ommitted be them in manner mentioned in their
dittayes, and are decerned and adjudged be us under
subscryvers (commissioners of justiciary speciallie
appoynted to this effect) to be taken to the west end
of Borrowstownes, the ordinar place of execution ther,
upon Tuesday the twentie-third day of December
current, betwixt two and four o'cloack in the
efternoon, and there be wirried at a steack till they
be dead, and thereafter to have their bodies burnt to
ashes. These therefoir require and command the baylie
principal off the regalitie of Borrowstownes, and his
deputts, to see the said sentence and doom put to dew
execution in all poynts, as yes will be answerable.
Given under our hands at Borrowstownes the nynteenth
day of December 1679 years,

"W. DUNDAS.
"RICH. ELPHENSTONE.
"WA. SANDILANDS.
"J. CORNWALL.
"J. HAMILTON."

Beatrix Laing, a Pittenweem witch, became a most resentful woman.
Because a young lad refused to give her a few nails, she, by means of
putting burning coals and water into a wooden vessel, cast a grievous
sickness on the young man, which made him swell prodigiously. For this
she was cast into prison, pricked, and kept without sleep for five
nights and days, to make her confess her dealings in charms and
witchcraft generally. After considerable delay, a confession of guilt
was extracted from the woman. Among other things, she told of a big
black horse that had come to her with five packs of wool. Beatrix gave
the animal to her husband, but the good man soon desired to get rid of
the beast. It did not look like any other horse he had ever seen;
neither whip nor stick would drive it away. Under the peculiar
circumstances, the poor man consulted his wife as to what was best to
be done. Long deliberation was uncalled for. "Go," said Beatrix, "cast
his bridle on his neck, and you will get rid of him." The docile and
alarmed husband did as instructed; and lo, the black horse flew off
with a great noise. Repeated attempts were made by the magistrates of
Pittenweem to induce the Privy Council to bring Beatrix to trial. The
Earl of Balcarres and Lord Anstruther, members of the Council, looked
on her as a dreamer, and obtained her discharge after five months
incarceration. This act of clemency filled the Pittenweem people with
rage: they drove her from home and habitation. Hungry and cold, she