Helen Lawson being called, declared, that a long time ago, Agnes Currie broke three several bannocks, and gave her a piece of every one, but she would not take the third piece; and adds, that she is ready to swear it.
Elspeth Williamson being brought in, and interrogate if she was a witch, she answered, that she would not deny that.
N. B.—Lillias Adie was buried within the seamark at Torryburn.[16]
William Cose being called, compeared, and owned, that on Sabbath morning, anno 1704, it being moon-light, he saw Bessie Micklejohn, or the devil in her stead, in James Chalmers's bark, then lying in Leith, and he doubts not but she saw him; and adds, that she had a green plaid about her head, as he offered to depone. The session considering that the devil appeared in her likeness, it was no proof against her, they judged it not necessary to regard that matter, and thought William Cose should not be troubled, it appearing he had not spoken it from malice, nor accused her of witchcraft formerly.
March 30th, 1709.
Margaret Humble called, declared, that Helen Key said, that when she heard Mr Logan[17] speak against the witches, she thought that he was daft, and she had up her stool to go out of the kirk: Also declared, that Helen Key threatened to strike Mary Neilson.
Jean Pearson declared, that she heard Helen Key say, that she would strike Mary Neilson. The said Helen Key confessed what all the witnesses declared.
As to the affair of Helen Key, Mary Neilson called, declared, that she heard Helen Key say, that she thought Mr Logan was not wise when he was speaking against the witches; and she had one unseemly expression that is not decent to be put on the records; and when Margaret Humble rebuked her, she answered, it was not Margaret Humble's part to speak in Mr Logan's favours, but she would not express what Mr. Logan said of Margaret Humble to her.
The session having found her convicted of prophane irreverent language against the minister and his doctrine, without any shadow of provocation, and of gross lying and prevaricating, both in private and before the session, and of threatening to strike a person because she had reported her impudent, Godless, and scandalous language,—therefore, they appoint her to sit before the congregation the next Lord's day, and to be rebuked after the afternoon's sermon.