The Deils
Ain (The Devils Own)
The Story of Witch Persecution
in Scotland by Roy J M Pugh
The Deil’s Ain
recounts the facts of a dark and disturbing chapter in Scotland’s
history. From time immemorial, the human race has believed in the
supernatural, and has often suffered for that belief, perhaps no more so
than in the period beginning in the early fifteenth century and ending in
the early eighteenth. After nearly one and a half millennia of
religious supremacy in Europe, a corrupt Roman Catholic church, looking
for heretics and aware of increasing opposition, decided that witches
should be categorised amongst its enemies and their persecution began.
Too late in
cleansing itself of internal corruption, the Catholic Church was overtaken
by the Reformation, particularly in northern Europe. Ironically,
Catholics themselves became targets for the reformers, in many cases
adherence to the old rituals being interpreted as witchcraft. In
Scotland, the zeal of the reformers reached fanatical proportions and the
new church’s grip on society was almost absolute. All sorts of trivial
behaviour led to accusations of witchcraft, not to mention petty and
personal disputes. Once a ‘witch’ was discovered, she (or less often
he) would be interrogated and sometimes tortured to reveal the identity of
others. Everyone knew that witches operated in covens.
It is
difficult for us today to come to terms with what transpired not really so
long ago.
Scots
language content:
The major
part of the book is written in straightforward English but, quite
frequently, quotes are given which contain old Scots words. In addition,
chapter 4, which is a dramatisation of a mid seventeenth century trial, is
liberally sprinkled with old Scots to add realism. A glossary is
provided to help those not familiar with lowland Scots and any normal
English speaker should have little trouble in understanding with its
assistance.
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The Deil’s Ain
recounts the facts of a dark and disturbing chapter in Scotland’s
history. From time immemorial, the human race has believed in the
supernatural, and has often suffered for that belief, perhaps no more so
than in the period beginning in the early fifteenth century and ending in
the early eighteenth. After nearly one and a half millennia of
religious supremacy in Europe, a corrupt Roman Catholic church, looking
for heretics and aware of increasing opposition, decided that witches
should be categorised amongst its enemies and their persecution began.
