Amulets in Scotland

Author(s): James Britten

Source: The Folk-Lore Record, Vol. 4 (1881), pp. 167-169
Published by: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. on behalf of Folklore Enterprises, Ltd.
Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/1252424
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 AMULETSIN SCOTLAND.

HE following extract from a letter (dated Linlithgow in

Scotland, Decemb. 17, 1699, from "Mr. Edward Lhwyd
(M.A.), late Keeper of the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford,
to Dr. Rich. Richardson (M.D.), of North Bierly in York-
shire," printed in the Philosophical Transactions, xxviii. 97-101 (1713),
seems to me worth extracting for the Folk-Lore Record. It appears to
be the result of Mr. Lhwyd's observations during his travels in Scot-
land, and is the fullest connected account I have met with of the
objects to which it relates. JAMES BRITTEN.

" What we were most diverted with, was their variety of amulets;
many of which (if not all) were certainly used by the Druids, and
so have been handed down from parents to children ever since. Some
of these may be render'd in English, 1. Snake-button. 2. Cock-knee-
stone. 3. Toad-stone. 4. Snail-stone. 5. Mole-stone. 6. Shower-
stone; and 7. Elf-arrow.
" 1. The Snake-buttonis the same described in the Notes on Denbigh-
shire in Camden, by the name of Adder-Beads: But there are of these
great variety, as to colour and ornament; insomuch, that betwixt
Wales and the Highlands, I have seen at least fifty differences of them.
In Ireland, though they are tenacious enough of all old customs, I could
hear nothing of them: so I conclude, that either the Irish had no
Druids, or that their want of snakes frustrated their advancing that
imposture amongst the people: But there were but a few places where
we inquired; and perhaps we may hereafter hear of them in other
parts of that kingdom. Not only the vulgar, but even gentlemen of
good education throughout all Scotland, are fully persuaded the snakes
make them, though they are as plain glass as any in a bottle,
168 AMULETS IN SCOTLAND.

"c2. The Cock-knee Stone * is an Echinites pileatus minor, of Flint;

which they firmly believe to be sometimes found in the knees of old
cock; and a fellow in Mul protested to me (though I was never the
nearer believing him) that he had with his own hands taken one of
them out of a cock's knee; and named two or three others, who had
done the like.
"3. The Toad-stone is some peble, remarkable for its shape and
sometimes variety of colours. This is presumed to prevent the burn-
ing of a house, and the sinking of a boat; and if a commander in the
field has one of them about him, he will either be sure to win the day,
or all his men shall fairly dye on spot.
" 4. The Snail-stone is a small hollow cilinder of blue glass, composed
of four or five amulets; so that as to form and size it resembles a
midling Entrochus. This, amongst others of its mysterious virtues,
cures sore eyes.
" 5. The Mole-stones are rings of blue glass, annulated as the afore-
said snail-stones.
" 6. They have the Ombricepellucidce (which are crystal balls, or
hemispheres, or depressed ovals) in great esteem for curing of cattle;
and some on May Day put them into a tub of water, and besprinkle
all their cattle with that water, to prevent being elf-struck, bewitch'd,
&c., and
" 7. As to this Elf-stricking, their opinion is, that the fairies (having
not much power themselves to hurt animal bodies) do sometimes carry
away men in the air, and furnishing them with bows and arrows,
employ them to shoot men, cattle, &c. I doubt not but you have often
* [In Phil. Trans.xxiv. 1566
(1706),Lhwydgives anotherreferenceto these
stonesas follows :-
"Your chalky countriesonly afford those Echinits I have stil'd
Pileatus,
Galeatus,and Cordatus: So I could neverfind them in all my travelsbut at
that place; fromwhencein the time of Paganismthe Druids
procnr'dthem,and
sold them amongst our Northern Britains for stones of miraculous
efficacy against
perils by fire and water; perswading the vulgar they were generated in cocks-
knees; as thousands in the High-Lands believe at this day. And one fellow had
the impudence to tell me (finding me a little hard of
belief) that he himself had
taken one (that his master had shew'd me) out of a cocks knee with his
own
hand."]
 AMULETS IN SCOTLAND. 169

seen of those arrow-heads * they ascribe to Elfs or Fairies. They are

just the same chip'd flints the natives of New England head their
arrows with at this day; and there are also several stone hatchets
found in this kingdom not unlike those of Americans. I never heard
of these arrows-heads nor hatchets in Wales; and therefore would
gladly be informed whether you have ever heard of their being found
in England. These Elf arrow-heads have not been used as amulets
above thirty or forty years; but the use of the rest is immemorial:
Whence I gather they were not invented for charms, but were once
used in shooting here, as they are still in America. The most curious,
as well as the vulgar throughout this country, are satisfied they often
drop out of the air, being shot by fairies, and relate many instances
of it; but for my part I must crave leave to suspend my faith untill I
see one of them descend."
* [In Phil. Trans.xxii. 768
(1700), Lhwyddescribesand figuresone of these
arrow-heads.He says: "An Arrows Head of Flint, commonlycall'd Elf-
Arrow throughoutIreland and Scotland,wherethey are fully perswadedthe
elves often shootthemat men and beasts. This is set in silver,andworn about
the neck,as an amulet, against being elf-shot." They are againreferredto in
this connectionby ThomasHearnein Phil. Trans.xxvi. 398(1709),andare de-
scribedin Sibbald'sScotia Illustrata (1784), partii. book4, p. 49.-J. B.]