Whervpon, her Maister began to growe very inquisitiue, and examined her
which way and by what meanes she were able to perfourme matters of so
great importance: whereat she gaue him no answere, neuerthelesse, her
Maister to the intent that he might the better trye and finde out the
trueth of the same, did with the helpe of others, torment her with the
torture of the Pilliwinckes vpon her fingers, which is a greeuous torture,
and binding or wrinching her head with a corde or roape, which is a most
cruell torment also, yet would she not confesse any thing, whereupon they
suspecting that she had beene marked by the Diuell (as commonly witches
are) made dilligent search about her, and found the enemies marke to be in
her fore crag or foreparte of her throate: which being found, she
confessed that all her dooings was doone by the wicked allurements and
inticements of the Diuell, and that she did them by witchcraft.
[Illustration: Examination of several witches]
After this her confession, she was committed to prison, where she
continued for a season, where immediatly she accused these persons
following to be notorious witches, and caused them foorthwith to be
apprehended one after an other, vidz. _Agnis Sampson_ the eldest Witch of
them al, dwelling in Haddington, _Agnes Tompson_ of Edenbrough, Doctor
_Fian_, _alias Iohn Cunningham_, maister of the Schoole at Saltpans in
Lowthian, of whose life and strange actes, you shall heare more largely in
the ende of this discourse: these were by the saide _Geillis Duncane_
accused, as also _George Motts_ wife dwelling in Saltpans, _Robert
Griersonn_ skipper, and _Iennit Bandilandis_, with the Porters wife of
Seaton, the Smith at the brigge Hallis with innumerable others in that
partes, and dwelling in those bounds aforesaide: of whom some are alreadye
executed, the rest remaine in prison, to receiue the doome of Iudgement at
the Kings maiesties will and pleasure.
The said _Geillis Duncane_ also caused _Ewphame Meealrean_ to be
apprehended, who conspired and perfourmed the death of her Godfather, and
who vsed her art vpon a gentleman being one of the Lords and Iustices of
the Session, for bearing good will to her Daughter: she also caused to be
apprehended one _Barbara Naper_, for bewitching to death _Archibalde_,
last Earle of Angus, who languished to death by witchcraft and yet the
same was not suspected, but that he died of so strange a disease, as the
Phisition knew not how to cure or remedy the same: but of all other the
saide witches, these two last before recited, were reputed for as ciuill
honest women as any that dwelled within the Citie of Edenbrough, before
they were apprehended. Many other besides were taken dwelling in Lieth,
who are detayned in prison, vntill his Maiesties further will and pleasure
be known: of whose wicked dooings you shall particularly heare, which was
as followeth.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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