[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
burned242
[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 Power254
[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 discontinued262
[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 Lords267