333 Rev. T. Leishman on Customs and Superstitions. 



seem to have occupied numerous small holdings between 

 Sprouston and Bowmont water, broke into Sprouston kirk, 



and buried there Davison, the wife of Charlie Burne. 



The offenders, after being remitted to the diocesan synod, 

 are sent back to the presbytery " to mak their repentance in 

 lino" and pay among them £50. There is a simple pathos 

 in the confessions of the husband and son. " Charlie Burne, 

 being posit whither he himself helpit to lay his wyf in the 

 Queir of Sproustone, anserit, that he did it not, and affirmit 

 that he went not in the kirk that day, hot it was done be his 

 knawledg and speciall consent. Jhone Burne grantit that 

 he helpit to carie in his mother to the kirk, and lay her in 

 the grave." Much less submissive was the bearing of a 

 dependant of Sir William McDougall, who had helped to bury 

 his master in Makerston kirk. " Johne Milne tooke the 

 fault upon him, and said he wold have broken up the kirk 

 dore albeit the brethren had beine at the bak of it." 



But let me now, without further preface, read a series of 

 extracts, illustrative of customs and superstitions prevailing 

 in the seventeenth century. 



May 17, 1610 and subsequent meetings. The following 

 persons are proceeded against for " open contempt and abuse 

 of the Sabothe, being the cheiff actors of the Pasche playes 

 in Lintoun, Jhone Midlemist of Scharpesrig, scherifF, George 

 Davidsone in Hoisla, litel Jhone, George Ker in Lintoune, 

 Robene Hud, Hob Hewme, lord, plowman to the laird of 

 Lintoun, elder Geordie Young in Hoisla, and Wattie Ker." 



October 28, 1623. " Compered Katerine Taillour being 

 accused for turning the riddell. .... .She wald confess no 



more bot that she had the riddell in her hand with Johne 

 Mader." 



Sep. 1, 1635. James Mow in Atonburn confessed consult- 

 ing with a witch in Etal. " He told the man the natur of 

 his sonnes distress, who gave him for medecin ane little 

 papper, whilk he shew before the brethren, on the whilk was 

 written the beginning of the first chap, of St. John and the 

 name of Jesu written four tymes." He is to make his repen- 

 tance in sacco. 



Sep. 17, 1639. " Compeared Jonet Robson, spouse to 

 Thomas Craighil in Heyhoup, and confesseth that she called 

 Meg Russel, spouse to John Tait in Heyhoup, a witch. Being 

 enquired, what ground, she saith that on a Sunday, some six 

 weeks or thereby since, when they were going to kirk, she 

 saw her set on a fyre within the byre dore flore, and caused 



