Commission by the Council, 9 March 1697, Edinburgh

Act, 6 October 1697, Edinburgh

Att Edinburgh the nynth day of March Jaj vic nyntie seven years

A1697/3/111

Commission by the Council

Commission for trying and judging witches in Renfrew Shire

The Lords of his Majesties privie Councill Being Informed of severall flagrant grounds of suspicion of witches and witchcraft within the Shire of Renfrew Especiallie from the afflicted and extraordinary Condition of Christian Shaw daughter to John Shaw of Bargarren They by their Act and Commission of the date the Nynteenth day of January last by past Did Grant pouer and Commission to the persones therin named and their quorum therin specified To make all Laufull Enquyrie anent the saids witches and witchcraft And to Cite and examine witnesses and take all Laufull probation but without oath for discovering of the same And as they should find Cause to Give order for Imprisoning or otherwayes securing the persones Justly suspect untill furder order And they were required to Give ane account of their dilligence and procedure in the said matter to the Clerks of privie Councill betuixt and the tenth day of March Instant as the said Act and Commission at more Length Bears In obedience wherunto the saids Commissioners Having meet and taken Inquyrie and made their report It appeared by the said report that the persones undernamed Viz Alexander Andersone Indueller in Inchannand Agnes Nasmith Indueller in Erskine John Lindsay in Barcloch John Lindsay in Formakine James Lindsay his brother Agnes Foster prisoner in Renfrew Margaret Fultoune Indueller in West Kilpatrick Kathrine Campbell Margaret Lang spouse to William Semple Jean Anderson daughter to Alexander Andersone Martha Semple daughter to Margaret Lang John Lindsay in Foremakine John Reid smith in Inchannan John Steuart in Boghouse of Inchannand Annabell Reid his Spouse Kathrine Feuer In Craigtoune burne Margaret Cunynghame Spouse to Thomas Widdrow in Casslop Margaret Rodger in Whytehill Janet Rodger in Park her sister Margaret Euing Spouse to Thomas Birkmyre in Stonnybotts Margaret McKillop uidow in Bonneill Elizabeth Andersone daughter to the said Alexander Andersone James Lindsay son to Mathew Lindsay Sometyme in Blackhall and Thomas Lindsay son to the said Mathew are Suspected delated and defamed as being guiltie of the said Crime ot uitchcraft As Lykeuise that the forsaid Crime and wickedness having broke out and being discovered in ane extraordinary manner in that Corner of the Countrey ought to be furder Inquired into That all persons guiltie of or accessory to the Same may be brought to Condign punishment as accords And Considering that the forsaid tryall Judgement and farder Inquirie Can be only most Conveniently and effectually made uithin the bounds forsaids And upon the place wher best Informatione and probation may be had And the punishment will be most examplar They Doe heirby Give full pouer warrand and Commission to the Lord Blantyre The Lord Halcraig Mr Frances Montgomery of Giffine Sir John Maxwell of Nether Pollock Sir John Houstoun of that ilk Sir John Shaw of Greenock The Laird of Glandeistoune The Laird of Duchill Mr John Kincaid of Corsbaskett advocat Mr John Steuart of Blaikhall younger advocat Commissary Smallett John Alexander of Blackhouse and Robert Sempler Shirreff deput of Renfrew or any five of them whom the saids Lords Doe heirby declare to be a sufficient Quorum to take tryall of and to Judge and doe Justice upon the forsaids persons for the said Crime of Witchcraft And In order herto to meet and Conveen at Renfrew the Eighteenth day of March Instant And ther to accept of this present Commission And upon their acceptance to administrat the oath of fidelity to the persone whom the said Lord Justice Clerk and James Montgomery of Langshaw Clerk to the Justice Court Shall deput and substitut to be Clerk to this present Commission with pouer to the saids Commissioners or their said quorum to Choose their oune Clerk for whom they shall be ansuerable In case that the saids Lord Justice Clerk and James Montgomery shall refuse to nominat a Clerk in this matter They being first required so to doe with pouer Lykewise to the saids persons heirby Commissionat or their said quorum To Creat make and Constitut servants dempsters and officers members of the said Court And to Issue out and cause raise precepts or Lybells of Indictment att the Instance of Mr John Menzies James Steuart and Frances Grant or any one of them procurators fiscalls for his Majesties Intrest in the said matter against the haill forenamed persons accused for witchcraft For summonding and Citing them upon fifteen dayes By delyvering to each of them a full Coppie of the Lybell or Indictment with the names and designations of the assysers and uitnesses in the ordinary manner and under the usuall paines and Certificationes To Compear before the saids Commissioners heirby Commissionat or their said quorum at Renfrew Paslay Glasgow or any place uithin Renfrew Shire With pouer also to them to amerciat and fyne the absent assyzers and uitnesses And the amerciaments and fynes to uplift for their oune use and behoove And to adjurne themselves from tyme to tyme till the relevancy be discust To the effect that the pannells being fullie heard The saids Commissioners or their said quorum may Judge and determine the said relevancy of the Lybell And to Call ane Inquest of Fourtie five persons who are to be Cited on the assyze of the saids annells And a List of their names and designations given in to each of the saids persons accused uith their Lybells as said is And after the discussing the relevancy of the said Lybell In presence of the saids persons of Inquest By pronouncing ane Interloqutor theron out of that Number to Choyse ane Assyse of Fifteen And to administrat to them the ordinary oath in the usuall tearms And with pouer also to the saids Commissioners or their said quorum to examine the witnesses to be Cited in presence of the saids pannells and suorn Inquest upon the points that shall be admitted to probatione And Immediately therafter uithout any adjurnment to remitt the said Lybell and Interloqutor to be given by them Anent the relevancy therof and the depositiones of the witnesses to be taken In manner forsaid to the knouledge of the said Inquest and assyze who without delay or going out of the Court are to be Inclosed by them selves And are heirby appointed to remaine so Inclosed and none suffered to be uith them or to have access to them or any of themselves suffered to Goe out untill they be aggreed and Conclude their ansuer And to Elect a Chancelor or president uith a Clerk of their oun Number And after reading and perusing of the said Indictment Interloqutor to be pronunced theron and depositiones of the uitnesses to be taken In presence of the saids pannells and assyze They are to find the Lybell proven against the saids pannells or not according to Law As they will be ansuerable to God and a Good Conscience And that they draw up their verdict accordingly Bearing what way every assyzer doeth vote and delyver the samen being first subscryved by the Chancelor and Clerk and Sealled by the hand of their Chancelor or president to the saids Commissioners or their said quorum when they heirby authorize and Commissionat to advyse the haill proces and verdict of the Inquest And to Give and pronounce Sentence Condemnator or absolvitor in the said matter according to Justice And in case the saids persons shall find the pannells guiltie of the Crimes Laid to their charge With pouer to the saids Commissioner or their said quorum To decerne and adjudge to be burned or otheruayes to be execute to the death uithin such space and after such manner as they shall think fitt And Generallie with pouer to the saids Commissioners or their said quorum to Act doe and performe all and sundrie things whatsoever Competent and Incumbent to be Acted done and performed by any Commissioners of Justiciary hitherto nominated and appointed by the saids Lords of privie Councill And the saids Lords appointes the saids Commissioners or their said quorum uithin the Space of ane Month After pronouncing and executing of their sentence in this matter to report to the Lords Commissioners of Justiciary or to the Clerks of the Criminall Court ane authenticke extract under their hands of their said proces sentence and the manner of executing therof To the effect the same may be recorded in the books of Justiciary which the Clerk to the Criminall Court is heirby required to record therin as he will be ansuerable As also with pouer to the saids Commissioners or their quorum to take farder Inquyrie into the said Crime of witchcraft and who may be guiltie of or accessorie therto by all Laufull uayes and methods As by Causing take up Dittayes theron and by examining witnesses upon Information but uithout oath for discovering the same And as they shall find cause to Give order for Imprisoning or otheruayes securing the persons Justly suspect untill furder order And the forsaids Commissioners or their said quorum are heirby required to Give ane account of their dilligence and proceedings in the said matter to the Clerks of privy Councill betuixt and the first day of June nixt to Come Given at Edinburgh the nynth day of March Jaj vic nyntie seven years sic subscribitur Poluarth councelar Douglas Lauderdale Annandale Yester Carmichaell William Anstruther Kintore Archibald Mure.

Att Edinburgh the nynth day of March Jaj vic nyntie seven years

A1697/3/111

Commission by the Council

Commission for trying and judging witches in Renfrew Shire

The Lords of his Majesties privie Councill Being Informed of severall flagrant grounds of suspicion of witches and witchcraft within the Shire of Renfrew Especiallie from the afflicted and extraordinary Condition of Christian Shaw daughter to John Shaw of Bargarren They by their Act and Commission of the date the Nynteenth day of January last by past Did Grant pouer and Commission to the persones therin named and their quorum therin specified To make all Laufull Enquyrie anent the saids witches and witchcraft And to Cite and examine witnesses and take all Laufull probation but without oath for discovering of the same And as they should find Cause to Give order for Imprisoning or otherwayes securing the persones Justly suspect untill furder order And they were required to Give ane account of their dilligence and procedure in the said matter to the Clerks of privie Councill betuixt and the tenth day of March Instant as the said Act and Commission at more Length Bears In obedience wherunto the saids Commissioners Having meet and taken Inquyrie and made their report It appeared by the said report that the persones undernamed Viz Alexander Andersone Indueller in Inchannand Agnes Nasmith Indueller in Erskine John Lindsay in Barcloch John Lindsay in Formakine James Lindsay his brother Agnes Foster prisoner in Renfrew Margaret Fultoune Indueller in West Kilpatrick Kathrine Campbell Margaret Lang spouse to William Semple Jean Anderson daughter to Alexander Andersone Martha Semple daughter to Margaret Lang John Lindsay in Foremakine John Reid smith in Inchannan John Steuart in Boghouse of Inchannand Annabell Reid his Spouse Kathrine Feuer In Craigtoune burne Margaret Cunynghame Spouse to Thomas Widdrow in Casslop Margaret Rodger in Whytehill Janet Rodger in Park her sister Margaret Euing Spouse to Thomas Birkmyre in Stonnybotts Margaret McKillop uidow in Bonneill Elizabeth Andersone daughter to the said Alexander Andersone James Lindsay son to Mathew Lindsay Sometyme in Blackhall and Thomas Lindsay son to the said Mathew are Suspected delated and defamed as being guiltie of the said Crime ot uitchcraft As Lykeuise that the forsaid Crime and wickedness having broke out and being discovered in ane extraordinary manner in that Corner of the Countrey ought to be furder Inquired into That all persons guiltie of or accessory to the Same may be brought to Condign punishment as accords And Considering that the forsaid tryall Judgement and farder Inquirie Can be only most Conveniently and effectually made uithin the bounds forsaids And upon the place wher best Informatione and probation may be had And the punishment will be most examplar They Doe heirby Give full pouer warrand and Commission to the Lord Blantyre The Lord Halcraig Mr Frances Montgomery of Giffine Sir John Maxwell of Nether Pollock Sir John Houstoun of that ilk Sir John Shaw of Greenock The Laird of Glandeistoune The Laird of Duchill Mr John Kincaid of Corsbaskett advocat Mr John Steuart of Blaikhall younger advocat Commissary Smallett John Alexander of Blackhouse and Robert Sempler Shirreff deput of Renfrew or any five of them whom the saids Lords Doe heirby declare to be a sufficient Quorum to take tryall of and to Judge and doe Justice upon the forsaids persons for the said Crime of Witchcraft And In order herto to meet and Conveen at Renfrew the Eighteenth day of March Instant And ther to accept of this present Commission And upon their acceptance to administrat the oath of fidelity to the persone whom the said Lord Justice Clerk and James Montgomery of Langshaw Clerk to the Justice Court Shall deput and substitut to be Clerk to this present Commission with pouer to the saids Commissioners or their said quorum to Choose their oune Clerk for whom they shall be ansuerable In case that the saids Lord Justice Clerk and James Montgomery shall refuse to nominat a Clerk in this matter They being first required so to doe with pouer Lykewise to the saids persons heirby Commissionat or their said quorum To Creat make and Constitut servants dempsters and officers members of the said Court And to Issue out and cause raise precepts or Lybells of Indictment att the Instance of Mr John Menzies James Steuart and Frances Grant or any one of them procurators fiscalls for his Majesties Intrest in the said matter against the haill forenamed persons accused for witchcraft For summonding and Citing them upon fifteen dayes By delyvering to each of them a full Coppie of the Lybell or Indictment with the names and designations of the assysers and uitnesses in the ordinary manner and under the usuall paines and Certificationes To Compear before the saids Commissioners heirby Commissionat or their said quorum at Renfrew Paslay Glasgow or any place uithin Renfrew Shire With pouer also to them to amerciat and fyne the absent assyzers and uitnesses And the amerciaments and fynes to uplift for their oune use and behoove And to adjurne themselves from tyme to tyme till the relevancy be discust To the effect that the pannells being fullie heard The saids Commissioners or their said quorum may Judge and determine the said relevancy of the Lybell And to Call ane Inquest of Fourtie five persons who are to be Cited on the assyze of the saids annells And a List of their names and designations given in to each of the saids persons accused uith their Lybells as said is And after the discussing the relevancy of the said Lybell In presence of the saids persons of Inquest By pronouncing ane Interloqutor theron out of that Number to Choyse ane Assyse of Fifteen And to administrat to them the ordinary oath in the usuall tearms And with pouer also to the saids Commissioners or their said quorum to examine the witnesses to be Cited in presence of the saids pannells and suorn Inquest upon the points that shall be admitted to probatione And Immediately therafter uithout any adjurnment to remitt the said Lybell and Interloqutor to be given by them Anent the relevancy therof and the depositiones of the witnesses to be taken In manner forsaid to the knouledge of the said Inquest and assyze who without delay or going out of the Court are to be Inclosed by them selves And are heirby appointed to remaine so Inclosed and none suffered to be uith them or to have access to them or any of themselves suffered to Goe out untill they be aggreed and Conclude their ansuer And to Elect a Chancelor or president uith a Clerk of their oun Number And after reading and perusing of the said Indictment Interloqutor to be pronunced theron and depositiones of the uitnesses to be taken In presence of the saids pannells and assyze They are to find the Lybell proven against the saids pannells or not according to Law As they will be ansuerable to God and a Good Conscience And that they draw up their verdict accordingly Bearing what way every assyzer doeth vote and delyver the samen being first subscryved by the Chancelor and Clerk and Sealled by the hand of their Chancelor or president to the saids Commissioners or their said quorum when they heirby authorize and Commissionat to advyse the haill proces and verdict of the Inquest And to Give and pronounce Sentence Condemnator or absolvitor in the said matter according to Justice And in case the saids persons shall find the pannells guiltie of the Crimes Laid to their charge With pouer to the saids Commissioner or their said quorum To decerne and adjudge to be burned or otheruayes to be execute to the death uithin such space and after such manner as they shall think fitt And Generallie with pouer to the saids Commissioners or their said quorum to Act doe and performe all and sundrie things whatsoever Competent and Incumbent to be Acted done and performed by any Commissioners of Justiciary hitherto nominated and appointed by the saids Lords of privie Councill And the saids Lords appointes the saids Commissioners or their said quorum uithin the Space of ane Month After pronouncing and executing of their sentence in this matter to report to the Lords Commissioners of Justiciary or to the Clerks of the Criminall Court ane authenticke extract under their hands of their said proces sentence and the manner of executing therof To the effect the same may be recorded in the books of Justiciary which the Clerk to the Criminall Court is heirby required to record therin as he will be ansuerable As also with pouer to the saids Commissioners or their quorum to take farder Inquyrie into the said Crime of witchcraft and who may be guiltie of or accessorie therto by all Laufull uayes and methods As by Causing take up Dittayes theron and by examining witnesses upon Information but uithout oath for discovering the same And as they shall find cause to Give order for Imprisoning or otheruayes securing the persons Justly suspect untill furder order And the forsaids Commissioners or their said quorum are heirby required to Give ane account of their dilligence and proceedings in the said matter to the Clerks of privy Councill betuixt and the first day of June nixt to Come Given at Edinburgh the nynth day of March Jaj vic nyntie seven years sic subscribitur Poluarth councelar Douglas Lauderdale Annandale Yester Carmichaell William Anstruther Kintore Archibald Mure.

1. NRS, PC1/51, 136-9.

1. NRS, PC1/51, 136-9.