Note 90 — Part III.

The ‘evil eye’ was a most terrible thing, according to Scottish superstition; and a variety of ‘freits’ or charms were had recourse to as shields against it. In the Justiciary Records, of 1661, it is stated that Beatrix Leslie entered the house of one Agnes Young ‘in ane great fury and anger, and pluckt away a pock belonging to her, which the said Agnes had in keiping, without speaking ane word to her, bot gieving her ane terrible look; and that same verry night, the said William Young [her husband] awakened out of his sleep, in a great affrightment and sweat, crying out, that she with a number of catts wer devouring him.’ Many similar instances are on record. Of course they were simply due to perverted imagination.