Domestic Annals of Scotland from the Reformation to the Revolution, Volume 1 (of 2)Chambers, Robert
History
Domestic Annals of Scotland from the Reformation to the Revolution, Volume 1 (of 2)
Chambers, Robert
Scotland -- History -- 16th century; Scotland -- History -- 17th century
The trial of Eupham M‘Calyean commenced on the 9th of June. She was
taxed with many acts of sorcery of a common kind--such as this:
‘Consulting and seeking help at Anny Sampson, ane notorious witch, for
relief of your pain in the time of the birth of your twa sons, and
receiving frae her to that effect ane bored stane, to be laid under the
bowster, put under your head, enchanted moulds [earth] and powder put
in ane piece paper, to be usit and rowit in your hair; and at the time
of your drowis [throes], your guidman’s sark to be presently ta’en off
him and laid wimplit round your bed feet. The whilk being practisit by
you ... your sickness was casten off you, unnaturally, in the birth of
your first son, upon ane dog, whilk ran away and never was seen again:
and in the birth of your last son, the same practice was usit, and your
natural and kindly pain unnaturally casten off you upon the wanton cat
in the house; whilk likewise was never seen thereafter.’ It was also
alleged of Eupham, that, eighteen years before, she had ‘consulted with
Jonet Cunningham in the Canongate-head, _alias_ callit Lady Bothwell,
ane auld indytit witch of the finest champ, for poisoning of Joseph
Douglas of Pumfrastown, and that by ane potion of composit water whilk
she send her servant John Tweedale for, to be brought up to Barbara
Towers’s house in ane chopin stoup.’ What was more to the purpose, she
was accused of her concern in the affair of the waxen picture, and of
having conspired to raise a storm for stopping or drowning the queen
on her way from Denmark. After a trial of three days, a verdict was
returned against her on the chief points, and this unfortunate lady was
condemned to be burned alive at a stake on the Castle-hill.
[Sidenote: 1590.]
Throughout all the proceedings connected with these trials, as far as
they have been preserved, there is no appearance of any imputation
against the Earl of Bothwell; but Spottiswoode affirms that Sampson,
in her confessions, had attributed to him the guilt of suggesting the
picture device, adding that the devil, finding his plans of no avail
against the king, said: ‘Il est un homme de Dieu.’ It also appears
that James discovered further matter against Bothwell, in the course
of examining the wizard Richard Graham.[182] The turbulent lord was
therefore committed to ward, from which he broke out only three days
before the death of M’Calyean, June 22d. He was now forfaulted on a
former sentence, and henceforth became a broken man, though one still
able to create no small trouble to his sovereign.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account