Whitelocke intimates letters from Scotland at this time, stating that sixty persons, men and women, had been accused of witchcraft before the commissioners for the administration of justice in Scotland at the last circuit; but ‘they found so much malice and so little proof against them, that none were condemned.’[163] The Scottish civil bench having not long been free from an evil reputation for _budds_ or bribes, and to the last liable to the charge of partiality, it is alleged that the English judges rather surprised the public by their equitable decisions. It is added that some one, in a subsequent age, was lauding to the Lord-president Gilmour, the remarkable impartiality of these judges and the general equity of their proceedings, when the Scottish judge answered in his rough way: ‘Deil thank them, they had neither kith nor kin!‘[164] * * * * * [Sidenote: 1653. FEB. 11.] A person who was ‘both man and woman, _a thing not ordinar in this kingdom_,’ was hanged at Edinburgh on account of some irregularities of conduct. ‘His custom was always to go in a woman’s habit.’--_Lam._ This person passed by the name of Margaret Rannie. ‘When opened by certain doctors and apothecaries, [he] was found to be two every way, having two hearts, two livers, two every inward thing....’--_C. P. H._ The same day, an old man was burnt for warlockry, ‘wha had come in and rendered himself to prison, confessing his sin, and willing that justice be execute on him, for safety of his saul.’--_Nic._ * * * * * [Sidenote: JUNE.] Early in this month, a number of _pellochs_ or porpoises were thrown ashore dead on the coast of Fife; ‘whilk was taken to be very ominous.’--_Nic._ [Sidenote: 1653. JULY 20.] [Sidenote: 1653.]