Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Acknowledgments
- Introduction
- Introductory Notes on the Texts
- 1 Robert Boyle’s notes on his interview with Lord Tarbat, 3 October 1678
- 2 ‘A Collection of Highland Rites and Customs’
- 3 Robert Kirk’s The Secret Commonwealth and his ‘A Short Treatise of the Scotish-Irish Charms and Spells’
- 4 James Garden’s letters to John Aubrey
- 5 Samuel Pepys’s collection of letters on second sight
- 6 John Fraser’s ∆ϵυτϵϱοσϰoπια
- 7 Edward Lhuyd’s and Robert Wodrow’s questionnaires and the responses of John Fraser and John MacLean
- Textual Notes
- Appendix: Quotations of biblical passages cited in the texts above
- Bibliography
- Glossary
- Index
5 - Samuel Pepys’s collection of letters on second sight
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 20 December 2023
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Acknowledgments
- Introduction
- Introductory Notes on the Texts
- 1 Robert Boyle’s notes on his interview with Lord Tarbat, 3 October 1678
- 2 ‘A Collection of Highland Rites and Customs’
- 3 Robert Kirk’s The Secret Commonwealth and his ‘A Short Treatise of the Scotish-Irish Charms and Spells’
- 4 James Garden’s letters to John Aubrey
- 5 Samuel Pepys’s collection of letters on second sight
- 6 John Fraser’s ∆ϵυτϵϱοσϰoπια
- 7 Edward Lhuyd’s and Robert Wodrow’s questionnaires and the responses of John Fraser and John MacLean
- Textual Notes
- Appendix: Quotations of biblical passages cited in the texts above
- Bibliography
- Glossary
- Index
Summary
Lord Reay to Pepys, 10 October 1699
Culcairne the 10 October 1699
Honoured Sir,
I would have written to you severall tymes as I promised to give you an account of all the information I could make in those things you recomended to me but that I was so harrassed with troublesome affairs since I came to this Kingdome that I had no tyme till of late to inquire unto them. Since I have made some but can’t promise the’l answer your exspectation thô I spared no pains in informing myself of all those that either by experience or learning could have any knowledge in them, and in a word I informed my self of all those I knew had any curiosity that way and waits only for a copy of a letter about the second sight my Lord Tarbat promised me to give you an account of all. I have spoke to severall that pretended they saw them but were so ignorant that I could make nothing of them but I forbear this till I write to you more at large and assure you that none is more inclined to serve you or more ready to obey your commands than
Sir,
Your most humble servant, Reay
When you’re pleased to write to me
direct it to the care of Mr Robert
Menzies to be found att the bell
chamber in Edinburgh
The Much Honored Mr Pepys to be found att his Lodgings in York Buildings London
Lord Reay to Pepys, 24 October 1699
Durness the 24 of October 1699
Honored Sir
Conforme to my promise in my last, I send you all the Informatione I could make in those things you recomended to me; I have Just now receved my Lord Tarbats answer, and Shall Coppie what is to the purpose.
I Remember that Severall years agoe, in answer to a letter of Mr Boyle’s I Did wryt to him As to the Second Sight a Coppie wherof Receave herein [en]closed, If you please Returne it after useing it; Since that tyme, I wes not Much in the north, nor did I make any enquerie one purpose, and what I had occatione to hear therof Differs not considerablie from What I heird formerly[.]
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- The Occult LaboratoryMagic, Science and Second Sight in Late Seventeenth-Century Scotland, pp. 160 - 186Publisher: Boydell & BrewerPrint publication year: 2001