Aman，namedThomasIreland，deposed，thathearingseveraltimesagreatnoiseofcatscryingandscreamingabouthishouse，hewentoutandfrightenedthemaway，andtheyallrantowardsthecottageofJaneWenham。OneofthemhesworepositivelyhadafaceverylikeJaneWenham’s。Anotherman，namedBurville，gavesimilarevidence，andsworethathehadoftenseenacatwithJaneWenham’sface。UpononeoccasionhewasinAnnThorne’schamber，whenseveralcatscamein，andamongthemthecatabovestated。Thiswitnesswouldhavefavouredthecourtwithamuchlongerstatement，butwasstoppedbythejudge，whosaidhehadheardquiteenough。
　　Theprisoner，inherdefence，saidnothing，butthat“shewasaclearwoman。“Thelearnedjudgethensummedup，leavingittothejurytodeterminewhethersuchevidenceastheyhadheardwassufficienttotakeawaytheprisoner’slifeupontheindictment。Afteralongdeliberationtheybroughtintheirverdict，thatshewasguiltyupontheevidence。TheJudgethenaskedthemwhethertheyfoundherguiltyupontheindictmentofconversingwiththedevilintheshapeofacat？Thesapientforemanverygravelyanswered，“Wefindherguiltyofthat。“Thelearnedjudgethenveryreluctantlyproceededtopasssentenceofdeath；but，byhisperseveringexertions，apardonwasatlastobtained，andthewretchedoldwomanwassetatliberty。Intheyear1716，awomanandherdaughter，-thelatteronlynineyearsofage，——werehangedatHuntingdonforsellingtheirsoulstothedevil，andraisingastormbypullingofftheirstockingsandmakingalatherofsoap。ThisappearstohavebeenthelastjudicialexecutioninEngland。Fromthattimetotheyear1736，thepopulaceraisedatintervalstheoldcry，andmorethanonceendangeredthelivesofpoorwomenbydraggingthemthroughpondsonsuspicion；butthephilosophyofthosewho，fromtheirposition，soonerorlatergivethetonetotheopinionsandmoralsofthepoor，wassilentlyworkingacurefortheevil。Thefearofwitchesceasedtobeepidemic，andbecameindividual，lingeringonlyinmindsletteredbyinveterateprejudiceorbrutalizingsuperstition。Intheyear1736，thepenalstatuteofJamesI。wasfinallyblottedfromthestatutebook，andsufferednolongertodisgracetheadvancingintelligenceofthecountry。
　　Pretenderstowitchcraft，fortune-tellers，conjurors，andalltheirtrain，wereliableonlytothecommonpunishmentofroguesandimpostors——imprisonmentandthepillory。
　　InScotland，thedelusionalsoassumedthesamephases，andwasgraduallyextinguishedinthelightofcivilization。AsinEnglandtheprogressofimprovementwasslow。Uptotheyear1665，littleornodiminutionofthemaniawasperceptible。In1643，theGeneralAssemblyrecommendedthatthePrivyCouncilshouldinstituteastandingcommission，composedofany“understandinggentlemenormagistrates，“
　　totrythewitches，whowerestatedtohaveincreasedenormouslyoflateyears。In1649，anactwaspassed，confirmatoryoftheoriginalstatuteofQueenMary，explainingsomepointsofthelatterwhichweredoubtful，andenactingseverepenalties，notonlyagainstwitchesthemselves，butagainstallwhocovenantedwiththem，orsoughtbytheirmeanstopryintothesecretsoffuturity，orcauseanyeviltothelife，lands，orlimbsoftheirneighbours。Forthenexttenyears，thepopularmadnessuponthissubjectwasperhapsmorefuriousthanever；upwardsoffourthousandpersonssufferedforthecrimeduringthatinterval。Thiswastheconsequenceoftheactofparliamentandtheunparalleledseverityofthemagistrates；thelatterfrequentlycomplainedthatfortwowitchestheyburnedoneday，thereweretentoburnthenext:theyneverthoughtthattheythemselveswerethecauseoftheincrease。Inasinglecircuit，heldatGlasgow，Ayr，andStirling，in1659，seventeenunhappycreatureswereburnedbyjudicialsentencefortraffickingwithSatan。Inoneday，November7，1661，
　　thePrivyCouncilissuednolessthanfourteencommissionsfortrialsintheprovinces。Nextyear，theviolenceofthepersecutionseemstohaveabated。From1662to1668，although“theunderstandinggentlemenandmagistrates“alreadymentioned，continuedtotryandcondemn，theHighCourtofJusticiaryhadbutoneoffenderofthisclasstodealwith，andshewasacquitted。JamesWelsh，acommonpricker，wasorderedtobepubliclywhippedthroughthestreetsofEdinburghforfalselyaccusingawomanofwitchcraft；afactwhichaloneprovesthatthesuperiorcourtsiftedtheevidenceinthesecaseswithmuchmorecareandseveritythanithaddoneafewyearspreviously。TheenlightenedSirGeorgeMackenzie，styledbyDryden“thenoblewitofScotland，“labouredhardtointroducethisruleintocourt——thattheconfessionsofthewitchesshouldbeheldoflittleworth，andthattheevidenceoftheprickersandotherinterestedpersonsshouldbereceivedwithdistrustandjealousy。Thiswasreversingtheoldpractice，andsavedmanyinnocentlives。Thoughafirmbelieverbothinancientandmodernwitchcraft，hecouldnotshuthiseyestotheatrocitiesdailycommittedunderthenameofjustice。InhisworkontheCriminalLawofScotland，publishedin1678，hesays，“Fromthehorridnessofthiscrime，Idoconcludethat，ofallothers，itrequirestheclearestrelevancyandmostconvincingprobature；andI
　　condemn，nexttothewretchesthemselves，thosecruelandtooforwardjudgeswhoburnpersonsbythousandsasguiltyofthiscrime。“Inthesameyear，SirJohnClerkplumplyrefusedtoserveasacommissionerontrialsforwitchcraft，alleging，bywayofexcuse，“thathewasnothimselfgoodconjurorenoughtobedulyqualified。“TheviewsentertainedbySirGeorgeMackenzieweresofavourablyreceivedbytheLordsofSessionthathewasdeputed，in1680，toreporttothemonthecasesofanumberofpoorwomenwhoweretheninprisonawaitingtheirtrial。SirGeorgestatedthattherewasnoevidenceagainstthemwhateverbuttheirownconfessions，whichwereabsurdandcontradictory，anddrawnfromthembyseveretorture。Theywereimmediatelydischarged。
　　Forthenextsixteenyears，theLordsofSessionwereunoccupiedwithtrialsforwitchcraft；notoneisenteredupontherecord:butin1697，acaseoccurred，whichequalledinabsurdityanyofthosethatsignalizedthedarkreignofKingJames。Agirl，namedChristianaShaw，elevenyearsofage，thedaughterofJohnShawofBargarran，wassubjecttofits，andbeingofaspitefultemper，sheaccusedhermaid-servant，withwhomshehadfrequentquarrels，ofbewitchingher。
　　Herstory，unfortunately，wasbelieved。Encouragedtotellallthepersecutionsofthedevilwhichthemaidhadsenttotormenther，sheintheendconcoctedaromancethatinvolvedtwenty-onepersons。Therewasnootherevidenceagainstthembutthefanciesofthislyingchild，andtheconfessionswhichpainhadextortedfromthem；butuponthisnolessthanfivewomenwerecondemned，beforeLordBlantyreandtherestoftheCommissioners，appointedspeciallybythePrivyCounciltotrythiscase。TheywereburnedontheGreenatPaisley。
　　Thewarlockoftheparty，oneJohnReed，whowasalsocondemned，hangedhimselfinprison。ItwasthegeneralbeliefinPaisleythatthedevilhadstrangledhim，lestheshouldhaverevealedinhislastmomentstoomanyoftheunholysecretsofwitchcraft。ThistrialexcitedconsiderabledisgustinScotland。TheRev。Mr。Bell，acontemporarywriter，observedthat，inthisbusiness，“personsofmoregoodnessandesteemthanmostoftheircalumniatorsweredefamedforwitches。“Headds，thatthepersonschieflytoblamewere“certainministersoftoomuchforwardnessandabsurdcredulity，andsometoppingprofessorsinandaboutGlasgow。“[Prefaceto“Law’sMemorials，“editedbySharpe。]
　　Afterthistrial，thereagainoccursalapseofsevenyears，whenthesubjectwaspainfullyforceduponpublicattentionbythebrutalcrueltyofthemobatPittenween。Twowomenwereaccusedofhavingbewitchedastrollingbeggar，whowassubjecttofits，orwhopretendedtobeso，forthepurposeofexcitingcommiseration。Theywerecastintoprison，andtortureduntiltheyconfessed。Oneofthem，namedJanetCornfoot，contrivedtoescape，butwasbroughtbacktoPittenweennextdaybyapartyofsoldiers。Onherapproachtothetown，shewas，unfortunately，metbyafuriousmob，composedprincipallyoffishermenandtheirwives，whoseizeduponherwiththeintentionofswimmingher。Theyforcedherawaytotheseashore，andtyingaropearoundherbody，securedtheendofittothemastofafishing-boatlyingalongside。Inthismannertheyduckedherseveraltimes。Whenshewashalfdead，asailorintheboatcutawaytherope，andthemobdraggedherthroughtheseatothebeach。Here，asshelayquiteinsensible，abrawnyruffiantookdownthedoorofhishut，closeby，andplaceditonherback。Themobgatheredlargestonesfromthebeach，andpiledthemuponhertillthewretchedwomanwaspressedtodeath。Nomagistratemadetheslightestattempttointerfere，andthesoldierslookedon，delightedspectators。Agreatoutcrywasraisedagainstthisculpableremissness，butnojudicialinquirywassetonfoot。Thishappenedin1704。
　　ThenextcasewehearofisthatofElspethRule，foundguiltyofwitchcraftbeforeLordAnstrutherattheDumfriescircuit，in1708。
　　Shewassentencedtobemarkedinthecheekwitharedhotiron，andbanishedtherealmofScotlandforlife。
　　Againthereisalonginterval。In1718，theremotecountyofCaithness，wherethedelusionremainedinallitspristinevigourforyearsafterithadceasedelsewhere，wasstartledfromitsproprietybythecryofwitchcraft。Asillyfellow，namedWilliamMontgomery，acarpenter，hadamortalantipathytocats，and，somehoworother，theseanimalsgenerallychosehisback-yardasthesceneoftheircatterwaulings。Hepuzzledhisbrainsforalongtimetoknowwhyhe，aboveallhisneighbours，shouldbesopestered；atlasthecametothesageconclusionthathistormentorswerenocats，butwitches。Inthisopinionhewassupportedbyhismaid-servant，whosworearoundoaththatshehadoftenheardtheaforesaidcatstalkingtogetherinhumanvoices。Thenexttimetheunluckytabbiesassembledinhisback-yard，thevaliantcarpenterwasonthealert。Arminghimselfwithanaxe，adirk，andabroadsword，herushedoutamongthem:oneofthemhewoundedintheback，asecondinthehip，andthelegofathirdhemaimedwithhisaxe；buthecouldnotcaptureanyofthem。A
　　fewdaysafterwards，twooldwomenoftheparishdied，anditwassaidthat，whentheirbodieswerelaidout，thereappeareduponthebackofonethemarkasofarecentwound，andasimilarscaruponthehipoftheother。Thecarpenterandhismaidwereconvincedthattheyweretheverycats，andthewholecountyrepeatedthesamestory。Everyonewasuponthelook-outforproofscorroborative:averyremarkableonewassoondiscovered。NannyGilbert，awretchedoldcreatureofupwardsofseventyyearsofage，wasfoundinbedwithherlegbroken；asshewasuglyenoughforawitch，itwasassertedthatshe，also，wasoneofthecatsthathadfaredsoillatthehandsofthecarpenter。Thelatter，wheninformedofthepopularsuspicion，assertedthathedistinctlyrememberedtohavestruckoneofthecatsablowwiththebackofhisbroadsword，whichoughttohavebrokenherleg。Nannywasimmediatelydraggedfromherbed，andthrownintoprison。Beforeshewasputtothetorture，sheexplained，inaverynaturalandintelligiblemanner，howshehadbrokenherlimb；butthisaccountdidnotgivesatisfaction:theprofessionalpersuasionsofthetorturermadehertelladifferenttale，andsheconfessedthatshewasindeedawitch，andhadbeenwoundedbyMontgomeryonthenightstated-thatthetwooldwomenrecentlydeceasedwerewitchesalso，besidesaboutascoreofotherswhomshenamed。Thepoorcreaturesufferedsomuchbytheremovalfromherownhome，andthetorturesinflicteduponher，thatshediedthenextdayinprison。Happilyforthepersonsshehadnamedinherconfession，DundasofArniston，atthattimetheKing’sAdvocate-general，wrotetotheSheriff-depute，oneCaptainRossofLittledean，cautioninghimnottoproceedtotrial，the“thingbeingoftoogreatdifficulty，andbeyondthejurisdictionofaninferiorcourt。“Dundashimselfexaminedtheprecognitionwithgreatcare，andwassoconvincedoftheutterfollyofthewholecasethathequashedallfurtherproceedings。
　　WefindthissameSheriff-deputeofCaithnessveryactivefouryearsafterwardsinanothertrialforwitchcraft。Inspiteofthewarninghehadreceived，thatallsuchcasesweretobetriedinfuturebythesuperiorcourts，hecondemnedtodeathanoldwomanatDornoch，uponthechargeofbewitchingthecowsandpigsofherneighbours。Thispoorcreaturewasinsane，andactuallylaughedandclappedherhandsatsightof“thebonniefire“thatwastoconsumeher。Shehadadaughter，whowaslamebothofherhandsandfeet，andoneofthechargesbroughtagainstherwas，thatshehadusedthisdaughterasaponyinherexcursionstojointhedevil’ssabbath，andthatthedevilhimselfhadshodher，andproducedlameness。