London: Andrew Bell, 1696. First Edition / First Impression. Hardback. Very good condition. The author was the local minister of the parish, and apparently witness to whatever was actually witnessed, but also included are additional reports. Sadducism is the denial of the existence of spirit, in case you didn't know. Mackie was a stonemason, and the book commences with Telfair rejecting the claim that Mackie had dedicated his firstborn to the devil in return for receiving the 'mason-word,' his proof being that Mackie said he didn't even know the word (yeah, right, Mackie, we believe you). This is actually a fairly early reference to the term 'mason-word' refering to the secret password used by masons. The second (rejected) setup is that Mackie kept a dead woman's possessions. And the final motivation for the haunting is the consultation by a former resident with a witch, being remedied by locating a tooth beneath the threshold and burning it (in my experience, teeth are often the last thing to burn, I would've opted for pestle, mortar and a bit of elbow grease). My precis does not do the book justice, it's much better to read it in the text.

Then we get to the haunting, which includes some classic ghostly mischief, commencing with the untying of cattle, followed by a peat fire inside the sleeping section of the house, flying stones, tools disappearing and reappearing, moving furniture (classic poltergeist banter), and physical attacks on people. Telfair himself describes a small, white arm appearing and disappearing. I won't spoil the rest for you, but it escalates to some extent as these things are wont to do.

Overall, it's a genuinely fascinating read, and it's impossible to read without being reminded of supernatural tales from a couple of centuries later. It delves into the relationship between religion and the supernatural, and there's even reference to the concept of ordeal by touch, whereby a murder victim identifies its murderer by bleeding when touched by them, being used with complete faith.

From the Fox Pointe Collection with the plate to the front pastedown. 15pp. Fairly recent 1/4 morocco. Spine faded and some rubbing. Leaves a little trimmed in the binding, with some grubbiness. Very Good. Item #13566