Witchcraft in Aberdeen--Dean of Guild rewarded for his
Diligence in burning Witches--Trial of Thomas Leyis
for Witchcraft--Found Guilty--Expense of burning
Thomas Leyis--Expense of burning Janet Wischert and
Isobel Cocker--The Marquis of Huntly's Desire to
punish Witches--Action of the Presbytery anent
Witches--Helen Fraser--Man under the Protection of the
Fairy Queen--Janet Wischert causing a Man to melt away
like a Candle--Ruining a Man and his Wife--Margaret
Clark's Power--Strathdown Witches--Merry
Wives--Transforming Besoms into the Likeness of
Women--Riding on Brooms--Crossing the Spey in
Riddles--Disappearance of Witches--Madge M'Donald of
Tomintoul--Witches' Pool--A Mountain Tale--Girl
controlling the Elements--Witch Burned--Caithness
Witches--Margaret Olson, one of the Evil
Sisterhood--Investigation by the Sheriff--Margaret
Nin-Gilbert--Helen Andrew--Shetland Witches--An Orkney
Lady--Mary Lamont of Innerkip.
Judging from the number of persons burned for alleged supernatural
acts in Aberdeen--sometimes as many as twenty-three in a year--that
city must have been a hotbed of witches. To hunt down witches there,
and to bring them to the stake, met with general approval. Men in
public office, noble lords, ecclesiastics, and the common people
joined in the hunt, with results truly appalling. Under date 21st
September 1597, the provost, bailies, and council showed their
appreciation of the diligence of William Dunn in the discharge of his
duties as dean of guild; and "besides, of his extraordinary pains in
the burning of a great number of witches, and four pirates, and
bigging of the port on the brig of Dee."
They "theirfor, in recompens of his extraordinarie
panis, and in satisfaction theirof (not to induce any
preparative to deanes of guild to crave a recompence
heirafter), but to incurage ithers to travel also
diligentlie in the discharge of thair office, grantit
and assignit to him the sum of L47, 3s. 4d. owin be
him of the rest of his account of the unlawis of the
persons convict for slaying of black fische, and
dischargit him theirof be their presentis for ever."
Thomas Leyis, a stabler in Aberdeen, fell a victim to the over-zeal of
his fellow-citizens at this time, the chief of whom was, no doubt, the
indefatigable dean of guild. Leyis appeared before the Court of
Justiciary held in the tolbooth of Aberdeen, to answer to the
undermentioned charges:--
"Imprimis, upon Hallowein last bypast, at twelff
houris at even or thairby, thow, the said Thomas
Leyis, accompaneit with umquhil Janett Wischert,
Isobel Coker, Isobel Monteithe, Kathren Mitchell,
relict of umquhil Charles Dun, litster, sorceraris and
witches, with ane gryt number of ither witches, cam to
the mercat and fish cross of Aberdene, under the
conduct and gyding of the dewill, present with you all
in company, playing before you on his kynd of
instruments. Ye all dansit about baythe the said
crosse and the meill mercate ane lang space of tym; in
the quhilk dewill's dans thow, the said Thomas, was
foremost and led the ring, and dang the said Kathren
Mitchell, because she spoilt your dans, and ran nocht
sa fast about as the rest. Testifeit be the said
Kathren Mitchell, quha was present with thee at the
tym foresaid, dansin with the dewill.
"Secundus, the said Thomas Leyis is accusit as a
common notorious witche, in using of witchcraft and
sorcerie these dyvers years bygane.
"The haill assis, in ane voce for the maist pairt
(except thrie), convicts and fyllis Thomas Leyis in
the first poynt, that he was the ringleader of the
dans on Hallowein last night about the croce, and in
either speciall poynts, and as a notorious witche be
oppen voce and common fame." [Thomas was burned.]
The following figures show the expenses incurred in burning the said
unfortunate man:
"Item, for peattis, tar barrellis, fir, and coallis, to
burn the said Thomas, and to Jon Justice for
his fie in executing him L2 13 4"
EXPENSES OF BURNING JANET WISCHERT AND ISOBEL COCKER IN ABERDEEN:
"Item, for twenty loads of peattis to burn them L2 0 0
Item, for ane boll of coillis 1 4 0
Item, for four tar barrellis 1 6 8
Item, for fir and win barrellis 0 16 8
Item, for a staik, and dressing of it 0 16 0
Item, for four fadomes of towis 4 0 0
Item, for careing the peattis, coallis, and barrellis
to the hill 0 13 4
Item, to Jon Justice for their execution 0 13 4"
Another instance of the Aberdonian zeal for the punishment of witches
appears on 6th January 1603. A minute of the presbytery says:
"The quhilk day, anent the desyre of the Marques of
Huntlie desyring the presbyterie to tak tryell of the
witches, and consultares with them, and to send to his
Lordship the delatioun, with the names of sic as were
maist meitt to pass upon the assyse and tryell of
them. The presbyterie, for obedience heirto, ordanit
every minister within their precinct to tak ane
subtill and privie inquisition therein--viz. ilk
minister, with tua of his elderis that fearis God and
are maist zealous of his glorie, at ilk particular
kirk respective, tak the aithes of the inhabitants
within their charge, quhat they know of witches and
consultaris with them, and wreitt their depositions,
and return the same to the presbyterie, with the names
of sic as are metest to be assyssours to them, that
the same may be sent to the Marques with all hastie
expedition, conform to the desyre of his Lordship's
lettre, and his Lordship may charge them."
Helen Fraser, an Aberdeen witch, caused Robert Merchant, a married
man, to fall in love with Isobel Bruce, a widow--an unholy affection
that continued to the day Fraser was burned.
Andrew Man, an old Aberdonian, considered himself under the
protection of the fairy queen, who imparted to him a knowledge of all
things, and gave him the gift of healing every disease except one--the
"stand deid"--the nature of which is unknown to us. By putting a
patient nine times through a hank of unwashed yarn, and a cat as often
through it in the opposite direction, he cast the disease on the cat,
and thereby cured the invalid.
Janet Wischert, the expense of whose execution has been given, was a
prominent witch in the north. She caused a man to melt away like a
burning candle; she ruined a husband and his wife, by causing them to
put nine grains of wheat in the corners of their house; she raised a
wind, by putting a piece of live coal at two doors, whereby she was
enabled to winnow some corn for herself, when none of her neighbours
could winnow for want of wind.
Margaret Clark had the power of transferring pains from one person to
another. She gave a valuable charm to a widow in search of a second
husband. It was to be worn round her neck until she saw the man she
loved best. When she met him she was to rub her face with the
enchanted ornament, which would prove sufficient to induce the loved
one to return the affection. Of the success of this scheme there is
not sufficient proof; but there can be no doubt that, by means of
charms, she (Clark) made a cruel husband leave off beating his wife.
Clark was accustomed to attend a convention of twenty thousand
witches, presided over by Satan, at Athole.
Strathdown, a wild romantic place in the north Highlands of Scotland,
has long been celebrated for its witches, warlocks, ghosts, and
fairies. An excellent story is told of two witches in that strath, who
performed extraordinary feats through Satanic power.
An honest hard-working farmer there was constantly in great poverty.
His cattle died, his sheep were worried, his ploughs broken, and his
carts often overturned. Everything he did proved unprofitable. His
cows' milk was bewitched; the cream would not turn into butter, the
hens laid few eggs, and the chickens never throve. These misfortunes
happened because he and his wife disregarded the traditions of their
native country. How could they and theirs thrive? There was not an old
horse-shoe nailed to one of their doors; no rowan tree lay above
either door or window lintel; and the cattle were permitted to feed on
the hill-side, without red thread tied round their tails. In short,
the married couple lived as if no witches nor evil beings were among
the glens and mountains, and as if they did not require to evoke the
aid of the wise men and women in their parish.
The farmer had two neighbours, by no means noted for industry; still
they throve. Their wives were comely happy creatures, beloved by close
companions and friends. On one occasion, when the unfortunate farmer's
wife was complaining to the other two farmers' wives, they told her
that if she would take their advice she would become prosperous like
them. She consented to follow their counsel. The first thing the
witches did (for, as the sequel will show, they were witches deeply
learned in Satan's wicked ways) was to impose on the novice a vow of
secrecy; then to direct her, when going to bed, to take with her the
besom, and, when her husband was asleep, to rise and come to them,
leaving the besom beside him, and it would assume her appearance, so
that he could not miss her.
The poor man's wife, having done as directed, hurried out to join her
companions, whom she found ready to start on a journey. They had
torches to light them on their way, brooms to ride on through the air,
and riddles to ferry them over the rapid running Spey; for they had a
meeting that night, on the north side of this river, with kindred
spirits and the ruler of darkness. Every one of the three women
bestrode a broom, and away they went over mountain and glen. A few
minutes brought them to the Spey, where they alighted in safety. The
experienced witches at once launched their riddles to cross the water;
but the third woman hesitated to trust herself in the open
agricultural implement. Impatient at delay, her companions urged her
to follow them. Never did lover seem more anxious to meet lover than
those two witches were to join the beings on the other side, engaged
in mirth and revelry. At the foot of a mountain near by (on the top of
which the ancient inhabitants of the north used to worship the sun and
fire) orgies were being carried on, while the top seemed to be in
flames. Sweet music saluted the ear, and a savoury smell arose from a
huge table, on which were spread a thousand dishes. A tall man with
swarthy complexion, as if he had come from a warm clime, stood to
welcome all comers; and truly there were many hastening to the revel.
Women flew as swiftly as if they were crows, and crossed the river as
readily in their riddles as if they were mermaids. The novice became
greatly alarmed, and crossed herself repeatedly. Just as the wicked
witches reached the middle of the stream, she exclaimed, "Holy Mother,
confound them!" The words had scarcely escaped from her lips, before
the lights were extinguished and horrid yells of despair sounded far
and near.
Left alone in such a fearful place, the poor woman began to think what
she could do. Remembering her distance from home, she felt at first
inclined to bestride a broom and fly back; but second thoughts brought
to mind the fate of her two unfortunate companions, whom she believed
were drowned. Resolved to walk, or rather run, back to her abode
before morning dawn, she went forward over moorland wilds, staying
not, nor even looking behind, until she entered her own house and
barred the door. Husband and besom occupied the bed as on the previous
night. Removing the latter, she quietly took its place, but not to
sleep; for her nervous system had received a severe shock--indeed so
much so, that for more than a week she did not rise.
Meantime the two lost women were missed; and the inhabitants far and
near turned out to search for them. Every effort to discover them,
dead or alive, proved unsuccessful.
When ordinary efforts to find the women failed, the disconsolate
husbands sought the advice of Madge Macdonald, the wise woman of
Tomintoul. This important person told the husbands there was a person
not far away who could tell about the women's disappearance, and that
if she did not speak out, she (Madge Macdonald) would see what could
be done. Madge commenced muttering to herself, "East, west, south,
north; east, west, south, north." This she said several times, and
then followed a long pause. A new idea seemed to strike her; and she
abruptly asked the farmers if either or both missed any of their
besoms or riddles. They had not; but, search being made, sure enough,
each husband missed a besom and a riddle. "So I thought," said Madge
at their next interview; and then added, "Look for your wives in the
Spey." No time was lost in following the woman's advice. A search was
made from the source of the Spey to the ocean, without any trace of
the bodies being obtained; but, most extraordinary, the riddles were
found near the "Witches' Pool," a deep part of the river, known by
this name to the present day.
A startling mountain tale is given of a girl who could control the
elements by means of magical power. The story runs thus:--A little
girl, walking with her father on his land, heard him complain of
drought and want of rain. "Why, father," said the child, "I can make
it rain or hail when and where I list." He asked from whom she had
obtained such power. She replied, from her mother, who had forbidden
her to divulge the secret. In violation, however, of a solemn promise,
she said her mother had committed her to a master that did everything
she desired. "Why, then," said her father, "make it rain, but only on
one field." So she went to a stream, threw up water in her master's
name, and presently it rained. Proceeding further, she made it hail on
another field, when no hail fell elsewhere. Hereupon the father
accused his wife of witchcraft, caused her to be burned, and of new
had his child christened.
Witchcraft continued in all its phases in the first quarter of the
eighteenth century. In the year 1718 the Caithness witches were
particularly active. Margaret Olson, one of the evil sisterhood,
tormented William Montgomerie, a mason at Scrabster, and his family.
She became displeased at him in consequence of his coming into
possession of a property from which she had been expelled. To work out
her evil design, she and certain associates transformed themselves
into the form of cats. One night there appeared in Montgomerie's house
no fewer than eight cats, not mewing nor caterwauling, but speaking
with human voices. As this kind of annoyance could not be endured, the
mason boldly attacked them with a sword, and so seriously cut one of
the feline crew that it appeared to be dead. Mangled, and seemingly
lifeless, the carcass was cast into the open air. Next morning it
could not be seen. A few nights afterwards the cats or fiends appeared
again in full force, less one, and attacked a servant-man as he lay in
bed. Montgomerie rushed to the rescue, thrust a dirk through the body
of one of the intruders, beat it on the head with an axe, and threw
the dead-like cat out before the door, as he had done with its former
companion. Next day it could not be found. Rumour, with its thousand
tongues, spread the report that Margaret Nin-Gilbert, a confederate of
Olson, was one of the cats which had been seemingly killed. Proof was
adduced that one of Margaret's neighbours saw her at her own door drop
one of her legs, black and putrefied. The Sheriff-depute of
Caithness-shire ordered her to be apprehended, and, when judicially
interrogated, she confessed being the devil's servant. She also
admitted it was she who, in the similitude of a cat, had been thrust
through with a dirk and smashed by William Montgomerie. She did not
attempt to deny that the neighbour who saw her leg falling off spoke
the truth. She delated four women of evil repute, two of whom were
Margaret Olson and Helen Andrew, the latter being the witch cut with a
sword when appearing like a cat to Montgomerie. Poor Helen's injuries
proved fatal; for she died, when thrown out, like a lifeless
quadruped; and Nin-Gilbert soon followed her companion in sin to the
grave, her broken gangrened leg having brought about her demise.
Several years afterwards (1722), as seen in page 491, or, as Sheriff
Barclay says, in 1727, the law was for the last time put into
execution against a reputed witch in Great Britain, viz. in the county
of Sutherland, a northern shire of Scotland.
Dunrossness had a witch in the middle of the seventeenth century that
plagued the Shetlanders. A boat's crew having given her offence, she
determined to procure their untimely end. To accomplish her diabolical
purpose, she put a wooden cap into a tub of water, and then began to
sing (presumably to the devil), in order that a storm might be raised,
and the fishermen at sea drowned. As she sang, the water in the tub
became greatly troubled, and ultimately it was so exceedingly agitated
that the cap turned upside down. As the cap toppled over she
exclaimed, "The turn's done." A few hours afterwards, word reached
Dunrossness that the fishermen against whom she entertained the grudge
were drowned.
In the beginning of the seventeenth century a cunning woman in
Shetland succeeded, through diabolical art, in transferring a sore
disease, which afflicted her husband, to the body of a neighbour.
An old Orkney lady removed diseases by pulling mill-foil in a
particular way, repeating a few Latin words--sometimes benedictions,
but more frequently maledictions--and performing certain mysterious
operations at the marches of two estates.
Mary Lamont, eighteen years of age, residing at Innerkip in the year
1662, had power, like the girl mentioned in page 535, to control the
elements. She could raise storms, and, if a tempest was desired in the
Clyde or at sea, she only required to throw small charmed stones into
the flowing tide. Then there were plenty of ships lost and men
drowned. She and her diabolical companions not unfrequently made their
power felt at Campbeltown, now famous for its whisky, and at the Mull
of Kintyre, where many a sailor has perished on its dangerous shore,
amidst the raging of the sea and roaring of the storm.