The darker superstitions of Scotland, illustrated from history and practice by Dalyell John Graham Sir 1775-1851

Author:Dalyell, John Graham, Sir, 1775-1851 [Dalyell, John Graham, Sir, 1775-1851]
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: genealogy, Superstition
Publisher: Edinburgh, Waugh and Innes; [etc., etc.]
Published: 1834-08-29T16:00:00+00:00

* Scot Discouerie, b. ix. c. li. p. 202.

droppis of the taid, mixt with Strang WMcht ane adder's akyD, tine thing io the foirheid of ane nevr foillit foUI, in his maiestie'e way, when his maiestie wald gang in owre or oat owre» or in ony passage, that it myght drop vpoan his hienes^ heid, or his body, for his hieoes' destructioon, Margarett Tbomsoun was appointit to dropp the taid/' In consequence, it was allied, that *^ thair wes ane taid hingand be the kalis thre nygbtis, and droppit betuix thre oister achellis, and nine stanis sottin thre nyghtis."* From enmity, credulity, or prejudice^ it was affirmed, that witches had been consulted at the birth of the Marquis of Montrose, and that be had ate a toad while a sucking infanUf

The language of poets, and narratives in judicial proceedings, have conspired to astound and to terrify the timid. These animals are said to have been baptised for oAsgical purposes,^—kept, fed, and decorated ribbands4 Some were believed to haunt man-

* Trial of Agnes Sampsoun,—of Barbara Naipar,—of Ewfame Ma-calyane, ut sup. The scene of the conspiracy was ** the harbour of the Pans called Acbison's Haven.** Sinclair Miscellany Obserrations, ap. Natural Philosophy, p. 279. Tke tking in thejidrfkeid ffaene newf&iUk foUlf Le. *' Hipponiancs appellatum, in fronte, caricae magnitudine colore nigro." TUny, lib. viii. c. 6^. izxfiu. e.40. Mfi«m, de Natura Ani-xnalium, lib. iiL o. 17. xiv. c 18. Being employed chiefly as an aphrodisiac or amalosy charm, it is not obrlous why Chis substance should be introduocd here.

f Scot Staggering State, p. 14.

t Bodinus^ lib. ii. c. 8. p. 208, 219, 404.

kind, who could scarcely overpower and destroy Ibem.* To aggravate abhorrence of the noted Vanini, who fell a victim to his infidelity, a toad was all^[ed to have been kept in his chamber. Tbe author has beard of a student in the medical school of Edinburgh, who carried such a pet in his pocket many years.

A jewel was believed to be contained in the head of the toad, which has been celebrated more by poets than by naturalists. But this seems only a branch of that credulity which found stones in the head of other animals, fishes, or serpents; such as that of an Abyssinian serpent of great efficacy ** in repelling all kinds of poison/'f

This imaginary jewel was certainly diflerent from the Bu/omtes or Thad^Sione previously named; now ascertained to be the petrified tooth of a fish. It was of some value, however, and set in gold rings, one of which the parties interested pledged for the performance of marriage here in 1616.J: The stone m^ht be procured entire by burying tbe toad in an ant-hill to consume its flesh, and its genuineness was supposed to be ascertained by a toad raising itself and snatching at it when put within reach !||

* GlanvU Sodducismus Tk-iumpbatui, p. dS7, 331. f Lobo Voyage to Abysainia, p. 38.

I Hafyrudkouse jr.5.JR., 19 May. Jobne Niinok and Aliaone Pla-teraone " gave up tbair names and consignit ane gold ring with ane loadstone tbairin.

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