James Burn of Clerkstoun,
James Monteth of Myln-hall,
Alex. Whyte in Hill,
Patrick Ballanden of Parkend,
John Mairschell 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 Mitchell ther, prisoners in the tolbuith of Borrowstownes, are found guiltie be ane assyse, 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 principal 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!!!