Scottish Witches
By: Lady Gloriana
What would you do if the eggs in your fridge spoiled after just collecting them, or a seemingly healthy new shrub suddenly withered and died? Would you blame one of your neighbors, getting them arrested and then watching as they were strangled and burnt at the stake?
T
his is what
Scots and 1736. On 4 of the Scottish ‘Anentis made it a for anyone to seek the use of Sorceries and
pretty much happened to almost 4,000 between 1563 June 1563 an Act Parliament, Witchcraftis’, capital offense practice or ‘ Witchcrafts, Necromancy ’.
The witch within five (1590-91, 1597, and 1661-62). cases in which is known, two in execution, so reason to doubt 2,500 suspected executed during
hunt occurred major ‘ panics’ 1628-30, 1649 Of the 300 or so the outcome thirds resulted there is little that at least witches were this period.
This figure doesn’t include witches killed at the hands of the mob, such as Janet Cornfoot, accused of witchcraft in 1704. She was strung up and pelted with stones and sticks before being cut down, buried under a heavy door covered in rocks and pressed to death. The type of people who were accused of being witches followed the general pattern of the rest of the world. Most were women, and ¾ of these were poor and aged 30-60. Of these were cunning folk or healers. They would employ folk remedies to heal, or magical charms to bring luck or ward off evil spirits. Many women claimed that their powers had been given to them by fairies. 17
