Series 1 > Records of the Proceedings of the Justiciary Court Edinburgh, 1661-1678 > Volume 2, 1669-1678

1670]
JUSTICIARY PROCEEDINGS
15
had been employed by many persons to solve the scruples of
their consciences, and that when he prayed in publick in the
families of other persons or in his own family, where neigh¬
bours came frequently to hear him, he did pray so well that
he was admired by all persons, and it was observed of him
that he keeped a long staff which he held alwise to his mouth
when he prayed, which staff was taken with himself when he
was taken out of his house at Edinr, and the manner of his
discovery does hold out much of the justice of God in the dis¬
covery and revealing of such sinners, for he having fallen sick
in his old age in a house where he lived alone in the West
Bow of Edinr, where many Professors of religion lived about
him, his neighbours were affrightned with the noise which they
heard upon the night, and some of them having gone to see
him, he declared to them that he had great horror of con¬
science and was troubled with the appearances of the Devill,
which being discovered by some of the neighbours to the
Magistrates, they immediatly caused examine and apprehend
him and bring him to his tryall, as is above sett down.
Edinbr 15th Aprile 1670.
King’s Advocate against William Bruce alias Calum, prisoner
in the tolbooth of Edinbr. This person is indicted and accused
of Thefts and many Robberies, Depredations, Sornings, Com¬
merce and Ti’affique with Theives, takeing of black maill, com¬
mitted by him in the years 1640, 41 and 42 and all years
thereafter till he was apprehended for the Slaughter of Wil¬
liam Forbes, brother to the Laird of Bruse, by stobing him
because he challenged him and his company of Robbers that
were with him for comeing to the Parochin of Kildrimmy and
for the murder and slaughter of James Elies and Alaster
Anderson, two of the said William’s company in the house of
Alaster Smith in Birkenbrewl in the parochin of Kildrimmy
and sheriffdom of Aberdeen, which is the house where the
said William Forbes came upon them, and is found guilty
of the said three Slaughters and of most part of the other
Crimes.
As also by another lybell Alaster Bain, another prisoner, is