A Collection of Rare and Curious Tracts on Witchcraft and the Second Sight Part 6

George Bennet, James Ca.s.silles 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 d.i.c.k 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 Mairsch.e.l.l 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 Mitch.e.l.l ther, prisoners in the tolbuith of Borrowstownes, are found guiltie be ane a.s.syse, 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 princ.i.p.al 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, p.r.i.c.kER.

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 b.u.t.t 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, delait.i.t 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 c.u.m 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 s.h.i.+llings. 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.