230 Extracts from the Session-Book of Hutton Parish. 



III. WITCHCRAFT. 



1649, Aug. 26. "This day also complaineth George Hoge in 

 Ffishweek upon Aleson Watter yr for slandreing his wife by 

 the name of a Witch." Of this a witness " compeirs," and 

 " being deiplie posed," " deponed nothing," and the case 



1666, March 4. " Compeired Rot. Miller for slandering Jenet 

 Clairk in calling her WHch, but it was upon this ground that 

 he said the devill would get his doughter. Appoints Jon 

 Dicksone in Horndaine to be cited witness." 

 ,, March 11. " Compeired Rot. Miller, as also Jon Dicksone 

 and Helen Eennald, witnesses in the sd proces, and both 

 sworne. The said Rot. being inquired if he had anything to 

 object against the sd witnesses, Ans. Nothing. The said Jon 

 Dicksone deponed that Rot. Miller said, All the meale in the 

 mylne would not stope their mouths that would call her a 

 "Witch. The said Helen Rennald deponed ut supra and yat the 

 said Rot. said he would prove her a Witch." 

 ,, May 13. " Compeired Rot. Miller for wronging Jennet 

 Clairk by calling her Witch. Appoints him to make a publiet 

 acknowledgment of his sinne befor the congregation." He did 

 not " satisfie " till May 12, 1677, when he had to pay a fine of 

 12 shillings. 



1670, Oct. 2. " Compeired Alexr. Mabane for slandering James 

 Happer in calling him Witch. Denyes he called him Witch, 

 but said his. brother had never power to work in Blakiters 

 water since he fell out with him." 



IV. SOME OCCUPATIONS OP THE PEOPLE UNSEASONABLY ENGAGED IN. 



1650, Oct. 6. " This day was delated Jon Achesone, Jon Guth- 

 ray, and Jon Taillor for the prophanation of the Sabbath by 

 bearing of corne from one place to another." Sir James Bal- 

 four instructs us that " the harvest of this yeire, and autumne, 

 wes werey rainey and moist."* A good day may have tempted 

 the farmers to the " carying of sheives." 



1651, Aug. 24. " This day Jon Hutcheson delats Beatrix Cbirn- 

 sid for knocking of eorne upon the Sabbath day at morne." 

 Sept. 7. " Confessed she did not knock it, but gave it two 

 simps. Ordaines her to make publiet satisfaction the nixt 

 Lords day, first for her breache of the Sabbath, and then for 

 her disrespective carriadge to the elders." Sept. 14. " Com- 

 peired Elspeth Wardlaw for the breache of the Sabbath by 

 knocking of corne. Confessed she did not knocke it herself, 

 but she caused Helen Whitlaw to knock it." " Compeired 

 Helen Whitlaw. Confessed she gave it a brashe. Appoints 

 them both to satisfie." 



* Balfour's " Annales of Scotland," iv., p. 163. 



