Scotland's history is stained with a harrowing chapter of witch trials that spanned several centuries, leaving a haunting legacy of persecution and suffering. Accusations of witchcraft were rampant, and those accused faced dreadful methods of torture and witch tests in an attempt to prove their guilt. In this blog, we delve into the gruesome details of the varied methods used during Scotland's witch trials, shedding light on a tragic period of human history that still resonates today.
Pricking and Searching for the Witch's Mark:
One of the most common methods of determining witchcraft was the infamous pricking test. Suspected witches were searched for the "witch's mark," believed to be a sensitive spot on their body where the Devil supposedly placed his mark. Witch-hunters used sharp instruments like needles or bodkins to pierce the accused's body, often in search of an insensate spot or an unusual blemish. The belief was that if the accused showed no pain or bled differently, it was proof of their guilt. This cruel practice often resulted in false confessions and the persecution of innocent people.
The Dunking Ordeal:
The dunking or swimming ordeal was another barbaric method used to identify witches. The accused would be bound and thrown into water, usually a river or pond. If they floated, it was seen as evidence of their guilt, as water, being a sacred element, was believed to repel witches. On the other hand, if they sank, they were deemed innocent. Unfortunately, this was a lose-lose situation, as sinking often resulted in drowning, while floating led to execution for alleged witchcraft.
Trial by Fire - The Ordeal of Fire:
In some Scottish witch trials, the accused were subjected to the ordeal of fire. They were required to hold a hot iron or walk barefoot over red-hot coals. If the burns healed quickly and cleanly, it was considered a sign of innocence. However, the injuries often became infected, leading to severe pain and suffering. The ordeal of fire was not only physically agonising but also psychologically traumatic, as the accused knew their life hung in the balance.
Witch's Bridle - The Scold's Bridle:
The witch's bridle, also known as the scold's bridle or branks, was a grotesque device used to punish and silence outspoken women, particularly those accused of witchcraft. The bridle was an iron muzzle with a protruding piece that gagged the accused and prevented them from speaking. They were often paraded around town, exposing the accused to public humiliation and scorn.
Trial by Ordeal - Boiling Water Test:
The boiling water test was yet another form of trial by ordeal. The accused was required to dip their hand into a pot of boiling water to retrieve a small object. If the hand was severely burned, they were deemed guilty. This cruel practice often resulted in permanent disfigurement, regardless of the verdict.
Sleep Deprivation and Extreme Exhaustion:
During the witch trials, accused witches were subjected to sleep deprivation and extreme exhaustion. They were often kept awake for extended periods, interrogated relentlessly, and forced to confess to crimes they had not committed. The lack of sleep and extreme mental anguish made it easier for authorities to extract false confessions, adding to the tragic number of innocent lives lost during this dark period.
"Thou art indicted as a common witch, by open voice and common fame..”
These chilling words were uttered in April 1597, during the harrowing trial of Helen Rogie, also known as Mrs. Helen Strachan, the wife of John, residing near Lumphanan at Findrack. The tragic tale of Helen unfolds as a sombre chronicle of a woman condemned for practising maleficarum – dark and sinister witchcraft with intent to harm. A haunting echo of her mother's tragic fate resonates, for just a month before, Margaret Bane, a resident of Kincardine O'Neill, met her end under similar charges.
Helen, a simple crofter's wife, and her mother, a humble midwife known as a 'howdie,' were well-versed in the arts of aiding women during childbirth, a cherished knowledge passed down through generations. In those long-gone centuries, women depended on the wisdom of country midwives, as formal medical training was but a distant promise, emerging only in the 18th century with the pioneering efforts of Dr. David Skene in Aberdeen.
Yet, in the eyes of their neighbours, Helen and Margaret were not merely caretakers of life but also bearers of curses. Accusations of witchcraft clung to them, and the suffering souls were all too eager to lay their misfortunes at their feet. Tragedy struck the Strachan family, and poor Bessie, wed to one of Helen's sons, fell victim to an inexplicable ailment. Witnesses spoke of her torment, alternating between fevered burning and a chilling coldness. John Ross testified that her affliction began after a fateful Halloween. And in an even more dreadful twist, John Chapman claimed that he, too, had been ensnared by Helen's malevolence, encountering her in a devilish guise while she performed a ritual called 'yird and stane.' He remained haunted by her malevolent gaze, convinced that the evil eye had befallen him. In the light of modern understanding, their plight might have been nothing more than influenza's cruel grasp.
Near her dwelling at Findrack, George Forbes accused Helen of bewitching his cattle, causing them to run wild and meet a fatal end. His horse, too, fell victim to Helen's alleged malevolence, succumbing untimely to an enigmatic spell. George Forbes himself stepped forth to testify against her in a heart-wrenching moment at her trial. Andrew Nicol, a Lumphanan tailor, had dared to confront Helen, finding a leaden figure resembling a man in her bag – a ghastly effigy, perhaps a 'voodoo' doll of its time. His life hung in the balance, but fate spared him for another day.
Tragically, the most devastating blow came from Margaret Bane, her own mother, who turned against her in the court. Margaret claimed that they had partaken in a 'devilish dance' on the ominous Craiglich Hill, where Satan himself stood witness. Both Craiglich and Craiglash had dark associations with witches' covens.
Margaret's path mirrored her daughter's, as she too faced accusations of causing children's deaths during childbirth, despite the perilously high infant mortality of that era. Her ability to predict pregnancies, a skill honed from years of experience, was met with ingratitude rather than gratitude. Even the age-old practice of relieving a woman's labour pains by seemingly transferring them to another was misconstrued as evidence of her nefarious powers. The concept of psychosomatic pain eluded the minds of the 16th century.
With an ominous ritual involving 'yird and stane,' Margaret was accused of land theft by her vengeful accusers. The tragic death of a neighbour's daughter cast an even darker shadow on her name, as she was seen taking a peat from their home to her own hearth.
Thus, these 'witches' of Lumphanan were ensnared and condemned by their very actions, and their lives met a cruel end. Both Margaret and Helen faced the stake in Aberdeen, with Margaret executed on 25th March 1597, and Helen suffering the same fate a mere ten days later. This dark period, known as the 'Year of the Burnings,' bore witness to 26 women being burned at the stake for witchcraft. It was a time of madness, ignited by King James VI's relentless obsession with the North Berwick Coven, led by Agnes Sampson, whom he believed conspired to bring harm to his beloved bride, Anne of Denmark. Church and State united in their fight against what they perceived as the Devil's work on Earth, ultimately driving communities apart, fuelling superstition, and providing a dangerous tool for settling personal scores with neighbours by hurling accusations of witchcraft. In Scotland and Europe, witches were burned, seen as religious heretics, while in England, the punishment was hanging.
As the 17th century dawned, the tide began to turn, and accused witches faced fines, banishment, or the burning of their magical possessions by the civic executioner. The Witchcraft Act remained in force across Britain until 1951 when it was finally replaced by the Fraudulent Mediums Act. The last 'witch' convicted under the old act was Helen Duncan, hailing from Perthshire. Her séance in Portsmouth during the Second World War, during which she revealed classified information about a sunken battleship, led to her imprisonment for nine days. She claimed to have received the information from the spirit of a young sailor who had drowned.
Today, Craiglich stands as a picturesque hillwalk, and Findrack House, dating back to the 17th century, remains as a sombre reminder of Helen's life on the estate between Lumphanan and Tornaveen."
Scotland's witch trials were a tragic and horrific chapter in history, marked by unfounded accusations, brutal methods of torture, and flawed tests to identify witches. Innocent lives were lost, and communities were torn apart by fear and superstition. The legacy of these trials serves as a reminder of the dangers of mob mentality and the importance of seeking justice through rationality and empathy. As we remember this dark period in Scotland's past, let it be a call to action to strive for a fair and just society where accusations are based on evidence and reason, not on baseless fears and prejudices. May we learn from history's mistakes and work towards a future where such atrocities never repeat themselves.
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