The Secret Commonwealth of Elves, Fauns and Fairies

The ministers of Kells and Crossmichael were pelted with stones weighing eight pounds. On April 6th, fireballs flew throughout the house. When five ministers were present, "it made the whole house shake, made a hole in the thatched roof, and threw large stones." "Some were touched on their legs as if by a man's hands"; it lifted Mr. Telfair, Lennox of Millhouse, and others off the ground. A sieve flew through the house; Mackie caught it, but a force grabbed it and tore the inner part away from the rim. A day of humiliation A formal day of fasting and prayer to seek God's mercy. was solemnly observed in the parish, which only excited the competitive spirit of the disturbing agent; "it continued in the most terrible manner without interruption." Voices were heard speaking semi-biblical nonsense; finally, the activity died out at the beginning of May. Incidentally, on April 28th, "it knocked down the end of the house, all the stonework."

This is a very strange case, as the children were not suspected of anything. Testimonies from several witnesses are provided, not just at the end, but for almost every incident. The vision of the white hand is a pleasant detail.

The Devil of Glen Luce, in Galloway, was published by Sinclair in his Hydrostatics original: "Hydrostaticks" (1672), a scientific work by George Sinclair that surprisingly included ghost stories. in 1672, and again in Satan's Invisible World, and by Glanvil in Sadducismus Triumphatus A famous 1681 book defending the existence of witches and spirits.. In this matter, a boy named Thomas, the son of the unfortunate homeowner, was clearly the agent.

The phenomena consisted of stone-throwing, beating with sticks, the levitation of a plate, and a great number of voices, probably produced by the aforementioned Thomas. The Synod ordered a day of humiliation (1655–56).

The case of the Drummer of Tedworth (1661) is, or should be, too well known to quote. The troubles began after Mr. Mompesson seized the drum of a vagrant musician. In the presence of a clergyman, chairs moved by themselves across the room; "a bed-staff was thrown at the minister, but so gently that a lock of wool could not have fallen more softly." The children, as usual, were especially targeted. The jingling of coins was common, as it also was at Epworth The home of John Wesley, which famously experienced similar hauntings.. Lights wandered through the house, "blue and bright." The noise was persistent in the woodwork of the children's beds while their hands were visible outside. Knocks responded to the knocks of visitors. There were other wonders. The Drummer was suspected, but, whether consciously or not, the children were probably the agents. They seemed to enjoy their usual health. 20

In Galashiels (date not indicated), loud knocks on the floor accompanied a girl suffering from hystero-epilepsy A historical medical term for seizures thought to be caused by hysteria. wherever she sat. In bed, "her body was so elevated that many strong men were not able to keep it down." The minister, who could reach no conclusion, was Mr. Wilkie; the girl was Margaret Wilson (Sinclair, p. 200).

This small collection of strange stories may be enough to demonstrate that part of the belief in fairies is based on incidents that still occur—or are said to occur—just as they did in the past. It is up to psychologists and doctors to determine to what extent, if at all, these incidents are produced by hysterical, epileptic, or sleepwalking patients. In paid mediums, direct and common deception is usually detected, but the deception simulates real events or continues an ancient traditional form of imposture. There is no need to emphasize the moral that parents should not allow their children to attend spiritualist séances. Some of them may come out unharmed, but they may suffer terrible damage to their health and character. 21

20. Glanvil's version appears in Sinclair's "Satan's Invisible World."

21. "Children in séances." The phenomena being analyzed are most frequently related to children, who can be considered mediums or impostors, whether conscious or unconscious. In the Proceedings of the Society for Psychical Research (S.P.R.), vol. iv, pp. 25–42, Professor Barrett gives the case of a girl he knew. Wherever she went, knocks were heard, even when she was alone with the professor, who forced her to stand with her hands against the wall, stretching her arms to the maximum, "with the muscles of her legs and arms in tension." "A rapid pattering of knocks" followed Professor Barrett's request. But he also mentions a boy "of youthful piety" who "for twelve months deceived his father, a distinguished surgeon, and his entire family, with supposed spiritualist manifestations which at first sight seemed inexplicable, until the boy's clever trickery was discovered." The only difference between these cases is that a "stranger" discovered the trick in one case and not in the other. This is a very delicate certainty, and it is evident that...