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.