{"collection":"Northern European Mythology","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/neu/celt/sce/sce26.htm","path":"neu/celt/sce/sce26.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/neu/celt/sce/sce26.htm","text":"OF\nIN A LETTER TO THE\nOF THE\nWhereof him\u0192elf was Ear and Eye-witne\u0192s.\n[I thought fit to adjoyne [it] hereunto, that I might not be thought \u0192ingular in this Di\u0192qui\u0192ition; that the Mater of Fact might be undenyably made out; and that I might, with all Submi\u0192\u0192ion, give Annotations, with Animadver\u0192ions, on his \u0192uppo\u0192ed Cau\u0192es of that Phenomenon, with my Rea\u0192ons of Di\u0192\u0192ent from his judgement.]\nSIR,\nI HEARD very much, but beleived very little, of the Second Sight; yet its being a\u0192\u0192umed\nby\nby \u0192everall of great Veracity, I was induced to make Inquirie after it in the Year 1652, being then confin'd to abide in the North of Scotland by the Engli\u0192h U\u0192urpers. The more generall Accounts of it were, that many Highlanders, yet far more I\u0192landers, were qualified with this Second Sight; that Men, Women, and Children, indi\u0192tinctly, were \u0192ubject to it, and Children, where Parents were not. Some times People came to age, who had it not when young, nor could any tell by what Means produced. It is a Trouble to mo\u0192t of them who are \u0192ubject to it, and they would be rid of it any Rate if they could. The Sight is of no long Duration, only continuing \u0192o long as they can keep their Eyes \u0192teady without twinkling. The hardy therefore fix their look, that they may \u0192ee the longer; but the timorous \u0192ee only Glances, their Eyes always twinkles at the fir\u0192t Sight of the Object. That which generally is \u0192een by them, are the Species of living Creatures, and of inanimate Things, which was in Motion, \u0192uch as Ships, and Habits upon Per\u0192ons. They never \u0192ie the\nthe Species of any Per\u0192on who is already dead. What they foir\u0192ie fails not to exi\u0192t in the Mode, and in that Place where it appears to them. They cannot well know what Space of Time \u0192hall interveen between the Apparition and the real Exi\u0192tance: But \u0192ome of the hardie\u0192t and longe\u0192t Experience have \u0192ome Rules for Conjectures; as, if they \u0192ie a Man with a \u0192hrowding Sheet in the Apparition, they will conjecture at the Nearne\u0192s or Remotene\u0192s of his Death by the more or le\u0192s of his Bodie that is covered by it. They will ordinarily \u0192ie their ab\u0192ent Friends, tho at a great Di\u0192tance, \u0192ome tymes no le\u0192s than from America to Scotland, \u0192itting, \u0192tanding, or walking in \u0192ome certain Place; and then they conclude with a A\u0192\u0192urance that they will \u0192ie them \u0192o and there. If a Man be in love with a Woman, they will ordinarily \u0192ie the Species of that Man \u0192tanding by her, and \u0192o likewi\u0192e if a Woman be in love; and they conjecture at their Enjoyments (of each other) by the Species touching (of) the Per\u0192on, or appearing at a Di\u0192tance from her (if they enjoy not one another.) If they \u0192ie\nthe\nthe Species of any Per\u0192on who is \u0192ick to die, they \u0192ie them covered over with the \u0192hrowding Sheet.\nTHESE Generalls I had verified to me by \u0192uch of them as did \u0192ie, and were e\u0192teemed hone\u0192t and \u0192ober by all the Neighbourhood; for I inquired after \u0192uch for my Information. And becau\u0192e there were more of the\u0192e Seers in the I\u0192les of Lewis, Harris, and Ui\u0192t, than in any other Place, I did entreat Sir James M'Donald (who is now dead) Sir Normand M'Loud, and Mr. Daniel Mori\u0192on, a verie hone\u0192t Per\u0192on, (who are \u0192till alive,) to make Inquirie in this uncouth Sight, and to acquaint me therewith; which they did, and all found ane Agriement in the\u0192e Generalls, and informed me of many In\u0192tances confirming what they \u0192aid. But though Men of Di\u0192cretion and Honour, being but at 2d Hand, I will choo\u0192e rather to put my\u0192elf than my Friends on the Hazard of being laughed at for incredible Relations.\nI WAS once travelling in the Highlands, and a good Number of Servants with me, as is u\u0192uall\nthere\nthere; and one of them going a little before me, entering into a Hou\u0192e where I was to \u0192tay all Night, and going hai\u0192tily to the Door, he \u0192uddenly \u0192tept back with a Screech, and did fall by a Stone, which hit his Foot. I a\u0192ked what the Matter was, for he \u0192eemed to be very much frighted. He told me very \u0192eriou\u0192ly that I \u0192hould not lodge in that Hou\u0192e, becau\u0192e \u0192hortly a dead Coffin would be carried out of it, for many were carrying of it when he was heard cry. I neglecting his Words, and \u0192taying there, he \u0192aid to other of his Servants, he was \u0192orry for it, and that \u0192urely what he \u0192aw would \u0192hortly come to pa\u0192s. Tho no \u0192ick Per\u0192on was then there, yet the Landlord, a healthy Highlander, died of ane appoplectick Fit before I left the Hou\u0192e.\nIn the year 1653, Alexander Monro (afterward Lieut. Coll. to the Earl of Dunbarton's Regiment,) and I were walking in a Place called Ullabill, in Lochbroom, on a little Plain, at the Foot of a rugged Hill. There was a Servant working with a Spade in the Walk before us; his Back was to us, and his Face to\nthe Hill. Before we came to him, he let the Spade fall, and looked toward the Hill. He took Notice of us as wee pa\u0192\u0192ed neer by him, which made me look at him; and perceiving him to \u0192tair a little \u0192trangely, I conjectured him to be a Seer. I called at him, at which he \u0192tarted and \u0192miled. What are you doing? \u0192aid I. He an\u0192wered, I have \u0192een a very \u0192trange Thing; ane Army of Engli\u0192hmen, leeding of Hor\u0192es, coming doun that Hill; and a Number of them are come down to the Plain, and eating the Barley, which is growing in the Field neer to the Hill. This was on the 4th May, (for I notted the Day,) and it was four or fyve Days before the Barley was \u0192own in the Field he \u0192poke of. Alexander Monro a\u0192ked him how he knew they were Engli\u0192hmen? He \u0192aid, becau\u0192e they were leeding of Hor\u0192es, and had on Hats and Bootts, which he knew no Scot Man would have there. We took little Notice of the whole Storie, as other than a fooli\u0192h Vi\u0192ion; but wi\u0192hed that ane Engli\u0192h Partie were there, we being then at Warr with them, and the Place almo\u0192t unacce\u0192lable for Hor\u0192e-\nmen\nmen. But in the Beginning of Augu\u0192t therafter, the Earle of Midleton (then Lieut. for the King in the Highlands) having occa\u0192ion to march a Party of his toward the South Highlands, he \u0192ent his Foot thorow a Place called Inverlawell; and the Fore-partie which was fir\u0192t down the Hill, did fall off eating the Barley which was on the litle Plain under it. And Monro calling to mynd what the Seer told us, in May preceiding, he wrote of it, and \u0192ent ane Expre\u0192s to me to Loch\u0192lin, in Ro\u0192s, (where I then was) with it.\nI HAD Occa\u0192ion once to be in Companie where a Young Lady was, (excu\u0192e my not naming of Per\u0192ons,) and I was told there was a notable Seer in the Companie. I called him to \u0192peak with me, as I did ordinarly when I found any of them; and after he had an\u0192wered me to \u0192everal Que\u0192tions, I a\u0192ked if he knew any Per\u0192on to be in love with that Lady. He \u0192aid he did, but he knew not the Per\u0192on; for during the two Dayes he had been in her Company, he perceaved one \u0192tanding neer her, and his Head leaning on her Shoulder; which he \u0192aid\ndid\ndid fore-tell that the Man \u0192hould marrie her, and die before her, according to his Ob\u0192ervation. This was in the Year 1655. I de\u0192ired him to de\u0192cribe the Per\u0192on, which he did; \u0192o that I could conjecture, by the De\u0192cription, of \u0192uch a one, who was of that Ladyes Acquaintance, tho there were no thought of their Marriage till two Years thereafter. And having Occa\u0192ion, in the Year 1657, to find this Seer, who was ane I\u0192lander, in Company with the other Per\u0192on whom I conjectured to have been de\u0192cribed by him, I called him a\u0192ide, and a\u0192ked if that was the Per\u0192on he \u0192aw be\u0192ide the Lady near two Years then pa\u0192t. He \u0192aid it was he indeed, for he had \u0192een that Lady ju\u0192t then \u0192tanding by him Hand in Hand. This was \u0192ome few Months before their Marriage, and that Man is \u0192ince dead, and the Lady \u0192till alive.\nI SHALL trouble you but with one more, which I thought mo\u0192t remarkable of any that occurred to me. In January 1652, the above mentioned Lieut. Coll. Alex. Monro and I happened to be in the Hou\u0192e of one Wm. M'Cleud of Ferrinlea, in the County of Ro\u0192s.\nHe\n[paragraph continues] He, the Landlord, and I were \u0192itting in three Chairs neir the Fire, and in the Corner of the great Chimney there were two I\u0192landers, who were that verie Night come to the Hous, and were related to the Landlord. While the one of them was talking with Monro, I perceaved the other to look oddly toward me. From this Look, and his being ane I\u0192lander, I conjectured him a Seer, and a\u0192ked him, at what he \u0192tair'd? He an\u0192wered, by de\u0192iring me to ri\u0192e from that Chair, for it was ane unluckie one. I a\u0192ked him why. He an\u0192wered, becau\u0192e there was a dead Man in the Chair nixt to me. Well, \u0192aid I, if it be in the nixt Chair, I may keep mine own. But what is the Likne\u0192s of the Man? He \u0192aid he was a tall Man, with a long Grey Coat, booted, and one of his Legs hanging over the Arme of the Chair, and his head hanging dead to the other Side, and his Arme backward, as if it were brocken. There were \u0192ome Engli\u0192h Troops then quartered near that Place, and there being at that Time a great Fro\u0192t after a Thaw, the Country was covered all over with Yce. Four or Fyve of the Engli\u0192h ryding by\nthis\nthis Hou\u0192e \u0192ome two Hours after the Vi\u0192ion, while we were \u0192itting by the Fire, we heard a great Noi\u0192e, which prov'd to be tho\u0192e Troopers, with the Help of other Servants, carrying in one of their Number, who had got a very mi\u0192cheivous Fall, and had his Arme broke; and falling frequently in \u0192wooning Fits, they brought him into the Hall, and \u0192et him in the verie Chair, and in the verie Po\u0192ture that the Seer had prophe\u0192ied. But the Man did not die, though he recovered with great Difficulty.\nAMONG the Accounts given me by Sir Normand M'clud, there was one worth of \u0192pecial Notice, which was thus. There [was] a Gentleman in the I\u0192le of Harris, who was always \u0192een by the Seers with ane Arrow in his Thigh. Such in the I\u0192le who thought tho\u0192e progno\u0192tications infalliable, did not doubt but he would be \u0192hot in the Thigh before he died. Sir Normand told me that he heard it the Subject of their Di\u0192cour\u0192e for many Years. At la\u0192t he died without any \u0192uch Accident. Sir Normand was at his Buriall, at St Clement's Church in the Harris. At the \u0192ame Time, the Corps of another\nanother Gentleman was brought to be buried in the \u0192ame verie Church. The Friends on either Side came to debate who \u0192hould fir\u0192t enter the Church, and in a Trice from Words they came to Blows. One of the Number (who was arm'd with Bow and Arrows) let one fly among them. (Now everie Familie in that I\u0192le have their Buriall-place in the Church in Stone Che\u0192ts, and the Bodies are carried in open Biers to the Buriall-place.) Sir Normand having appea\u0192ed the Tumult, one of the Arrows was found \u0192hot in the dead Man's Thigh. To this Sir Normand was a Witne\u0192s.\nIN the Account which Mr Daniel Mori\u0192on, Par\u0192on in the Lewis, gave me, there was one, tho it be hetergeneous from the \u0192ubject, yet it may [be] worth your Notice. It was of a young Woman in his Pari\u0192h, who was mightily frightned by \u0192eeing her own Image \u0192till before her, alwayes when \u0192he came to the open Air; the Back of the Image being alwayes to her, \u0192o that it was not a reflection as in a Mirrour, but the Species of \u0192uch a Body as her own, and in a very like Habit, which appeared to her\u0192elf\ncontinually\ncontinually before her. The Par\u0192on keept her a long whyle with him, but had no Remedy of her Evill, which troubled her exceidingly. I was told afterwards, that when \u0192he was four or fyve Years elder \u0192he \u0192aw it not.\nTHESE are Matters of Fact, which I a\u0192\u0192ure yow they are truely related. But the\u0192e, and all others that occurred to me, by Information or otherwi\u0192e, could never lead me into a remote Conjecture of the Cau\u0192e of \u0192o extraordinary a Ph\u00e6nomenon. Whither it be a Quality in the Eyes of \u0192ome People into the\u0192e Pairts, concurring with a Quality in the Air al\u0192o; whither \u0192uch Species be every where, tho not \u0192een by the Want of Eyes \u0192o qualified, or from whatever other Cau\u0192e, I mu\u0192t leave to the Inquiry of clearer judgements than mine. But a Hint may be taken from this image which appeared \u0192till to this Woman abovementioned, and from another mentioned by Ari\u0192totle, in the 4th of his Metaphy\u0192icks (if I remember right, for it is long \u0192ince I read it;) as al\u0192o from the common Opinion that young Infants (un\u0192ullied with many Objects) do \u0192ie Appearitions, which were\nnot\nnot \u0192een by tho\u0192e of elder Years; as like wife from this, that \u0192everalls did \u0192ie the Second Sight when in the Highlands or I\u0192les, yet when tran\u0192ported to live in other Countreys, e\u0192pecially in America, they quite lo\u0192e this Qualitie, as was told me by a Gentleman who knew \u0192ome of them in Barbadoes, who did \u0192ee no Vi\u0192ion there, altho he knew them to be Seers when they lived in the I\u0192les of Scotland.\nThus far my Lord Tarbett.\n==================","title":"The Secret Commonwealth of Elves, Fauns & Fairies: The Secret Commonwealth: A Succint Accompt Of My Lord Tarbott's Relations","type":"page"}