Elders which tho not in the Case of spectre yet agrees in the Rationale The Representation by Pharo's Magicians had Concomitants by which they were discovered and confounded But lastly suppose that GOD in the deepths of His Wisdom to Convince the Error of Nimious self Confidence should permitt all necessar Probation to concurr against an Innocent yet the Judge following the Faith of Proofs established by Divine and Humane Laws is altogether Innoxious Since this Case being very Raâ—e the Evill is less than the establishing a Principle by which most of all these Monsters could not be cut off Upon the whole It is certain That as tho' oft times false Witnesses set on by the Devil have taken away an harmless Life by accusing it of other Crimes yet the Testimony of Witnesses must still be credited till they be redargued so these Appearances of Witches with the other Specialities before exprest being proven ought to be esteemed Real till the fallacy be established Especially seing there are Examples in Ancient and Modern History of Satan's Representing the best of Men as committing Murther Ruggrie c. In effigie so Delriâ— lib. 5. Sect. 16. N. 5. relats That St. Silvanus was represented by the Devil as committing a common Capital Crime And the like of a Monk whereof there are several Modern paralel Instances yet this cannot enervat the Rule and Faith of publick Judicaturs founded on no more but upon the sight of the like Appearances and any Argument against the Probation in Witchcraft will equally hold against the Probation of any other Crime whatsomever Wherefore the Rules of them both must be common as to beleiving the Seâ—ses fortified ut supra till their Error be Individually discovered Finally the Certainty is no ways diminished by the extraordinariness of the Appearance to the Senses For in Law and Nature Reality and not Siâ—â—lation is presumed till the contrair be made appear by proving the thing not possible in Nature or tho' it be possible that it is actually false This is answer enough to those who place a great part of their small Wit in nonsensical arguing against all Divine Authority But writers further illustrate that the extraordinariness of a Matter of Fact does not exclude it's Reality's being the Subject of the Testimony of Witnesses in our Saviours Miracles Transfiguration Walking on the Waters standing in the midst of the Discipleâ— while the Doors were shut and arguing Assurance by Their Senses That a Spirit had not Flâ—sh and Bâ—nes tho' indeed the surer Word of prophesy did put these beyond doubt Nor could it be alledged for the Pannals tho they had the last word as perhaps they have not in Objections against Witnesses since therein rei fiâ—â—t actores by attacqâ—ing the Witnesses presumed Hability That it 's not conceiveable how the Girl or VVitnesses could see what the bystanders could not behold Beside the impossibility of the real Bodies entering at closs Doors and Windows or not intercepting the sight of what is at its back For to this it would be answered 1mo Proven facts must not be denyed tho' Philosophers have not yet â—â—tainly reached the Invisible manner of their Existtence So in Nature the Load-stone draws the Iron the Compass turns always to the Poles c. In Scripture the Angels and the Devil was once such retaining as yet his Natural powers smote the Sodomites that they could not see the Door tho they saw the House Baldam's Ass perceived the Angel that stood undiscovered to himself and the Rod thrown down by the Magicians of Aegipt was no doubt seen by themselves tho invisible to the by-standers Which bolding of their Eyes Interpreters explain to have been done by natural Means and yet the Manner thereof is certainly difficult However it is also certain that if a possible way can be proposed tho Reality of a proved Fact is not to be contradicted Aod this can be done in the the present Case For 2do Satan's Natural Knowledge and acquired Experience makes him perfect in the Opticks and limning Besides that as a Spirit he excels in Strength and Agility whereby he may â—â—sily bewitch the Eyes of others to whom he intends that his instruments should not be seen in this manner as was formerly hinted viz. He constricts the Pores of the Witches Vehicle which intercepts apart of the Rayes reflecting from her Body he condenses the interjacent Air with grosser Meteors blown into it or other ways does violently agitate it which drowns another part of the Rayes And lastly he obstructs the optick Nerves with â—umors stirred toward them All which joined together may easily intercept the whole Rayes reflecting from these Bodies so as to make no impression upon the common â—ense and yet at the same time by refraction of the Rayes glydeing alongst the fitted sides of the Volatile Couch wherein Satan transports them thereby meeting and coming to the â—ye as if there were nothing interjacent the wall or chair behind the same Bodies may be seen as a peece of Money lying out of sight in a Cup becomes visible how soon the medium is altered by pouring in some wâ—â—er on it Severals of your number do know that the Girle declared that she saw and heard the Doors and Windows open at the Witches enâ—ry when no doubt the Devil had precoudensed a soft stopage on the Eyes and â—ars of others to whom that was unperceived So Apâ—lâ—â—â—ic escaped Domitians sight and Giges became invisible by his Magical Ring John of Sarrisberrie tells us of a Witch that could make any thing not to be seen and Mejerus relates another that had the like power Some Italian Witches of greater then ordinary wit confessed to Grillandus the Devils opening Doors and Windows for them tho the more Ignorant by a Fascination think themselves Actors of this Whence it ought not to be doubted by any reasonable Man what in all Times and Places is so unconteâ—â—ible Fact Finally the Pannals could not insist that these Confessants are to depone only on their Imagination which can prove no more against themselves or others them a Dream For still it s to be minded that there are other Proofs to which this is only necessary as a consonant adminicle But further Arg. causa It is answered that the alledgeance is a mistake seeing they declare plain matters of fact obvious not only to 〈◊〉 but several of their Senses viz. Some of them went the greaâ—est part of the way to these meetings on foot they there saw and touched their confedeâ—ts they heard their Combinations to Destroy and Torture the Infants Girle and Ministers They returned on foot again and even when they were carried fore or back they knew on the next day that it was no Dream the same way as all other Mortals discover the difference But moreover this is adminiculate by some real effects of a personal Presence as you have seen in the probation And it is yet further cleared by the journal of Bargâ—â—â—ens
bones of Fowls and small bones of the heads of Kine and then some small sticks of Candle firt a sort of Fin in this Countrey thâ—â— burns like Candle one of which was about three or four inches long which when any upon sight of either bones or sticks took hold of to pull out they found them either held by her Teeth set together upon them or forâ—ibly drawn back into her Throat particularly â—â—â—chibald Bonâ—atiâ—e of Kelliâ— younger observing a bone in her mouth like a duck shank or leâ— bone and essaying to pull it out he declared be found something drawing it back into her throat so that it took a deal of force to get it pulled out It is to be noticed that she never knew how these things were broâ—ght into her mouth and when they were got out of it she immediatly recoveâ—ed of her fit for that time After this she put out of her mouth some quantity of unclean Hay intermixed with dung as if it had been taken out of a Dunghil which was so stinking that the Damsel could not endure the nauseating taste and vile relish those things produced in her mouth which did necessitate her still to rinse her mouth with Water after the putting of that sort of matter out of it Then for more then a days space she put out of her Mouth a number of wild fowls feathers after that a gravel-stone which in the judgment of beholders had been passed by some person in a gravel fit with some small whitestones and a whole nut gall wherewith they use to dye and to make ink together with lumps of Candle grease and egg-shells during which time she continued as formerly in her recurring swooning fits with some intervals wherein she was in perfect health Of all which there were many Famous Witnesses who in that City besides those who were continually with hâ—r came frequently to visit her It is to be noticed that the Damsel at the time of the putting out of her Mouth the Sticks abovementioned being in Bed about eight a Clock at Nigâ—t told she was to be grievously tormented with sore Fits that Night which accordingly fell out For a litle thereafter she fell into along swoon wherein she had no use of any Sense either of Hearing Seeing or Feeling so as thâ— oft times the Beholders called to her with a loud Voice moving also and tossing her body all was to no purpose and when the Laird of Kelly younger abovenamed to try the Truth gave her a very sore pinsh in the Arm she had no Sense of it in the time After recovery from the Swoon but yet continuing in the Fit she fell a reasoning with Katharine Campbel after this manner Thou sit'st there with a â—uck in thy Hand to put in my Mouth but thorow GOD's strength thou shalt not get leave Thou art permitted to Torment me but I trust in GOD thou shalt never get my Life tho it 's my Life thou design'st And at thâ— time callâ—ng for a Bible and Candle said come near me Katie and I'â—â—â—â—t hee see where a godly Man was given up to Satan to be Tormented But GOD keeped his Liâ—em His own Hand And so I trust in GOD thou shalt never get my Life and all that thou shalt be permiâ—ted to do unto me I hope thorow GOD's mercy shall turn to my Advantage This Man was Rob'd of All and Tormented in Body and had nothing left him but an ill Wife Come near me Kaâ—â—e and s'lread it to thee And teaching that Passages 〈◊〉 Job when she came to the place where hu Wife said to him Curse GOD and Die that Damsil considering these words aâ—â—tle said O! what a Wife has this been that bids her Good man Carse God and Die she who should have been a comfort to him in his Trouble turned a Cross to him Then after reading of the Chapter to the end she â—â—kt tovvards the foot of the Bed and saâ—d Noâ— Katie what think'st thou of that Thou seest for all the power the Devil got over Job he gain'd no Ground on him and I hope he shall gain as litle on me Thy Master the Devil deceives thee he is a bad Master whom thou serv'st and thou shalt find it to thy Smart except thou Repent before thou Die there is no Repentance to be had after Death I 'l let thee see Katie there is no Repentance in Hell And turning over the â—ook â—â—â—ng â—uk 16. Chap. nâ—ar the letter end thereof and reading the samen over said Katie thou seest there is no Repentance in Hell for this Rich Man besought Abrabam to testify to his five Brethren that they come not to the place of Torment where he was but Repent turn to the LORD for there is no winning out if once they come there no Katie thou hear'st this what think'st thou of it I 'l leâ— thee hear another place which should pierce thy very Heart And turning over the Book sa d â—hâ— vvould reâ—d about Adam and Eve tâ—hâ—r thou know'st Katie the serpent the Devil thy Master thought to have ruined Mankind at the beginning his Malice was so great at that blessed State wherein they were then seeing himself cast down from all hopes oâ— Mercy used all means possible for him to subvert their happiness by suggesting to them fair Promises and a prospect of Advantage to them before their Eyes in causing them Eat of that forbidden Fruit whereby they and their Posterity fell from that Estate wherein they were were made Subject to GOD's Curse for ever But GOD did not suffer them to be at this stance but of his infinit Mercy shewed to them a better way whereby they might have Life Eternal by revealing to them that blessed Promise the Seed of the Woman shall bruise the Heaâ— of a the Serpent Now Katie what think'st thou of that Promise But have mind of this thou it get no Advantage by it it 's not made to thee who hast renounced GOD's Service and taken on with the Devil thou art his Slave thou deny'st this but I know thou art a Hypocrite for I remember when thou wast in my Mothers House thou bought a Catechism upon a pretence to learn to Read to cloak thy Sin Wil't thou hear me know'st thou the reward of the Hypocrit I 'l let thee hear it I remember Mr. W lliam Gillâ—es was Lecturing the other day upon the 23 of Mathevv where many a wo is pronounced against the Hypocrit Eight dreadful Wo's here Katie and some of them belongs to thee But I 'l tell thee more know'st thou the reward of the Hypocrit they shall be cast into the Lake that burns forever that 's their Portion do'st thou hear this now Thou turn'â— thy Back to me when I am telling the truth if I were reading a Story-Book or telling a Tale to thee thou would'st hear that Remember it will be thy Portion too if thou do not Repent and Confess and seek Mercy Again turning over the Book
Twelve sometimes lying as one dead thorow the violence of pain and decay of her natural Spirits sometimes again recovering essay'd to express somewhat but could not withal putting out of her Mouth a great quantity of crooked Pins and the parts of her Body being prodigiously distorted she complain'd of great pain Thus she continued until half an hour after Twelve a Clock at Night when on a sudden she recovered to the admiration of Beholders telling them She might novv go to Bed being told by some invisible Informer that the Sheriff and the other Gentleman to wit the Macer had now entred the Gentlewomans House and accordingly going to bed was no further troubled that Night It is worthy of remark here that the Sheriff and Macer at their return did declare that it was just about that time they entred the Gentlewomans House which the Damsel condescended upon Saturday being March 20 About Ten a Clock in the Forenoon she was of a sudden seiz'd with fits falling down as dead her eyes quite closed sometimes again opening and turning in her head she saw nor heard none about her but was hurried with violence to and fro thorow the Room crying with a loud voice when any by force would hinder her motion She being in this posture and depriv'd thus of her senses James Lindsay one of the three Confessants was brought into the Room who no sooner entered the door but was perceived by her and she smiling ran towards him saying Jamie where hast thou been this long time how is it with thee And answered him distinctly to every word he spake tho at the same time she neither heard nor saw any other in the Room nor could converse with them albeit tryed by several experiments for that purpose particularly a Tobacco Box being held before her Eyes by a person present in the Room she did not see it but as soon as it was put in the hand of James Lindsay she instantly enquired at him Where he had got that Box she continuing in this posture the Sheriff her Father being present thought it fit to confront M. M. who was now come thereby to try if the Damsel would hear or see her as she had done James Landssay which accordingly they did And as soon as M. M. entered the door the Damsel tho still in the fit presently smiled and said I see the Gentlewoman now tho formerly she had never seen her personally but only her spectre in the fits She likewise heard her when she spoke to her answering distinctly some questions proposed by M. M such as When it was she had seen her tormenting her To which she answered she had seen her the other night in her fits and further challenged her Why she had restrain'd her from making known the Highland Wifes name as also saying unto her Thou pretends thou knowest not what I say thou knowest well enough Upon all which the Gentlewoman on a sudden without being desired prayed That the Lord might send the Damsel her health saying Lord help thee poor daft Child and rebuke the Devil Which words were no sooner uttered then the Damsel fell down as dead and being in this posture carried to another Room instantly recovered of the Blind Deaf and also of the light fit becomeing perfectly well continued so for sometime being thus recovered and M. M. removed into another Room the Damsel was enquired at whom she had seen in her last fit To which she reply'd she had seen the Gentlewoman tho in the mean time she was altogether ignorant of the Gentlewomans ever being personally present in the Room with her The same day the Commissioners of Justiciary having come to Bargarran M. M. and the Damsel were again confronted upon which the Damsel being in the light Fit upon the first look of the forementioned M. M was suddenly seiz'd with sore Fits out of which when recovered she accused her as being one of her most violent tormenters particularly mentioning such and such times in which she had in an extraordinary manner afflicted her as also what words she spoke in her hearing while in the Fit and which is yet more remarkable did question the Gentlewoman if she did not sometime in December last when she was tormenting her remember how she went away from her in great haste saying she could stay no longer being obliged to attend a Childs burial at home In confirmation of which it is very credibly informed that Wâ— R a near neighbour of hers had a Child burried that same day and that the Gentlewoman came not in due time to attend the Corpse to the burial place but the Corpse being near to the Church yeard ere she reached the House from whence they came she returned again to her own lodging and so did not accompany the burial at all The Lords day following being March 21 she fell into Swooning Fits complaining of no pain except near to her heart falling down as dead not only when the Fits seiz'd her but also when she recovered sometimes Singing after an unusual manner withall informing Spectators that J. G. constrained her to that kind of Musick her own Lips not at all moving in the mean time which beholders saw to be true only her Tongue for preventing of which she frequently put her hand into her Mouth And at this time when either the herself or those about her offered to read any part of Scripture she was violently Tormented declaring if she did but so much as hear the word of God read that day she would certainly be extremely Tortured in Confirmation of which when some essay'd to read Hebr. 11.2 4.6 Isa 40. Psal 3. She uttered horrid Schreeks and Out-cryes Complaining that She was Pinched in evidence of which the Prints or Marks of the Nails of Fingers were distinctly seen on her Arms and being thus pinched or bitter four several times with great violence and pain the Skin it self was seen to be torn from off these parts of her Arms and Fingers where the Prints of the â—eeth and Nails were observed so that from the deepness of the Wounds the foresaids parts affected fell a Bleeding which Blood was botâ—â— seen and handled by Spectators Moreover the Damsel while in this sad and â—â—mentable condition seem'd to be extremely affected and oppressed with sore Sickness as one in a Fever â—â—ying sometimes to Remove these Dead Children â—â—t of her Sight which she frequently repeated from six to nine in the Morning and she fall continuing thorow the reft of the day it was observed that some Charms and Iâ—chantments were put in her Mouth as formerly of which the Damsel being very sensible fell down on 〈◊〉 Sudden on the Ground putting her hand to some Spittle which she had put out of her Mouth and lifted some Trash which she again cast down to the Ground it making some Norse but yet neither seen in her Spittle nor else where by Spectators tho while in her Mouth they distinctly observed something
by a liquid and positive Probation There wants no more to determine you anent the Pannals guilt And therefore 3tio As to the Third part of the Probation were 〈◊〉 the Positive Depositions of the Confessants and against whom they do concurr wholly to your own Perusal and Examination Only you would be pleased to notice â—mâ— Some things which very much Sustain the Credibility of their Testimonies arrising from their examination in Court. 2do We shall explain to you the import of the word Nâ—tâ— which is added to the Interlocutor of the Judges admitting these last Witnesses As to the First Elizabeth Anderson is of sufficient Age being Seventeen yet so young and pointed that her Deposition appears no effect of Melancholly She accused her Father to his face when he was a dying in the prison as now there are two of her Aunts in the Pannal which certainly must proceed from the strength of Truth since even Dives retain 〈◊〉 natural affection to his relations She went on foot to the Meetings with her Father except only that the Devil transported them over the Water of Clyde which was easy to the Prince of the Air who does far greà ter things by his Hurri-canes she tells that Montgomeries House was Meallis when his Child was strangled And she declares that she never renounced her Baptism but was carried along by the Concussion of a Parent So that nothing can be objected against her testimony in any Judgement much less in an Excepted Crime James Lindsay it is true is of less import yet by his Weeping when he came in and was admonished of the greatness of his guilt it appears that he had an Sense of it he hath a natural Precipitancy in what he speakes yet that is commonly the concomitant of Ingenuity as importing his Expressions not to before-thought He Concurrs in most things with the others and yet he has declared that he saw Not Margaret Fulton at Dumbartoun c. Which implys that he does not file the Pannals all at Randome but tells what occurred to his Senses c. Janet and Margaret Rodgers are instances of a singular providence for they did confess the same Morning that the Court did last sit of their own proper motive there being neither Ministers nor Judges beside them at the time Agnâ—s Nasmith is Janets Relation and she tells that she never saw Katharine Campbel as Margaret declares that she did not see John Lindsay in Bartech which plainly demonstrats that they tell only the dictats of their Natural Conscience arrising from discretion and knowledge of the true matters of Fact They both professed their Repentance last Sabbath in the Church And do persist with a great Firmness as you see their Department in deponing to be Congruous and Exact Thomas Lindsay and Christian Shaw being under Pupillarity we did not press their being put to an Oath yet you saw that they did declare in Court against these Pâ—â—nals in such an Harmony with the rest of the Deponents and gave such an cause of their knowledge That it is certain their own youngness in years Adds extreamly to the Credit of their Testimony Because thereby it is incredible that they could have contrived or executed the acting of concert As to the Second Since these Witnesses are admitted by the Judges it necessarly implyes that they meant them to be probative only they adjected the words Cum nota That is you must notice or Notanduâ— est That there must something else concurr to prove the Guilt of the Pannals by and attour the Depositions of any two such Witnesses But so it is that all the Adminicles on which you have seen Probation led for more then Sixteen Hours of your time are strenghtening evidences of those Witnesses Credebility and cannot but have been Notticed by you as Illative of the same things which they depone Whereby the Nota is fully taken off by the concurrence of four other positive Testimonys agreeing with that of two of these VVitnesses by the Extraordinaryness of the corpora delicti by the Probability of the Adminicles And finally by the whole Chain of this Affair and the Sparkles of an Infernal Fire which in every place have broke out of it It is true there are some few of the Adminicles that are proven only by one VVitness But as to this you may consider 1mo That a VVitness deponing do facto proprio is in Law more credited than any other single VVitness And this is the present Case as to some of the Adminicles 2do The Antecedent Concomitant and Subsequent circumstances of Fact do sustain the Testimony and make the Semi-plenary Probation to become full But 3tio The other Adminicles undoubtedly proven by concurring Witnesses are perse sufficient And therefore you saw us at the desire of the Judges forbeare to call the far greatest part of our Witnesses because the time had alreadyrâ—â— to so great a length and it was thought that there was already enough proven of presumptions For it may al 's reasonably be imagined that the most Regular and Curious Scheme had emerged from the fortuitous concourse of Atoms roving without Rule as that so many indications should Concenter against each of these Pannalls yet they remain Innocent of Witchcraft Now upon the whole you will take notice that Presumptions being vehement make a more certain Probation then Witnesses Because Presumptions are Natural Emanations of the thing it self which cannot be brybed Whereas Witnesses are obnoxious So in our Law there was one condemned for Thift on other for falshood and a third for Murdering of a Child meerly upon Presumptions as is related by McKeinzie in his Criminal Treatise much more may presumptions astruct the faith of and take off the Nota from positive Witnesses For it is a gross mistake that several proofs which have each of them some Import may not be joyned to make a full Evidence the same way as two small Candles in a Dark room will not suffice yet several others being added to them will make a sufficient light to discover the murderrer Two Boys will be able to carry a Weight which one of them would 〈◊〉 be able to sustain as two units make a full number One Witness of whatsoever dignity proves nothing yet out of the Mouth of two or three Witnesses every Truth shall be established And finally Tho one Coal make nor a Fire that can do the work yet several Coals added to it encrease the Flame which is hoped will be sufficient for the operation VVe shall therefore leave you with this Conclusion That as you ought to beware to condemn the innocent and ought to incline to the safest fide so if these Pannals be proven legally guilty Then quoad bygones your Eye ought not to spare them nor ought you to suffer a VVitch to Live And as to the future you in doing otherways would be Accessory to all the Blasphemies Apostacys Murders Tortures and Seductions c. VVhereof these Enemies of Heaven
and Earth shall hereafter be guilty when they have got out So than the question seems simply to come to this whether upon your Oath de fideli you can swear That the Pannals notwithstanding of all that is proven against them are not guilty of Witchcraft In the Determination whereof we pray GOD may direct you to the right course The Inquest being inclosed near six Hours brought in their Verdict to Court that they found the Libel proven I am c. LETTER SECOND SIR I Have Collected according to my Promise what appeared to me most Specious in the Reasonings either in Court or private Conversation anent the receiving of the Confessants as Witnesses You are not to imagine that the Pannals were Condemned on the Faith of these For I do believe the Probation by unexceptionable witnesses led antecedent to this last was so pregnant that the Pannals might have been Condemned on it tho' these last had not been adduced I may have missed the Energy of the Argument sometimes in a Case which in it self is so abstruse However you have it in such manner as I was able to penetrat thereunto as follows IN order to the more satisfactory Answering of the Objections made against these last Witnesses we shall first lay before you the State of the Case And then clear up the Determination of it As to the First The Question is not whether Partners in the Crime or others mentioned in the Objections can be a Concluding Proof of themselves tho' two of them would concur as to the same Act of Witchcraft But whether the Corpora delicti appearing already to imply Witchcraft and the extrinsick Adminicles being so pregnant to infer that these Pannals are the Witches there concurring such Characters as by observance of all Nations and Ages are the Symptoms of a Witch particularly the Marks Fame not shedding of Tears c. which are Discoveries of Providence of so dark a Crime that like Avenues lead us to the Secret of it And finally when six persons of different Ages and Stations five Confessants and the Girl do when separatly examined agree in their Answers to every material Question that is put to them even tho' it be New so that it could not be concerted We say whether or not in such a Case may Witnesses be received to put the Cape-stone on the Evidence by a positive probation of a Matter of Fact which is the Object of Sense tho' otherways they be liable to exception if such Extraordinariness of the Corpora delicti Clearness of the Adminicles and of the Diagnosticks of Witches did not preceed them as you have seen proven before you that they do The Case is not whether these VVitnesses would be Habile in an Ordinarie Crime which commonly falls to be exposed to other VVitnesses then those concerned in it But whether they can be received in this Extraordinary Occult and Excepted Crime of VVitchcraft wherein there are two special Cases to be noticed viz. Sometimes the Acts thereof are open and admitt the choise of VVitnesses such as Charmes used in the Day-time when the Actor is visible But that part of VVitchcraft whereby VVitches meet in the Night-time Adore their Lord contrive their Malefices and accordingly thereafter execute them when other VVitnesses are asleep or the VVitches themselves are covered from sight VVe say that this can be no otherways proven than by these that are Intimat to it joyned to the positive Proof and Adminicles before-mentioned VVe do not alledge that Persons altogether destitute of Knowledge and Natural Conscience are to be admitted in any Case such as Infants Furious Fatuous c. Neither do we contend That Thomas Lindsay and Cliristian Shaw who are under Pupillarity should be put to an Oath for they are only to be examined separatly before the Court upon interrogators by which it may appear whether or not they coincide with the four other Confessants that are to depone before them and this is the Pannal's Advantage in case of Disagreement But we insist that any Person above Pupillarity giving Evidences of considerable Knowledge and natural Conscience which is a sufficient Fond for all the Credit that we need in this Case that is already almost fully proven is to be received as a VVitness As to the 2d we shall make this as clear as Noon 1mo From Reason and the Nature of the thing 2do The unanimous Judgment of Lawiers in all Nations and Ages 3tio Our own Customs and Decisions And 4to The Singularity of this Circumstantiat Case As to the First The going to and coming from Meetings especially on Foot the falling down and worshiping the Devil there under a Corporeal shape which he had when he tempted our SAVIOUR to doit The actual Murdering of Children by a Cord and Napkin and the Tormenting of Others by Pins c. Are plain Objects of Sense And therefore the Senses are to be beleived anent them For as Reason hath Things Intelligible and Faith Things Supernatural so the Senses have Things Corporeal for their Object whereanent they are to be trusted ay and while it be Proven that the Appearance is Impossible or that the Witness of it is an Impostor It is an part of the Witches Purchase from the Devil that they cannot be seen at some occasions So that the Abominations comitted then would remain unpunished if such VVitnesses were not admitted It cannot be thought that VVitches who of all Criminals are the most obstinat to Confess would venture the loss of their own Lives by deponing against Others against whom they have no special picque yea for whom they have particular Affection as several of the Pannalls are some of the VVitnesses Relations Nor has the Devil any peculiar interest to Instigat them thereunto For severals of the Pannalls have confessed other execrable Crymes VVhereby it cannot be supposed That Satan would be divided against himself GOD in his ordinary Providence has taken such care of publick Judgments that the Enemy of Justice his special Power ceases thereabout as appears by the VVitches not being able either to do more Harm or escape after GOD's Ministers begin to counteract Satan's Instruments by Imprisonment And finally the oddness of the Malefices the Concurrence of the Adminicles and the existence of Matters of Fact wherein these Confessants tho' not knowing the same otherways do agree with other unexceptionable VVitnesses c. Do sufficiently astruct their Credibility For as Falshood being a Crime is never presumed so a person found true in many things is still presumed to continue such till the contrary be evinced As to the second Socius crimicis c. admittitur fidelictum sit nefandum Men A J Q l. 2d i. C. cas 474. N. 27. seq auto câ—ltum veritas aliunde haberinon pâ—sit Mas vol 1. Con 466. N. 6. aut difficilis probationis Farin lib. 2. Op Criminaliâ—m Tit. 6 Q. 63. N. 28. Mas vol. 3d. Con 1360. N. 4th Menoch l. 2d Cas 216. l. 1st
Act of Parliament can only be understood of Witnesses that wâ—â—e then existent And finally the Pannals got a general warrand of Exculpation for citing of any Witnesses they pleased and they have had several Days since they got this additional List so that they might have cited Witnesses to prove their Objections were it not the truth is they have noneâ— besides these that are common and before Answered Thus I have given you hints that your own reâ—soning which I know to be refyn'd may improve and apply so as to dissolve the quibles which the petryâ—â—â—â—ts who have not Soul enough of themselves to penetrate into the true light of what is recondite may raise against it It being their common talent eiâ—her to Skâ—pp over the Surface of Minas or otherways to tear assunder some appurtenan es of a Scheme and then presently pronunce it Mortally Maimed I must confess that none coâ—ld be more scept cal a â—ent the Truth of such odâ— things as I had heard nor inâ—uisitive for canvassing the Reality and Explications of them then I was before my attendances at Bargarrans house and the reveral dyers of Coâ—â—t and in 〈◊〉 Cen â—orsation with some or these concerned thereaâ—â—â—â— But now after all that I have seen reasoned and heard I do acknowledge my self entirely captivate by the dictats of natural underâ—â—anding and common sense into a sound mind and perswasion that as there â—s such a thing as Witchcraft so it was eminent in its forementioned Effects and the seven Pannals were some of the Witches I have trâ—â—bled you litle with my proper Observations yet lest you should think me either too Lazie or Peevish I shall make one and it is that I do not think the greater part of the condemned prisoners will ever fully Confess Of which Conjecture I have two chief grounds Viz. That they are neither Ignorant nor Melancholick but on the contrary some of them would seem to have been once enlightned before they fell away so that if this be a Sin unto Death there is no appearance that they will glorify GOD by acknowledgment Severals of them are of singular Knovvledge and Acutness beyond the common levell of their Station Particularly Margaret Lang did make Harangues in her own defence which neither Divine nor Lavvier could reâ—sonably Mend Yet I thought that when they spoke in a matter of any concern their Eyes stood Squint â—ixâ—d as if they had been turning their Ears and attentive to a Dictator Their answers to the trying Interrogators put to them were Surprisingly subtile Cautious Tho indeed by the industry of some of the Judges and Lawiers they were at occasions involved in Lyes Prevarications and Contradictions which might have proceeded either from Natural or preternatural Causes Some of them were esteemed in the Country very Sagatioâ—â— and Exact in their Bussiness Margaret Lang having been a Mid-vvise and one of the Lindsays having acquired a considerablâ— Fortune by his Tillage and Trade Yet it was noticed that there did commonly break out of their covered Course something Odd either of Iniquity or Affectation and Lindsay did finely enough get off from the sherriff when he was formerly accused in 1687. Melancholians are lovers of Solitude Witches of Society and Feasts Those are commonly Pale and Heavy many of these Corpulont and Voluptuous Witcheâ— are Hard to Confess as knowing their Guilt Melancholians delight to discover their horridest Dampts because they think them no Cryme The ones Confessions Every-vvhere are Vniform the other's Phantasms are as various as their Humors Finally Witches teach their Trade whereas Conceits would Die with them and could be no more conveyed then the Humor which is the Specifick cauâ—e thereof As these distinguishing Characters do hold in the General so in this particular Case there are several others Such as most of the Pannals were of Mâ—dâ—le-age one of them not much above Twenty and the first Confessaâ—ts are known to be Young Whereby Dottage or Melancholy are less to be â—uspected yea was morally â—mpossâ—ble in many of the Cases For the Facts which the Confessants had forâ—erly declared before the Commissioners for Enquiry were sworn 〈◊〉 other unexceptionable Witnesses before the Commissioners for the tryal and tâ—e Circumstaâ—â—es were such that the one câ—uld not knovv what was to be depoâ—ed by the other As it 's already manifest that the reall Effects in several passages of Bargarrans Daughter were noâ— possibly producible by any imagination or Humor and 〈…〉 specâ—all in this Case that neither the Pannals nor Coufessants were Distempered by being keept from Sleep tortured or the like which were too usuaâ—â— in â—ormer tâ—meâ— out all the Measures were strictly observed that are the requâ—â—ts oâ— a tâ—uely impartiâ—l Judgment 〈◊〉 nâ—â—ded not â—o â—ave sent unto you the Doubles of the Depositions themâ—elâ—es Becaâ—â—e it is not deâ—y'd that tâ—e Deposiâ—ions are such as they â—re represente◠〈◊〉 â—he Pleadings the chief question being aâ—ent the Hability of the last Depoâ—â—â—â—s Neither was you to expect the Defenders part of the Debate separatly by itself in respect that what was dispersâ—d here and there for thâ—m is faithfully repâ—â—â—ed or implyed in what yoâ— have As to those poiâ—ts which I thought worth the Nottiâ—â— Upon the whole I do believe that there is scarcely a more rare providence of this nature in any true History a more exact caution in any enquity or Trial of this kind A â—ore clear probation without confession of the Pannals themâ—elves or a more just sentence putting together all circumstances upon record I am what you have made me Yours c. FINIS ADVERTISEMENT AFter printing of what preceeds there came Intelligence from the Countrey that a Person who is Rich and stayes in a publick place dâ—signed in the Natrâ—tive by thâ— first Letters of her Name has upon hearing that the Narrative was coming abroad hired an Hackney to bring off her Repute whereby the Undertakers who are of the Brutal Cabal of our puny Wits are to take occasion of obscuring the Truth of the whole History There was such regard had to the Fame of those whom as yet there has not been opportunity to bring to their Trial that commonly there are only initial Letters for their Names And there is such incontestible Evidence for the Facts here Narrated that it is impossible without the most effronted impudence and falsehood to contradict them Yet if the Root of all Evil and Spite against Truth shall so far prevail over natural Ingenuity as to advance bare-faced Lyes against Realitys and give the World foppish Banter in place of good Reasoning thereby to deludâ— the Opinion of those who were not Eye and Ear Witnesses the Authors whose Names though told are not here insert because the Information may faill may expect to be Characteriz'd and otherways taken notice of according to the demerit of such a Villanous project The Reader is intreated to excuse such Errors in the Printing occasioned by the indistinctness of the writen Copie which are easily corrigible by the Context