erstition--Commencement of Monarchy
in Scotland--King Fergus I. crowned on the Fatal Stone
of Destiny--Signs, Assistance of Spirits, Magicians,
and Fortune-tellers--Natholocus sends a Friend to
consult a Cunning Woman--Her Prediction
verified--Constantine and Maxentius--A Heavenly
Cross--A Famous Standard--Queen Guanora's Grave--Fear
of St. Martin--The Church's Belief in the Intercession
of Departed Saints--Relics venerated--King bewitched
by Witches of Forres--Evil Signs during Elthus
Alipes's Reign--Sea Monster in the Don--Kenneth III.
killed by an Infernal Machine--Virtue of Precious
Stones--Weird Sisters--Consulting a
Pythoness--Predictions by Druids--Domitian's Death
foretold by Astrologers--Simon Magus--A Platonic
Philosopher charged with Sorcery--The Emperor Julian
instructed in Magic.

In speaking of superstition, it may be truly said, "As with the
people, so with the priest; as with the subjects, so with the
monarch." In the humble cot the peasant is deluded and overawed by
superstition; in the church the priest lays claim to supernatural
power; and crowned heads have played a not unimportant part among the
believers in and performers of the occult science, which has so long
held the souls of men in bondage. We have it on record that a monarch
has been made to tremble by the sayings of an old woman, supposed to
be in league with the prince of darkness. A king and his army have
been kept from battle by the movements of a harmless quadruped, or by
the flight of a bird, unaware that before sunset it would be the
eagle's portion. Other sovereigns have supported their tyranny over a
down-trodden people by an arrogant pretension to an authority derived
in a mysterious manner from another world.

Ancient historians date the commencement of monarchy in Scotland from
Fergus I., who was crowned according to the superstitious custom of
the age in which he reigned. He was seated on the fatal stone of
destiny, to be afterwards described. Both before and after the
introduction of Christianity into Scotland, not a freebooting
excursion was undertaken before seeking a sign; not a friend was to be
gained without asking the assistance of a generous spirit or fairy;
and not an enemy to be overcome till the magicians and fortune-tellers
secured the aid of unearthly creatures, either good or bad. When
Natholocus's cruelty and oppr