ABSTRACT
The same day, viz. The 28 of December 1643, Janet Barker and Margaret Lauder, indwellers in Edinburgh, being entered upon panel, delated, accused and pursued by dittay at the instance of Thomas Hope of Craighall, knight baronet, Advocate of our sovereign Lord for his Highness’s interest, of the crimes of sorcery and witchcraft and keeping company with Satan, the enemy of man and woman their salvation, specified in their dittay, viz. – For as much as by the divine law of the almighty God, mentioned in his sacred word, all users and practisers of witchcraft, sorcery, charming and soothsaying, or keeping of company, trysts, or meeting with the Devil or his wicked instruments are ordained to be punished to the death, and such by divers Acts of Parliament of this kingdom, namely the 73 Act of the Parliament of our sovereign lord’s dearest grandmother, Queen Mary of good memory [1563], it is stated and ordained that no manner of person or persons, of whatsoever estate, condition or degree they be of, presume nor take upon hand to use any manner of witchcraft, sorcery, nor necromancy, nor give themselves out to have any such craft or knowledge thereby to abuse His Majesty’s good subjects and people, and that no person or persons seek any help, response or consultation from the Devil or any of his wicked instruments, uses and abuses foresaid, under the pain of death, as in the said laws and acts of parliament at length is contained. Notwithstanding whereof, it is of verity that the said Janet Barker, understanding that the son of George Scott was visited with a grievous sickness, which was laid about him by the late Janet Cranstoun, a witch and her door neighbour, come to the young youth the said John Scott his son, and by her sorcery, witchcraft and charming practised by her upon him, cured him of the said sickness or evil that was laid upon him, which the said Janet Barker has confessed by her depositions.
