Chapter 7

7. THEY are ƒaid to have ariƒtocraticall Rulers and Laws, but no diƒcernible Religion, Love, or Devotion towards God, the bleƒƒed Maker of all: they diƒappear whenever they hear his Name invocked, or the Name of JESUS, (at

which

p. 16

which all do bow willinglie, or by conƒtraint, that dwell above or beneath within the Earth, Philip. 2. 10;) nor can they act ought at that Time after hearing of that ƒacred Name. The TABHAISVER, or Seer, that correƒponds with this kind of Familiars, can bring them with a Spel to appear to himƒelfe or others when he pleaƒes, as readily as Endor Witch to thoƒe of her Kind. He tells, they are ever readieƒt to go on hurtfull Errands, but ƒeldome will be the Meƒƒengers of great Good to Men. He is not terrified with their Sight when he calls them, but ƒeeing them in a ƒurpryze (as often he does) frights him extreamly. And glaid would he be quite of ƒuch, for the hideous Spectacles ƒeen among them; as the torturing of ƒome Wight, earneƒt ghoƒtly ƒtairing Looks, Skirmiƒhes, and the like. They do not all the Harme which appearingly they have Power to do; nor are they perceaved to be in great Pain, ƒave that they are uƒewally ƒilent and ƒullen. They are ƒaid to have many pleaƒant toyiƒh Books; but the operation of theƒe Peices only appears in ƒome Paroxiƒms of antic corybantic Jolity, as if

raviƒht

p. 17

raviƒht and prompted by a new Spirit entering into them at that Inƒtant, lighter and mirrier than their own. Other Books they have of involved abƒtruƒe Senƒe, much like the Roƒurcian [Roƒycrucian] Style. They have nothing of the Bible, ƒave collected Parcells for Charms and counter Charms; not to defend themƒelves withall, but to operate on other Animals, for they are a People invulnerable by our Weapons; and albeit Were-wolves and Witches true Bodies are (by the union of the Spirit of Nature that runs thorow all, echoing and doubling the Blow towards another) wounded at Home, when the aƒtrial aƒƒumed Bodies are ƒtricken elƒewhere; as the Strings of a Second Harp, tune to ane uniƒon, Sounds, though only ane be ƒtruck; yet theƒe People have not a ƒecond, or ƒo groƒs a Bodie at all, to be ƒo pierced; but as Air, which when divyded units againe; or if they feel Pain by a Blow, they are better Phyƒicians than wee, and quickly cure it. They are not ƒubject to ƒore Sickneƒƒes, but dwindle and decay at a certain Period, all about ane Age. Some ƒay their continual Sadneƒs is becauƒe of

their

p. 18

their pendulous State, (like thoƒe Men, Luc. 13. 2. 6.) as uncertain what at the laƒt Revolution will become of them, when they are lock't up into ane unchangeable Condition; and if they have any frolic Fitts of Mirth, 'tis as the conƒtrained grinning of a Mort-head, or rather as acted on a Stage, and moved by another, ther [than?] cordially comeing of themƒelves. But other Men of the Second Sight, being illiterate, and unwary in their Obƒervations, learn from thoƒe; one averring thoƒe ƒubterranean People to be departed Souls, attending awhile in this inferior State, and clothed with Bodies procured throwgh their Almƒdeeds in this Lyfe; fluid, active, ætheriall Vehicles to hold them, that they may not ƒcatter, or wander, and be loƒt in the Totum, or their firƒt Nothing; but if any were ƒo impious as to have given no Alms, they ƒay when the Souls of ƒuch do depairt, they ƒleep in an unaictve State till they reƒume the terreƒtriall Bodies again: others, that what the Low-countrey Scotts calls a Wreath, and the Irish TAIBHSHE ¹ or Death's Meƒƒenger, (ap-

pearing

p. 19

pearing ƒometimes as a little rough Dog, and if croƒƒed and conjured in Time, will be pacified by the Death of any other Creature inƒtead of the ƒick Man,) is only exuvious Fumes of the Man approaching Death, exhal'd and congeal'd into a various Likneƒs, ¹ (as Ships and Armies are ƒometimes ƒhapt in the Air,) and called aƒtral Bodies, agitated as Wild-fire with Wind, and are neather Souls or counterfeiting Spirits; yet not a few avouch (as is ƒaid,) that ƒurelie theƒe are a numerous People by them ƒelves, having their own Polities. Which Diverƒities of Judgments may occaƒion ƒeverall Inconƒonancies in this Rehearƒall, after the narroweƒt Scrutiny made about it.

Footnotes

18:1 The Death-candle is called DRUIG.

19:1 Note ( c1), p. 87.