Act, 29 March 1692, Edinburgh

Act, 29 December 1692, Edinburgh

Att Edinburgh the Tuenty Nynth day off March Jaj vjc and Nyntie tuo years

A1692/3/621

Act

Act anent transporting some women for witchcraft

Anent the petitione given in to the Lords of there Majestyes privie Counsell be James Fruid John Martine William Nicolsone and Thomas Jaffrey in Blackshaw John Dicksone in Stopp of Lockerwoods John Dickson in Lockerwoods and John Dickson in Overtoun of Locherwoods Shewing that where Marion Dicksone in Blackshaw Issobell Dickson in Lockerwood Agnes Dickson her daughter and Mareon Herbertsone in Mouswaldbank are persones who of along tyme have been suspected of the abominable and horrid cryme of sorcery and witchcraft and have committed many grievous malefices upon severall persones there neighbours and others and particularly of the Late have Comitted the severall malefices contained in a particular condescendence produced with the said petitione And the same being not only grievous to the petitioners and the other persones damnifyed by them But Lykewayes to all good men and women Liveing in the countrie thereabouts and who cannot assure them selves of saftey of there Lyves By such frequent malefices as they Committ And the samen being so grievous als said is The petitioners did cause apprehend the forsaid persones and applyed to the shireff deput to secure them in the prisone of Drumfreiss which he refused to doe untill the petitioners granted bond to prosecute them for the said crymes, which the petitioners accordingly did and whereupon he Imprisoned them within the tolbooth of Drumfreiss where they still continow Likeas the presbitry of Drumfreiss being fully Convinced of there Guilt and of the Many Malefices Committed by them have given there testificate and Recomendatione thereanent As the samen produced with the said petitione hes testifyed And sieing that the said shirreff deput nor no other persones can sitt and Judge the forsaids persones for the abominable Crymes abovespecified and Cause administrat Justice upon them therefore without the saids Lords of privie Councill there Commission be granted for that effect And therefore Craveing that there Lordships would be pleased to consider the premisses with the forsaid particular condescendence and testificat produced with the said petitione And grant Commissione to such persones as there Lordships should think2 fitt To sitt and Judge the forsaids persones at such tymes as they should think fitt And to grant them full power and Commission of Justiciarie in alse ample forme and maner as the saids Lords of privie Councill have been in use to grant at any tyme bygone As the said petition bears The saids Lords of there Majestyes privie Councill haveing considered this petitione given in to them be the above James Fruid and others They hereby ordaine the women above named Imprisoned in the tolbooth of Drumfreiss as suspect guilty of witchcraft to be transmitted from the said tolbooth of Drumfreiss to the tolbooth of Edinburgh And ordaines the shirreff of Drumfreiss and his deputs to cause transport these women under a sufficient guaird to the shirreff or Stewart of the next shyre or Stewartrie and so from shirreff or stewart to shirreff or stewart untill they be brought to the tolbooth of Edinburgh and ordaines the Magistrats of Edinburgh and keepers of there tolbooth to receave the said women and detain them prisoners till farder order That they may be brought to atryall befor the Lords Commissioners of Justiciary

At Edinburgh 29 March 1692

A1692/3/621

Act

Act concerning transporting some women for witchcraft

Concerning the petition given in to the lords of their majesties’ privy council be James Frood, John Martin, William Nicolson and Thomas Jaffrey in Blackshaw, John Dickson in Stopp of Locherwood, John Dickson in Locherwood and John Dickson in Overton of Locherwood, showing that where Marion Dickson in Blackshaw, Isobell Dickson in Locherwood, Agnes Dickson her daughter, and Marion Herbertson in Mouswaldbank are persons who of a long time have been suspected of the abominable and horrid crime of sorcery and witchcraft and have committed many grievous malefices upon several persons their neighbours and others and particularly of late have committed the several malefices contained in a particular condescendence produced with the said petition, and the same being not only grievous to the petitioners and the other persons harmed by them but likewise to all good men and women living in the country thereabouts and who cannot assure themselves of safety of their lives by such frequent malefices as they commit, and the same being so grievous as said is, the petitioners did cause apprehend the foresaid persons and applied to the sheriff depute to secure them in the prison of Dumfries which he refused to do until the petitioners granted bond to prosecute them for the said crimes, which the petitioners accordingly did and whereupon he imprisoned them within the tolbooth of Dumfries where they still continue, similarly, the presbytery of Dumfries being fully convinced of their guilt and of the many malefices committed by them have given their certificate and recommendation concerning the same as the same produced with the said petition has testified, and seeing that the said sheriff depute nor any other person can sit and judge the foresaid persons for the abominable crimes above specified and cause administer justice upon them therefor, without the said lords of privy council’s commission granted for that effect, and therefore craving that their lordships would be pleased to consider the premisses with the foresaid particular condescendence and certificate produced with the said petition and grant commission to such persons as their lordships should think fit to sit and judge the foresaid persons at such times as they should think fit, and to grant them full power and commission of justiciary in as ample form and manner as the said lords of privy council have been in use to grant at any time bygone, as the said petition bears. The said lords of their majesties’ privy council having considered this petition given in to them by the above James Frood and others, they hereby ordain the women above named imprisoned in the tolbooth of Dumfries as suspect guilty of witchcraft to be transmitted from the said tolbooth of Dumfries to the tolbooth of Edinburgh, and ordain the sheriff of Dumfries and his deputes to cause transport these women under a sufficient guard to the sheriff or steward of the next shire or stewartry and so from sheriff or steward to sheriff or steward until they be brought to the tolbooth of Edinburgh, and ordain the magistrates of Edinburgh and keepers of their tolbooth to receive the said women and detain them prisoners till further order, that they may be brought to a trial before the lords commissioners of justiciary.

1. PC1/48, 128-9.

2. This word has been inserted above the line.

1. PC1/48, 128-9.