they serued, and
to whome they were priuatelye sworne: entered into the detestable Art of
witchcraft, which they studied and practised so long time, that in the end
they had seduced by their sorcery a number of other to be as bad as
themselues: dwelling in the boundes of _Lowthian_, which is a principall
shire or parte of _Scotland_, where the Kings Maiestie vseth to make his
cheefest residence or abode: and to the end that their detestable
wickednes which they priuilye had pretended against the Kings Maiestie,
the Common-weale of that Country, with the Nobilitie and subjects of the
same, should come to light: God of his vnspeakeable goodnes did reueale
and lay it open in very strange sorte, therby to make knowne vnto the
worlde, that there actions were contrarye to the lawe of God, and the
naturall affection which we ought generallye to beare one to another: the
manner of the reuealing wherof was as followeth.

Within the towne of _Trenent_ in the Kingdome of _Scotland_, there
dwelleth one _Dauid Seaton_, who being deputie Bailiffe in the saide
Towne, had a maide seruant called _Geillis Duncane_, who vsed secretly to
be absent and to lye foorth of her Maisters house euery other night: this
_Geillis Duncane_ took in hand to help all such as were troubled or
greeued with any kinde of sicknes or infirmitie: and in short space did
perfourme manye matters most miraculous, which thinges forasmuch as she
began to doe them vpon a sodaine, hauing neuer doon the like before, made
her Maister and others to be in great admiracion, and wondred thereat: by
meanes wherof the saide _Dauid Seaton_ had his maide in some great
suspition, that she did not those things by naturall and lawfull wayes,
but rather supposed it to be doone by some extraordinary and vnlawfull
meanes.

Whervpon, her Maister began to growe very inquisitiue, and examined her
which way and by what meanes she were able to perfourme matters of so
great importance: whereat she gaue him no answere, neuerthelesse, her
Maister to the intent that he might the better trye and finde out the
trueth of the same, did with the helpe of others, torment her with the
torture of the Pilliwinckes vpon her fingers, which is a greeuous torture,
and binding or wrinching her head with a corde or roape, which is a most
cruell torment also, yet would she not confesse any thing, whereupon they
suspecting that she had beene marked by the Diuell (as commonly witches
are) made dilligent searc