Grampian Club > Scotland, social and domestic

324 Scotland, Social, and Domestic.
voice, quhair throu the haill houss tremblit and schaick,
and immediatlie the cow taik with the calff and the
calif with the cow, and soukit hir ; and throu the quhilk
terrible cry and deuilische grayn by the at the time
aforesaid, the wyiff of the said Alexander being ex-
ceedinglie affraugit and terrifiet tuik and contractit im-
mediatelie ane deidlie sickness be thy sorcerie, and was
never curyt thereof quill scho departit this lyff. "
In 1623, the Kirk-session of Perth petitioned the
Privy Council respecting three persons whom they
charged with witchcraft. The accused were thereupon
tried by a commission, condemned, and executed. We
subjoin a portion of the preliminary evidence, as re-
corded in the Kirk-session minute-book.
Respecting Margaret Hornscleuch, it was deponed
that she came to the dwelling of Alexander Mason, and
having seen his wife who was sick, she requested that
south-running water should be brought from the Tay,
the bearer to be silent both in going and returning, and
to hold the mouth of the water-vessel towards the
north. That she washed Mason's wife with the water,
and afterwards placed her " in a bath of great meal," and
that the patient forthwith was restored, and arose
and supped with her. That she cured Marjory Lamb,
by washing her with south-running water, and rubbing
her arms with fresh butter. That she had restored
milk to the cow of Robert Christie, from Ruthven,
by causing " a peck of draff" to be placed before
the cow, " in the name of the Father, the Son, and the
Holy Ghost." That she had restored milk to the cow
of Andrew Louraine, in My reside, " by mumbling some
words over a firlot of ' draff ; ' " that sending Andrew
to his house, she bid him cut the cow's leg, and mix the