Satan's Invisible World Discovered/Chapter 1
SATANS
INVISABLE WORLD
DISCOVERED
MAJOR WEIR AND HIS SISTER.
This man, Thomas Weir, was born at Clydesdale, near to Lanark, who had been a lieutenant in Ireland long since. What way he came to get some public command in the city of Edinburgh, in the years 1649 and 50, I know not; but it seems he has always been called Major Weir since that time. Many things might be narrated of him, which for brevity's sake, I cannot meddle with, since I intend only to speak of his sorceries, and other things relating thereunto. It seems he had, before he was burnt, some charge over the waiters at the ports of the city, being, as it were, a check to them. Coming one day, as his custom was, he found some of them in a cellar, taking a cup of ale, neglecting their charge. After a gentle reproof, one of them replied, That some of their number being upon duty, the rest had retired to drink with with their old friend Mr. Burn. At which he started back, and casting an eye upon him, repeated the word Burn four or five times: and going home, he never came abroad afterwards, till a few weeks after he had discovered his impieties. It was observed by some, that going to Liberton sometimes, he shunned to step over that water brook, which is ordinarily called Liberton-burn, but went about to shun it. Some have conjectured that he had advice to beware of a burn, or some other thing which this equivocal word might signify, as burn in a fire. If so, he has foreseen his day approaching. A year before he discovered himself, he took a sore sickness; during which time he spake to all who visited him like an angel, and came frequently abroad again.This man taking some dreadful tortures of conscience, and the terrors of the Almighty being upon his spirit, confessed to several neighbours in his own house, and that most willingly, particular sins which he was guilty of, which bred amazement to all persons, they coming from a man of so high repute for religion and piety. He ended with this remarkable expression, "Before God, (says he) I have not told you the hundred part of what I can say more, and am guilty of." These very same abominations he confessed before the judges likewise. But after this, he would nevr, tall his dying hour confess any more, which might have been for the glorifying of God, and the edification of others but remained stupid, having no confidence to look any man in the face, or to open his eyes. When two of the magistrates came to to his house in the night-time to carry him to prison, they asked, If he had any money to secure? He answered none. His sister said there was. Whereupon, to the value of five dollars, in percels here and there, were found in several clouts. His sister advised the two magistrates to secure his staff especially; for she also went to prison. After he was secured in the tol-booth, the bailies returned, and went to a tavern near to Weir's house in the West-bow, a street so called there. The money was put into a bag, and the clouts thrown into the fire, by the master of the house and his wife; which, after an unusual manner made a circling and dancing in the fire. There was another clout found with some hard thing it, which they threw into the fire likewise; it being a certain root, which circled and sparkled like gun-powder, and passing from the tunnel of the chimney, it gave a crack like a little cannon, to the amazement of all that were present.—The money aforesaid was taken by one of the bailies to his own house, and laid by in his closet. After family-prayer was ended, he retired into the same closet, (where I have been) during which time his wife, who is yet living, and the rest of the family, were affrighted with a terrible noise within the study, like the failing of a house about three times together. His wife gave a fearful cry, "My dear are you alive?" The bailie came out unafraid, having, he said heard nothing; whether he concealed this upon the account his wife was with child, or otherwise, it cannot be well known. The money was presently sent away to another bailie's house, at a great distance from Weir's; where there was some disturbance, but in broken expressions.
During the time of his imprisonment, he was never willing to be spoken to; and when the ministers of the city offered to pray for him, he would cry out in fury, "Torment me no more, for I am tormented already." One minister asking him, If he would pray for him? was answered, Not at all. The other replied, in a kind of holy anger, "Sir, I will pray for you in spite of your teeth and the devil your master to," who did pray, making him at least to hear him; but the other starting wildly, was senseless as a brute. Another minister asked him if he thought there was a God; said the man, I know not. The other replied smartly, "O man, the argument that moveth me to think there is a God, is thyself; for what else moveth thee to inform the world of thy wicked life?" But Weir answered, Let me alone. When he peremptorily forbade one of his own parish ministers to pray, one demanded, if he would have any of the presbyterian persuasion to pray, he answered, "Sir, you are all alike to me." Then said the minister to him. "I will pray for you." "Do it not," said the other, "upon your peril;" looking up to the beams of the house. But prayer was offered up so much the more heartily, because the Company about expected some vision. It is observeable, that in things common he was pertinent enough; but when any thing about Almighty God, and his soul's condition, came about, he would shrug, and rub his coat and breast, saying to them, "Torment me not before the time" When he was at the stake to be burnt, the city ministers called to a churchman there looking on, being one of that persuasion whereof Weir was formerly deemed to be, to speak to him; but no sooner had he opened his mouth, than he made a sign with head to be silent. When the rope was about his neck to prepare him for the fire, he was bid say, Lord be merciful to me; but he answered, "Let me alone, I will not; I have lived as a beast, and I must die as a beast." The fire being kindled, both he and his staff, a little after, fell into the flames. Whatever incantation was in his staff, is not for me to discuss. He could not officiate in any holy duty, without his rod in his hand, and leaning upon it, which made those who heard him pray, admire his fluency in prayer. Its falling into the fire with him, (let others search out the disparity) minds me of this passage. In Zetland a few years ago, ⟨judge⟩ having condemned an old woman and her daughter, called Helen Stewart, for witchcraft, sent them to be burned. The maid was so stupid, that she was thought to be possessed. When she had hung some little time on the gibbet, a black pitchy-like ball foamed out of her mouth; and after the fire was kindled, it grew to the bigness of a walnut, and then flew up like squibs into the air, which the judge, yet living, attests. It was taken to be a visable sign, that the devil was gone out of her. I shall not make application of this to Mr. Weir's staff.———I know from good hands, that if this man repented of any thing in prison, it was for causing a poor maid to be scourged, who affirmed, she had seen him commit bestiality going to Newmills to a solemn meeting. This poor woman lived about two years after his death, and heard of his fatal end. His incest with his own sister, was first when she was a young maid. The place where this abomination was committed, was cursed; for, contrary to nature, it remained always bare without grass. A reverend minister told me, (I mention this as from myself, not from the author of the letter) that Major Weir confessed so much to him, and told him, that the place lies off the road-way between Kirkcaldy and Kinghorn, upon a little hill-side; which he had the curiosity to go and see, and found it so. This was done the matter of fifty years ago. Many other things he confessed, which Christian ears should not be defiled with.—Before I come to his sister, take this notable remark from two persons yet alive, dwelling at the foot of the West-Bow, at the head whereof dwelt Major Weir. This gentlewoman, a substantial merchant's wife, was very desirious to hear him pray, much being spoken of his utterance; and for that end spoke to some of her neighbours, that when he came to his own house, she might be sent for. This was done, hut he could never be persuaded to open his mouth before her; no, not to bless a cup of ale; he either remained mute, or up with his staff and away. It troubled her then; but I suppose both her husband and she smiles at it now.
Some few days before he discovered himself, this gentlewoman coming from the Castle-hill; where her husband's niece was lying-in of a child, about midnight, perceived, about the Bow-head, thre woman in windows, shouting, laughing, and clapping their hands. The gentlewoman went forward, till, just at Major Weir's door, there arose, as from the street, a woman about the length of two ordinary females, and stepped forward. The gentlewoman, not as vet excessively feared, bid her maid step on, if, by the lanthern, they could see what she was; but haste what they could, this long-legged spectre was still before them, moving her body with a vehement cahination, and unmeasurable laughter. At this rate the two strove for place, till the giantess came to a narrow lane in the Bow, commonly called the stinking-close, into which she turning, and the gentlewoman looking after her, perceived the close full of flaming torches, (she could give them no other name,) and as it had been a great multitude of people, stentoriously laughing and gaping with tehees of laughter. This sight, at so dead a time of the night, no people being in the windows belonging the close, made her and her servant haste home, declaring all what they saw to the rest of the family; but more passionately to her husband. And though sick with fear, yet she went the next morning with her maid, to view the noted places of her former night's walk, and at the close inquired who lived there? It was answered, Major Weir. The honest couple now rejoiced, that to Weir's devotion they never said, Amen. I know there are some, who strenuously assert the unreasonableness of believing such visions and apparitions; but you have made them sufficiently evident from your relation foregoing. These, in all probability, have been a presage of his approaching death, and of the manner of it, links and torches signifying an honourable interment, which perhaps had been promised to him. There was one minister in the city, that could never be persuaded to speak with him in prison; but no sooner was he dead, than he went to the tolbooth, and called for his sister, who had some remorse; of whom I shall now speak. He told her, that her brother was burnt, and how he died, (though he saw him not executed) as I heard from himself. She believed nothing of it; but after many attestations, he asked, where his staff was? for, it seems, she knew that his strength and life lay therein. He told her, it was burnt with him. Whereupon, notwithstanding of her age, she nimbly, and in a furious rage, fell on her knees, uttering words horrible to be remembered. And in rising up, as she was desired, her raging agony closed with these words, "O Sir, I know he is with the devils; for with them he lived." She entreated that minister to assist her, and if attend her to her death, which, at her violent importunity, he yielded unto, though it was not his course to wait upon condemned persons. What he said in private to himself, he says, must die with him. She avouched, that from her being sixteen years of age, to her fiftieth, her brother had the incestuous use of her, and then loathed her for her age. She was pretty old at this time; and he, when he died, was about seventy. He asked her, If ever she was with child to him? Site declared, with great confidence, he hindered that by means abominable: which she, beginning to relate, the minister stopped her. Some bystanders were desirous to hear the rest; but says he, "Gentlemen, the speculation of this iniquity is in itself to be punished."—In often and returned visits, she was interrogated, If she had any hand in her brother's devilry? She declared but in a passive way; and gave this for an instance: A fiery chariot or coach, as she called it, coming to his door, at broad day, a stranger invited him and her to go and visit a friend in Dalkeith, a small town about six miles from Edinburgh. They both entered, and went forward in their visit; at which time (says she) one came and whispered something in his ear, which affected him. They both returned after the same manner that they had gone out. And Weir, going after to make some visits, told them he had strong apprehensions, that that day the King's forces were routed at Worcester; which, within a few days, was confirmed by post. She affirmed, that none saw the coach but themselves. The devil hath wrought far greater farlies in his time than this—She knew much of the enchanted staff; for by it he was enabled to pray; to commit filthiness, not to be named; yea even to reconcile neighbours, man and wife, when at variance. She oft hid it from him; and because without it he could do nothing, he would threaten and vow to discover her incest; fearing which, she would deliver it again. Being asked the cause of her much spinning, which she was famous for, she denied any assistance from the devil, but found she had an extraordinary faculty therein, far above ordinary spinsters; yet owned, that when she came home, after her being abroad, she found there was more yarn on her wheel than she left: and that her weaver could not make cloth thereof, the yarn breaking, or falling from the loom.———Once there came a stranger to her, while she was at her wheel, and proposed a way to her to make her rich; for they both lived almost upon alms. The way was this; "Stand up and say, all crosses and cares go out of this house." She answered, "God forbid, I say that, but let them be welcome when God sends them." After two or three visits more, she asked this stranger, where she dwelt? She replied; "In the Potterrow," a street in the suburbs of of that city; but finding neither such a house, nor such a woman, I judged, said she, it was the devil, one of my brother's acquaintances; for I know he had familiarity with the devil.
His poverty minds me of a wizzard accused and executed in Zetland, before named for witchcraft, several years ago, called Luggy to a nick-name; who being a fisher, had a trick, at any time when hungry at sea, to cast out his line, and would, out of Neptune's lowest kitchen, bring cleverly up fish well boiled and roasted; and his comrades, by a natural courage, would make a merry meal thereof, not questioning who was cook. He had another piece of art, at any time of the year, or in great storms, to go up to a hill near his own house, whereupon there was a deep pit, out of which, with his lines, he drew up codlings or keiling for his provision, which never man could but himself. This history is true, being yet to be seen in the criminal books of that country—She was asked anent her parents? She was persuaded her mother was a witch; "for the secretest thing that either I myself, or any of the family could do, when once a mark appeared on her brow, she could tell it them, though done at a great distance. Being demanded what sort of a mark it was? She answered, "I have some such like mark myself, when I please, on my forehead? Whereupon she offered to uncover her head for visible satisfaction; the minister refusing to behold it, and forbiding any discovery, was earnestly requested by some spectators, to allow the freedom. He yielded: She put hack her head dress, and seeming to frown, there was seen an exact horse shoe shaped for nails in her wrinkles, terrible enough, I assure you, to the stoutest beholder. In the morning before her execution, she told the minister, she resolved to die with all the shame she could, to expiate, under mercy, her shameful life; this he understood to be an ingenuous confession of her sins in opposition to her brother's despair and desperate silence, to which he did encourage her. At her parting with him, she gave him hearty thanks for his pains; and shaking his hands, offering to kiss them, she repeated the same words which he bade her perform. Ascending up the ladder, she spoke somewhat confusedly of her sins, of her brother and his enchanting staff; and with a ghastly countenance, beholding a multitude of spectators, all wandering, and some weeping, she spake aloud, "There are many here this day, wondering and greeting for me, but alas! few mourn for a broken———;" at which words, many seemed angry: some called to her to mind higher concerns; and I have heard it said, that the preacher declared, he had much ado to keep a composed countenance. The executioner falling about his duty, she prepares to die stark-naked; then, and not before, were her words relating to shame understood: the hangman struggled with her to keep on her clothes, and she struggled with him to have them off. At last he was forced to throw her over openfaced, which afterwards he covered with a cloth.——— So much from the gentleman that gave me this information; to which I shall add, that this is not publived with a design to reflect upon men of this ⟨or⟩ that persuasion, far be it. The devil can counterfeit what religion he pleases, and ordinarily a good one. True religion can never suffer any prejudice from a hypocrite's wearing a cloak of it, more than the good angels can suffer a stain by Satan's transforming himself into an angel of light. The devil hath his lackies and pages with Christ's livery upon them. Was not Judas, who was but one of the twelve, a vile hypocrite? It is a wonder, where there are a thousand professing Christ in a congregation, that a hundred of them are not as had. His glistering cloak of religion dazzled all men's eyes; this was needful. Foul faults must have a cloak to cover them. The apostle Jude speaks of some that go after Sarko's heteras, which may be understood, not only of that sin mentioned, Rom, i. 27 but one of another sort of flesh, not to be named. Here was a demonstration, proving evidently that there is a God, viz. by the terrors of his conscience. It is evident also, there is a devil that hurries men on into sin. He had this expression to two ministers that came to see him in prison; there was no temptation which the devil could propose to him but he was capable to accept of it. It is evident also, there is either an explicit compact between some men and the devil; horrible sins covered with religion bring utter despair at last. Desperation in hell in "fieri" Some men as well as devils are tormented before the time. Let us not count the less of religion, that it is made a cloak for covering ⟨sin⟩; let us beware that such a man's fall prove not ⟨a⟩ neck-break to us; let us idolize no man for his profession, or that he is of this or that persuasion, ⟨or⟩ of such a party: let no man rest in a bare profession of religion. Men in compact with the devil, may be assisted both to preach and pray. The devil's servants are well rewarded at the last. Profession and practice must go together; a clinking profesion, with an unbridled tongue, is a vain religion. "Pure religion, and undefiled before God and the Father, is, to visit the fatherless and the widows in their affliction; and for a man to keep himself unspotted from, the world."
Major Weir was burnt between Edinburgh and Leith, at a place called the Gallowlee, on Thursday the 14th of April 1676.