Grampian Club > Scotland, social and domestic

296 Scotland, Social and Domestic.
causing death. Clay " was made verie small, lyke meall,
and sifted with a sieve." Then it was fashioned into a
representation of the person intended for destruction,
and " placed near the fire and weel rostin." This was
done daily, till the person whom it represented perished
from exhaustion.
Mr. Harrie Forbes, minister at Auldearn, had rendered
himself obnoxious to the witches of his neighbourhood.
He was visited with sickness, and in order that it might
be protracted, an infernal mixture was prepared, over
which the sisterhood spoke as follows : —
" He is lying in his bed ; he is lying sick and sair ;
Let him lye intill his bed two monthis and thrie dayes mair ;
Let him lye intill his bed ; let him lye intill it sick and sore ;
Let him lye intill his bed monthis two and thrie dayes mor ;
He sail lye intill his bed ; he sail lye in it sick and sore ;
He sail lye intill his bed two monthis and thrie dayes mor."
The pain-inflicting mixture of Isobel and her com-
panions consisted of "ane bagg of gallis, flesh and guttis
of toadis, pickles of bear, paringis of naillis, the brainis
of ane hare, and bittis of cloutis." Another mixture
used by this sisterhood consisted of the body of an un-
christened child, " hatched up with nail-parings, pickles
of grain, and kail-blades."
Isobel and her companions cured the ailments of
friendly persons. " Bear-straw," or sciatica, was healed
by these words of charm : —
" Wee ar heir thrie maidens,
Charming for the bear-straw,
Ye man of the midle-earth,
Blew beaver, land-feaver,
Maneris of stooris,
The Lord fleigged the feind
With his holy candles.