)\a-o^ ^ ^(Z&JU^y^ .v^^'" ' V PUBLICATIONS OF THE SCOTTISH HISTORY SOCIETY SECOND SERIES V O L U M E XX HIGHLAND PAPERS VOLUME III March 19^20 54././.M. /^ S:.>/ ./:'4^j^ HIGHLAND PAPERS VOLUME III Edited by J. R. N. MAC PH AIL. K.C. EDINBURGH Printed at the University Press by T. and A. Coxstaiu.e for the Scottish History Society 1920 ^Ry PREFACE The contents of this volume relate to a much shorter period of time than was covered by the materials printed in either of its predecessors. But it is hoped that it may not, on that account, be found less interesting by members of the Society or less useful to students of Highland history. As before, a short introductory note has been prefixed to each item, and a few footnotes have been added. The Society is indebted to Mr. Mill for another ex- cellent index, and to Mr. Joseph Davidson for his careful transcription of the documents from the Denmylne Collection. CONTENTS PAGE PAPERS RELATING TO WITCHCRAFT, l6fi2-]677— Introductory Note, ..... 2 Witchcraft in Bute, ..... 3 Case . The of Robert Douglas, , . .31 SoR< ERY IN ApPIN, ..... 36 MEMORIAL FOR FFASFERN— Introductory Note, ..... 40 Memorial for Ffasfern, . .42 particular condescen dance of some grievances- Note, . Introductory . .54 Particular Condescendance of some Grievances from the Encrease of Popery and the Insolence of Popish Preists and Jesuits, . .56 Particular Condescendance of some Grievances from the Insults and Intrusions of those of the Episcopall Perswasion, . .63 PAPERS RELATING TO KINTYRE— Introductory Note, . .... 66 Papers relating to Kintyre, . .72 viii HIGHLAND PAPERS I'AGE EXTRACTS FROM THE COLLECTION OF STATE PAPERS IN THE ADVOCATES' LIBRARY KNOWN AS THE DENMVLNE MSS — Introductory Note, . .90 Denmylne MSS., . .96 INDEX, ....... 321 PAPERS RELATING TO WITCHCRAFT 1662-1677 INTRODUCTORY NOTE Preserved in the Charter Room at Inveraray is a thin unbound quarto volume which has been used by some one for the purpose of informally recording matters connected with certain charges of witchcraft in Rothesay in 1662. It bears no title and there is notliing by which the writer can be identified. Many words have become illegible, but otherwise the MS. has been transcribed verbatim, and the, transcript has most kindly been placed at the disposal of the Society by His Grace the Duke of Argyll. For the next item, which shows how far-reaching was the belief in the effects of witchcraft, the Society is indebted to the Trustees of the late Sir William Fraser, K.C.B. For the third document, which would seem to concern fairies rather th-an witches, the Society has again to thank the Duke of Argyll. — I WITCHCRAFT IN BUTE, 1662 ^ Declaration Robert Stewart the 16 January 1662. of Jonet Morisone. Declares that about twa yeirs sine ther fell a con- test betwixt . and Jonat Morisoun who came to his spouse to seek some quhat geir she aleged she pro- mised her. Quhen his wife said to her that she would get a peek or two, if she serve not some as she desyred, the said Jonet said I game to have it and I will garr yow rue it or it be longer ; and within a quarter of ane yeir ther after the said Glens wife as she was going in the byre felt something strik her there ; the whole house darkened which continued a long space with her, she still compleins that it was Jonet Morison that did' it. of Jonet Morisone. Nans. Mitchell declares that about two years syne she took a dreaming of Jonet Morisone in her bed in the night, and was afrighted therewith and, within half ane hour after wakning, her young child took a trembling a very unnaturall lyke disease quhair of he died and Jonet Mori- sone being desyred to heal the said child said it was twice shot and could not be healed. About N^William. Major Ramsey declares that upon a tyme quhen he duelt in the Rosland that his ky gert no milk and suspecting that it was M^William, who was bruted for a witch and being ^ Copied from the original in the Argyll Charter Chest. Many words have become faded away, otherwise verbatim. Argyll. 4 HIGHLAND PAPERS his nichbour, he cam to her and upbradded her and said to her give my ky ther milk agane or III burn thee myselfe and she said to him goe your wayis home and if ye wait 111 be giffend yow, and upon his retin-ne the ky gave their milk. • About Jonet Nicoll. Janet Huggin declaires that Preston told her that she sed at the fyresyd these that wronged her children was Jonet Nicoll. About Jonet Nf^Neill. Jonat Man declares that Jonat McNeill used a charme to hir bairne, being extremely sick of the diseased called "^ the Glack, that the said charme was in Irish ^ quhich she understood not and that after the charme [she] did put a threid about the bairnes neck, crossing the same upon his breist, and bringing the samin under his auxters knit it behind his bake quhich the said Jonat McNeill desired hir to let be about the bairne 48 hours and therafter to cut it and burne it in the fire quhich she did. Item being demanded if she bund it about the catt that the catt died, denyed the samin but that Jon Campbell said to hir that a catt of his died that day. (Memo to inquire farder in this particular.) Of Katherin Moore. Memorandum. M^levin sayes that Finley Gelie and Donald Gelie in saw Katherine Moore and her sone feiding twa halked ky at Glenbeg and that immedi- ately they vanished out of sight. Declaration Margaret N^levin the 26 January 1662, immediately after she was ajirehended, before Mr. Johne Stewart minister, John Glasse provest, Ninian Banatyne of Kames, Mr. James Stewart. Quhilk day she confessed that she had the charme for ane evill eye and that she did severall tymes charme both ' It is to be noted that the charms seem to have been in Gaelic. Cf. post^ pp. S, 6, 9, 19. ' WITCHCRAFT IN BUTE 5 men and Beasts therewith and that it proved effectuall and did good to any she applyed it. Item that she charmt therewith about midsummer last a ealfe of Allan M^Cona- ghyes in Ballenlay which charme shee repeited in Yrish and that she put it in watter or in a curchif or some such lyke. Johne M^^Fersoune declares that about three yeires since [he] went in a good day In Robert Clerks boat In Company with James Cuninghame, Johne M^Kinlay and William Gillespie out of the toune of Boot to Rowni- heirine at the back of Arran and there haveing cast out thair anker waiting their opportunitie to mak for coast of Ireland there arose sudenly a mightie great storme -quhich drove them to hazard of the losse of Lyfe and boat quhich continued the mater of three or four hours ther' after it calmed and they went for Ireland. At the said John M^Fersons returne from Ireland within seven or eight weeks therafter being sitting at John M<^Intalars fire side besid Margrat M^Levin the said Margrat did say unto him, give me some thing Johne for ye are in my common, who said how or quhat way am I in your common ? She said remember in the night ye reedde at the back of Arran ye may acknowledge your self in my common. I remember of that said John and will alse long as I live bot how am I in your common for that ? She answered I helped you that night quhich if I had not done ye had gone to parteins and become lost.^ \ Declaration Margaret N<^Levin 27 January 1662 before James Stewart of Auchinlick and Mr. John Stewart minister. Quhilk day she confessed that she had ane charme for wristing or brising quhilk she repeitted in the yrish language begineing Obi er bhrachaadh etc. Quhilk proved ><^ effectuall to all such as she applyed it to and that she ^ I.e. have become food for crabs. 6 HIGHLAND PAPERS layd the charme in tallow or herbs and applyed it. Item that she charmed John M^tyre the taylor therewith that hade ane sore shoulder. Item confesses that she applyed the said charme of ane evill ey to some fishermen and particularly to one . M^intaggirt that came home sick to Ballicurrye. Item confesses that she hes another charme which is good for preserveing from mischance quhilk she repeited in the yrish language. January 28, 1662. Confessed Margret N^Levine befor thir witnesses John Glasse provest, Niniane Ballantyne of Kames, Major David Ramsay, Walter Stewart bailie. That being in a litle chamber in Balichtarach the devill came to her in the lyknes of a man and deseired hir to goe with him and that she refusing he said I will not . and she gave him . she never saw afterward and that she knew it was the devill and after he went that he came bak and asked hir to give him hir hand quhich she refusing to doe he took hir by the midle finger of the rycht hand quhich he had almost cutt off hir and therwith left hir. Her finger was so sorely pained for the space of a moneth ther after that ther was no paine comparable to it, as also took her by the right leg quhich was sorly pained likewayes as also be the devill. Item he came to her againe as she was shaking straw in the barne of Ardroscidell in a very ugly shape and that there he desired hir to goe with him and she refusing he said to her I will either have thy self or then thy heart.