Secret Commonwealth

_By_ MR. ROBERT KIRK, _Minister of Aberfoyle_, 1691.

The Siths, or Fairies, they call _Sluagh Maith_, or the Goodpeople, it
would seem, to prevent the dint of their ill attempts (for the Irish used
to bless all they fear harm of), and are said to be of a middle nature
betwixt man and angel, as were demons thought to be of old, of
intelligent studious spirits, and light changeable bodies (like those
called astral), somewhat of the nature of a condensed cloud, and best
seen in twilight. These bodies be so pliable through the subtlety of the
spirits that agitate them, that they can make them appear or disappear at
pleasure. Some have bodies or vehicles so spongeous, thin, and defecat
[pure] that they are fed by only sucking into some fine spirituous
liquors, that pierce like pure air and oil; others feed more gross on the
foyson [abundance] or substance of corn and liquors, or corn itself that
grows on the surface of the earth, which these fairies steal away, partly
invisible, partly preying on the grain, as do crows and mice; wherefore
in this same age they are sometimes heard to break bread, strike hammers,
and to do such like services within the little hillocks they most do
haunt; some whereof of old, before the Gospel dispelled Paganism, and in
some barbarous places as yet, enter houses after all are at rest, and set
the kitchens in order, cleansing all the vessels. Such drags go under
the name of Brownies. When we have plenty, they have scarcity at their
homes; and, on the contrary (for they are not empowered to catch as much
prey everywhere as they please), their robberies, notwithstanding,
ofttimes occasion great ricks of corn not to bleed so well (as they call
it), or prove so copious by very far as was expected by the owner.

Their bodies of congealed air are sometimes carried aloft, other whiles
grovel in different shapes, and enter into any cranny or clift of the
earth where air enters, to their ordinary dwellings; the earth being full
of cavities and cells, and there being no place, no creature, but is
supposed to have other animals (greater or lesser) living in or upon it
as inhabitants; and no such thing as a pure wilderness in the whole
universe.

We then (the more terrestrial kind have now so numerously planted all
countries) do labour for that abstruse people, as well as for ourselves.
Albeit, when several countries were uninhabited by us, these had their
easy tillage above ground, as we now. The print of those furrows do yet
remain to be seen on the shoulders of very high hills, which was done
when the campaign ground was wood and forest.

They remove to other lodgings at the beginning of each quarter of the
year, so traversing till doomsday, being impotent of staying in one