It was upon his accusation allennarly the minister and baillies imprisoned these poor women, and set a guard of drunken fellows about them, who by pinching and pricking some of them with pins and elsions, kept them from sleep for several days and nights together, the marks whereof were seen by severals a month thereafter. This cruel usage made some of them learn to be so wise as acknowledge every question that was asked them; whereby they found the minister and baillies well pleased, and themselves better treated.
Notwithstanding of all this, some of the more foolish continued, as the minister said, hardened in the devil's service, such as White, Jack, Wallace, Patrick, and others; all which, save the first, were ordered to the stocks, where they lay for several weeks.
All this while Patrick Morton's melancholly fancy (to give it no harsher term), being too much encouraged by severals, and particularly by the minister's reading to him the case of Barrgarran's daughter, continued roving after a wonderful manner, accusing for his tormentors some of the most considerable mens' wives in the town, but such as the minister and baillies durst not venture to imprison.—By this your Lordship may see, it was only the weakest that went to the walls.
My Lord Rothes, accompanied with several gentlemen of good sense and reputation, came to Pittenweem, where finding these poor womens' confessions no wise satisfying, and Patrick Morton a cheat, informed the privy council thereof, who sent an order to send Patrick over to them. This turn being given, and Patrick finding that things were not likely to go so favourably with him as he before fancied, began to draw to his breeches, and in a short time recovered his former health, in which he still continues. By this time the baillies began to be as earnest in emptying their prisons, as ever they were forward in filling them; so after a long and serious deliberation, they set them at liberty: but that their last step might be as illegal as their first, obliged each of them to pay the town-officer the sum of 8 lib. Scots; to pay which, some of them were forced to sell some linnen they had reserved for their dead shirts and wynding sheets.
I beg your Lordship's further patience a little to read these few following observations: Obs. 1st, The baillies and minister sent and brought several of these women from places without their jurisdiction—one from Anstruther, and another from the country at six miles distance.
Obs. 2d, What good could the minister propose to Patrick Morton by reading to him the book intituled the case of Barrgarran's daughter?
Obs. 3d, After so much injustice done to these poor women, the baillies and minister obliged them to pay the town-officer eight pound Scots, is worthy of your Lordship and the rest of the Lords of the privy council's considerations; and it would be the height of charity to fall on a method to oblige the minister and baillies to refound it seven-fold.
Obs. 4th, One Thomas Brown, the only man accused by Patrick Morton, and imprisoned by the minister and baillies, after a great deal of hunger and hardship, died in prison, so as this poor woman's murder was not the first, neither will it be the last, unless by severe punishments prevented.
Obs. 5th, The baillies in a manner justified these two murthers, by not allowing them Christian burial, but burying them like dogs, scarce covering them from the ravens.