Scottish Witches

Over the years many misconceptions have grown around the historic witch trials which are then unwittingly passed on as fact. Here we will explore and correct some of the most common incorrect beliefs. All Of The Accused Were Women: While it is correct that in Scotland the majority of those accused were women, they were not all. Based on the information contained within the Scottish Witch Trial Database, approximately 84% were women, 14% were men, and for 1%, it is impossible to determine from the information available. The Trials Were To Quash The Pagans: This is a very common belief, yet unfortunately, it is incorrect. It is impossible to state that none of the accused were Pagans. It should be remembered that Scotland had been a Christian country for around a century before the witchcraft act was introduced, and it was decades after Scotland converted from Catholicism to the Protestant faith before the legislation really took hold. A few of the trial records indicate that the accused did follow the old ways to a certain extent, in that they offered herbal remedies or were midwives. There is nothing to suggest they were not Christian. We Dooked The Witches: It is such a common image to see the poor old woman, soaking wet, perched on a seat hovering over a pond on some type of see-saw device. There is very little information in the records other than on a few of the earlier trials, however, to indicate that this method, or any method using water, was used to any great extent in Scotland. This is despite there being bodies of water across the country called 'Witches' …' suggesting they were pools used during the trials. The origins of the use of these names are not clear, but we can only go by the documentation related to the trials. It should also be remembered that the process of 'swimming the witch' was not an execution method as some suggest; it was a trial by water to prove innocence or guilt. Those found guilty were burned. In The Swimming Test, The Innocent Drowned: Again, this is something commonly stated which is incorrect. In places where the swimming test was used, the records indicate that ropes were tied to the accused so if they became submerged, they could be pulled out of the water before drowning. They Were All Old: The movie industry created this image that all witches were haggard old women. The information from the Scottish Witchcraft Database, however, suggests that the vast majority were aged between 30 and 60. The Convicted Were Burned Alive: In the records, if reference is made to a person convicted of witchcraft being 'burnt quick', that normally means they were burned alive. In the vast majority of cases, those convicted were garrotted or, on occasion, hanged, and their bodies then burned to prevent any resurrection. It Was a Good Way For a Husband To Get Rid Of His Wife: It is quite horrific that anyone would think this, but it does come up, mostly in jest. Witch trials were an expensive process. All those involved, including the jailers, judge, and executioner, had to be paid. In addition, the ropes, wood, and tar used for the execution had to be paid for. While the town covered the costs in some cases, where the family had assets they could be made to pay. The family could also be charged for the time their loved one was held in the prison. All in all, it could be extremely expensive, costing several months' wages, or even years for this poorly paid. Assets could also be claimed. So it is apparent that to accuse your own wife or any relative could be a disastrous thing to do.