The Laird o' Coul's Ghost

The First Conference

An Account of Mr. Maxwell Laird of Coul his Appearance after Death to Mr. Ogilvie a Minister of the present Establishment at Innerwick, 3 Miles East from Dunbar.

Upon the 3d Day of February, 1722, at seven a clock at Night after I had parted with Thurston [his Name Cant], and was coming up the Burial Road, one came riding up after me: upon hearing the Noise of his Horse's feet, I took it to be Thurston, but upon looking back, and seeing the Horse of a greyish Colour, I called "Who is there?" The Answer was, "The Laird of Coul [his Name Maxwell], be not afraid." Then looking to him by the Help of the dark Light which the Moon afforded, I took him to be Collector Castellow designing to put a Trick upon me, and immediately I struck at him with all my Force, with my Cane, thinking I mould leave upon him a Mark, to make him remember his Presumption; but being sensible I aimed as well as ever I did in my Life, yet my Cane finding no Resistance, but flying out of my Hand the Distance of about 60 Feet, and observing it by its white Head, I dismounted and took it up, and had some Difficulty in mounting again, what by the ramping of my Horse, and what by Reason of a certain Kind of Trembling throughout my whole Joints; Something likewise of Anger had its share in the Confusion; for, as I thought, he laughed when my Staff flew away; Coming up with him again, who halted all the Time I sought my Staff, I asked once more, "Who he was?" He answered, "The Laird of Coul." I enquired--j{st}, "If he was the Laird of Coul, what brought him hither?" and "What was his Business with me?"

C. The reason of my waiting on you is, that I know you are disposed to do for me a Thing which none of your Brethren in Nithsdale will so much as attempt, tho' it serve to ever so good Purposes. I told him I would never refuse to do a Thing to serve a good Purpose, If I thought I was obliged to do it as my Duty. He answered, since I had undertaken what he found few in Nithsdale would, for he had tryed some upon that Subject, who were more obliged to him than ever I was, or to any Person living: I drew my Horse, and halted in Surprize, asking What I had undertaken? He answered, that on the Sabbath last, I had heartily condemned M{r}. Paton, and the Rest of the Ministers in Dumfries Presbytery for dissuading Dr. Menzies's Man, from keeping his Appointment with me, and that if you had been in their Place, you would have persuaded the Lad to do as I desired him; and that you would have gone with him, lest he had been feared; and that if you had been in Mr. Paton's Place, you would have delivered my Commissions your self, since it tended to do some People Justice.

O. Pray, Coul, who informed you that I talked at that Rate?

C. You must know, that we are acquainted with many Things, that the Living know nothing about. These Things you did say, and much more to that Purpose, and all that I want is, that you fulfill your Promise, and deliver my Commissions to my loving Wife.

O. 'Tis a Pity, Coul, that you who know so many Things, should not know the Difference between an absolute, and a conditional Promise. I did indeed at the Time you mention, blame Mr. Paton, for I think him justly blameable, for hindering the Lad to meet with you, and if I had been in his Place, I would have acted quite the Reverse: but did I ever say, that if you would come to Innerwick, and employ me, that I would go all the way to Dumfries upon that Errand? That is what never so much as once entered into my Thought.

C. What was in your Thought I do not pretend to know; but I can depend upon my Information, that these were your Words: but I see you are in some Disorder, I will wait on you again, when you have more presence of mind.

By the Time we were got to James Dickson's Inclosure below the Churchyard, and while I was recollecting in my mind, whether ever I had spoken these Words he alledged, he broke from me thro' the Churchyard with greater violence, than ever any man on horseback is capable of, and with such a singing and buzzing noise, as put me in greater Disorder, than I was all the Time I was with him. I came to my House, and my Wife observed something more than ordinary Paleness in my Countenance, and would alledge that something ailed me. I called for a Dram & told her I was a little uneasie; after I found myself a little eased and refreshed, I retired to my Closet, to meditate on this the most astonishing Adventure of my whole Life.

The 2d Conference.

Upon the 5th of March 1722. Being at Blarehead baptizing the Shepherd's Child, I came off at Sunsetting, or, a very little after. Near Will. White's March the Laird of Coul came up with me on Horseback as formerly, and, after his first Salutation bid me not be afraid, for he would do me no Harm. I told him I was not in the least afraid, in the Name of God, and of Christ my Saviour, that he would do the least Harm to me: for, I knew that He in whom I trusted was stronger than all them put together, and if any of them should attempt even to do the Horse I rode upon, Harm, as you have done to Dr. Menzies' man,[1] if it be true that is said, and generally believed about Dumfries, I have free access to complain to my Lord and Master, to the Lash of whose Resentment you are as much liable now as before.

C. You need not multiply Words upon that Head, for you are as safe with me, and safer, if safer can be, than when I was alive.

I said, Well then, Coul, Let me have a peaceable and easy Conversation with you for the Time we ride together, and give me some Information about the Affairs of the other World, for no man inclines to lose his Time, in conversing with the Dead, without having a Prospect of hearing and learning something that may be usefull.

C. Well, Sir, I will satisfy you, as far as I think it proper and convenient. Let me know what Information you want from me.

O. May I then ask you, if you be in a State of Happiness or not?

C. There are a great many Things that I can answer, which the Living are entirely ignorant of: there are many more Things, that notwithstanding the additional Knowledge I have acquired, since my Death, that I cannot answer, and there are several Things and Questions that you may start, of which the last is one, that I will not answer.

O. Then I know not how to manage our Conversation, for whatever I shall enquire of you, I see you can easily shift me, so that I might profit more by conversing with myself.

C. You may try.

O. Well then, what sort of a Body is it that you appear in, and what sort of a Horse is it that you ride on, that appears so full of mettle?

C. You may depend upon it, 'tis not the same Body that I was witness to your Marriage in, nor in which I died, for that is in the Grave rotting; but it is such a Body as answers me in a Moment, for I can fly as fast as my Soul can do without it, so that I can go to Dumfries and return again, before you ride twice the Length of your Horse; nay if I incline to go to London, or to Jerusalem, or to the Moon, if you please, I can perform all these Journeys equally soon, for it costs me nothing but a Thought or Wish; for this Body you see, is as fleet as your Thought, for in the same Moment of Time that you can carry your Thoughts to Rome, I can go there in Person. And for my Horse, he is, much like myself, for 'tis Andrew Johnstoun who was seven years my Tennant, and he died about 48 Hours before me.

O. So it seems when Andrew Johnstoun inclines to ride, you must serve him for an Horse, as he now does you.

C. You are mistaken.

O. I thought all Distinction between Mistresses and Maids, Lairds & Tennants had been done away at Death.

C. True 'tis so, yet still you don't take up the matter.

O. Is then, Sir, this one of the Questions you will not answer?

C. You are still mistaken; for that Question I can answer, and after this you may readily understand.

O. Tell me then, Coul, have you never yet appeared before God, nor received any Sentence from him as a Judge.

C. Never yet.

O. I know you was a Scholar, Coul; and 'tis generally believed there is a private Judgment, besides the general at the great Day. The former is immediately after Death. Upon this he interrupted me, crying, No such Thing, no such Thing, no Tryal till the last Day: The Heaven which good Men enjoy immediately after Death, consists only in the Serenity of their Thoughts, the Satisfaction of a good Conscience, and the certain Hope they have of an Eternity of Joy when that Day shall come. The Punishment or Hell of the wicked immediately after Death, consists in the dreadful Things of their awakened Conscience, and the Terror of facing the great Judge, and the sensible Apprehensions of eternal Torments ensuing; and this bears still a due Proportion to the Evils they have done, when they were living. So indeed the State of some good Folks differs but little in Happiness from what they enjoyed upon Earth, save only they are freed from the Body and the Sins and Sorrows that attend it. And, on the other Hand, there are some, who may be said rather not to have been good than that they have been wicked while living: their Condition is not easily distinguished from that of the former, and under that Class comes a great Herd of Souls, a vast Number of your ignorant People, who have not much minded the Concerns of Eternity, but, at the same Time, have lived in much Indolence, Ignorance, and Innocence.