Sea_ comming from Denmark with such _other wonderfull matters as the like
hath not been heard of at any time_.
Published according to the Scottish Coppie.
AT LONDON
Printed for William _Wright_.
[Illustration: Country Scene]
To the Reader.
The Manifolde vntruthes which is spread abroade, concerning the detestable
actions and apprehension of those Witches wherof this Historye following
truely entreateth, hath caused me to publish the same in print: and the
rather for that sundrie written Copies are lately dispersed therof,
containing, that the said witches were first discouered, by meanes of a
poore Pedler trauailing to the towne of _Trenent_, and that by a
wonderfull manner he was in a moment conuayed at midnight, from _Scotland_
to _Burdeux_ in _Fraunce_ (beeing places of no small distance between)
into a Marchants Seller there, & after, being sent from _Burdeux_ into
_Scotland_ by certaine Scottish Marchants to the Kinges Maiestie, that he
discouered those Witches and was the cause of their apprehension: with a
number of matters miraculous and incredible: All which in truthe are moste
false. Neuertheles to satisfie a number of honest mindes, who are desirous
to be enformed of the veritie and trueth of their confessions, which for
certaintie is more stranger then the common reporte runneth, and yet with
more trueth I haue undertaken to publish this short Treatise, which
declareth the true discourse of all that hath hapned, & aswell what was
pretended by those wicked and detestable Witches against the Kinges
Maiestie, as also by what meanes they wrought the same.
All which examinations (gentle Reader) I haue heere truelye published, as
they were taken and uttered in the presence of the Kings Maiestie, praying
thee to accept it for veritie, the same beeing so true as cannot be
reproued.
Discourse.
A true discourse, of the apprehension of sundrye Witches lately taken in
Scotland, some are executed, and some are yet imprisoned.
With a particuler recitall of their examinations, taken in the presence of
the Kinges Maiestie.
God by his omnipotent power, hath at al times and daily doth take such
care, and is so vigillant, for the weale and preseruation of his owne,
that thereby he disapointeth the wicked practises and euil intents of all
such as by any meanes whatsoeuer, seeke indirectly to conspire any thing
contrary to his holy will: yea and by the same power, he hath lately
ouerthrown and hindered the intentions and wicked dealinges of a great
number of vngodly creatures, no better then Diuels: who suffering
themselues to be allured and inticed by the Diuell whom they serued, and
to whome they were priuatelye sworne: entered into the detestable Art of
witchcraft, which they studied and practised so long time, that in the end
they had seduced by their sorcery a number of other to be as bad as
themselues: dwelling in the boundes of _Lowthian_, which is a principall
shire or parte of _Scotland_, where the Kings Maiestie vseth to make his
cheefest residence or abode: and to the end that their detestable
wickednes which they priuilye had pretended against the Kings Maiestie,
the Common-weale of that Country, with the Nobilitie and subjects of the
same, should come to light: God of his vnspeakeable goodnes did reueale
and lay it open in very strange sorte, therby to make knowne vnto the
worlde, that there actions were contrarye to the lawe of God, and the
naturall affection which we ought generallye to beare one to another: the
manner of the reuealing wherof was as followeth.
Within the towne of _Trenent_ in the Kingdome of _Scotland_, there
dwelleth one _Dauid Seaton_, who being deputie Bailiffe in the saide
Towne, had a maide seruant called _Geillis Duncane_, who vsed secretly to
be absent and to lye foorth of her Maisters house euery other night: this
_Geillis Duncane_ took in hand to help all such as were troubled or
greeued with any kinde of sicknes or infirmitie: and in short space did
perfourme manye matters most miraculous, which thinges forasmuch as she
began to doe them vpon a sodaine, hauing neuer doon the like before, made
her Maister and others to be in great admiracion, and wondred thereat: by
meanes wherof the saide _Dauid Seaton_ had his maide in some great
suspition, that she did not those things by naturall and lawfull wayes,
but rather supposed it to be doone by some extraordinary and vnlawfull
meanes.
Whervpon, her Maister began to growe very inquisitiue, and examined her
which way and by what meanes she were able to perfourme matters of so
great importance: whereat she gaue him no answere, neuerthelesse, her
Maister to the intent that he might the better trye and finde out the
trueth of the same, did with the helpe of others, torment her with the
torture of the Pilliwinckes vpon her fingers, which is a greeuous torture,
and binding or wrinching her head with a corde or roape, which is a most
cruell torment also, yet would she not confesse any thing, whereupon they
suspecting that she had beene marked by the Diuell (as commonly witches
are) made dilligent search about her, and found the enemies marke to be in
her fore crag or foreparte of her throate: which being found, she
confessed that all her dooings was doone by the wicked allurements and
inticements of the Diuell, and that she did them by witchcraft.
[Illustration: Examination of several witches]
After this her confession, she was committed to prison, where she
continued for a season, where immediatly she accused these persons
following to be notorious witches, and caused them foorthwith to be
apprehended one after an other, vidz. _Agnis Sampson_ the eldest Witch of
them al, dwelling in Haddington, _Agnes Tompson_ of Edenbrough, Doctor
_Fian_, _alias Iohn Cunningham_, maister of the Schoole at Saltpans in
Lowthian, of whose life and strange actes, you shall heare more largely in
the ende of this discourse: these were by the saide _Geillis Duncane_
accused, as also _George Motts_ wife dwelling in Saltpans, _Robert
Griersonn_ skipper, and _Iennit Bandilandis_, with the Porters wife of
Seaton, the Smith at the brigge Hallis with innumerable others in that
partes, and dwelling in those bounds aforesaide: of whom some are alreadye
executed, the rest remaine in prison, to receiue the doome of Iudgement at
the Kings maiesties will and pleasure.
The said _Geillis Duncane_ also caused _Ewphame Meealrean_ to be
apprehended, who conspired and perfourmed the death of her Godfather, and
who vsed her art vpon a gentleman being one of the Lords and Iustices of
the Session, for bearing good will to her Daughter: she also caused to be
apprehended one _Barbara Naper_, for bewitching to death _Archibalde_,
last Earle of Angus, who languished to death by witchcraft and yet the
same was not suspected, but that he died of so strange a disease, as the
Phisition knew not how to cure or remedy the same: but of all other the
saide witches, these two last before recited, were reputed for as ciuill
honest women as any that dwelled within the Citie of Edenbrough, before
they were apprehended. Many other besides were taken dwelling in Lieth,
who are detayned in prison, vntill his Maiesties further will and pleasure
be known: of whose wicked dooings you shall particularly heare, which was
as followeth.
This aforeaside _Agnis Sampson_ which was the elder Witch, was taken and
brought to Haliciud house before the Kings Maiestie and sundry other of
the nobility of Scotland, where she was straitly examined, but all the
perswasions which the Kings maiestie vsed to her with the rest of his
counsell, might not prouoke or induce her to confesse any thing, but stood
stiffely in the deniall of all that was laide to her charge: whervpon they
caused her to be conueied awaye to prison, there to receiue such torture
as hath been lately prouided for witches in that country: and forasmuch as
by due examination of witchcraft and witches in Scotland, it hath latelye
beene found that the Deuill dooth generallye marke them with a priuie
marke, by reason the Witches haue confessed themselues, that the Diuell
dooth lick them with his tung in some priuy part of their bodie, before
hee dooth receiue them to be his seruants, which marke commonly is giuen
them vnder the haire in some part of their bodye, wherby it may not easily
be found out or scene, although they be searched: and generally so long as
the marke is not seene to those which search them, so long the parties
that hath the marke will neuer confesse any thing. Therfore by special
commaundement this _Agnis Sampson_ had all her haire shauen of, in each
parte of her bodie, and her head thrawen with a rope according to the
custome of that Countrye, beeing a paine most greeuous, which she
continued almost an hower, during which time she would not confesse any
thing vntill the Diuels marke was found vpon her priuities, then she
immediatlye confessed whatsoeuer was demaunded of her, and iustifying
those persons aforesaid to be notorious witches.
Item, the saide _Agnis Tompson_ was after brought againe before the Kings
Maiestie and his Counsell, and being examined of the meetings and
detestable dealings of those witches, she confessed that vpon the night of
_Allhollon_ Euen last, she was accompanied aswell with the persons
aforesaide, as also with a great many other witches, to the number of two
hundreth: and that all they together went by Sea each one in a Riddle or
Ciue, and went in the same very substantially with Flaggons of wine making
merrie and drinking by the waye in the same Riddles or Ciues, to the Kerke
of North Barrick in Lowthian, and that after they had landed, tooke handes
on the land and daunced this reill or short daunce, singing all with one
voice.
_Commer goe ye before, commer goe ye,_
_If ye will not goe before, commer let me._
At which time she confessed, that this _Geilles Duncane_ did goe before
them playing this reill or daunce vpon a small Trump, called a Iewes
Trump, vntill they entred into the Kerk of north Barrick.
These confessions made the King in a woderful admiration, and sent for the
said _Geillis Duncane_, who vpon the like Trump did playe the said daunce
before the Kings Maiestie, who in respect of the strangenes of these
matters, tooke great delight to bee present at their examinations.
Item, the said _Agnis Tompson_ confessed that the Diuell being then at
North Barrick Kerke attending their comming in the habit or likenes of a
man, and seeing that they tarried ouer long, he at their comming enioyned
them all to a pennance, which was, that they should kisse his Buttockes,
in signe of duetye to him: which being put ouer the Pulpit barre, euerye
one did as he had enioyned them: and hauing made his vngodly exhortations,
wherein he did greatlye enveighe against the King of Scotland, he receiued
their oathes for their good and true seruice towards him, and departed:
which doone, they returned to Sea, and so home againe.
At which time the witches demaunded of the Diuel why he did beare such
hatred to the King, who answered, by reason the King is the greatest enemy
he hath in the worlde: all which their confessions and depositions are
still extant vpon record.
Item, the saide _Agnis Sampson_ confessed before the Kings Maiestie
sundrye thinges which were so miraculous and strange, as that his Maiestie
saide they were all extreame lyars, wherat she answered, she would not
wishe his Maiestie to suppose her woords to be false, but rather to
beleeue them, in that she would discouer such matter vnto him as his
maiestie should not any way doubt off.
And therupon taking his Maiestie a little aside, she declared vnto him the
verye woordes which passed betweene the Kings Maiestie and his Queene at
Vpslo in Norway the first night of their mariage, with their answere eache
to other: whereat the Kinges Maiestie wondered greatlye, and swore by the
liuing God, that he beleeued that all the Diuels in hell could not haue
discouered the same: acknowledging her woords to be most true, and
therefore gaue the more credit to the rest which is before declared.
Touching this _Agnis Tompson_, she is the onlye woman, who by the Diuels
perswasion should haue entended and put in execution the Kings Maiesties
death in this manner.
She confessed that she tooke a blacke Toade, and did hang the same vp by
the heeles, three daies, and collected and gathered the venome as it
dropped and fell from it in an Oister shell, and kept the same venome
close couered, vntill she should obtaine any parte or peece of foule
linnen cloth, that had appertained to the Kings Maiestie, as shirt,
handkercher, napkin or any other thing which she practised to obtaine by
meanes of one _Iohn Kers_, who being attendant in his Maiesties Chamber,
desired him for olde acquaintance betweene them, to helpe her to one or a
peece of such a cloth as is aforesaide, which thing the said _Iohn Kers_
denyed to helpe her too, saying he could not help her too it.
And the said _Agnis Tompson_ by her depositions since her apprehension
saith, that if she had obtained any one peece of linnen cloth which the
King had worne and fouled, she had bewitched him to death, and put him to
such extraordinary paines, as if he had beene lying vpon sharp thornes and
endes of Needles.
Moreouer she confessed that at the time when his Maiestie was in Denmarke,
she being accompanied with the parties before specially named, tooke a Cat
and christened it, and afterward bound to each parte of that Cat, the
cheefest partes of a dead man, and seuerall ioynts of his bodie, and that
in the night following the saide Cat was conueied into the midst of the
sea by all these witches sayling in their riddles or Ciues as is
aforesaide, and so left the saide Cat right before the Towne of Lieth in
Scotland: this doone, there did arise such a tempest in the Sea, as a
greater hath not beene seene: which tempest was the cause of the
perrishing of a Boate or vessell comming ouer from the towne of Brunt
Iland to the towne of Lieth, wherein was sundrye Iewelles and riche
giftes, which should haue been presented to the now Queen of Scotland, at
her Maiesties comming to Lieth.
Againe it is confessed, that the said christened Cat was the cause that
the Kinges Maiesties Ship at his comming foorth of Denmarke, had a
contrary winde to the rest of his Ships, then being in his companye, which
thing was most strange and true, as the Kings Maiestie acknowledgeth, for
when the rest of the Shippes had a faire and good winde, then was the
winde contrarye and altogither against his Maiestie: and further the saide
witche declared, that his Maiestie had neuer come safelye from the Sea, if
his faith had not preuailed aboue their ententions.
Moreouer the said Witches being demaunded how the Diuell would vse them
when he was in their company, they confessed that when the Diuell did
receiue them for his seruants, and that they had vowed themselues vnto
him, then he would Carnallye vse them, albeit to their little pleasure, in
respect of his colde nature: and would doo the like at sundry other times.
As touching the aforesaide Doctor _Fian, alias Iohn Cunningham_, the
examination of his actes since his apprehension, declareth the great
subtiltye of the diuell, and therfore maketh thinges to appeere the more
miraculous: for being apprehended by the accusation of the saide _Geillis
Duncane_ aforesaide, who confessed he was their Regester, and that there
was not one man suffered to come to the Diuels readinges but onlye he: the
saide Doctor was taken and imprisoned, and vsed with the accustomed paine,
prouided for those offences, inflicted vpon the rest as is aforesaide.
First by thrawing of his head with a roape, wherat he would confesse
nothing.
Secondly, he was perswaded by faire means to confesse his follies, but
that would preuaile as little.
Lastly he was put to the most seuere and cruell paine in the world, called
the bootes, who after he had receiued three strokes, being enquired if he
would confesse his damnable acts and wicked life, his tung would not serue
him to speak, in respect wherof the rest of the witches willed to search
his tung, vnder which was found two pinnes thrust vp into the head,
whereupon the witches did laye, _Now is the Charme stinted_, and shewed
that those charmed Pinnes were the cause he could not confesse any thing:
then was he immediatly released of the bootes, brought before the King,
his confession was taken, and his owne hand willingly set ther-vnto, which
contained as followeth.
First, that at the generall meetinges of those witches, hee was alwayes
preasent: that he was Clarke to all those that were in subiection to the
Diuels seruice, bearing the name of witches, that alwaye he did take their
othes for their true seruice to the Diuell, and that he wrot for them such
matters as the Diuell still pleased to commaund him.
Item, he confessed that by his witchcrafte he did bewitch a Gentleman
dwelling neere to the Saltpans, where the said Doctor kept Schoole, onely
for being enamoured of a Gentlewoman whome he loued himselfe: by meanes of
which his Sorcerye, witchcraft and diuelish practises, he caused the said
Gentleman that once in xxiiij. howres he fell into a lunacie and madnes,
and so continued one whole hower together, and for the veritie of the
same, he caused the Gentleman to be brought before the Kinges Maiestie,
which was vpon the xxiiij. day of December last, and being in his
Maiesties Chamber, suddenly he gaue a great scritch and fell into a
madnes, sometime bending himselfe, and sometime capring so directly vp,
that his head did touch the seeling of the Chamber, to the great
admiration of his Maiestie and others then present: so that all the
Gentlemen in the Chamber were not able to holde him, vntill they called in
more helpe, who together bound him hand and foot: and suffering the said
gentleman to lye still vntill his furye were past, he within an hower came
againe to himselfe, when being demaunded of the Kings Maiestie what he saw
or did all that while, answered that he had been in a sound sleepe.
Item the said Doctor did also confesse that he had vsed means sundry times
to obtain his purpose and wicked intent of the same Gentlewoman, and
seeing himselfe disapointed of his intention, he determined by all waies
he might to obtaine the same, trusting by coniuring, witchcraft and
Sorcery to obtaine it in this manner.
It happened this gentlewoman being vnmaried, had a brother who went to
schoole with the said Doctor, and calling his Scholler to him, demaunded
if he did lye with his sister, who answered he did, by meanes wherof he
thought to obtaine his purpose, and therefore secretlye promised to teach
him without stripes, so he would obtain for him three haires of his
sisters priuities, at such time as he should spye best occasion for it:
which the youth promised faithfullye to perfourme, and vowed speedily to
put it in practise, taking a peece of coniured paper of his maister to
lappe them in when he had gotten them: and therevpon the boye practised
nightlye to obtaine his maisters purpose, especially when his sister was a
sleepe.
But God who knoweth the secrets of all harts, and reuealeth all wicked and
vngodlye practises, would not suffer the intents of this diuilish Doctor
to come to that purpose which he supposed it would, and therefore to
declare that he was heauilye offended with his wicked entent, did so
woorke by the Gentlewomans owne meanes, that in the ende the same was
discouered and brought to light: for she being one night a sleepe, and her
brother in bed with her, suddenlye cryed out to her mother, declaring that
her Brother would not suffer her to sleepe, wherevpon her mother hauing a
quick capacitie, did vehemently suspect Doctor _Fians_ entention, by
reason she was a witche of her selfe, and therefore presently arose, and
was very inquisitiue of the boy to vnderstand his intent, and the better
to know the same, did beat him with sundry stripes, wherby he discouered
the trueth vnto her.
The Mother therefore being well practised in witchcrafte, did thinke it
most conuenient to meete with the Doctor in his owne Arte, and therevpon
tooke the paper from the boy, wherein hee should haue put the same haires,
and went to a young Heyfer which neuer had borne Calfe nor gone to the
Bull, and with a paire of sheeres, clipped off three haires from the vdder
of the Cow, and wrapt them in the same paper, which she againe deliuered
to the boy, then willing him to giue the same to his saide Maister, which
he immediatly did.
The Schoolemaister so soone as he had receiued them, thinking them indeede
to bee the Maides haires, went straight and wrought his arte vpon them:
But the Doctor had no sooner doone his intent to them, but presentlye the
Hayfer or Cow whose haires they were indeed, came vnto the doore of the
Church wherein the Schoolemaister was, into the which the Hayfer went, and
made towards the Schoolemaister, leaping and dauncing vpon him, and
following him foorth of the church and to what place so euer he went, to
the great admiration of all the townes men of Saltpans, and many other who
did beholde the same.
The reporte whereof made all men imagine that hee did woorke it by the
Diuell, without whom it could neuer haue beene so sufficientlye effected:
and thervpon, the name of the said Doctor _Fian_ (who was but a very yong
man) began to grow so common among the people of Scotland, that he was
secretlye nominated for a notable Cuniurer.
[Illustration: Country scene with cattle and church]
All which although in the beginning he denied, and would not confesse, yet
hauing felt the pain of the bootes (and the charme stinted, as aforesayd)
he confessed all the aforesaid to be most true, without producing anie
witnesses to iustifie the same, & thervpon before the kings maiesty he
subscribed the sayd confessions with his owne hande, which for truth
remaineth vpon record in _Scotland_.
After that the depositions and examinations of the sayd doctor _Fian Alias
Cuningham_ was taken, as alreadie is declared, with his owne hand
willingly set therevnto, hee was by the master of the prison committed to
ward, and appointed to a chamber by himselfe, where forsaking his wicked
wayes, acknowledging his most vngodly lyfe, shewing that he had too much
folowed the allurements and entisements of Sathan, and fondly practised
his conclusions by coniuring, witchcraft, inchantment, sorcerie, and such
like, hee renounced the deuill and all his wicked workes, vowed to leade
the life of a Christian, and seemed newly connected towards God.
The morrow after vpon conference had with him, he granted that the deuill
had appeared vnto him in the night before, appareled all in blacke, with a
white wand in his hande, and that the deuill demaunded of him if hee would
continue his faithfull seruice, according to his first oath and promise
made to that effect. Whome (as hee then sayd) he vtterly renounced to his
face, and sayde vnto him in this manner, _Auoide Satan, auoide_, for I
haue listned too much vnto thee, and by the same thou hast vndone mee, in
respect whereof I vtterly forsake thee. To whome the deuill answered,
_That once ere thou die thou shall bee mine_. And with that (as he sayde)
the deuill brake the white wande, and immediatly vanished foorth of his
sight.
Thus all the daie this Doctor Fian continued verie solitarie, and seemed
to haue care of his owne soule, and would call vppon God, shewing himselfe
penitent for his wicked life, neuerthelesse the same night hee founde such
meanes, that hee stole the key of the prison doore and chamber in the
which he was, which in the night hee opened and fled awaie to the Salt
pans, where hee was alwayes resident, and first apprehended. Of whose
sodaine departure when the Kings maiestie had intelligence, hee presently
commanded diligent inquirie to bee made for his apprehension, and for the
better effecting thereof, hee sent publike proclamations into all partes
of his lande to the same effect. By meanes of whose hot and harde
pursuite, he was agayn taken and brought to prison, and then being called
before the kings highnes, hee was reexamined as well touching his
departure, as also touching all that had before happened.