Grampian Club > Scotland, social and domestic

Church Discipline. 327
I might do this, which was, by washing, bathing,
speaking words, putting sick persons through hasps
of yarn, and the like."
Having consigned those healers by enchantment to
the flames, the Kirk-session of Perth next proceeded
against those who superstitiously consulted them.
These were sentenced to appear in the parish church
during the morning service, " clothed in black, and
standing under the bell-strings."
The Presbytery of St. Andrews took a deep concern
in the suppression of witchcraft. In the records of that
Court such entries as the following are not unfrequent : —
"Nov. 15th, 1643.— Mr. Robert Blair, Mr. Colein
Adams, Mr. Robert Traill, and Mr. James Wood * are
appointed to goe to Craill on Tysday, and attend the
execution of some witches, and give ther advyce to the
Judges concerning the delations against others, if they
may be apprehended and tryed."
In 1649, an insane woman in the parish of Craw-
ford-Douglas accused as witches twelve of her neigh-
bours. The information was received by the Presbytery
of Lanark, who ordered " George Cathie, the pricker, to
find out the marks." Cathie reported that he "did
prik pinnes in everie ane of them, and in diverse of
* Mr. Kobert Blair was minister of St. Andrews, and one of the
most eminent Presbyterian ministers of his period. After the Resto-
ration, he incurred the displeasure of Archbishop Sharpe, and by that
prelate was exiled from his charge. His grandson, the Rev. Robert
Blair, was author of " The Grave ;" and of his great-grandsons one was
the celebrated Dr. Hugh Blair, of Edinburgh, and another the distin-
guished Lord President Blair. Mr. James "Wood was minister of
Dunino, and afterwards Professor of Divinity at St. Andrews. He
was author of a work on controversial theology, and was held in high
estimation by his contemporaries.