Book: The Mysteries of All Nations

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THE MYSTERIES OF ALL NATIONS:

RISE AND PROGRESS OF SUPERSTITION,
LAWS AGAINST AND TRIALS OF WITCHES,
ANCIENT AND MODERN DELUSIONS,

TOGETHER WITH

Strange Customs, Fables, and Tales

RELATING TO

MYTHOLOGY--DAYS AND WEEKS--MIRACLES--POETS AND SUPERSTITION--MONARCHS,
PRIESTS, AND PHILOSOPHERS--DRUIDS--DEMONOLOGY--MAGIC AND
ASTROLOGY--DIVINATION--SIGNS, OMENS, AND WARNINGS--AMULETS
AND CHARMS--TRIALS BY ORDEAL--CURSES AND EVIL WISHES--DREAMS
AND VISIONS--SUPERSTITION IN THE NINETEENTH CENTURY.

BY JAMES GRANT.

LEITH: REID & SON, 35 SHORE.
EDINBURGH: W. PATERSON. LONDON: SIMPKIN, MARSHALL, AND CO.

[THE RIGHT OF TRANSLATION IS RESERVED.]


REID AND SON, PRINTERS, LEITH.




PREFACE.


In whatever light this work may be regarded by archaeologists and
general readers, the writer submits it to the public, chiefly as the
result of antiquarian research, and actual observation during a period
of nearly forty years. The writer does not attempt to define what
superstition is, either in its broadest or most literal sense; but, as
he desires the expression to be understood, it may be considered to
imply a fear of the Evil One and his emissaries, a trust in benign
spirits and saints, a faith in occult science, and a belief that a
conjunction of certain planets or other inanimate bodies is capable of
producing supernatural effects, either beneficial or prejudicial to
man. Superstition, generally so called, has run through a course of
ages from sire to son, leaving it still deeply rooted in the minds of
many of the present generation.

Not a few seeming repetitions in this work are not such in reality,
but are instances brought forward to mark the resemblance between the
opinions prevalent in past and present times, and to illustrate the
similarity of perverted views in various parts of the world.

The examples of superstition herein given are taken from an almost
unlimited number, yet the writer confesses to have omitted many
interesting particulars. In proof of this it may be stated, that while
the last sheet of these pages was being revised, an esteemed friend
wrote, saying: "I can quite corroborate what you say of Ireland; for
lately, on my way from Macroom to Glengariff, at a weird mountain
pass, the coach stopped to enable us to visit the hermitage of St.
Finbar. There, beside a lonely lake, I saw a number of devotees,
afflicted with various ailments, expecting to be healed through the
good offices of the departed saint."

In spite of a determination to omit unimportant matter and to be
concise, this volume has swelled out far beyond what was originally
intended. The more the subject of superstition is studied, the more
interesting it becomes. One judges of a nation's strength by its
victories, of its industry by its products, of its wealth by its mines
and cultivated fields, of its domestic condition by its diet and
dress, of its moral condition by its laws, of its religion and
intelligence by its literature; but before obtaining full knowledge of
a people's convictions, it is necessary to search into their
superstitions. In these are discovered the secrets of man's inner
life, and by these also have been forged strong fetters, which have
kept his soul in thraldom for ages.

If the author has succeeded in pointing out, that, notwithstanding the
progress of science and the advancement of civilisation and
Christianity, some of the darker shadows that have disfigured past
ages are still floating over a portion of our social horizon, he feels
his labour will not have been altogether in vain. Like many of the
ghosts alluded to in the following pages, that of superstition needs
only the continued light of day to shine upon it, in order to make it
vanish for ever.

_January 1880._




CONTENTS.

* * * * *

THE RISE AND PROGRESS OF SUPERSTITION.


CHAPTER I.
PAGE
Rise and Progress of Superstition--The Serpent--Cain's Departure
from the true Worship--Worship of the Sun, Moon, and Stars--Strange
Story of Abraham--The Gods of Antiquity--Ether, Air, Land, and
Water filled with living Souls--Guardian Angel--Cause of the
Flood--Magic--How the Jews deceived the Devil--A Witch not
permitted to live--Diviners, Enchanters, Consulters with familiar
Spirits, and Necromancers proved a Snare to Nations--Charms worn by
the Jews--Singular Customs and Belief--Prognostication--Allegorical
Emblems--Marriage Customs--Ceremonies at Death and Burials--Divination
among all Nations--Observers of Times--Opinion concerning the
Celestial Bodies--Power of Witches--Wizards--Necromancers' Power
to call up the Dead 1


CHAPTER II.

Men endowed with Prophetic Spirits--The Jews forbidden to consult
the Oracles of the Heathen--Schools of Prophets--Influence of
Music--The Prophetic Mantle--Way Revelations were made--Bath
Kol--Urim and Thummim--False Prophets Strangled or Stoned--Diabolical
Art--Moloch--Seething a Kid in its Mother's Milk--The Smooth
Stones mentioned by Isaiah--Sheep-head and Sheep-head Broth--Casting
Sins into the Sea--Fasting among the Pharisees--Dust of Heathen
Countries--The number 10--Angels that had the Care of Men--Predictions
by Hebrew Women--Punishment in the Grave 10


CHAPTER III.

Egypt steeped in Superstition--Power of Magicians--Obtaining
Visions--Demons--Departed Heroes--Gods and Demi-gods--Altars or
Living Stones--Sacred Animals--Isis searching for Osiris--Leeks and
Onions--Priests, Physicians, and Interpreters of Oracles--Sacrificing
Human Victims--Wax Figures--Magic--Teaching of the Egyptian
Priests--Transmigration 14


CHAPTER IV.

Babylon--The Chaldeans--Downfall of Babylon predicted--Worship of
the Medes and Persians--Sacred Fire--The Gaures--Births and Deaths
in Early Times--A Narrow Bridge--An Immense Tree--Creation of
Prophets--A Stone to which Abraham tied his Camel--Adam and Eve's
Trysting Place--Black Art--Ways of discovering whether a supposed
Criminal was Guilty or Innocent--Looking into Futurity--Canaanites,
Syrians, and Arabians--Strange Fables--Abraham breaking Heathen
Idols--Altars--Religion of the Carthagenians and Tyrians--Supremacy
of the Gods 20


CHAPTER V.

Greek Religion and Superstition--Jupiter regarded as the
President of the Law and Protector of Cities--Dreams and
Charms--Sacred Stones--Omens of Evil--Sacrificing the Hair--Flight
of Birds--Compassing the Altar to the Right--Love secured by
Magic--Marriage Ceremonies--Way of protecting a Child from Evil
Spirits--Divers Magical Ceremonies--Laws as to Dead Bodies--Fingers
and Toes of Dead Men worn as Charms--Preparing a Body for
Burial--Swine and Swine's Flesh--Drinking Toasts--Prophets consulted
before Armies marched to Battle--Certain Words avoided--Sneezing--Evil
Omens--Throwing a Person overboard to save a Ship 26


CHAPTER VI.

Roman Delusions and Customs--Tokens of Futurity--Drawing of Lots--Events
foretold by reading the first passage that turned up on opening a
Book--Lucky and Unlucky Stars--Fortune-tellers--Dreams--Omens
drawn from the Appearance of parts of Animals offered in
Sacrifice--Sibylline Books, Charms, and Incantations--Spirits
observers of Men's Actions--Unlucky Days--Dress of a Bride--Anointing
Door-posts and crossing the Threshold--Fire and Water--Bridal Feast
and Nuptial Songs--Funeral Rites--Souls of Unburied Persons--Customs
at a Deathbed, and Funeral Observances--Hobgoblins--Purifying
with Water and Fire--Appeasing the Manes--Dead Bodies used for
Magical purposes 34


CHAPTER VII.

Ethiopian Superstition--Heathen Indian Gods--Superstitious
Observances at Marriages--Disposal of Dead Bodies--Different
Degrees of Glory after Death--Reverence for the Cow--Detecting
Criminals--Addressing Oracles--Astronomy--Eclipse of the
Moon--Magic--John Gondalez 39


CHAPTER VIII.

Wizard and Man-tiger--Man-lion--Sacrificing Children--Offerings
to the Ganges--A Rajah offering himself as a Sacrifice--Various
Superstitious Ceremonies--King's Wives and Retainers going with
the Dead Monarch into another World--An eternal Succession of
Worlds--Apes supposed to have Human Souls--Worshipping Demons--Drinking
Blood--Prognosticating from the Cries of Beasts--Witchcraft and
Magic--Singular Opinions and Customs--Foretelling Future Events
at the New Moon--Discovering a False Swearer--Offerings to the
Sea and Winds--Superstition in China--Superstition in Japan 48

* * * * *

HEATHEN GODS AND GODDESSES.


CHAPTER IX.

Classification of Gods and Goddesses--Primeval Parent
Chaos--Creation--Influence of Ether--Celestial Fire--Birth and
Banishment of Cupid--Fate--Eternal Decrees--Throne of Jove--Fortune
and Happiness--Misfortune and Misery--Rewards and Punishments--First
Man and Woman--Pan the Emblem of all Things--Power of Heathen
Gods--Descriptions of Juno--Venus the Goddess of Love and
Beauty--Rustics turned into Frogs--Vulcan--AEolus--Momus the
Jester--The Carping God 59


CHAPTER X.

Satyrs described--Diana's Retirement--Pallas, the Goddess of
Shepherds--The vile Flora--Pomona deceived--Nymphs--River Gods
and Goddesses--Sirens--Witch Circe--Infernal Deities--Passage
to Tartarus--Palace of Pluto--Judges of Hell--Goddesses of
Destiny--Furies--Night, Death, and Sleep--Tartarian Regions--Delights
of the Elysian Fields--Festivals of Heathens--Sacrifices to
Deities--Things sacred to Gods 65


CHAPTER XI.

Achilles--Taking of Troy--Acrisius's Daughter--Danae and her
son Perseus--Ardea changed into a Bird--Pluto's Invisible
Helmet--Minerva's Buckler--Mercury's Wings--Medusa deprived of
Life--Sea Monster--A Gorgon's Head--Stheno and Euryale--Minerva's
Revenge--Serpents and Pegasus produced by Medusa's Blood--Tales by the
Daughters of Minyas--Punishment by Bacchus--The Search of Cadmus for
his sister Europa--Halcyon's Sorrow--Transmigration--Exploits of
Hercules--Love Potion--Hymen--Jason's Adventures--Power and Cruelty of
Medea--How a Favourable Wind was procured--Manner in which Orion came
into Existence--False Swearer punished--Palladium--Deeds of
Paris--Golden Apple--Marriage of Peleus and Thetis--Impiety of
Pentheus--Rhea and her Sons--Scylla turned into a Sea Monster 71

* * * * *

MYTHOLOGY OF GERMANY, GREAT BRITAIN, SCANDINAVIA, ETC.


CHAPTER XII.

Mythology of Germany, Great Britain, and Scandinavia--The world
Niflheim--The world Muspelheim--How Ymir was created--The cow
Aedhumla--Ymir's Offspring--Odin, the chief God--Valhalla--Queen
Frigga--How the Seas, Waters, Mountains, and Heavens were
made--Chariots and Horses in Heaven--Night and Day--Evil-disposed
Maidens--Creation of New Beings--Bridge between Midgard and
Asgard--Sacred Fountain--Roots of the ash Yggdrasil--Baldur's Dreams
and sad End--Loki, the Evil Spirit--Hel and her Brothers--Worship
of Scandinavian Gods--Norsemen and their Ancient Gods and
Goddesses--The Volsung Tale--Odin, Loki, and Haenir's Wanderings--The
Sword Gram--Sigurd's Exploits--What the Worshippers of Odin
believed--Frodi's Maidens and Quern--Gods of the Laplanders--Sale
of Winds--Lucky and Unlucky Days--Other Superstitions 85

* * * * *

NAMES OF DAYS, WHENCE DERIVED.


CHAPTER XIII.

The Calendar--Names of Days, whence derived--The Power of
Jupiter--Influence of Zeus--The God Indra--Origin of the term
"Hours"--Hours under Planetary Control--Coronation of a Persian
King--Evils transferred to the Turks and Kafirs--The Moon's
Controlling Power--Time reckoned by Moons--A Strange Story--Heathen
Gods--Thor's Palace--Thor's Power--Frigga's Abilities--Description of
Seater or Crodo 99

* * * * *

NAMES OF MONTHS, WHENCE DERIVED.


CHAPTER XIV.

Names of Months, whence derived--January--First of January,
how kept--New Year Gifts--February--Sacrifices for purging
Souls--Second of February--Virtue of Candles--Shrove Tuesday--Eating
Pancakes--Partaking of Brose--Choosing a Valentine--March--April
dedicated to Venus--First of May--May Poles and May Fires--Dispute between
Men and Gods--Superstitious Customs in Scotland--Superstitious Ceremonies
in England--June Marriages--July--August--September--October--Hallow-e'en
Ceremonies--December--Christmas Trees and Gifts--The Misletoe--Privileges
in Leap Year--Yule Log--Christmas Festivities 110

* * * * *

MIRACLES PERFORMED BY HOLY PERSONS, AND THE INFLUENCE OF SACRED
RELICS.


CHAPTER XV.

St. Peter, and Simon the Magician--Clement's Miracles and Death--St.
Agnes--A Miraculous Circumstance--St. Blase's Power--St. Agatha's Holy
Life--St. Patrick's Missionary Labours, and Expulsion of Reptiles from
Ireland--St. Germanus stilling the Raging of the Sea--St. David and
the Welsh Leeks--Stirrup Cup and Origin of "Pledging"--Elfrida's
Treachery and Remorse--St. Benedict's Power--St. Dunstan cured by an
Angel--The AEolian Harp--St. Columba's Prophecy concerning Iona--Sacred
Ducks of Ireland--St. Paul binding a Dragon--Saints and Frogs--Friars
and Jesuits--Father Mark proof against Fire--Virtue of Holy Water--St.
Noel's Imprecation--St. Boniface--Pope Silvester assisted by
Satan--Necromancing Popes--St. Januarius's Blood--St. Anthony's
Conflicts with the Devil--St. Anthony's Hog and Bees--A Tradition
concerning Melrose--St. Cuthbert--A Princess swallowed up by the
Earth--Monk Waldevus's inexhaustible Stores--Holy Relics--Rusticus
and his Hog 130

* * * * *

POETS AND SUPERSTITION.


CHAPTER XVI.

Prophetic Verse--The Bardi--Bards maintained by Noblemen--Queen
Elizabeth and the Bards--Effects of Prophetic Sayings and of
Pipe Music--Messages to another World--Voices of Deceased Friends
heard in the Gale--Human Forms in the Clouds--Evenings in the
Highlands--Michael Scott--Constant Work for Evil Spirits--Stemming the
Tweed--How the Eildon Hills were formed--Ropes of Sand--Scott and his
Magic Books buried at Melrose--Ossianic Poems--Stories by Bards 150


CHAPTER XVII.

Shakspeare--An Outline of his Composition--"The Tempest"--Miranda
beseeching Prospero to allay the Wild Waters--Ariel's Readiness
to serve his Master--The Witch Sycorax--Caliban's Evil Wish--Neptune
chased--"Midsummer Night's Dream"--Exploits of a Fairy--Doings of
Puck--Titania and her Attendants--Ghosts and
Spirits--Song--"Macbeth"--Weird Sisters--Macbeth's Doom--Witches'
Caldron--Macbeth admonished by Spirits--"Antony and
Cleopatra"--Dreadful Apparition--King's Death avenged 161


CHAPTER XVIII.

The Poet Gay--The "Spell"--Hobnelia--Lubberkin--Spells resorted
to--Valentine Day--Ladybird sent on a Message of Love--Virtue of
United Garters--Gipsies' Warnings--Knives sever Love--Story of
Boccaccio--Apparition of a Deceased Lover--Poems by Burns--"Address
to the Deil"--"Tam o' Shanter" 173


CHAPTER XIX.

Sir Walter Scott--His Belief in Superstition--How his Tales of Fiction
are composed--A Town-Clerk frightened by an Apparition--A Ghost that
did not understand Erse, but could communicate in Latin--Lovel and
Edie Ochiltree--Discovery of Hidden Treasure--"Rob Roy"--Fairies'
Caverns--Supposed Apparition in the Trossachs--Elfin People at the
Firth of Forth--A Minister taken away by Fairies--Dame Glendinning's
Tale--Lines from "Marmion"--A Fairy Knight--Mysterious Steed 187


CHAPTER XX.

Lord Byron taught Superstition--Byron and the Maid in Green--Bridge of
Balgonie--Byron's Fear to ride over it--His Belief in Unlucky Days and
Presentiments--Socrates's Demon--Monk Lewis's Monitor--Napoleon's
Warnings--A Sorrowful Tale--Byron's Fortune told by a Sibyl--Hebrew
Camyo--Abracadabra--Loch-na-Garr--Oscar of Alva--Byron's last
Instructions 197


CHAPTER XXI.

Tale by Hogg, the Ettrick Shepherd--Aikwood Castle--The
Witch Henbane--Imps demanding Work--Michael Scott--Curious
Sport--Dreadful Threat--Rats transformed into the form of
Men--Inventor of Gunpowder--Summoning Evil Spirits--Latin the
Language best understood by Satin and his Emissaries--Holy Signs
and Charms--Effects of a Friar's Blessing--Magic Lantern--Michael
Scott's Subscribed Conditions--Imps' Song--Dreadful Storm--Warlocks'
Hymn--Eildon Hill 210


CHAPTER XXII.

Allan Ramsay--"The Gentle Shepherd"--Bauldy the Clown--Mause the
reputed Witch--Praying Backwards--Sad Misfortunes--Supposed Power
of the Devil to raise the Wind and send Rain and Thunder--Sir
William disturbed--Symon's Announcement--Promise to gain a
Lassie's Heart--Witches' Tricks--Longfellow's "Golden Legend"--"Song
of Hiawatha" 218

* * * * *

MONARCHS, PRIESTS, PHILOSOPHERS, AND SUPERSTITION.


CHAPTER XXIII.

Superstition--Commencement of Monarchy in Scotland--King Fergus I.
crowned on the Fatal Stone of Destiny--Signs, Assistance of Spirits,
Magicians, and Fortune-tellers--Natholocus sends a Friend to consult
a Cunning Woman--Her Prediction--Constantine and Maxentius--A
Heavenly Cross--A Famous Standard--Queen Guanora's Grave--Fear of St.
Martin--The Church's Belief in Departed Saints--Relics venerated--King
bewitched by Witches of Forres--Evil Signs--Sea Monster in the
Don--Kenneth III. killed by an Infernal Machine--Virtue of
Precious Stones--Weird Sisters--Consulting a Pythoness--Predictions
by Druids--Domitian's Death foretold by Astrologers--Simon Magus--A
Platonic Philosopher--The Emperor Julian instructed in Magic 234


CHAPTER XXIV.

Louis XI. and the Astrologer--A King's Enchanted Cap--David I. and
the Mysterious Stag--Merlin the Magician--Prophecies concerning
Queen Elizabeth and Mary--Dragon Caverns--Predictions of Evil--Changing
a King's Love--The Holy Maid of Kent--Nobles put to Death for keeping
company with Sorcerers--James I. of England and the Witches--Tranent
Witches and Warlocks--Wise Wife of Keith--Two Hundred Witches
sailing in Sieves--Raising Storms--Witch and Warlock Convention at
Newhaven--Meeting of Witches at North Berwick--Witches tortured in
Holyrood--The Devil's Mark--Bothwell's Fortune told--Witches and their
Associates burned 242


CHAPTER XXV.

Cromwell in league with the Devil--Cromwell consulting
Astrologers--Memorable Days in the Life of Cromwell--Duke of
Hamilton warned of his Fate--Peden's Predictions--Traditions
concerning Peden--John Brown the Martyr--Linlithgow Loch
Swans--Hereford Children--Great Comet--Conjunction of Saturn
and Jupiter at Eventful Periods--Solomon's Power 254

* * * * *

THE DRUIDS.


CHAPTER XXVI.

Druids laid claim to Supernatural Power--Representations of the Sun
and Moon--Belief of Druids--Beltane Feasts--Arkite and Sabian
Superstition--Dancing to the Song of the Cuckoo--Initiation into
the Druidical Mysteries--The Goodmane's Land and the Guidman's
Fauld--Offerings to Demi-gods--Propitiating Beasts of Prey--Sacred
Cairns--Trees dedicated to Demons--Law forbidding Worship of the Sun,
Moon, Fire, Rivers, Wells, Stones, or Forest Trees--Extracts from
Kirk-Session Records--Land dedicated to Satan--Midsummer and Hallow
Fires forbidden--Yule-day--Order of the General Assembly as to
Druidical Customs--Old Customs ordered to be discontinued 262


CHAPTER XXVII.

Dr. Stuart on the Druids--Their Deities, etc.--Gauls descendants
of Dis--Funeral Rites--Slaves and Clients burned--What Pliny
says--Tallies used in making known the Will of Heaven--Walking
through the Fire--Wonder-working Eggs--Easter Eggs represent
Druidical Eggs--Origin of Druids--Wise Men of the East were
probably Druids--Island of Iona--Druidical Cairns--Stones of
Judgment--Misletoe regarded as a Charm--Rings worn as Preventatives
against Witchcraft--Stonehenge--Merlin the Magician--Stones brought
from Africa by Giants--Graves of British Lords 267

* * * * *

DEMONOLOGY.


CHAPTER XXVIII.

First Ideas of Demonology--Rabbinical Tradition--Adam's Marriage--The
Wicked Lilith--Egyptian Tradition--Arabian Worship of Genii--Christians'
Opinions of Demons--Forms assumed by Evil Spirits--Demoniacal King--Duty
of Inferior Demons--Task of Benign Spirits--Schools of Magic--Circassian
Opinions--Belief of Indians--Situation of Hell--Men's Actions
recorded--Rewards and Punishments--How to frighten Demons--Treatment
of the Sick--Attendant Angels--Worship of Gods--Foretelling Future
Events--Small-pox propagated by an Evil Genius--Souls of Deceased
Persons--Effect of Charms 273


CHAPTER XXIX.

Heathen Devotion in Ceylon--Superstitious Customs among the Schismatic
Greeks--Negro Belief in Fetishes--Charms--Magic taught by the
Priests--Dead Persons metamorphosed into Serpents--How the Gaures
disposed of their Dead--Souls Blessed or Damned--Orders of Genii in
Madagascar--Belief of the Caribbees--Brazilian Superstition--Peruvian
Tradition--American Indians--Demons in the Sixteenth and Seventeenth
Centuries--Satan in France--Manes, Anima, and Umbra among the Greeks
and Romans 279


CHAPTER XXX.

Visible Ghosts--Superstition on the Baltic Shores--A German
Legend--Demons in the West of Europe--Love, how plighted in
Orkney--The Monster Ymir--Origin of Fairies--The Duergar or
Dwarfs--Brownies in Ireland and the Highlands of Scotland--Nine
Classes of Evil Spirits--Vampires--Man's Double or Fetch--Churchyard
Ghosts--Souls of Suicides--Burial of Suicides and Murderers at Cross
Roads--Luther on Evil Spirits and Witches 284


CHAPTER XXXI.

Belief and Teaching of the Roman Catholic Church--Swedenborg's
Intercourse with Spirits--Marcus Brutus and his Evil Genius--Cassius
and Julius Caesar's Ghost at Philippi--Plutarch on Spectres--Socrates
on the same subject--Archbishop Bruno and the Spectre--A Haunted
House--Spectre at Sea--Ghost of a Murdered Man in New South Wales 291


CHAPTER XXXII.

Spiritualism Past and Present--Magic taught in Leipsic--Spirit of
Marshal Saxe--How Spirits were Invoked--Voices of Spirits--Mysterious
Death of a Magician--Unearthly Huntsman--Prediction and its
Fulfilment--An Estate lost at the Gaming Table--A Baron Shot--A
Marriage prevented by an Apparition--Consulting a Witch--Raising the
Spirit of a Murdered Man--A Murderer's Fate 297


CHAPTER XXXIII.

Antonio the Rich--Dreadful Announcement from a Volcano's Mouth--Three
Ghosts--Mozart apprehensive of Death--Mozart writing a Requiem for
himself--Messenger from another World--Mozart's Death--Ghost of a
Lady--A Haunted House--Iron Cage--Youth starved to Death--Frightful
Dreams and Dreadful Sights--Dog frightened by a Spirit--Disturbed
House--Duchess of Mazarin--Madame de Beauclair--Compact between the
Living and the Dead--A Lady's Death foretold by a Spirit 304


CHAPTER XXXIV.

Sir George Villiers' Ghost--Duke of Buckingham Murdered--Lord
Lyttelton and others profaning Christmas--A Troubled Mind--Apparition
of a Suicide--Neglected Warning--Ominous Hour--Lord Lyttelton found
Dead at the dreaded time--Death of an old Roman King--Alarming
Prodigies--Tales from the _Eddas_--A Scandinavian Warrior's Ghost--An
Icelandic Lady's Ghost--Fear of approaching Calamities--Association of
Ghosts--Apparitions of Drowned Men--Christians not disturbed by
Spectres--A Band of Demons--Priest exorcising Evil Spirits 312


CHAPTER XXXV.

A Mysterious Hunter--Man and Horse supposed to be
Devils--Flagellation--Tales of the Scotch Highlands--Croaking
Raven--Death of a suspected Witch--Resort of Witches and Evil
Spirits--Spirits hastening to a Church--Black Man with Eyes like
Fire--Horse breathing Smoke and Flame 318


CHAPTER XXXVI.

Churchmen subjected to the Onslaught of Demons--St. Maurus rebuking
Evil Spirits--St. Romualdus' Conflict with Satan--St. Frances--St.
Gregory--Monk in Purgatory--Institution of the Thirty Masses for the
Dead--An Excommunicated Gentleman--St. Benedict and the Blackbird's
Song--A Monk restored to Life--St. Benedict's Sister ascending to
Heaven--St. Francis' Dominion over Living Creatures and the
Elements--St. Catherine's Power--St. Stanislaus' Miracles--A Dead Man
giving Evidence--The Dead refusing a Renewal of Life--St. Philip
Nerius and Evil Spirits--Spirits ministering to St. Erasmus--St.
Norbert--Story relating to Henry I.--St. Margaret's Triumph--St.
Ignatius--St. Stephen--Satan's Hatred of St. Dominick--St. Donatus
endowing a Corpse with Speech--St. Cyriacus, St. Largus, and St.
Smaragdus, the Martyrs--St. Clare--St. Bernard's Power--St. Caesarius'
Wonder-working Crook--St. Giles and the Hind--St. Euphemia's Guardian
Angels--St. Francis' Spirit--St. Bridget--St. Denis' Spirit--St.
Teresa and the Angels--St. Hilarian--St. Martin--St. Catherine's Body
carried by Angels to Mount Sinai--St. Francis Xaverius' Belief in
Virtue of Bells--St. Nicholas--St. Ambrose--St. Lucy raising her Mother
from the Dead--St. Anastasia sustained by Bread from Heaven--St.
Thomas enduring Martyrdom in Life and after Death--Penance of
Henry II.--Barbarous Conduct of Henry VIII.--A Hungarian Legend 323

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