Not above 40 or 50 Years ago, almost every Family had a Branny or evil Spirit so called which served them, to whom they gave a Sacrifice for his Service; as when they Churned their Milk, they took a part thereof and sprinckled every corner of the House with it for Brounies use, likewise when they Brewed, they had a stone which they called Brounies Stone, wherein there was a little hole, into which they poured some Wort for a Sacrifice to Brouny. My Informer a Minister in the Country told me, that he had conversed with an old Man, who when young used to Brew, and sometimes read upon his Bible, to whom an old Woman in the House said, that Brouny was displeased with that Book he read upon, which if he continued to do, they would get no more service of Brouny. But he being better instructed from that Book, which was Brounies Eye-sore and the object of his wrath, when he Brewed, he would not suffer any Sacrifice to be given to Brouny, whereupon the 1st. and 2d. Brewings were spilt and for no use, tho the Wort wrought well, yet in a little time it left off working and grew cold; but of the 3d. Browst or Brewing he had Ale very good, tho he would not give any Sacrifice to Brouny; with whom afterwards they were no more troubled. I had also from the same Informer, that a Lady in Unst now deceased told him, that when she first took up House, she refused to give a Sacrifice to Brouny upon which the 1st. and 2d. Brewings misgave likewise, but the 3rd. was good; and Browny not being regarded nor rewarded, as formerly he had been, abandoned his wonted service. Which cleareth that Scripture Resist the Devil and he will flee from you. They also had Stacks of Corn, which they called Brounies Stacks, which tho they were not bound with straw-ropes, or any way fenced, as other Stacks use to be, yet the greatest storm of Wind was not able to blow any straw off them (Brand 1883 168-170).