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THE following brief notice in
the Books of Adjournal of this trial awakens futile curiosity. As has been
observed, from the singular respectability of the assize the accused must
have been of superior rank, and it may be added that the charge of
attempting the life of the Regent of Scotland, the Earl of Morton, was one
of no ordinary kind. The lady incriminated lived at Kildeis, in the
neighbourhood of Muthill, and the assize were selected from neighbouring
proprietors.
[Mr Pitcairns thinks that the
Kildeis referred to was in the Barony of Methven, where there is a place
called Kildeis Land; but there can be little doubt, looking to the fact of
the jury being chosen from the neighbouring proprietors, that Kildeis, in
the parish of Muthill, was the residence of Violet Mar.]
(Mr Thomas Gilbert, Justice
Depute.)
Witchcraft, &c.
1577, Oct. 24—Violet Mar, in
Kildeis, dilaitit of the using of sorcerie, witchcraft, and incantatione
with invocatione of spreittis at the times contenit in the said dittay.
Violet Mar was found guilty,
as the word "convict" appears on the margin of the record, which, however,
does not bear the usual marking by the Justiciary Clerk of sentence having
been pronounced. It has been suggested as probable that it was referred to
the Lord Regent and Privy Council, and when pronounced omitted to be
inserted in the record. |
