The Records of the Parliaments of Scotland to 1707, K.M. Brown et al eds (St Andrews, 2007-2021), date accessed: 28 May 2021

• Charles II: Translation

•  

•  >  1661, 1 January, Edinburgh, Parliament

•  

•  >  Parliamentary Register

•  

•  >  At Edinburgh 3 May 1661

                                                                                                                                                                                                                  [1661/1/248]1

Procedure: commissions for judging witchcraft

Commissions anent witches

​

For as much as Helen Gibson and Christian Blaikie have confessed the abominable crime of witchcraft in entering into paction with the devil, renouncing their baptism and many other ways, as their depositions under the hands of Mr Patrick Cook, minister, William Roberton, bailie, John Hamilton, bailie, John Clerk, Robert Drummond and Hector Wood, elders of the parish of Salt Preston, bears and it being necessary that the kingdom be purged of such vile sin and justice administered upon the offenders; therefore, the king's majesty, with advice and consent of the estates of parliament, gives full power and commission to Robert Cockburn of Butterdean, John Hamilton of Fa'side, John MacMorran in Preston, George Hepburn of Addiston, Ninian Henderson in Preston, Ninian Reid, there, William Roberton, bailie there, John Hamilton, bailie there, Mr Andrew Rutherford, schoolmaster in the Pans, Mr James Oswald, there, Thomas Home and Alexander Henderson, bailies there, or any five of them, to meet at such times and places as they shall think fit and there to fix and hold courts, call suits, fine absentees and uplift unlaws and fines, to create clerks, serjeants, dempsters and all other officers and members of court needful, and in the said courts to call the said Helen Gibson and Christian Blaikie and to put them to the trial and knowledge of an assize and, if they shall be found guilty, to cause justice to be administered and executed upon them conforming to the laws of the kingdom, and to do all other things which to the execution of this commission by the law and consuetude of the kingdom does appertain, and whereas Margaret Butler, Margaret Auchmuty and Margaret Hall are suspected and accused of being guilty of witchcraft, with power to the said commissioners or quorum thereof, as said is, to secure them and such others as are or shall be accused of being guilty and to examine them and use all fair means for their trial and bringing of them to a confession of their sins, and that with all conveniency they make report to the parliament, and in case of their not sitting to his majesty's privy council, of their proceedings and trial foresaid.

​

The like commission given against Janet Mason and Margaret Barclay (the depositions being attested by Mr. Robert Kerr, minister at Haddington) to Patrick Brown of Colstoun, Mr Alexander Hay of Baro, Mr John Butler of Kirkland, Mr. John Dougall of Nunland, Mr. Richard Cairnes of Pilmuir, Patrick Young, late bailie of Haddington, Alexander Swinton, late bailie there, and David Kyle, bailie there, or any five of them, and also for securing and taking a trial of Elizabeth Crawford, Agnes Cuthbertson, Janet Home, Christine Waderston, Janet Wilson, Catherine Copland, and Isobel Kerr.

​

The like commission against Robert Crawford in Fisherrow, Helen Cass and Bessie Doughty, there, to Sir William Murray of Newton, Sir James Richardson of Smeaton, Robert Dobie of Stoneyhill, Mr John Preston, Major John Biggar, William Rigg of Carberry, John Jossie of Westpans, Thomas Smyth, Robert Ramage, and the bailies of Musselburgh, or any five of them, the bailies being always two of the number, the depositions attested by Mr Oliver Colt, minister, Robert Strachan and Robert Douglas, bailies of Musselburgh.

​

​

Procedure: continuation

The lord commissioner continues the parliament until Monday at 11 o'clock, and all summons as above.

1. NAS. PA2/26, 291-292.