This material, drawn from Lucas Jacobsen Debes (1623-1675), Færooe, & Foeroa reserata: that is A description of the islands & inhabitants of Foeroe (London, 1676), is taken from Nathaniel Crouch, The Kingdom of Darkness (London, 1688).  Jacobsen's book is available on microfilm: Early English books, 1641-1700; 560:5

Before we leave these Northern Countreys it may not be improper to give an account of some Specters and Illusions of Satan in the seventeen Islands of Feroe, Subject to the King of Denmark, and all inhabited, as they are published in the Danish Tongue by Lucas Jacobson M. A. and Provost of the Churches there, which I shall give you in his own words translated into English. Satan hath endeavoured to delude the People of these Islands and to cause them to renounce the True Religion by several methods, and perswades them to hold their old Traditions and evil customs, which they do secretly and diligently observe, so that it is a wonder the Devil doth not oftner appear and disquiet them more than he doth; Of which yet we have several notable Instances which I shall briefly relate. In 1668 August 2. The daughter of Oliuff Hanson of Velberstat was mist on the way as she was returning from Church having the same day received the Sacrament of me, whereupon in the evening as well as two days after, they sought for her diligently but could not find her, at last her father complained to me, and the next Sunday August 9. in the Congregation of Kalbach which I then visited, I earnestly admonished them to fall down with me before God for the deliverance of that poor Creature; The Almighty heard our prayers and intercessions, for the next day at three a Clock afternoon she was found by some Milkmaids in Suderdal the next Hamlet to Velberstat lying between two stones at the upper end of the close, having her cloth wrapt about her head, she would speak to no body that went by, neither durst the Milk-maids spake to her, but discovered it to the man of the house who went and spoke to her, desiring her to rise, which she did, then first speaking to him; And the man asking her how she came thither, she shewed him beyond them a pretty high Cliff from whence, she said, she glided or slid down, though the man affirms it was impossible for any one to come down thence without hurt; besides her linnen and cloths were as clean and her shoes as new as the day she was missed, though there had been during some days and nights great Storms and rainy Weather, neither according to her own confession did she eat any thing during these nine days, and yet being come home was well disposed to eat and digest whatsoever meat they gave her. I have endeavoured by all means to make her confess the whole business to me, but in vain, for she said always she lost her self in the mountain, which cannot be, the ground lying high, and being but a League broad, from the top whereof one may see the Sea on both sides, and easily find the right way, so that a Beast much less a reasonable creature could not lose it self except it were on purpose, and it would be great labour to climb up that high Mountain; but I have found by many other examples that most of these people who are thus seduced in theit bodys are so likewise in their minds, so that they will by no means discover the business, and there are others who do not well know themselves how it was; Besides I much doubt how this party could live nine days without meat, since all Physitians agree that the body will be extreamly weakned in that time, and though some Historys relate that Duke Woldemur, and Duke Erick who were thrown into the Tower of New Kiobing by their brother Byrge King of Sweden that they might dye of hunger, Woldemur lived eleven days without meat or drink, and his brother but three days; Yet this seems only to be guest at by the common people, and has no certainty since the Chronicle says that the Tower was strongly shut up with Locks and Bars, and the Keys thereof thrown into the River so that none could tell exactly when they expired; If one brother as is related lived so long he must have sustained himself with the body of his dead brother; Whence it followes that this Maid could not naturally be kept alive without Meat nine days, but that it was some supernatural power which supported her, and returned her so healthy back again. Hist. Isles Feroe. p. 257.

The latter end of that very year, faith the same Author, a man of Suderoe was likewise carryed away, as the Parish Minister there Mr. Jacob Christianson writ me word, and afterward assured me by word of mouth, he was absent several days but by the prayers of the Minister and Congregation he returned soon after, yet was dumb for a fortnight, till at length by the renewed supplications of the People he recovered his speech; At first he uttered several blasphemies against God and the Holy Scriptures, but it was not long ere by the grace of God he recovered his right sense and understanding, relating, "That whilst he was away he perceived nothing neither knew where he was, but when he was to return he saw a great many spirits of a very strange shape, who pushed and thrust him away from them, and then he came back without hindrance." Doubtless the Devil by the command of God upon the prayers of the Congregation durst not keep him any longer. Ibidem. p. 362.

In 1669. Satan (saith this Author) did here torment two Chrildren of a man of Saxan in Stremce who was the Minister of North Church Corporation, whereof Mr. Gregory Hanson writ also to me; His name is Mr. Christopher Absolonson; His son was first troubled by the Evil Spirit but by the assistance of God the Boy overcame him, so that the Devil fled when ever he saw him, and the Boy could likewise discern when ever he came, but as soon as he began to pray or sing the Spirit vanished; He also troubled his Sister from the beginning of August to Christmas, the Maids name is Mary, when the Spirit came to her she grew sick, and hath been almost continually ill and weak of understanding over since he begun to trouble her; But that I might have information thereof I sent for the Boy from whose mouth I received the following Relation. He told me he saw him first about St. Olaus day in the evening standing before the house in the shape of a great man with grey cloths; The next time he saw him was on Christmas Eve when he came into the house and took out his sister; Wherefore the Boy pursued him and found him near the River standing near the Maid who lay on the ground near the Water, but at the Boys coming he went away; The Boy carried his Sister home to the house she being sick and weak; The Spirit followed him softly to the house, and when the Boy came out again he stood before it. Next day in the evening he came again into the room, and the Boy saw him leaning against a post, but they being awake, and at prayers he did not stay long; When he went out the Boy followed him out of doors, whereupon he asked him, why he followed him, The Boy demanded of him; What he had to do there; Whereunto he answered, That he should get what he came for, No, says the Boy, you shall never get it at all; Whereupon he went away as another man; yet came again several times that night, but they were watching over the Girl, and imployed continually in Prayers and Singing of Psalms, so that he did them no harm, only he put out the light, and the Boy grow somewhat sick, the Girl not being able to speak as long as he was there; Dec. 27. the Boy being absent the Spirit came in, the Girl sate at the Table playing at Cards, with her other Brothers and Sisters, when on a sudden the Spirit struck her on one side as she sate with such violence that she spit Bloud after it; The Minister of the Parish coming afterward to the house sent her over to Gote in the Isle of Osteroe from which time they have perceived nothing of any Spirit or disturbance. Ibidem. p. 163.

The same Author gives this following Relation; It happened about fifty years ago that there lived a Tenant called Simon Simonson in the ancient Bishops House of Kirkeloe, whereunto belongs a little Island under Sandoe, called Hode, whereon Oxen feed Winter and Summer; There was found on this Island an Oxe which did not belong to the Farmer, nor to any man of the Countrey, therefore the Bayliff challenged the propriety of it in the Kings name, and commanded the Farmer to bring him the said Oxe, which he prepared to do, he with all his Servants taking a great deal of pains before they could overcome him and lay him bound in the boat; Which at length they did and departed from the Island in very calm weather, yet was he and all his people carried away by the Oxe, or rather the Devil in that shape and never more heard of; The Boat wherein they were came back empty safe and whole with all the oars to land, so that there was no sign at all they could perish in any other manner; Furthermore the Countreyman had taken with him into the Boat three of his own Oxen, which were found swimming in the Sea near the Boat and taken up alive; This happened as is well known to all understanding old people in the year 1617. Ibidem. p. 351.

The following account is likewise given by this Author; Whilst Mr. Taalle was Minister in Osteroe it happened that one of his Parishioners was carried away; He was a young man who was just going to be married all things being prepared for that purpose, and the Minister arrived the Saturday before at the Parish, when the Bridegroom was suddenly missing, they sent people to look after him, but he could no where be found; The Minister desired his Friends to be satisfied, for he was certain he would come again, which he did at last, and related, That the Spirit which led him away appeared in the shape of a very beautiful woman, richly clothed who desired him to forsake her whom he designed to marry, and to consider how ugly his Mistriss was in comparison of her, and what fine apparel she had; He declared likewise that he saw the men who sought after him, and that they went very near him but could not see him, and that he heard them calling him, and yet had not power to answer them, but that when she could by no arguments perswade him to consent to her desire he was again set at liberty and returned home. Ibidem p. 35.

Another Relation this Author gives. Mr. Erasmus Ganting Minister of Waagoe (whose Son Mr. John Erasmusson was my Predecessor in Thorshaven his daughter named Christine being young, went one summers day in the absence of her Father to play in the Fields with her other young Brothers and Sisters; As they were playing there came to them a Duck running in the grass, fluttering with her wings, and the Children running after the Duck, this Girl ran before them, and coming behind an house after the Duck, they saw neither of them any more, neither knew what was become of the Child, whereupon the Father being come home and hearing it was very much troubled, seeking after her with great care, but could hear of her no where; At last he sought the assistance of Heaven by prayers and invocations, and going again into the Field made a more strict search though to no purpose; Eight days after she was lost he found her unhurt and warm, lying asleep wrapt with her headcloth about her head, upon a rock above an hundred fathoms high just at the brink of it; He took her home with him, but when she came to her self she could give no accoont of the matter, saying only, That a great man carried her away whom she thought had been her Father; When she came to years she was of a weak understanding, yet was married in the Countrey and had many Children; She died a few years since, her mother and three Sisters being yet living. Idem. Ibid.

Our Dænish Historian Saxo Grammaticus (faith the same Author) is much blamed by Forreign Writers for having amongst other things inserted in his History some accidents that seem incongruous to reason especially how King Hading was led away under the Earth by a Spiritin the figure of a woman, and yet came back again; It may likewise chance that the Ingenious Reader will blame me as relating Fables, but I know certainly what I write did happen though we cannot comprehend it by reason, of which as I have already given some Instances I shall now add a sew more of the same kind. In 1665. it happened that a Farmers daughter in Kalice a marriageable Maid went in the evening from her work and was lost, so that she was never found since; Neither was there any likelyhood she should be drowned, the Sea being far from the House, and she never having discovered any Melancholy thoughts which should induce her to destroy her self. Likewise not many years since one Jonas Soidemin in Serraag in this Countrey was kept by Spirits in a Mountain for the space of seven years, and at last came back but lived afterwards in great fear and perturbation of mind lest they should again take him away, so that he was forced to be watcht in the night upon that account, and at length out of dread thereof he removed from thence to Bergen in Norway; And about thirty years since it happened that a woman of Westmans Haven in Stremoe was carried away, who yet by the earnest prayers of the Congregation was found again the eight day after she was loft, but dead and yet warm lying in the midst of an highway. Ibidem. p. 257.

The last Relation this Author gives is as follows, Satan hath sometimes endeavoured by special Visions and Learning to seduce the Inhabitants of these Islands from the true word of God: For it happened in 1667. that Jacob Oluffson being then at Giow in Osteroe in the twenty fourth year of his age, January 7. fell sick and kept his bed a fortnight, and January 20. The fourteenth day of his disease being Sunday, at night as he lay asleep there came one into him with shining garments, whereat he wak't and perceived him in that Shape in the bed by him, the room appearing full of Splendor; He gave the young man aserious salutation asking him where his pain was, whereunto the young man answered nothing, afterward he stroked him with his hand along the breast and round about, whereby this young man was presently healed; He then enjoined him to say a Prayer thrice every day, pronouncing the Prayer three times to him, whereby the young man learnt it instantly, it was that at the end of Mr. John Thomasons Psalter, and hath been continually used in the houses in the same Town where that young man lived, and no doubt this Spirit found it there, or was present when it was read and could therefore repeat it, it being no new thing for him to speak the word of God, for he made use of Davids Psalms against Gods own Son, St. Matth. 4. 6. Afterward he told the young man that he should say this Prayer the first time he came to Church, first on the threshold of the Church door with his face turned from the Church; commanding him to bid the people say this Prayer also, and admonish them to amend their lives, and leave off their cursing and swearing, and desist from all other sins, whereby God would appease his anger.

Having said thus to the Lad, as he was going he added, Rise be thou whole and sin no more, and so departed from him through the roof hole of the house; Five days after he appeared the second time before it was clear day as the Lad was sitting in his bed, and sung the twenty third Psalm, My Shepherd is the living Lord; The young man had a strong inclination to go abroad though he saw nothing, and putting on his cloths he went out of the house, where he saw in the South-west the Heavens open, and one coming down from thence, who at length came and stood by him in the yard with a Priests habit on which reached down to his feet, the habit being red and white with a red cross on the back, and told him, He should not at all doubt but he came from God, and therewith left him hastily ascending to the place from whence he came. Next Sunday night Jan. 27. he appeared to him the third time as he lay awake in the same form as at first, and asked him if he had declared what he had commanded; The young man answered, yes; He replyed, Not so earnestly as it ought to have been done, inquiring withal whether he had not seen some Signs in the Heavens? The Lad answered, That he had seen no Signs, but other people had seen two Suns in the Heavens, (Samuel Powelson, Eclender Anderson, Sinece, Jonas Daughter and others of Eldivig witnessed in Court they had seen these Suns,) He then said, They did look indeed like Suns though they were not, but a Sign that they should begin to keep Holiday or Sunday from the time they saw the true Sun arise which was on Saturday half an hour past twelve in the afternoon, and that the Sermon which was preached on Sunday should be preached on Saturday in the afternoon, and that when they rowed out to Church they should sing, My Shepherd is the living Lord; And as the Lad was going to wake his Father-in-Law who then lay in the bed with him he departed as before through the hole of the Chimney; Next night Jan. 28. he appeared to him the fourth time, being awake as before; The young man asked him who he was? He answered, That he was St. John who lay in the bosom of Jesus at the Lords Supper, and spake no more but vanished away as formerly; He came to him the fifth time in the night presently after Mr. Hellison the Minister was gone to visit his Congregation, and asked the Lad if he had declared to the Minister what he had commanded him? The young man replyed, yes; adding, That the Minister thought it very strange that he should appear to him who was so great a sinner; Whereto the pretended St. John answered, That the Lord had given many Signs, and giveth yet many that are not so plain and manifest as to be understood of all.

The news of these Apparitions became publick all over the Countrey, and many ignorant people put great faith therein, whereupon I sent for this young man, and examined him, earnestly admonishing him that he should renounce all such delusions; but he still persisted in affirming that all was real which he had related; So that his fame was spread all over the Islands, and in all Congregations the Vulgar gave great credit to his Visions, especially Servants for the sake of this New Holyday, which many diligently observed, but yet could not refrain from swearing and cursing, to which they were as much exhorted as to the other, and added many more Visions and Stories than were true, and used divers Arguments to justifie the truth of them, whereby many simple Persons were seduced from the truth of the Holy Scriptures and the commands of Christ, and rise up against their Teachers, as it happened to me among the rest, I therefore sent to every Pastor in the Countrey a true Copy of the young mans confession, adding my censure of the falsity of them thereto, that they might read them in the Pulpit, and admonish their Hearers to persist in believing the Infallible Word of God and not seek another way of worshipping him than what is contained therein; At length it happened that this Spiritual Person, this Inlightned Soul who had such wonderful Revelations fell the next year by the inducement of that unclean Spirit into the sin of Fornication; This struck a great damp into his admirers, who then began to believe that it was only a white Devil that had communicated these things to this young Prophet; Therefore I referr'd the great scandal and disturbance he had given to the Congregations to the Reverend Dr. J. Swaning Archbishop of Zealand in writing, from whom I received Orders by the Kings Command that I should publickly reprove and admonish the said Jacob Oluffson out of the word of God, and likewise upon his declaring himself sincerely penitent, should absolve him for the same, and represent to the people their great error; Which was done accordingly on St. John Baptists day 1668. whereby God be praised this design of the evil Spirit was defeated, and all this emotion supprest so that nothing of it hath been since observed. Ibidem. p. 385.