suspected witches kneeling before king james vi; daemonologie (1597)
the earliest cases recorded seem have taken place in slains north of aberdeen in march 1597, local authorities asked permission execute witches. followed large witch trial in aberdeen against janet wishart , accomplices. wishart alleged have used cantrip (spell) cause 1 victim alternately shiver , sweat, bewitched other victims died or died, raised storms via throwing out of live coals, used nightmare cats inflict horrible dreams, , dismembered corpse hanging @ gallows. executed burning along witch.
several royal commissions sent investigate sorcery in many parts of country. witch hunt seem have been frequent in fife, perthshire, glasgow, stirlingshire , aberdeenshire, between 4 march , october.
the best-known case of margaret aitken, called great witch of balwearie. arrested in fife in april 1597. after having pleaded guilty under torture, offered commission identify witches in parts of country in exchange life. during period of 4 months, aitken commission visited several parts of scotland , many people arrested, put on trial , executed after having been pointed out her. aitken discredited expert witness after having identified same people witches had cleared when saw them previously. on 1 august stopped, , on 12 august, commissions ordered end trials until claims better examined. fewer death sentences seem have been issued subsequently, , october witch hunt seems have stopped.
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