by Walter Scott
Note H.---Fairy Superstition.
The lakes and precipices amidst which the Avon-Dhu, or River Forth, hasits birth, are still, according to popular tradition, haunted by theElfin people, the most peculiar, but most pleasing, of the creations ofCeltic superstitions. The opinions entertained about these beings aremuch the same with those of the Irish, so exquisitely well narrated byMr. Crofton Croker. An eminently beautiful little conical hill, near theeastern extremity of the valley of Aberfoil, is supposed to be one oftheir peculiar haunts, and is the scene which awakens, in AndrewFairservice, the terror of their power. It is remarkable, that twosuccessive clergymen of this parish of Aberfoil have employed themselvesin writing about this fairy superstition. The eldest of these was RobertKirke, a man of some talents, who translated the Psalms into Gaelicverse. He had formerly been minister at the neighbouring parish ofBalquhidder, and died at Aberfoil in 1688, at the early age of forty-two.
He was author of the Secret Commonwealth, which was printed after hisdeath in 1691--(an edition which I have never seen)--and was reprinted inEdinburgh, 1815. This is a work concerning the fairy people, in whoseexistence Mr. Kirke appears to have been a devout believer. He describesthem with the usual powers and qualities ascribed to such beings inHighland tradition.
But what is sufficiently singular, the Rev. Robert Kirke, author of thesaid treatise, is believed himself to have been taken away by thefairies,--in revenge, perhaps, for having let in too much light upon thesecrets of their commonwealth. We learn this catastrophe from theinformation of his successor, the late amiable and learned Dr. PatrickGrahame, also minister at Aberfoil, who, in his Sketches of Perthshire,has not forgotten to touch upon the _Daoine Schie,_ or men of peace.
The Rev. Robert Kirke was, it seems, walking upon a little eminence tothe west of the present manse, which is still held a _Dun Shie,_ or fairymound, when he sunk down, in what seemed to mortals a fit, and wassupposed to be dead. This, however, was not his real fate.
"Mr. Kirke was the near relation of Graham of Duchray, the ancestor ofthe present General Graham Stirling. Shortly after his funeral, heappeared, in the dress in which he had sunk down, to a medical relationof his own, and of Duchray. 'Go,' said he to him, 'to my cousin Duchray,and tell him that I am not dead. I fell down in a swoon, and was carriedinto Fairyland, where I now am. Tell him, that when he and my friends areassembled at the baptism of my child (for he had left his wife pregnant),I will appear in the room, and that if he throws the knife which he holdsin his hand over my head, I will be released and restored to humansociety.' The man, it seems, neglected, for some time, to deliver themessage. Mr. Kirke appeared to him a second time, threatening to haunthim night and day till he executed his commission, which at length hedid. The time of the baptism arrived. They were seated at table; thefigure of Mr. Kirke entered, but the Laird of Duchray, by someunaccountable fatality, neglected to perform the prescribed ceremony. Mr.Kirke retired by another door, and was seen no wore. It is firmlybelieved that he is, at this day, in Fairyland."--(_Sketches ofPerthshire,_ p. 254.)
[The treatise by Robert Kirke, here mentioned, was written in the year1691, but not printed till 1815.]
Note I.--Clachan of Aberfoil.
I do not know how this might stand in Mr. Osbaldistone's day, but I canassure the reader, whose curiosity may lead him to visit the scenes ofthese romantic adventures, that the Clachan of Aberfoil now affords avery comfortable little inn. If he chances to be a Scottish antiquary, itwill be an additional recommendation to him, that he will find himself inthe vicinity of the Rev. Dr. Patrick Grahame, minister of the gospel atAberfoil, whose urbanity in communicating information on the subject ofnational antiquities, is scarce exceeded even by the stores of legendarylore which he has accumulated.--_Original Note._ The respectableclergyman alluded to has been dead for some years. [See note H.]