Decreet, 29 December 1698, Edinburgh

Att Edinburgh the Twentie Nynth day of November J^aj vi^c Nyntie Eight

D1698/11/15

D1698/11/15¹

Act

Act Mrs Duncan ane alleadged Witch

Anent the petition given in to the Lords of his Majesties privy Councill be Mary Morison Spouse to Francis Duncan Skipper in Greenock Shewing That wher the Supplicant being Confiend by the saids Lords within the Town of Edinburgh untill the fiftein instant and Oblidged to find sufficient Caution to Sist her self before the Lords of Justiciary againe that day or Sooner if his Majesties advocat (to whom their Lordships Recomended to prosecute a tryall againest the petitioner as being alledged guilty of the abominable crime of Witchcraft) should insist against the petitioner, The petitioner accordingly found the said Caution acted in the saids Lords books and also to the shireff of Renfrew, and no persone haveing offered to informe against the petitioner nor has his Majesties advocat raised any indictment against the petitioner in all that time, after Elapse of the said fiftein instant, The petitioner did apply to the saids Lords for a Libertie to returne home, and that the petitioners husband might gett up his bonds given to the saids Lords Clerk and Shirreff of Renfrew, The saids Lords upon the Twentie Second instant were pleased to allow the petitioner to returne home Bot ordained her husband to find Caution to Sist the petitioner before the Lords of Justiciary Or any to be Commissionat by the saids Lords for trying the said abominable Cryme how soon the petitioner should be informed against, As to which last point the supplicant beggs Leave humbly to represent to the saids Lords, That the petitioner was and is still willing to undergoe any truall relateing to that crime or any Malefice done to the petitioners nighbours from her birth, And if my Lord advocat had raised ane indictment theranent against the petitioner according to the saids Lords ordinarie, and if his Lordship had not insisted against the petitioner again the day prefixed then the dyet would have been deserted and the petitioner allowed to returne home without finding Cautione or any other trouble And Seing no indictment is raised nor any information given against her after such a Competent time allowed by the saids Lords for doeing therof is Elapsed the petitioner humbly conceived that she was in the same case as if ane indictment hade been raised against the petitioner and for want of probation or any relevant information the dyet hade been deserted As also if my Lord advocat would yet raise ane indictment against her She was Still ready and willing to undergoe the same here before the Lords of Justiciary and to bring in what witnesses shall be Condescended on upon her own charges, So as the petitioner be either acquit or found guilty and thereby the petitioner and her husband allowed to returne home to their poor numerous family which by their so long stay here are not only reduced to straits bot the petitioners husband debarred from the Lawfull exercise of his Imployment which under god is the only mean of our and poor families subsistance, and that ther is not the least fear of the petitioners withdrawing being altogither Innocent of what was groundlessly represented against the petitioner To which she obtests god to witnes And Therfore Humbly Craveing the saids Lords would be pleased in Consideratione of the premysses to allow the petitioner to returne home and to order her bonds to the saids Lords Clerk and the Shireff depute of Renfrew to be given up or else to ordaine My Lord advocat instently to insist against the petitioner before the Lords of Justicary which She was willing to undergoe and adduce what witnesses shall be Condescended on upon her oun charges. As the petition bears The Lords of his Majesties privy Councill Haveing Considered this petition given in to them by the above Mary Morison They do hereby allow the petitioner to returne to her oun house and takes off the Confinement formerly Laid on upon her, And Declares her quitt therof and free therfrae in all time comeing And gives order and warrand to their Clerks of Councill to delyver up to the petitioner or her husband the bond in their hands granted by her husband and his Cautioners therein specified of the date the thretein of September Last And gives order and warrand to Robert Semple Shirreff depute of Ranfrew or Robert Alexander his Clerk to delyver up to the petitioner or her husband the bond granted by her said husband and his Cautioners to the said Shirreff of Ranfrew, And Ordains Letters of horning on six dayes to be direct against the said Shirreff and his Clerk under the Signet of Councill for delyverie up of the said bond and others in forme as effeirs.