oast.

From the ancient records of the kirk-session of Kirkcaldy, it seems
that numerous reputed witches were burned in that town in the
seventeenth century. In the year 1633 two witches were burned; the
cost of their execution, including the price of tar barrels, and tow
for tying the unfortunate beings at the stake, amounted to L2, 17s.
6d. Scots. One half of the sum was borne by the kirk-session, and the
other half by the town. In the year 1649 a woman was burned on the
estate of Burncastle, and the cost of watching her thirty days and of
supplying fuel amounted to L92, 14s. Scots, a goodly sum in those
days; but as L27, found in the possession of the reputed witch, was
taken to assist in defraying the expenses of her judicial murder, the
burden did not fall very heavy, after all, on the public.

CHAPTER LVIII.

Hiring a Witch to detect a Witch--Clerical
Witch-finders--Agnew, the sturdy Beggar--His
Diabolical Doings--Missiles thrown by Unseen
Hands--Working Instruments destroyed--A Distressed
Family--Minister's Remonstrance and Advice--Fresh
Afflictions--House set on Fire--Prayer and Fasting
resorted to--Meeting of Presbytery for Prayer on
account of the Evil Doings of Satan and his Wicked
Emissaries--Spirits Speaking--Minister's Reply--Fiend
not put to Silence by Prayer--Application to the Synod
for Advice--Solemn Humiliation ordained by the
Synod--Annoyance continued--Beggar suspected, and
hanged for Blasphemy--Bargarran Witches--An Esquire's
Daughter bewitched--Physicians puzzled--Great
Consternation in the Country--Parish Minister praying
for the Afflicted Child--Other Ministers' Visits to
Bargarran--Presbytery ordering Days of
Humiliation--Effect of Fasting and Prayer--Recourse to
the Law--Catherine Campbell imprisoned--Girl's
continued Affliction--Representation to His Majesty's
Privy Council--Commission appointed to inquire into
the case--Proceedings of the Commission--Trial of
Witches--Specious Pleading--Condemnation and
Execution.

In the middle of the seventeenth century the mania against witches and
warlocks became so prevalent, that almost every individual was
affected therewith. If a child was sick, if a family became
unfortunate, if cattle died, if boats were upset or ships lost, or if
accidents of any description, even to the breaking of a plou