Chapter III: Part 3

About the month of March last year, one Beatrix Laing, a woman of very bad fame, who had formerly been under process for using charms, and refusing to be reconciled to her neighbours, was debarred from the Lord's table, came to one Patrick Morton, a blacksmith, desiring him to make some nails, which he refused to do, because otherwise employed at that time. Upon which she went off muttering some threatening expressions. A little after, the said Patrick Morton, with another person in company, carrying some fish by the said Beatrix Laing's door, they saw a vessel with water placed at the door, with a burning coal in it. Upon which he was presently strucken with an impression that it was a charm designed against him, and upon this a little after he sickened. In this sickness he languished for a long time; physicians that saw him, could not understand his distemper, yet tried various medicines, till at length his trouble increased, and he began to be seized with some unusual fits, which made them give over. He forbore all this while any accusation of the person whom he all along suspected for his trouble, at least he made no mention of it to the minister, who frequently visited him while under it. But his trouble still increasing, he at length began to drop some apprehensions of the cause of it. Upon which Beatrix Laing was called, and by the magistrates, in the said Patrick Morton's father's house, examined in presence of a great multitude of people, and owned, that she had placed that vessel with water, and the coal in it, there; but at that time would give no account of the reason of it. Being dismissed by the magistrates, she went home, and that same night, when she was challenged by Katharine Marshal, in her own house, before Nicolas Lawson, about the lad's trouble, she answered, that he might blame his own ill tongue for what had befallen him, and that it was an evil spirit that was troubling him; which was in her face maintained by the said persons next day, in presence of the magistrates. Then the boy began to complain of her tormenting him, and fell into grievous fits of trouble upon her entering the house. Upon all which she being imprisoned, after some time did acknowledge to magistrates and minister, in presence of many witnesses, without threat or torture, (of which we shall speak more afterwards) that she was displeased with Patrick Morton for his refusing to make some nails; that she designed to be avenged upon him for it; and that she used that charm of the coal in the water against him; and that she renounced her baptism, entered into a compact with the devil some twelve years before; condescending upon time, place, and her inducements to engage in his service; and that she, with Nicholas Lawson, had made a wax picture to torment him, and put pins in it; which the said Nicolas likewise confessed afterwards, and so justified the boy's account of the rise of his trouble.

After this the boy's trouble daily increased, in which there were many strange things; first his belly, for some time, then his breast, frequently heaved up to a prodigious height, and instantly went off again, by a blowing at the mouth like a bellows; frequently he cried out that such persons as he named were pinching him in his arms, breast, or some other places of his body, his hands lying all the while above the clothes, at a distance from one another, in the view of many of the spectators; and when they looked the places of which he complained, they saw distinctly the print of nails. Again, he was frequently cast into swooning fits, became insensible, which was tried by exquisite pinching the more sensible parts of his body, of which he complained afterwards when he came out of the fits, though he took no notice of them, nor felt them, in the time while he was in these fits. The strongest who essayed to lift his head from the pillow, were not able to move it, though both his feet and head were perfectly free of the bed, which was exactly tried: Yea, sometimes while the trunk of his body and his head were thus rigid and could not be raised from the pillow, his legs were loose, and any might move them as they pleased. Sometimes these fits were not so great as at other times, and then, or when he was falling in, or coming out of them, several persons lifted him with little difficulty; but when he was in the depth of the fit, the strongest that essayed it could not raise him up. Again, when any of the women whom he accused touched him, and sometimes on their coming into the room he fell into grievous fits of trouble, and cried out, that such a person was tormenting him, condescending on their names; and this he did very frequently, before multitudes of people of different ranks, ready to attest the same. And commonly such care was taken to prevent his having any notice, either of the womens' entry, or which of them was there, that there was no place left for any rational suspicion of trick or cheat in the matter. He was carefully hoodwinked with several plies of cloth--the women were brought in with the utmost secrecy--innocent persons present in the room laid their hands on him, but yet he never shewed the least concern, save when the accused persons touched him. Several times gentlemen that seemed jealous that there was somewhat of an imposture in the case, were allowed and invited to make the nicest trial, and found it hold. Several pitiful cavils have been used about this, and other instances of the boy's trouble, which proceed either from ignorance of the circumstances of matter of fact, or gross inadvertency in not observing the several variations of the boy's case; which, had they been considered, they would have been so far from giving any countenance to the conclusion aimed at by these objectors, that they would strongly have enforced a conviction of something preter-natural in the case.

The author then proceeds to give an account of Janet Corphat, the woman who was murdered. She was a person of very bad fame, who of a long time was reputed a witch, frequently used charms, and was wont commonly to threaten persons who disobliged her, and such consequences sometimes followed, as made her the terror of many, both of the town and country, which might be verified by particular instances, if it were necessary. She was not at first delated by Patrick Morton, though afterwards he complained of her as one of his tormentors; but she, with several others, being in company with the devil, whereof Isabel Adam was one, in pursuance of a quarrel which Beatrix Laing, formerly mentioned, had with one Alexander M'Grigor, a fisher in the town, made an attempt to murder the said M'Grigor in bed; which was prevented by his awakening and wrestling against them. This attempt was acknowledged by Isabel Adam, of whose confession a more full account shall be given afterwards, who had been taken up on that man's delation, and some other informations against her, and not on the lad's. As likewise, the said Janet was accused by Nicolas Lawson, another person present at that attempt; and Nicolas accused her of being at another meeting in the Loan of Pittenweem; at both which meetings they confessed the devil was present.--All which she herself afterwards freely confessed.

The manner of this woman's confession was very remarkable.--After she had obstinately some while denied, and with a subtility beyond what might be expected from one of her education, shifted all questions put to her, she, with Isobel Adam aforesaid, being brought to the house where the tormented lad lay, and he discovering her at her entry into the room, notwithstanding the utmost precaution was used to conceal it from him, and he falling into grievous fits of trouble, did cry out of her as one of his tormentors; at which she was so stunned, that instantly she fell a trembling. The magistrates and minister observing her in such a confusion, asked if she was willing to commune with them, in reference to the matters whereof she had been accused; she declaring herself willing, went with them to another place, and when desired to be ingenuous, she again fell a trembling, and said she would confess all, but was afraid the devil would tear the soul out of her body if she did, and said, if you will pray, and cause all good folk pray for me, I will confess, and she then desired the minister to pray; and, after prayer, confessed she was bodily present at both the meetings aforesaid with the devil and the witches, and gave a circumstantiat account of the renounciation of her baptism, naming time, place, and inducements which led her to it, and the shape the devil appeared to her in.--She likewise told the reason of their attempt to murder M'Grigor was, that he did not hire a house which belonged to Beatrix Laing.

Again, on a Thursday, after she had been hearing sermon, she desired to speak with the minister, and sent one to acquaint him with this desire; on which he went to her, and she, before several witnesses, renewed her former confession, and condescended on all the persons the other confessing witches had accused, as being present at the two foresaid meetings; adding withal, that there were others present whom she knew not. This confession she renewed before the presbytery, in presence of a great many country gentleman, and other spectators; as likewise in the face of a numerous congregation on the Lord's day.

It is owned, that when Beatrix Laing and Nicolas Lawson were first imprisoned, they were ill used by some of the guard, without the knowledge of magistrates or minister, of which the women made complaint to the minister, whereof he presently acquainted the magistrates, who, with the minister, went to the prison, and threatened the guard if they offered the least disturbance to persons in custody. And the minister, on the Lord's day thereafter, took occasion in sermon to discover the wickedness of that practice, as being against the light of nature, Scripture, and the just laws of the land. After this, we heard of no more disturbances they met with. Now, it was not till after this precaution used to prevent their trouble, that Janet Corphat was imprisoned; and, from the time of her imprisonment, till the time that she confessed, which was some ten or twelve days, she was not in company with the rest, nor with the guard, save one or two days, but was alone in a separate prison, and nothing to disturb her.

Now, it is remarkable, that neither of these persons who were ill used, of which Janet Corphat was none, did ever make any acknowledgement to these persons who used them ill, nor till some days after they were quite freed of this trouble. And when they did confess, it was to magistrates and minister, whom they owned to be careful to preserve them from such abuses; nor did magistrates or minister ever use any threatening to extort a confession, or any other argument, but what the gospel requires to be made use of to bring impenitent sinners to a confession of their sins.[8]

[8] We should like to know what threatenings the gospel requires
ministers to make use of to such impenitent sinners as will not
confess sins they could not commit. ED.

The author of the letter tells us, 'she was put in a low prison, out of which it was obvious that any body could make an escape, and accordingly she made her escape that night.' Here are but two assertions, and both of them false, for the prison was the second story, and her escape was by breaking an old iron grate in the window; nor was it that night after that she broke the prison, for it was on Friday these gentlemen discoursed her, and on the Lord's day at night she broke the prison.[9]

[9] This just reprover begins very fairly by wilfully perverting his
opponent's language, 'a prison with a low window,' he makes 'a low
prison.' We very much suspect the minister himself had a hand in this
pamphlet.

Here follows the author of the 'Just Reproofs' way of telling the story of the barbarous and cruel murder of Janet Corphat. She came to town under cloud of night with two men, and went straight to an inn where her daughter was serving. After some stay there, the two men brought her to the minister's house, who was visiting a sick child of one James Cook, a present bailie, where his servant came to him with Mr Gordon's letter; and, as soon as he had perused it, he bid his servant go tell them, he would have nothing to do with her, but since they had brought her to the town, let them take her to the magistrates; which answer, two men then present, have attested under their hands. On this, the men brought her to Bailie Cook's house, where the minister was, and the men meeting him coming down stairs, pressed him to take her off their hands, which he refused to do, but called the two next magistrates, and advised them instantly to set her off safe out of the town. On which the two bailies sent for their officer immediately, and the minister went off straight to his own house, and saw no appearance of a rabble, nor did hear of it, till the rabble had gone a considerable length; and after a little, he heard that the woman was got safe out of their hands, and the rabble dissipate, and he knew nothing of her death till the next morning.

When the officer came to the magistrates, they, on deliberation among themselves, resolved to imprison her till the next morning; and accordingly ordered their officer to do it. And as the officer was executing the magistrates' orders, the rabble gathered upon them, attacked the officer, and took the woman from him, with which, it is said, he did not acquaint the magistrates, that they might have taken other measures for the woman's safety.

This rabble did not flow from the inclinations of the people of the place, which is evident from the peaceable and safe residence two confessing witches had for two months time in the place since they were set at liberty, but from an unhappy occasional concourse of a great many strangers, some Englishmen, some from Orkney, and other parts, who were forward in it, and have since taken guilt on them by their flight.

As to the assertion with regard to those of Mr Cowper's family going along with the rabble, Mr Cowper urged to have his servants examined among the first, and they have declared before the magistrates, that they stole out in a clandestine way, that their master might not know of it, and he indeed knew nothing of it, and they returned very quickly and made no stay; nor do any of the witnesses examined insinuate any accusation of their having the least accession to any injury she met with, nor were they any other way concerned, than by looking on a short while with some hundreds of other spectators.

Again, it is said, 'that they first found her at Nicolas Lawson's house, and that she was killed out-right when they dragged her there again,' is as ill grounded as the rest of our author's assertions; for they found her not at Nicolas Lawson's house, and some of the persons examined have declared, that after she was brought to that door, she arose and put on head cloaths, and called to Nicolas Lawson to let her in; which, if she had done, she in all appearance had met with no more disturbance; but after this, we hear _that some few of the rabble stole up secretly and murdered her_.

The author of the Second Letter accuses the minister of encouraging Patrick Morton in carrying on the cheat, by reading to him the case of Bargarran's daughter. In answer to which, we shall give a short, but candid, account of matter of fact. In the month of May last, the minister, with a preacher, and a great many other people, attending all night in the room where Patrick Morton lay, and he lying meanwhile in a swooning fit, which was then tried by exquisite pinching, the minister and probationer falling into some discourse about Bargarran's daughter, took out the book, and for their own satisfaction, read only two sentences, and stopt. Several weeks after, when the minister was again attending in the night time, the lad being insensible, the minister, for his own diversion, read the preface, and some part of the process, against the witches, but had no reason to think he heard any thing, but on the contrary. And it is to be observed, when the committee of the privy council did accurately examine the boy in reference to this story, he still declared he never heard any thing of Bargarran's daughter's case read.

What he says of 'their obliging them to pay eight pound Scots to the town-officer,' is in many ways false. It is false that they were ordered by the magistrates to pay such a sum. It is false that they paid all alike. It is also untruth that any of them gave what they had provided for their winding sheets. Nicolas Lawson, one of the confessing witches, her husband voluntarily gave a small piece of unbleached linen to the officer for his fees; and this is all the ground for the story of their winding-sheets.

The author of the Just Reproof then proceeds to give an account of Mrs White and Isobel Adam. The woman brought from Anstruther was a Mrs White, an inhabitant of Pittenweem, who, through fear of being apprehended, fled thither to her daughter's house. This woman, whose cause is now warmly espoused by some, with no advantage to their reputation, and who is now insisting against the magistrates in a process for wrongous imprisonment, has been for many years a person of very bad fame. Some eighteen years ago, she pursued a woman before the session, in Mr Bruce the late Episcopal incumbents time, for calling her a witch, and succumbing in the probation. Mr Bruce urged her to be reconciled with the woman,--she obstinately refused,--using most Unchristian and revengeful expressions, which are to be seen in the session-register. Since the revolution, she desired admission to the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper, which was then denied her, because she still refused to be reconciled to that woman. Her scandalous carriage in refusing to cohabit with her husband to this day, who is a sober honest man, is generally known. This woman being accused by the boy as one of his tormentors, and delated by two confessing witches, and other presumptions of her guilt, the magistrates one morning sent their officer to the magistrates of Anstruther, desiring them on these grounds to send Mrs White to them, and the grounds of her imprisonment were sent in write to her, in her daughter Mrs Lindsay's house; and she being brought to Pittenweem, the two women which delated her, were confronted with her, in presence of the magistrates, a great many gentlemen and ministers, where they did accuse her to her face, and charged her particularly with being at a meeting in the Loan with the devil and the witches, and gave some binding tokens to convince her. By all which it appears, how little ground there is to accuse the magistrates for invading their neighbours jurisdiction, or load the minister with any concernment in the matter.

As to the other instance of one brought to Pittenweem at six miles distance, this was the young woman Isobel Adam. About the middle of May, one Alexander M'Grigor delated her for an attempt to murder him in his own house in the night-time, with several others whom he knew not; and there being some surmises of other presumptions of witchcraft against her, the minister hearing she was occasionally in the town, called for her, and advised her, before her father, if innocent, to take proper measures for her own vindication, which she undertook to do, and promised to return for that end on advertisement, which her father engaged to give. The noise about her still increasing, her father was desired, according to promise, to call her to the place, which he declined, growing jealous of her guilt; on which the minister advertised her, but in case she refused, a letter was sent to be delivered to the gentleman on whose ground she lived, desiring him to send her. So soon as the advertisement was given, she came voluntarily to her father's house in Pittenweem, and so there was no occasion for force.

When she came, she confessed her converse with the devil at Thomas Adamson's house, on the first day of January 1704; she was confronted with M'Grigor, and he accused her of the above mentioned attempt on him, which she then refused; on which she was imprisoned, and the two following days, she did with tears, and more than ordinary concern, make a free and large confession.

She said Beatrix Laing aforesaid, a confessing witch, had been dealing with her to engage in her service, which she refused; and that some time thereafter, this Beatrix came for her, and desired her to go along to her house; when she came there, they sat down at the fire, and she saw a man in black cloaths, with a hat on his head, sitting at the table; and Beatrix said to her, since you will not engage with me, here is a gentleman that will see you; whereupon he told her, he knew she was discontented with her lot, and if she would serve him, he promised she should want for nothing; to which she yielded to serve him, and he came forward and kissed her; and she said, he was fearsome like, and his eyes sparkled like candles, on which she knew he was the devil.

Again, she told, that being employed to spin in Thomas Adamson's house in Pittenweem, while she was lying awake in her bed in the night time, the devil appearing to her, where she did expressly renounce her baptism to the devil, by putting her hand on her head, and the other to her feet, the other maid lying in the bed with her being at the time asleep, as the maid declared before the session. About a fortnight after this, Beatrix Laing came to visit her, and asked her, if she had met with the gentleman? She answered she had, and also engaged with him, on which Beatrix said, I have then got my work wrought, and went away. And she confessed, she came to that meeting at M'Grigor's with the devil and several witches, viz. Beatrix Laing, Nicolas Lawson, Janet Corphat, Thomas Brown, and several others she knew not, designing to murder M'Grigor; but since the man awakened and prayed to God for himself, they could not do it. She confessed also converse with the devil at other times. All which is in her two confessions, signed by the magistrates, and transmitted to Edinburgh. Now, we desire to know what the author of this letter can quarrel in the magistrates or minister's conduct in this matter.

As for what he says 'about the magistrates and minister refounded the imprisoned womens' money seven-fold.' We find this author very charitable on other mens' purses, but when the magistrates and minister design to bestow their charity, they will choose more deserving objects. And the Lords of Her Majesty's privy counsel understands themselves better than to take their measures as to what is just from the daring prescriptions of this author.

What he says about Thomas Brown is also false, he was accused by the lad, and delated by three confessing witches, as being accessory to the attempt on M'Grigor. It is false he was starved, for his daughter brought him his diets punctually. Our author's fears of more murders are altogether groundless, and we appeal to all men of candour, whether this author's impudent and unjust accusation against magistrates and minister of murdering Thomas Brown, deserves not severer punishment than any thing he can charge them with.

He again tells us, "the bailies justified the murder, by denying Christian burial." The bailies gave no order thereabout. As for Thomas Brown, his son-in-law, with some others, buried him. Our author by his next may prove, that Janet Corphat, a woman that had so frequently and so solemnly confessed the renounciation of her baptism to the devil, deserved Christian burial.

THE END.

A

COPY

OF THE

INDICTMENT OF THE WITCHES AT BORROWSTOUNESS--THE PRECEPT FOR
SUMMONING THE JURY AND WITNESSES--WITH THE WARRANT FOR THEIR
EXECUTION.

_Copy of the Indytment._

Annaple Thomsone, widow in Borrowstownes,

Margaret Pringle, relict of the deceast John Campbell sive-wright there, &c.

Yee, and ilk ane of yow ar indytted and accwsed, that where, notwithstanding, be the law of God, particularlie sett down in the 20 chapter of Leviticus, and eighteen chap. of Dewtronomie, and be the lawes and actes of parliament of this kingdome, and constant practiq; thereof, particularlie be the 73 act, 29 parliament Q. Marie, the cryme of witchcraft is declaired to be ane horreid, abominable and capitall cryme, punishable with the paines of death and confiscatiown of moveables. Never the less it is of veritie, that you have comitted, and ar gwyltie of the said cryme of witchcraft, in swa far ye have entered in pactiown with the devill, the enemie of your salvatiown, and have renownced our Blissed Lord and Savior, and your baptizme, and have given your selffes, both soulles and bodies to the devil, and have bein severall mettings with the devill, and swndrie wyth witches in diverse places; and particularlie, ye the said Annaple Thomsone had a metting with the devill the tyme of your weidowhood, befoer yow was maried to your last husband, in your cwming betwixt Linlithgow and Borrowstownes, where the devil, in the lyknes of ane black man, told yow, that you wis ane poore puddled bodie, and had ane evill lyiff, and difficultie to win throw the world; and promesed, iff yee wald followe him, and go alongst with him, yow should never want, bot have ane better lyiff: and, abowt fyve wekes therefter, the devill appeired to yow when yow wis goeing to the coal-hill abowt sevin a clock in the morning. Having renewed his former tentatiown, you did condeschend thereto, and declared yowrselff content to follow him, and becwm his servant; wherewpon the devill threw yow to the grownd, and had carnal copwlatiown with yow; and ye, and each persone of yow, wis at several mettings with the devill in the Linkes of Borrowstowness, and in the howss of yow Bessie Vickar, and ye did eatt and drink with the devill, and with on another, and with witches in hir howss in the night tyme; and the devill and the said Wm Craw browght the ale which ye drank, extending to abowt sevin gallons, from the howss of Elizabeth Hamilton; and yow the said Annaple had ane other metting abowt fyve wekes ago, when you wis goeing to the coal-hill of Grange, and he inveitted yow to go alongest and drink with him in the Grange-pannes; and yow the said Margaret Pringil have bein ane witch thir many yeeres bygane; hath renowncid yowr baptisme, and becwm the devill's servant, and promeis to follow him; and the devill had carnall copwlatiown with yow, and tuik you by the right hand, whereby it was, for eight dayes, grevowslie pained; but having it twitched of new againe, it imediatlie becam haill: and yow the said Margaret Hamilton has bein the devill's servant these eight or nyne yeres bygane; and he appered and conversed with yow at the toun-well of Borrowstownes, and several tymes in yowr awin howss, and drank severall choppens of ale with you, and thereafter had carnall copwlatiown with yow; and the devill gave yow ane fyve merk peice of gold, whilk a lyttil efter becam ane sklaitt stone; and yow the said Margaret Hamilton, relict of James Pollwart, has bein ane witch, and the devil's servant thertie yeres since, haith renowncid yowr baptizme as said is, and has had carnall copwlatiown with the devill in the lyknes of ane man, bot he removed from yow in the lyknes of ane black dowg: and ye, and ilk ane of yow wis at ane metting with the devill and wther witches at the Croce of Murestaine above Kinneil, upon the threttein of October last, where yow all danced, and the devill acted the pyiper, and where yow endevored to have distroyed Androw Mitchell, sone to John Mitchell, elder in Dean of Kinneill.

_Precept_ qra _Witches, and the Witnesses and Assyissers, 1679_.

---- Cochran of Barbbachlay, Richard Elphinstown of ----, Saindelands of Hilderstown, ---- Cornwal of Bonhard, Robert Hamilton of Dechmont, baillzie of the regallitie of Borrowstownes, Sir John Harper advocat, Mr William Dundas, and Mr John Prestowne advocats, commissioners of justiciarie, speciallie constitwte, nominat, and appoynted by the lordes off his majestie's most honowrable privie cownsell for the tryall and jwdging of the persones after namit; To our lovitts ---- messengers, macers, and officers of cowrt, owr shirriffs in that pairt, conjunctlie and severallie, speciallie constitwte, greitting: For sameikillais the ---- day of ----is appoynted by ws for the trying and judging off Anabill Thomson widow in Borrowstownes, Margaret Pringle relict of the decist John Campbell sive-wright ther, Margaret Hamilton relict of the deceist James Pollwart ther, Wm. Craw indweller ther, Bessie Viccar relict of the deceist James Pennie indweller ther, and Margarett Hamilton relict of the deceist Thomas Mitchell, who are apprehendit and imprisoned in the tolbuith of Borrowstownes, as suspect gwilty of the abominable cryme of witchcraft, by entering into pactiown with the devill, renwncing their baptism and comitting of _malificies_: Wherefoir nescessary it is, that the saides persons should be summonded to wnderlye the lawe for the samen, and that witness and assyssers should be cited against them, to the effect, and under the paines efter specifiet. HEREFOIR, this precept sein, we chairge you passe, and in owr soveraigne lordes name and authority, and owrs, comand and chairge the saides persones above compleaned upon, to compeir befoir ws, or any three of us (who are by our said commissiown declaired to be a quorum), within the said tolbuith of Borrowstownes, the nyneteen day of December nixt, in the howr of cawse, ther to wnderlye the lawe, for the crymes above specifiet, and that under the paines contained in the new acts of parliament: And sicklyik, summon, wairne and chairge ane assyse of honest and famous persones, not exceeding the number of fortie-five, togither with such witnesses who best know the veritie of the persones above compleaned upon ther gwiltynes, to compeir befoir us, day and place foirsaid, in the howr of cawse, the persones of[10] witness, to bear leall and soothfast witnessing in the premiss, and the inqueist to passe upon the assyse each persone, under the paine of ane hundreth merks, according to justice, ais ye will answer to us therwpon: the whilk to doe commits to you, conjunctlie and severalie, our fwll power, be thir our lettres, delyvering them be you dewllie execut and indorset againe to the beirer. Given under our hands at Borrowstownes, the twentie-nynt day of November, ane thousande six hunder and seventie nyne yeirs.

[10] This word is interlined, and the word inqueist scored out.

(_Sic Subscribitur_)

R. HAMILTON,
J. CORNWALL,
RICH. ELPHENSTONE,
W. DUNDAS.

_Ane List of the Persones to be warned to passe upon the Assyse for
Judging the Witches in Borrowstownes._

_Barronie of Carridin._

Robert Ballendin elder in Northbank,
Alex. Brown in Bonhard,
John Irwyne there,
James Lamb there,
George Storie in Mure-edge,
Thomas Knox wiver in Littill Carridin,
John Meldrum ther,
George Yowng in Murrayes,
John Brown oversman ther,
George Smyth ther,
John Robertsone in Bonhard-panns,
John Daviesone ther,
John Pooll ther.

_Town of Borrowstownes._

George Bennet,
James Cassilles elder, skipper,
Alex. Drysdaill skipper,
James Hardie glover,
Alex. Randie baxter
Richard Carss,
James Hamilton elder,
James Hwtton baxter,
Andrew Hamilton,
Thomas Downie,
James Mwngill wiver,
Rob. Downie.

_Barronie of Kinneill._

George Gib in Kinneil Carss,
Alex. Gib in Inneraven,
John Glen ther
John Baird ther
James Dobbie in Nether Kinneil,
Patrick Hardie ther,
John Dick in Woodheid,
John Wilson in Over Kinneil,
James Thomson ther,
James Lithgow in Balderstown,
John Hardie, maltman in Burrowstown,
James Thomson ther.

_Barronie of Pollmont._

James Burn of Clerkstoun,
James Monteth of Myln-hall,
Alex. Whyte in Hill,
Patrick Ballanden of Parkend,
John Mairschell in Whyteside,
Andrew Johnstown in Pollmont,
David Ballanden in Redding,
James Gaff ther,
George Mureheid ther,
William Rwchat of Ruch-haugh,
John Grintown in Gillstown Loanfoote,
Henry Taylor in Whyteside,
John Purgat of Bruchtown Crag.

_Order and Warrand for Burning the Witches of Borrowstownes, Dec. 19,
1679._

Forsameikle as Annabil Thomson widdow in Borrowstownes, Margaret Pringle relict of the deceast John Campbell ther, Margaret Hamiltown relict of the deceast James Pollwart ther, William Craw indweller ther, Bessie Wicker relict of the deceast James Pennie ther, and Margaret Hamiltown relict of the deceast Thomas Mitchell ther, prisoners in the tolbuith of Borrowstownes, are found guiltie be ane assyse, of the abominable cryme of witchcraft committed be them, in maner mentioned in their dittayes, and are decerned and adjudged be us under subscryvers (commissioners of justiciary speciallie appoynted to this effect) to be taken to the west end of Borrowstownes, the ordinar place of execution ther, upon Tuesday the twentie-third day of December current, betwixt two and four a clock in the efternoon, and ther to be wirried at a steack till they be dead, and there-efter to have their bodies burnt to ashes. These therefoir require and command the baylie principal off the regalitie of Borrowstownes, and his deputts, to see the said sentance and doom put to dew execution in all poynts, as yee will be answerable. Given under our hands at Borrowstownes the nynteenth day of December 1679 yeirs.

W. DUNDAS,
RICH. ELPHINSTONE,
WA. SANDILANDS,
J. CORNWALL,
J. HAMILTON.

TRIAL

OF

ISOBEL ELLIOT, AND NINE OTHER WOMEN.

_Records of Justiciary, September 13, 1678._

In 1678, Isobel Elliot and nine other women were tried for witchcraft in one day. The articles of indictment against all of them were pretty much the same. Those exhibited against Isobel Elliot were as follows: That about two years ago she staid at home from the _kirk_ at the desire of her mistress, who was a witch, when the devil had a meeting with the prisoner, her mistress, and two other witches; that he kissed the prisoner, baptized her on the face _with an waff of his hand like a dewing_, and offered to lie with her, but forbore because she was with child; that after she was kirked the devil often met her, and had _carnal copulation_ with her. The prisoner and the other nine miserable women underwent all the legal forms incident to their unhappy situation among that deluded and barbarous people. They had been prosecuted by his Majesty's Advocate; they judicially acknowledged their guilt, were convicted by the jury, condemned by the judges, and burned by the executioner,--_for having had carnal copulation with the devil_!!!

THE

CONFESSIONS

OF

HELEN TAYLOR IN EYEMOUTH,

AND

_MENIE HALYBURTON IN DIRLTON_,

ACCUSED OF WITCHCRAFT, 1649.

WITH THE

DECLARATION

OF

JOHN KINCAID, PRICKER.

COPIED FROM THE ORIGINALS.

THE

CONFESSIOUN

OF

HELENE TAILZEAR.

JUL 8, 1649.

Being the Sabbath day, Mr Samuel Dowglas, preaching at Eymouth, after sermon, Helen Tailzear desyred to speik with the said Mr Samuell, who coming to hir, thair being also present Samuel Lauder and George Halliday, she confessed these particularis, viz. _first_, at Candilmas bygon two yeirs, scho cam into Isobell Brown's hous, quhair the divill was sitting in the liknes of a gentill man at the tabill drinking with Isobell Brown, who took hir in his armes without any moir speiking at that tyme.

_Secondlie_, Scho declairs, that after shee cam to Isobell Brown's hous * * * * * whair the divill was in the same likness as befor, and layd his hand upon hir head, and sayd, you sall be on of myne so long as you live. And that he gave hir two dolleris, and when shoe cam home they wer butt twa stanes.

_Thirdlie_, Shee declairs, that shee was at ane meiting with Isobell Brown, Alison Cairns, Margaret Dobson, and Beatrix Young, and that thai went all along to William Burnettis hous, he lying sick, and that coming to the hous, Margaret Dobson was in the liknes of ane black hen, and went in at the chimley head, and Beatrix Young in the liknes of a litill foall, and that hirself was in the liknes of ane litill quhelp; Isobell Brown wes in hir owin liknes, with a long tail'd courtshaw upon hir head, and Allison Cairns wes in hir owin liknes; and that Isobell Brown desired her to go into William Burnettis bot shee refuissed, quhairupon Isobell Brown did stryk her * * * * * on the back.

_Fourtlie_, Shee declairs that Marioun Robisson wes ane witch, and that shee was William Burnit's death.

(Signed) MR SAMUEL DOUGLAS, _Minister
at Coldinghame_.
S. LAUDER.
G. HALLIDAY.

THE

DEPOSITION

OF

MENIE HALIBURTOUN.

_At Dirltoun, June, 1649._

Compeirit Menie Halliburton, prissoner within the Castle, suspect of the cryme of witchcraft, delaitit guiltie be Agnes Clerkson, lait sufferer for the said cryme; as also be Patrik Watsone, spouse to the said Menie, who lykewisse sufferit thairfoir, and confessit, that auchtein yeir syne, or thairby, hir dochter being seik, scho first sent for Patrik Chrystison in Aberledie, to cum and cure hir dochter, and he refuising, went hirself for him, who refused to cure hir; and within * * * days after came the devill in liknes of a man into hir hous, calling himself a physition, and said to her, that he had good salves (and namelie oylispek), whairwith he would cure hir dochter; and aggreing with him for some of his salves quhilk he gave hir, shee gave him two Inglis shillings. He then departed, and promised to come agane within eight dayis, whilk accordinglie he did, bot or he went away the first tyme, shee gave him milk and breid; and Patrik Watsone coming in, he sent for a pynt of ale; bot at his second coming he stayit all night, and upon the morne airlie (Patrick being furth), in cam the divill and lay doun with hir, scho being yitt in bed, and had carnal copulatioun with hir, his nature being cald. He desyrit hir to renunce Chryst and hir baptisme, and become his servant, quhilk scho did. And sayis, that hir dochter had the wyte of all hir wickit wissing, and wissing she had nevir beene borne.

This deposition was renewed in all the particulars by the said Menie, in the foresaid place, on Sunday the first of July, 1649, before Alexander Levingston of Saltcoatts, James Borthwick chamberlane, James Lawder, John Stalker baillie, Wm. Dalzell, and Mr John M'Ghie, minister at Dirltoun.

(Signed) J. MAKGHIE.
ALEX. LEVINGSTOUN, _witness_.
JA. BORTHWICK.
JAMES LAUDER.
JOHN STALKER.
W. DALZELL.
WALTER MARSHALL.

THE DECLARATION OF JOHN KINCAID.

JUNE, 1649.

The whilk day, in presence of Alex. Levingston of Saltcoattis, James Borthwick chalmerlain of Dirltoun, John Stalker baillie thairof, James Foirman in Drem, Mr James Achieson in North-Berwick, and William Dalzell notar, Patrick Watson in West Fenton, and Menie Haliburtoun his spous, bruitted and long suspect of witchcraft, _of thair awin frie will uncompellit_, heiring that I John Kincaid under subscryvand wes in the toune of Dirltoune, and had some skill and dexterity in trying of the divillis marke in the personis of such as wer suspect to be witches, came to the broad hall in the Castell of Dirltoune, and desyred me the said John Kincaid to use my tryall of thame as I had done on utheris, whilk when I had done, I found the divillis marke upon the bak syde of the said Patrik Watsone, a littill under the point of his left shoulder, and upon the left syde of the said Menie Halyburtoun hir neck a littill above her left shoulder, whairof thay wer not sensible, neither cam furth thairof any bloode after I had tryed the samin as exactlie as ever I did any uthers. This I testifie to be of veritie upon my credit and conscience. In witnes quhairof, I have subscryvit thir presentis with my hand, day and place forsaid, befoir ther witnesses above specifiet.

J. K.

ALEX. LEVINGSTOUN, _witness_.
JA. BORTHWICK, _witness_.
JOHN STALKER, _witness_.
JAMES FORMAN, _witness_.
JA. ACHESONE, _witness_.
W. DALZELL, _witness_.

THE TRIAL OF WILLIAM COKE AND ALISON DICK, FOR WITCHCRAFT.

_Extracted from the Minutes of the Kirk-Session of Kirkaldy, A. D. 1636._

_September 6th, 1633._

The which day, compeared Alison Dick, challenged upon some speeches uttered by her against William Coke, tending to witchcraft,--denied the samyne.

1. Compeared Alexander Savage, Andrew Nicol, and George Tillie,
who being admitted and sworn, deponed as follows: The said
Alexander Savage, that he heard the said Alison Dick say to her
husband William Coke, 'Thou has put down many ships; it had been
gude for the people of Kirkaldie, that they had knit a stone
about thy neck and drowned thee.'

2. Andrew Nicol deponed, that he heard the said Alison say to
him, 'Thou has gotten the woman's song laid, as thou promised;
thou art over-long living; it had been gude for the women of
Kirkaldy, that thou had been dead long since. I shall cause all
the world wonder upon thee.'

3. George Tillie deponed, that he heard her say to him, 'It had
been gude for the women of Kirkaldy, to put him to death; and
that he had died seven years since.'

Also compeared Jean Adamson, Kathrine Spens, Marion Meason, Isobel Murison, Alison Kelloch, who being admitted and sworn, deponed as follows:

4. Jean Adamson deponed, that she heard Alison Dick say to her
husband William Coke, 'Thief! Thief! what is this that I have
been doing? keeping the thretty years from meikle evil doing.
Many pretty men has thou putten down both in ships and boats;
thou has gotten the woman's song laid now. Let honest men puddle
and work as they like, if they please not thee well, they shall
not have meikle to the fore when they die.'

5. Kathrine Spens deponed, that she heard her say to him, 'Common
thief, I have hindered thee from many ill turns doing, both to
ships and boats.'

6. Marion Meason deponed, that she heard her say, 'Common thief,
mony ill turn have I hindered thee from doing thir thretty
years; mony ships and boats has thou put down; and when I would
have halden the string to have saved one man, thou wald not.'

7. Isobel Murison deponed, that she heard her say to him, 'Thief,
thief, I have keeped thee from doing many ill turnes. Thou has
now laid the woman's song.'

_September 24th, 1633._

8. Compeared Janet Allan, relict of umquhile John Duncan fisher,
deponed, that Alison Dick came in upon a certain time to her
house, when she was lying in of a bairn, and craved some sour
bakes; and she denying to give her any, the said Alison said,
your bairns shall beg yet, (as they do.) And her husband being
angry at her, reproved her; and she abused him in language; and
when he strak her, she said, that she should cause him rue it;
and she hoped to see the powarts bigg in his hair; and within
half a year he was casten away, and his boat, and perished.

9. Janet Sauders, daughter-in-law to the said William Coke and
Alison Dick, deponed, that William Coke came in to her, and she
being weeping, he demanded the cause of it, she answered, it was
for her husband. The said William said, What ails thee? Thou wilt
get thy gudman again, but ye will get him both naked and bare;
and whereas there was no word of him for a long time before, he
came home within two days thereafter, naked and bare as he said;
the ship wherein he was being casten away.

4, 10. Jean Adamson deponed, that when her gudman sailed with
David Robertson, the said David having sent him home with a ship
to come for Scotland, there was a long time that there was no
word of that ship; so that David Robertson coming home, and the
other ship not come, nor no word from her, he said he would never
see her. The said Alison Dick came in to her, (she with her
bairns being weeping), and said, What ails ye Jean to weep? She
answered, We have all good cause to weep for my husband, whom we
will never see more. The said Alison said, hold your tongue, your
gudman and all the company are well enough; they are in Norway
loading their ship with timber to come home, they will be here
shortly. And so it fell out in every point as she said.

5, 11. Kathrine Spens deponed, that William Coke came in to her,
after that his wife had spoken so much evil to him, and said,
Kathrine, my wife has spoken meikle ill of me this day, but I
said nothing to her again. If I had spoken two words to her the
last time she was in the steeple, she would never have gotten out
of it.

* * * * *

Minutes of 24th September, ordains Mr James Miller to ride to
Preston for the man that tries the witches. The expence to be
paid by the Town and Session.

_September 8th,_

12. Compeared Isobel Hay, spouse to Alexander Law, against Alison
Dick, who being sworn, deponed, that she having come in to her
house, her husband being newly sailed, she craved some money of
her, which she refused, and boasted her. The said Alison said, It
shall gang wair geats; and that same voyage, her husband had
great loss. And thereafter, the said Alison came in to her house,
she being furth, and took her sister by the hand, and since that
time, the maiden had never been in her right wits.

13. William Bervie declared, that Robert Whyt having once
stricken William Coke, Alison Dick his wife, came to the said
Robert, and said, Wherefore have ye stricken my husband? I shall
cause you rue it. The said Robert replying, What sayest thou? I
shall give you as much--you witch. She answered, 'Witches take
the wit and the grace from you;' and that same night, he was
bereft of his wits.

14. Janet Whyt, daughter to the said Robert, compearing, affirmed
the said dittay to be true upon her oath. And added, that she
went to the said Alison, and reproved her, laying the wyt of her
father's sickness upon her. Let him pay me then, and he will be
better; but if he pay me not, he will be worse; for there is none
that does me wrong, but I go to my god and complains upon them,
and within 24 hours I will get amends of them. The said Janet
Whyt declared, that Alison Dick said to her servant, Agnes
Fairlie, I have gotten a grip of your gudwife's thigh; I shall
get a grip of her leg next; the said Janet having burnt her thigh
before with lint: and thereafter she has taken such a pain in her
leg, that she can get no remedy for it. Whilk the said Agnes
Fairlie deponed upon her great oath to be true.

15. Alison Dick herself declared, that David Paterson, skipper,
having struck William Coke her husband, and drawn him by the
feet, and compelled him to bear his gear aboard, the said William
cursed the said David, and that voyage he was taken by the
Dunkirkers. Also, at another time thereafter, he compelled him to
bear his gear aboard, and a captain's who was with him, and when
the captain would have paid him, the said David would not suffer
him; but he himself gave him what he liked. The said William
cursed the said David very vehemently; and at that time he
himself perished, his ship, and all his company, except two or
three. Also she declared, that when his own son sailed in David
Whyt's ship, and gave not his father his bonnallie,[11] the said
William said, What? Is he sailed, and given me nothing? The devil
be with him; if ever he come home again, he shall come home naked
and bare; and so it fell out. For John Whyt, who had that ship
freighted to Norway, and another wherein himself was, declared,
that they had very foul weather; and the ship wherein the said
young William Coke was, perished; and he saved all the men in the
ship wherein he was himself. And albeit the storm increased two
days before the perishing of the said ship, and six days after,
yet the two hours space in which they were saving the men, it was
so calm in that part of the sea, that they rowed from one ship to
the other with two oars, and the sea was all troublesome about
them. And the said William Coke the younger, was the first man
that came a shipboard.

[11] His farewell cup.

* * * * *

_Paction._--The same day, Alison Dick being demanded by Mr James
Simson, minister, when, and how, she fell in covenant with the
devil? She answered, her husband mony times urged her, and she
yielded only two or three years since. The manner was thus--He
gave her, soul and body, quick and quidder full to the devil, and
bade her do so. But she in her heart said, God guide me. And then
she said to him, I shall do any thing that ye bid me: and so she
gave herself to the devil in the foresaid words.--This she
confessed about four hours at even, freely, without compulsion,
before Mr James Simson, minister, William Tennent, baillie,
Robert French, town-clerk, Mr John Malcolme, schoolmaster,
William Craig, and me, the said Mr James Miller, writer hereof.

_October 15th._

16. The which day, compeared Christian Ronaldson, against Alison
Dick, who, in her presence being sworn, deponed, that she having
set an house to the said Alison, and when the gudman came home he
was angry, and said, he would not have the devil to dwell above
him in the closs; and he went and struck up the door, and put
forth the chimney that she put in it. And thereafter, Alison came
to the said Christian, and chopped upon her shoulder, and said to
her, Christie, your gudman is going to sail, and he has ane stock
among his hands, but ere long, his stock shall be as short as
mine. And so it fell out, for he was casten away in David Whyt's
ship, and saved nothing.

_October 22d._

17. Compeared Merjory Marshall, against Alison Dick, who being
sworn, deponed, that Alison having brought her gudman's cloaths
once from the Castle-haven,[12] she offered her 12d for her
labour, who would not have it; and she said to her, Alison, there
is not many of them. She answered, they shall be fewer the next
time; and the next voyage he was cast away in David Whyt's ship.

[12] Probably Ravenscraig Castle, at the east end of Pathhead.
ED.

18. Compeared also Kathrine Wilson, who being sworn, deponed,
that she and Janet Whyt being sliding together, Alison Dick came
to them, and asked silver from Janet Whyt, who would give her
none, but fled her company into the said Kathrine's house, and
she followed, and she gave her a piece bread, and Janet Whyt bade
her give her a plack also, and she should pay her again. And when
she got it, she said, Is this all that she gives me? If she had
given me a groat, it would have vantaged her a thousand punds.
This is your doing, evil tidings come upon you. And she went down
the closs, and pissed at their meal-cellar door; and after that,
they had never meal in that cellar, (they being meal makers.) And
thereafter they bought a horse at 40 lib., and the horse never
carried a load to them but two, but died in the _batts, louping
to death_, so that every body said that he was witched.

_October 29th._

19. Euphen Boswell being sworn, deponed, that her gudman being to
sail to the East country, loaden with salt, the said Alison Dick
having born some of the salt aboard, she came to her and craved
money from her, who gave her meat, but would give her no money,
saying to her, Alison, my gudman has paid you himself, and
therefore, I will give you nothing. She replied, Will ye give me
nothing? I hope in God it will be better sharp (cheaper) sold nor
it was bought: and so it fell out, for the ship sailed upon the
morn, and the day after that, she sank, salt and all, except the
men, who were saved by another ship that was near by them.