ie's
house was searched for a wax image, supposed to have been used as an
instrument to torture the unfortunate gentleman. True enough, a wax
image was found, with two pins stuck in it. Mathie was therefore
apprehended, and committed to prison. In presence of the Sheriff of
Renfrewshire, she was searched for insensible marks by competent
inspectors, who found many devil's marks.

Sir George recovered slightly, but on the 4th January he became so
poorly that his friends despaired of his life. Meantime, again acting
on the dumb girl's suggestion, the house in which John Stewart (Janet
Mathie's eldest son) resided was searched, and a clay image, having
three pins stuck in it, lay in the bed where he slept. Stewart, and
one of his little sisters, aged fourteen years, were instantly
arrested. Being pressed to tell the truth, the girl apprehended told
that the image had been made by her brother, Bessie Weir, Margery
Craig, and Margaret Jackson, in presence of a black man, whom she
understood to be the devil. Sir George, curiously enough, recovered
after the second discovery of an image, the same as he had done at the
finding of the former figure. John Stewart remained obstinate until
his body was searched for insensible marks. These being discovered in
great numbers, so confounded the man that he admitted his compact
with Satan. In a judicial declaration he confessed his accomplices
were his sister and the other women named. On further examination the
girl admitted that she, as well as her mother and brother, had a
paction with Satan.

Lord Ross and the Earl of Dundonald granted a warrant for the
apprehension of Bessie Weir, Margaret Jackson, and Margery Craig.
Margaret Jackson, who had reached the age of eighty years, like her
accomplices, had many devil's marks on her person. She confessed being
accessory to the making of images, with the intention of depriving Sir
George Maxwell of life.

On the 17th January a third image was found under Janet Mathie's
prison bed in Paisley, concerning which the dumb girl had given
information; but it appeared to be the picture of a woman. The
supposition seemed to be that it represented a lady belonging to the
Pollok family; for against the whole household Mathie had taken an
inveterate grudge.

The Lords of His Majesty's Privy Council, being informed of what had
been done, granted a commission to Sir Patrick Gauston of Gauston,
James Brisbane of Bishopton, Sir John Shaw, younger, o