Part 3

O. So much Truth being among the good Angels, I shall be apt to think, that Lyes and Falshood will be as much in Vogue amongst the bad.

C. A gross mistake, and 'tis not the alone mistake, that the living Folks labour under anent another World: for the Case is plainly this; as an ill man will not stick at any Falshood, that may promote his Design, so as little will an evil Spirit departed stand at any Thing which may make him successfull; but in making Reports, he must tell the Truth, and nothing but the Truth, or, Wo be to him; But besides their stated monthly, Quarterly, and yearly meetings, or whatever they happen to be, the departed Spirits acquainted can make a Trip to sea, and converse with one another, yearly, daily and weekly, or oftener if they please. Thus I answer the Question you are so much concerned about; for, my Information was from no less than three, viz. Andrew Aikman, who attends Thurston's Family, and James Corbet who waits upon M{r} Paton's for the Time, and was then looking after M{rs} Sarah Paton, when shee was at your House, and an original Emissary appointed to wait on your's.

O. At this I was much surprized, and after a little thinking, I asked him; and is there really, Coul, an Emissary from Hell, in whatever Sense you take it, who attends my Family?

C. Yes, you may depend upon it.

O. And what do you think is his Bussiness?

C. To divert you from your Duty, and to cause you under hand do as many ill Things as he can, for much depends on having the Minister on their Side.

O. Upon this I was struck with a Sort of Terrour, that I cannot account for, nor express. In the mean Time, he said several Things that I did not notice, but after a little, I coming to my former Presence of mind, said. But Coul, tell me in earnest, if there be a Devil that attends my Family, tho' invisible to us all?

C. Just as sure as you are breathing; but be not too much dejected upon this Information; for, I tell you likewise, there is a good Angel that attends you, who is stronger than the other.

O. Are you sure of that, Coul?

C. Yes, there is one just now riding at your Right-hand, who might as well have been else where, for I meant you no Harm.

O. And how long has he been with me?

C. Only since we past Brunsley, but now he is gone.

O. Coul, we are just now upon Elmscleugh, and I desire to part with you, tho' I have gained more from our Conversation together, than what perhaps I would have done otherwise in a twelve month, I chuse rather to see you at another Time, when you are at Leisure, and I wish it may be at as great a Distance from Innerwick as you can.

C. Be it so, but I hope you will be as obliging to me, next Encounter, as I have been to you this.

O. I promise you, I will, as far as it consists with my Duty to my Lord and Master Christ Jesus; and since you oblige me so much by Information, you may depend upon it, I will answer all the Questions you can propose, so far as it consists with my Knowledge; but I believe you want no Information from me.

C. I came not to be instructed by you, but I want your Help of anoyr Kind. but more of this at next meeting, so, says he, I bid you Farewell and went off peaceably at the Head of the Paith opposite to Elmscleugh.

The Third Conference.

Upon the 9{th} of April 1722. as I was returning from Old Hamstocks, Coul struck up with me upon the Back, at the Foot of the ruinous Inclosure before we come to Dodds. I told him his last Conversation had proven so acceptable to me, that I was well pleased to see him again, and that there was a vast number of Things, which I wanted to inform my Self further of, if he would be so good as to satisfy me.

C. Last Time we met, I refused you nothing that you asked, and now I expect, you will refuse me nothing that I ask.

O. Nothing, Sir, that is in my Power, or, that I can with safety to my Reputation and Character. What then are your Demands upon me?

C. All I desire is, that as you proposed that Sabbath Day, you will go to my wife, who now possesses all my Effects, and tell her the following Particulars, and desire her, in my Name, to rectify these Matters. 1{st} That I was justly owing to Provost Crosby £500 Scots, and three years Interest, but upon hearing of his Death, my good Brother, the Laird of Chapel and I, did forge a Discharge narrating the Date of the Bond, the Sum, and oyr Particulars, with this onerous Clause, that at that Time it was fallen by, and could not be found, with an Obligation on the Provost's Part, to deliver up the Bond assoon as he could hit upon it, and this Discharge was dated three Months before the Provost's Death: and when his only Son and Successor Andrew Crosby wrote to me concerning this Bond, I came to him, and shewed him that Discharge, which silenced him, so that I got my Bond without more adoe. And when I heard of Robert Kennedy's Death, with the same Help of Chapel, I got a Bill upon him, for £190 sterline, which I got full and compleat Payment of, and Chapel got the half. When I was in Dumfries the Day Thomas Greer died, to whom I was owing an account of £36 sterline, Chapel my good Brother at that Time was at London, and not being able of my Self, being but a bad writer to get a Discharge of the account, which I wanted exceedingly, I met accidentally with Robert Boyd a poor Writer Lad in Dumfries. I took him to Mrs Carricks, gave him a Bottle of wine, and told him, that I had payed Thomas Greer's Account, but wanted a Discharge, and if he would help me to it, I would reward him. He flew away from me in great Passion, saying he would rayr be hanged; but, if I had a mind for these Things, I had best wait till Chapel came home. This gave me great Trouble, fearing that what he & I had formerly done, was no Secret. I followed Boyd to the street, made an Apology that I was jesting, commended him for his Honesty, and took him solemnly engaged that he should not repeat what had passed. I sent for my Cousin Barn-howrie your good Brother, who with no Difficulty for one Guinea and an half, undertook and performed all that I wanted, and for one Guinea more, made me up a Discharge for £200 Scots, which I was owing to your Fayr in Law and his friend M{r} Morehead, which Discharge I gave in to John Ewart, when he required the Money, and he, at my Desire, produced it to you, which you sustained. A great many of the like Instances were told, which I cannot remember, the Person's Names, and Sums: But added he, what vexes me more than all these, is the Injustice I did to Homer Maxwell Tenant to Lord Nithsdale for whom I was Factor. I had borrowed 2,000{d} merks from him, 500{d} of which he borrowed from another Hand, and I gave him my Bond; for Reasons I contrived, I obliged him to Secrecy, he dyed within the year, he had nine Children, and his wife had dyed a month before himself. I came to seal up his Papers for my Lord's Security. His eldest Daughter intreated me to look through them all, and to give her an account what was their Stock, and what was their Debt. I very willingly undertook it, and in going through his Papers, I put my own Bond in my Pocket. His circumstances proved bad, and the nine Children are now starving. These Things I desire you to represent to my Wife; take her Brother with you, and let them be immediately rectifyed, for shee has sufficient Fund to do it upon, and, if that were done, I think I would be easie and happy; therefore I hope you will make no Delay.

O. After a short Pause I answered; 'tis a good Errand, Coul, that you are sending me to do Justice to the oppressed and injured; but notwithstanding that I see my Self among the Rest, that come in for £200{d} Scots, yet I beg a little Time to consider on the Matter, and since I find you are as much master of Reason now and more than ever; I'l j{st} reason with you upon the matter in it's general view; and then, w{t} Respect to the Expediency of my being the particular messenger; and this I'le do, w{t} all manner of Frankness. For, from what you have said, I see clearly what your present state is, so that, I need not ask any more Questions upon that Head, and you need not bid me take Courage, or not be afraid, for at this moment, I am no more afraid of you, than of a new born Child.

C. Well, say on.

O. Tell me then, since such is your Agility, that in the twinkling of an Eye, you can fly 1000{d} miles, if your Desire to do Justice to the oppressed Persons be so great as you pretend; what is the Reason, that you do not fly to the Coffers of some rich Jew or Banker, where is thousands of Gold and money, invisibly lift it, and invisibly return it to the Persons injured. Or, since your wife has sufficient Fund and more, why can't you empty her Purse in your Hat invisibly to make the People amends?

C. Because I cannot.

O. If these Things were rectified, you would be easy and happy. I do not at all credit that; for whatever Justice may now be done to these People, yet the Guilt of the base Action must still belong to you.

C. Now, you think you have silenced me, and gained a notable victory, but, I will shew you your Mistake immediately, for I cannot touch any Man's Gold or Money by Reason of these Spirits, which are the stated Guardians of Justice and Honesty.

O. What is that you tell me, Coul; Do not unworthy Fellows break Houses every Night, and yet you, who can put your Self in 100{d} Shapes in a Moment, cannot do it; what is that you say Coul?