The Quenis Majestie and thre Estatis in this present parliment being informit that the havy, abominabill superstitioun usit be divers of the leigis of this Realme be using of witchcraftis, sorsarie ans necromancie, and credence gevin thairto in tymes bygane aganis the Law of God; and for avoyding and away putting of all sic vane superstitioun in tymes tocum. it is statute and ordainit be the quenis ajestie and thre Estatis fairsidis that na maner of persounis of quhatsumver estate, degre, or conditiounthay be of tak upone hand in ony tumes heirinafter to use ony maner of witchcraftis, sorcarie, or necromanciue, nor gif thame selfis futh to have ony sic craft or knaeledge thairof,thairthrow abusand the pepill; nor that na persoun seik ony help, response, or consultation at ony sic usaris (or abusaris) foirsaidis of withchcraftis, sorcareis or necromancie, under the pane of dead, asweill to be execute aganis the user abusar of the response or consultatioun
Newes from Scotland. Declaring the damnable Life of Doctor Fian a notable Sorcerer, who was burned at Edenbrough in Ianuarie last. 1591.
Which Doctor was regifter to the devill, that fundrie times preached at North Baricke Kirke, to a number of notorious Witches
With the true examinations of the faid doctor and witches,as they uttered them in the prefence of the Scottish King.
Difcouering how they pretended to bewitch and drowne his Maieftie in the fea comming from Denmarke, with fuch other wonderfull matters as the like hath not bin heard at anie time.
Publifhed according to the Scottify copfe.
Printed by William Wright
In Scotland witches were not tried by any judge or jury, the Church took this role of persecuting the witches throughout the country. Once a person was charged with being a witch there was virtually no chance of them being acquitted
The most celebrated Scottish witch was Isobel Gowdie whose confession provided a detailed insight into the witch.
The Aberdeen witchcraft trials were as a result of public alarm. The accused were Janet Wishart, Isobel Cockie, Margaret Ogg, Helen Rogie, Isobel Strachan, Isobel Ritchie and Isobel Ogg were all accused of witchcraft. Each was suppose to have murdered by using magic or taken body parts from a corpse or poisoning meat or making waxen images or raising storms.
When Janet Wishart and Isobel Cockie were strangled and burnt in 1597 the cost included, Twenty loads of Peat. Forty Shillings,Coals Twenty three shillings,Tar barrels Twenty six shillings,Fire and Iron Barrels,Sixteen shillings and eightpence, Rope, four shillings, Carraige to place of execution,Thirteen shillings and fourpence,Exucutioners pay, Thirteen shillings and fourpence. Stake for Burning, sixteen shillings
At the end of the proceedings no fewer than 23 women and 1 man were found guilty of witchcraft. They were tied to stakes, strangled by the executioner then burned to ashes. Others committed suicide rather than face the Stake The bodies of those that killed themselves were dragged through the streets . Those who were not proven were branded on the cheek and banished.
The North Berwick witches trial was one of the most notorious as it signalled the beginning of the witchcraft hysteria. The Case started when the deputy bailiff David Seaton became suspicious of the goings on of one of his servants Gilly Duncan. She admiited cooperating fully that she had been present at sabbats and gave a long list of accomplices such as Dr John Fian, Agnes Sampson, Euphemia Maclean and Barbara Napier. Agnes remained steadfast that she was not a witch but under after a long torture admitted to all charges.
At first the king was reluctant to find them guilty of witchcraft as he believed they were not telling the truth, but later after Agnes whispered to him the exact words that he had said as his wedding vows. As a result of this he was determined to find them guilty. At the conclusion of the trial John Fian, Agnes Sampson and Euphemia MacLean were all burned alive. Barbara Napier pleaded pregnancy and so was let free.
ThePittenweem witches trial was as a result of a man named Patrick Morton who claimed that he had witchcraft used against him because he had told one Beatrix Laing he was unable to do a job for her. She was suppose to have taken revenge against him with three other accomplices Mrs Lawson, Janet Cornfoot and Isobel Adam. Each of them was subjected to torture to extract a confession out of them. They did confess but when more enlightened authorities intervened they were allowed to pay a fine such as Beatrix Laing did and so in turn did Isobel Adam. Janet Cornfoot escaped and was beaten and tortured to death.
Eventually Patrick Morton was exposed as a fraud which brought much shame to the authorities and officials.
