BTS5SC: Beneath the Sheets, A Rebellious Spirit. Standard size colour prints, line and wash with mixed media, a striking colour palette that brings these pictures to life. Prints are excellent representations of the finished original. included printed A5 journal excerpt.

Artists Colour impressions taken from the discovered journal of Professor Matthias Jeremiah Braithwaite. He Dedicated his works and studies to the investigation into the unusual, the unnatural and the uncanny.

14 x 10" Black mounted Colour Print image area 21.5 x 10cm approx + A5 Journal excerpt.

From the journal:

Dear Diary,

“I was informed of a situation of grave significance. Reports of curious happenings which seem almost malicious and dangerous in their intent. Amongst the many instances doors being blocked or on one occasion slamming on a young gentleman’s hand breaking serval fingers. Stairway lights intentionally smashed and various objects placed so that a person may fall over them and injure oneself. Reports of a small white shape scurrying underfoot causing people to loose their footings. All of the occurrences happened in the old gateway to the City called Monk Bar. This old gateway and watchtower is situated on the city walls facing a northward direction, its role to take measure of the city’s visitors to ensure that “undesirables” were not allowed into the city.

I got a chance to question the young willowy gentleman, his bruised hand bandaged and any movement made him wince in pain. He related to me the incident in full and I bid him to leave nothing out no matter how trivial. “It was early evening and I thought I would take in the air with a short walk around the Northern parts of the Walls and perhaps a sit and the smoke a pipe of my favourite tobacco. At the Monk Bar entrance, which is a tall thin doorway an stairs behind. I tipped my hat a two young lady’s walking nearby, when a small white animal flashed beneath my feet causing me to loose my footings and fall forwards towards the door, I managed to save myself from the fall by getting my hand to the doorframe. That’s when it happened, door which I may add has some considerable weight, slammed upon my hand. It was as though the wind had caught it and but there was no breeze at all, it was a very pleasant evening. I did spy the quickest of flashes of white behind the door just before it crushed my hand similar to what was under my feet just moments before. There was the sound of deep distant laughter but no footsteps could be heard.”

Armed with this information I made my way to the doorway in question to further my investigations. Using my clockwork lantern I was able to spy 2 figures for the most fleeting of moments. The first a small animal which I assume was a dog, Its white shroud suspended a few inches in the air, behind the door I got the measure of a large figure burley and wide, in the upper part of his white shroud there protruded an arrow or possibly a crossbow bolt. His shroud seemed to change colour towards the ground and there was the suggestion of a pattern of reds, greens and yellows. Then in the merest blink of an eye they both vanished, it was as though they knew that I could see them. I did have the most peculiar sensation at this point as though I was being watched from a far, it was not the 2 manifestations I had just witnessed, but a more ominous feeling coming from a place which did make my skin crawl with fear and a chill set upon me, which left shortly after but a feeling of unease remained.

Upon further investigation to the history of this site I discovered that Monk Bar had a “Scott Knocker”, any Scott, Vagabond or other rascal had to use the knocker to enter the city. They had to leave a deposit to enter and were only allowed to visit certain establishment, due to the damage they were reputed to cause. The distrust of Scotts in the City goes back to the days of that scoundrel William Wallace, although Wallace never actually invaded the city as many Scotts suggest he did try to lure out its leaders over the years to pay ransoms for Northumbrian Nobels taken hostage. So a decree was put forward into law that any Scott could be shot specifically with a crossbow on sight, this law has to my knowledge has never been repealed to this very day!

I can only assume that the spirit I witnessed was that of an unfortunate Scott who fell foul of this law. He seemed to be taking a delight in taking petty revenge on any English gentleman he could “Douglas” as he shall be known seemed to have befriended a dog with a blue collar “Dash” seems appropriate as he seems to fly around at great speed. Dogs are not allowed on the walls as many signs do indicate. I can only assume they these two souls share a rebellious spirit due to various prohibitions, causing trouble when they get together.”

Prof Matthias. J. Braithwaite

Note: Standard Colour Prints DO NOT glow under black light, only enchanted editions do.