and "besides, of his extraordinary pains in
the burning of a great number of witches, and four pirates, and
bigging of the port on the brig of Dee."

They "theirfor, in recompens of his extraordinarie
panis, and in satisfaction theirof (not to induce any
preparative to deanes of guild to crave a recompence
heirafter), but to incurage ithers to travel also
diligentlie in the discharge of thair office, grantit
and assignit to him the sum of L47, 3s. 4d. owin be
him of the rest of his account of the unlawis of the
persons convict for slaying of black fische, and
dischargit him theirof be their presentis for ever."

Thomas Leyis, a stabler in Aberdeen, fell a victim to the over-zeal of
his fellow-citizens at this time, the chief of whom was, no doubt, the
indefatigable dean of guild. Leyis appeared before the Court of
Justiciary held in the tolbooth of Aberdeen, to answer to the
undermentioned charges:--

"Imprimis, upon Hallowein last bypast, at twelff
houris at even or thairby, thow, the said Thomas
Leyis, accompaneit with umquhil Janett Wischert,
Isobel Coker, Isobel Monteithe, Kathren Mitchell,
relict of umquhil Charles Dun, litster, sorceraris and
witches, with ane gryt number of ither witches, cam to
the mercat and fish cross of Aberdene, under the
conduct and gyding of the dewill, present with you all
in company, playing before you on his kynd of
instruments. Ye all dansit about baythe the said
crosse and the meill mercate ane lang space of tym; in
the quhilk dewill's dans thow, the said Thomas, was
foremost and led the ring, and dang the said Kathren
Mitchell, because she spoilt your dans, and ran nocht
sa fast about as the rest. Testifeit be the said
Kathren Mitchell, quha was present with thee at the
tym foresaid, dansin with the dewill.

"Secundus, the said Thomas Leyis is accusit as a
common notorious witche, in using of witchcraft and
sorcerie these dyvers years bygane.

"The haill assis, in ane voce for the maist pairt
(except thrie), convicts and fyllis Thomas Leyis in
the first poynt, that he was the ringleader of the
dans on Hallowein last night about the croce, and in
either speciall poynts, and as a notorious witche be
oppen voce and common fame." [Thomas was burned.]

The following figu