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NOT many years after the
execution of Alexander Drummond, John Brugh, in the Brae of Fossoway, was
brought to trial on a similar charge. Like Drummond, his practice appears to
have been extensive, and with his fate before his eyes, it is strange he was
nut deterred from exercising his imaginary powers. His residence, though on
the other side, of the Ochils and in the parish of Fossoway, being within
the ancient Stewartry of Strathearn, the neighbouring parish of Glendevon
being also the scene of some of the most gruesome exhibitions of his mystic
arts, his case, as well of those of the subsequent Fossoway witches, has
been included in the present collection.
Amongst the charms used by
John Brugh one was the putting of an enchanted stone into the drink of his
patient. This practice had been used in Scotland with the sanction of the
Church previous to the Reformation, and appears to have been innocent in
itself, but being accompanied by incantations it was thereby brought within
the category of sorcery. We are told that Brugh gave a patient "ane
enchanted stane of the bignes of a dow eg, advysing him to put the samyn in
his drink."
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