pain of death, as well
to be execute against the user, abuser, as the seeker of the response
or consultation. And this is to be put in execution by the justice,
sheriffs, stewards, bailies, lords of regalites and royalties, their
deputies, and other ordinary judges competent within this realm, with
all vigour, and they have power to execute the same."[8]

That Kate Nike Neiving--not M'Niven, as her name is generally
pronounced--was among the first to suffer as the result of the passing
of this statute, is clearly proved by referring to the case of John
Brughe, the notorious Glendevon wizard, who was tried at Edinburgh on
November 24th, 1643, for practising sorcery and other unholy arts. It
was alleged against him that he had obtained his knowledge "from a
wedow woman, named Neane Nikclerith, of threescoir years of age, quha
wis sister dochter to Nike Neveing, that notorious infamous witche in
Monzie, quha for her sorcerie and witchcraft was brunt fourscoir of
yeir since or thereby."[9]

That the date of the burning of the witch at Monzie took place in the
year 1563, and not, as is generally supposed, in the year 1715 is not
only proved by the recorded evidence in the case of John Brughe already
referred to, it also receives confirmation from the fact that although
reference is made over and over again in the Session Records to public
events, there is no mention made of the witch. An additional argument
for the earlier date is also found in the fact that Patrick Graeme,
younger of Inchbrakie (referred to by Dr. Marshall as the person who
brought Kate to the stake, and by Mr Blair as the man who would prove
the means of her death), had been for over twenty years in exile.
Having slain John, the Master of Rollo, when returning homewards from a
revel at Invermay, he escaped abroad, and it was not till the year 1720
that he procured remission of his sentence and returned to Inchbrakie.
That he did return is proved by the fact that he was a witness to a
feu-charter, granted by Anthony Murray of Dollary, to Donald Fisher,
taylzior in Crieff, dated "at Dollary," January 13th, 1725.

An attempt has been made not only to fix the date as 1715, but also to
give a list of the "understanding gentlemen, magistrates, and ministers
of the neighbourhood," who acted as judges on the occasion; and in
particular the then minister of Monzie--Mr Bowie--is singled out as one
of those who are said to have been bitter against the witch,