Stones at me, and all the rest that were in the House, but always most at him who was at Prayer: It did frequently make the whole House to shake, broke an Hole through the Roof, &c. and threw in great Stones, one of which being above a Quarter weight, fell upon Mr. James Monteith's Back, without doing him any hurt; it threw another at him as big as a Man's Fist with great force while he was at Prayer, which hit him on the Breast, but did neither hurt nor di­sturb him. It was thought fit that one of the Ministers, with another Person, should go out by turns and stand under the Hole on the outside, whereupon it forbore throwing in any more Stones at that place: But the Barn being joined to the end of the House, it forced open the Barn-door, broke down the Partition-wall, and threw Stones into the House that way, but without doing much hurt to the People.

After that it took hold of some of them by the Legs as if it had been with a Man's Hand; it hoisted up the Feet of others while standing on the Ground; and thus it did to William Lennox Laird of Millhouse, to my self and o­thers, and continued troubling the People in that man­ner till ten a Clock at Night; but after that it desisted [Page 10] while we were about the House. Attested by Mr. James Monteith, Mr John Murdo, Mr. Samuel Spalding, Mr. Fal­coner, William Lennox, and John Tait.

On the 11th, 12th, and 13th, it raged more than ever, and none who came into the House during that time escaped heavy Blows. Andrew Tait of Torr coming to stay with the Family one of these Nights, his Dog catcht a Fulmard by the way, which Andrew threw aside when he came into the House; and three more young Men com­ing in also to bear the Family company, the evil Spirit beat all of them with the dead Fulmard as they were at Prayer; at which the three who came in last, and knew nothing of the Fulmard, were much affrighted, especially one of them called Samuel Thomson, whom it grip'd hard by the Side and Back, and thrust an Hand, as he con­ceived, beneath his Clothes and into his Pocket, which frightned him so much, that he fell sick upon it immediate­ly. Attested by Andrew Tait.

On the 14th being Sabbath-day, the evil Spirit set fire to some Straw that was in the Corn-yard, and continued throwing Stones till ten a Clock at Night. It did also throw a ditching Spade at Andrew Mackie, with the Mouth towards him, but he received no hurt by it. After this it toss'd a Meal-sive about the House, which Andrew Mackie catch'd at, and with much difficulty kept his hold; then it tore the Sive from the Rim, and wrapping it up together, threw it at Thomas Robertson of Airds, by whom this Passage is attested.

On the 15th of April, William Anderson a Grasier, and James Paterson his Son-in-Law, came to the House with the Laird of Colline; and the Latter going home at Night, Andrew Mackie sent his Sons to wait on him, who as they return'd, were cruelly stoned by the Spirit, and the Stones did so tumble amongst their Legs, that they were in hazard [Page 11] of being broke by them. A little after they returned to the House, it wounded William Anderson in the Head, and oc­casioned him to bleed very much. In time of Prayer it whistled, groan'd, and cryed, Hush, Hush. Attested by John Cairns.

On the 16th it continued whistling, groaning, and throwing Stones in time of Prayer, crying also, Bo, Bo, Kick, Cuck, pulling the Men backward and forward, and hoisting them up from their Knees. Attested by An­drew Tait.

That Night Andrew Mackie and his Family left the House and went to a Neighbour's, desiring five of his Friends to stay in the House, but it did no hurt that night, neither to those left in the House, nor to Andrew Mackie and his Family, nor the Neighbour's where they lodged, only it threw Andrew Mackie's Cattel upon one another, as they were fastned to their Stakes, which had like to have killed them, and some of them it let loose. Attested by John Cairns.

On the 18th Andrew Mackie and his Family returned to the House, and received no hurt that night, only it tied some Sheep (which were at a little House at the distance of three or four pair of Butts) together in pairs by the Neck, with Ropes made of Straw that it had taken from the Stable, and left some Ropes behind which it did not make use of. Attested by Andrew Tait.

On the 19th it set fire to the Straw in the Barn where Andrew Mackie was threshing, but he put it out before it did any dammage; and then it thrust Staves through the Wall at him, but did him no hurt.

On the 20th it continued throwing Stones, whistling and hushing, and using all its former words. When it hit any body, it said, Take you that till you get more, then it would certainly hit them again; but when it said only [Page 12] take you that, then it desisted throwing at that Person for some time. Attested by John Tait.

On the 21st, 22d, and 23d, it continued throwing stones, beating with Staves, and throwing Mud in the Faces of all that were in the House, especially in time of Prayer.

On the 24th, which was appointed to be kept as a Day of Humiliation by the Parish upon that Account, it con­tinued throwing stones from morning to night in a most fearful manner, without intermission, so that all in the House were afraid of being killed.

On the 25th it threw stones all night, but did no great hurt.

On the 26th it threw stones in the Evening, knocked se­veral times on the Chests, began to speak, and call those who were then in the House, Witches and Rooks, saying, it would take them to Hell. Whereupon the People said a­mong themselves, that it would now speak if it had any to speak to it. Then they awak'd Andrew Mackie, the Master of the House; who hearing it say, Thou shalt be troubled till Tuesday, asked, Who gave it a Commission? To which 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 an hundred worse than it self, and would trouble every particular Family in the Land.

Upon which Andrew Mackie said to the Company, if I should tell this, no body would believe me. Then it an­swered, Fetch Betters, fetch the Minister of the Parish and two honest Men upon Tuesday night, and I shall declare before them what I have to say. After which it said, Praise me, and I will whistle to you; worship me, and I will trouble you [Page 13] no more. Andrew Mackie answered, 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, Me­shech, and Abednego.

While Andrew Mackie was speaking, one James Telfair of Buttle offer'd to put in a word; whereupon the Spirit told him, You are basely bred, meddling in other Mens 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. It re­plied, I will do it, or you shall guide well. Attested by John Tait of Torr, and several others.

On the 27th it set the House on fire seven times; and on the 28th, which was Sabbath-day, it continued setting fire to the House, from Sun-rising to Sun-setting; and as it was quenched in one part, it was instantly set on fire in a­nother; and when it could not get its Design of burning the House accomplish'd, it pull'd down one end of it in the Evening, so that the People could not stay in it any longer, but went and kindled their Fire in the Stable.

On the Sabbath-night it pulled one of the Children out of the Bed; and catching hold of him, as he thought, by the Neck and Shoulders, took up a great Log of Wood, and holding it over the Children, said, If I had a Commis­sion I would brain them: This was heard by all the People in the House, and attested by William Mackminn and John Corsby.

On the 29th, being Monday, it continued setting fire to the House so frequently, that Andrew Mackie being weary with quenching it, he put out all the Fire about the House, and poured Water on the Hearth; yet it set the House on fire again several times, tho there was no fire to be had within a quarter of a Mile of the House. Attested [Page 14] by Charles Macclelan and John Cairns.

About the middle of that 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 it bid him speak; but he kept silent: Then it said, Be not troubled, you shall have no more trouble, except some throwing of Stones upon the Tues­day to fulfil the Promise; and then bid him take away the Straw.

I came to the House much about that time, after which it set fire to the same once. I staid there till between three and four of the Clock on Tuesday morning, during which time there was no trouble about the House, except that two little stones drop'd down by the fire at our first com­ing in; but a little after I went away, it began to throw stones as formerly. Attested by Charles Mackleland and John Tait.

On Tuesday night, being the third of April, Charles Macklellan of Colline, with several Neighbours, being in the Barn at Prayers, he observed a black thing in the corner of the same, which increased gradually as if it would have fill'd the whole House; he could not discern any distinct Form it had, but only that it resembled a black Cloud: It was very frightning to them all, and threw Barley Chaff, and Mud in their Faces. It did also gripe some of them by the Middle, Arms, and other Parts, so hard, that for five days after they thought they felt those Gripes; and a­bout two hours after it grew dark, it ceased troubling them any further for that night. Attested by Charles Macklelan, Thomas Mackminn, Andrew Palin, John Cairns, and John Tait.

On Wednesday night, being the 1st of May, it fired a little Sheep-house, which was intirely consumed, but the Sheep were got out safe, and since that time it never gave [Page 15] any farther trouble to Ringcroft. All these things being of undoubted Verity, I conclude with that of the Apostle, 1 Pet. 5.8, 9. Be sober, be vigilant, because your Adversary the Devil as a roaring Lion, walketh about seeking whom he may devour; whom resist stedfast in the Faith.

• Mr. Andrew AEwart Minister of Kel.
• Mr. James Monteith Minister of Borg.
• Mr. John Murdo Minister of Carsmichel.
• Mr. Samuel Spalding Minister of Parn.
• Mr. William Falconer Minister of Keln.
• Charles Macklellan Laird of Colline.
• William Lennox Laird of Milhouse.
• Andrew Tait of Torr.
• John Tait of Torr.
• John Cairns of Hardhills.
• William Mackminn.
• Andrew Palin, &c.