[1661/1/248]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
Forasmuch as Heleen Gibesone and Christian Blaikie have confest the abhominable cryme of witchcraft in entering into paction with the divell, renunceing their baptisme and many otherwayes, as their depositions under the hands of Mr Patrick Cook, minister, Williame Robertoun, baillie, Johne Hamiltoun, baillie, Johne Clerk, Robert Drumond and Hector Wood, elders of the paroche of Salt Prestoun, beares and it being necessar that the kingdome be purged of such vile sin and justice administrat upon the offenders; thairfor, the king's majestie, with advice and consent of the estates of parliament, gives full power and commission to Robert Cockburne of Butterdeane, Johne Hamilton of Falsyd, Johne Mcmorran in Prestoun, George Hepburne of Adiestoun, Niniane Hendersone in Prestoun, Ninian Rid, there, William Robertoun, baillie ther, Johne Hamiltoun, baillie ther, Mr Andrew Rutherfoord, schoolmaster in the Pans, Mr James Oswald, ther, Thomas Home and Alexander Hendersone, baillies ther, or any fyve of them, to meit at such tymes and places as they shall think fit and ther to affix and hold courts, call suits, amerciat absents and uplift unlawes and amerciaments, to creat clerks, serjands, dempsters and all other officers and members of court neidfull, and in the saids courts to call the said Heleen Gibesone and Cristine Blaikie and to put them to the tryell and knowledge of ane assise and, if they shall be fund guiltie, to cause justice be administrat and execute upon them conforme to the lawes of the kingdome, and to doe all other things which to the execution of this commission be the law and conswetude of the kingdome doth apperteane, and wheras Margaret Butter, Margaret Auchinmoutie and Margaret Hall are suspect and dilate guiltie of witchcraft, with power to the saids commissioners or quorum therof, as said is, to secure them and such others as are or shall be dilate guilty and to examine them and use all fair means for their tryell and bringing of them to a confession of their sins, and that with all conveniency they make report to the parliament, and in caice of thair not sitting to his majesties' privy councill, of their proceidings and tryell forsaid.
The lyk commission given against Jonnet Maisson and Margaret Barclay (the depositions being attested be Mr Robert Ker, minister at Hadingtoun) to Patrick Broun of Colstoun, Mr Alexander Hay of Baro, Mr Johne Butler of Kirkland, Mr Johne Dougall of Nunland, Mr Richard Cairnes of Pilmore, Patrick Young, late baillie of Hadingtoun, Alexander Swintoun, late baillie ther, and David Kyll, baillie ther, or any fyve of them, and als for secureing and takeing tryell of Elizabeth Crafford, Agnes Cuthbertsone, Jonnet Home, Cristine Waderstoun, Jonnet Wilsone, Catherine Coupland and Issobell Ker.
The lyk commission against Robert Crafford in Fisheraw, Heleen Cass and Bessie Doughtie, ther, to Sir William Murray of Newtoun, Sir James Ritchardson of Smeitoun, Robert Dobie of Staniehill, Mr Johne Prestoun, Major Johne Bigar, William Rig of Carberrie, Johne Jossie of Westpans, Thomas Smyth, Robert Ramage, and the baillies of Mussilburgh, or anie fyve of them, the baillies being alwayes tuo of the number, the depositions attested be Mr Oliver Colt, minister, Robert Strachan and Robert Douglas, baillies of Mussilburgh.
The lord commissioner continewes the parliament till Monday at eleven of the clock, and all summons ut supra.