Information Subjoined by the First Editors to the Narrative, Appendix No. F.-Hugo Arnot's Account of the Bewitching of Appendix No. G.-Dr. Walter Young's Account of Christian Shaw, &c. Appendix No. I.-Witch Executed at Paisley in 1661, 205 207 209 Appendix No. K.-Act of Parliament Passed in 1736, 211 Appendix No. L.-Hugo Arnot's Remarks on the above Act, 213 Appendix No. M.-Account of Acts of the General Assembly, 214 1 Appendix No. N.-Mr. Blackwell's Intimation of a Fast to be kept 216 The Publisher sincerely thanks his numerous subscribers for their liberal encouragement of this work, which has far exceeded his most sanguine expectations. While he has, at a considerable trouble and expense, collected old manuscripts and other materials on the subject, besides what were promised in his Prospectus, and by that means he has been enabled to make his work complete, he has the satisfaction to think that the most of his subscribers will be well pleased with the work. However, he is not of the opinion that his book will please every person, for that is what no book has ever yet done. The Publisher cannot, with propriety, omit returning his warmest thanks to Thomas Bissland, Esq, of Ferguslie; William M'Kerrell, Esq., Maxwellton; Robert Paterson, Esq., Provost of Renfrew, and other landed gentlemen; the Faculty of Procurators, Paisley, and particularly, Messrs. William M'Walter and Henry Wilson, writers, for the pieces he received from them, and the interest they took in the work. A TREATISE ON WITCHCRAFT. BY SIR GEORGE MACKENZIE, OF ROSEHAUGH, Who was King's Advocate, and one of the Lords of the Privy Council in Scotland. From his "Laws and Customes of Scotland in Matters Criminal." Printed in 1678. CONTENTS. Wierus' arguments against the punishing of Witches-Answers to WierusSome observations which may persuade a judge to be cautious in judging this crime-Upon what presumptions witches may be apprehended— Who are judges competent thereto-Paction with the devil-Renouncing of baptism-The devil's mark-Threatening to do mischief, how punishable-Malefices where there are no connection betwixt the cause and the effect--The using magic arts for good ends, how punishable-Consulting with witches, how punished-What the being defamed by the witches imports-A witch's confession not punishable, except the thing confessed be possible-Whether the transportations confessed, be real, and though real, whether punishable-Whether a witch can cause any person be possessed-Whether penetration be possible-Whether transformation be possible-Whether the devil can make brutes to speak, or raise storms -Whether witches can transfer diseases, and whether it be lawful to seek their help for this-Whether witches can kill by their looks-Whether witches can procure love by their potions-How witches torment men by their images-Whether confessions before kirk-sessions be relevant-Who can be witnesses in witchcraft-Witchcraft how punishable by the civil laws of England and Scotland-Consulters of fortune-tellers, how punished. TH HAT there are witches, divines cannot doubt, since the Word of God hath ordained that no witch shall live; nor lawyers in Scotland, seeing our law ordains it to be punished with death. And though many lawyers, in Holland B |