396 A Mid'Lothian Burn, [Sess. 



of Gogar has had its witch, like most places. In 1649 Kett 

 Gibb of Gogar, Clattering Megge of Katho, and Magic Bell 

 of Corstorphine were arraigned for trial before the minister, 

 Sir John Couper of Gogar, and several other gentlemen, for 

 having had dealings with the devil. Kett, then an old lady 

 of eighty, confessed to meeting his majesty, who appeared 

 to her when a girl of twenty in the form of a " muckle grim 

 man." This was sufficient, — the usual burning followed. 

 Speaking of witches, we may mention the old woman living 

 in the neighbourhood of Halton who frequently, in the guise 

 of a hare, gave sport to an Earl of Lauderdale and his 

 hounds. On one unfortunate occasion, however, the dogs 

 proved too fast for her ladyship, who just managed to escape 

 into her house at the expense of a severely mauled leg. 

 The Earl dismounted and entered, only to find the old 

 woman sitting by the fire and bemoaning the rheumatics 

 which would not allow her to cross the floor without 

 limping. 



Behind the village, and close to where the comparatively 

 level ground dips away towards the stream, stands the pretty 

 little church which was built in 1890. The ancient church, 

 whose walls long stood roofless, was disused in the early years 

 of the seventeenth century, through the then parish of Gogar 

 not being able to support a minister of its own. On 6th June 

 1591 there was a visitation of Corstorphine and Gogar by 

 certain members of Edinburgh Presbytery, who reported that, 

 *' In the minister of Corstorphine (Andrew Forrester) they 

 fand naething sclanderous, and all things in the Kirk they 

 fand in a good state; and as concerning the Kirk of Gogar, 

 they thocht good, it being so small a congregation and syk 

 near to Corstorphine, that it should be joinit thereto, in which 

 opinion the brethern of the Presbytery acquiesced." Not- 

 withstanding this favourable opinion, the union was not 

 accomplished until several years later, when the minister of 

 Corstorphine conducted service at Gogar on alternate Sundays, 

 — an arrangement unsatisfactory to both parishes and soon 

 departed from. Thereafter the Gogar parishioners had seats 

 allotted them in Corstorphine Church. 



The estate of Gogar was gifted by Robert the Bruce to his 



