Grampian Club > Scotland, social and domestic

328 Scotland, Social and Domestic.
them without paine the pinne was put in, as the wit-
nesses can testifie." On this report the Presbytery
were satisfied concerning the guilt of all the accused,
and appointed watchers to keep them awake till their
trial by a commission. The Presbytery also determined
that the cost of the watchers should not entirely fall
upon the parish of Crawford- Douglas, but that " each
paroch should proportionablie to their quantity furnish
twelve men every twenty-four houris." It is to be
hoped that the watchers were more humane than the
spiritual watchmen by whom they were employed. The
lunacy of the informant became so apparent, that, not-
withstanding the testimony of Cathie and his accom-
plices, the women were acquitted and restored to their
homes.
Some of the parochial clergy undertook, in the absence
of "the prickers," to discover "the Devil's mark." In
1650, Mr. John Aird, minister of Stow, informed his
Kirk-session that " he had thrust ane priene (pin) to the
heid in the pannel's schoulder, she noways shrinking
thereat." Soon after, the reverend gentleman and his
elders despatched to Jedburgh William Mader, parish
schoolmaster and session-clerk, there to purchase a hair-
cloth " for the persons apprehended for witchcraft, to
help to bring them to a confession."
Divorce courts were unneeded ; a gratuity to the
pricker accomplished all. The Kirk- session records of
Stow contain the following : —
" July 28, 1630. — The qlk day Wm. Leyis was con-
tent yt his wyf be weardit in Lauder or elseqr., and yt
she be tryed over again be jobing or be anie uther
examination, and obleiged himself to present her on
Monenday at xii. at Lauder."