he Rev. John Scott, one of the Established Church ministers of Perth
from 1762 to 1806, author of the _History of the Earls of Gowrie_ and
other works, left several folio manuscript volumes of extracts from
the kirk-session records of Perth; and from these we make the
following abbreviated selections in support of what is here stated:--

"On 16th April 1582 the kirk-session (which for some
time was designated the 'Assembly') ordained their
box-master to give the witch in the Tolbooth eight
doits (eight twelfths of a penny sterling) in the
day."

"In November 1589 a day was assigned to certain honest
neighbours of Tirseppie to be present and to declare
whether it was true that Guddal, spouse to Richard
Watson, was a witch, as John Watson alleged, or what
evil likelihood they saw in her. Walter Watson, John
Watson, George Scott, and James Scott, on being
severally examined by the kirk-session, declared that
they never saw such things of her whereby they might
suspect her of witchcraft, but that she was an honest
poor woman, who wrought honestly for her living,
without whose help her husband, Richard Watson, would
have been dead, as he was an aged man. Therefore the
minister and elders ordained the act of slander to be
put in execution against John Watson, and Helen Watson
his daughter."

"In November 1597 the kirk-session ordained the
magistrates of Perth to travel with his Majesty to
obtain a commission to execute Janet Robertson,
sorceress, who had long been detained in ward."

"The kirk-session, on 30th May 1615, requested the
bailies to ward Marion Murdoch, complained upon for
witchcraft, ay and until she was tried thereanent."

"On the 4th day of May 1618, conform to citation,
Isabella Garry, servitrix, and Margaret Lamb,
daughter-in-law to George Thompson, appeared before
the session, and were asked if they had been at the
well in the bank of Huntingtower the previous Sabbath,
and if they drank thereof, and if they had left
anything at it. They answered that they had been at it
and drank thereof, and that each of them had left a
pin thereat. This was found to be a point of idolatry.
Their case was continued until some other young women,
who were with them, should be summoned to appe