The many reasons for crying ‘witch’

• Mary Cunningham, Dunfermline: She and her daughter were arrested for witchcraft in February 1645. A trial ended with a “not proven” verdict but the pair were ordered to pay the cost of their imprisonment in Culross.

• Alison Dick, Kirkcaldy: Executed for witchcraft after being accused by her husband in October 1633. Ritual object was urine, use unknown.

• Isobel Adam, St Andrews: Confessed to meeting the devil in 1704 before retracting her statement. Her case went on for five years before she was released or escaped.

• Thomas Broun, St Andrews: Confessed to tormenting a boy in 1704. Fate unknown.

• Issobell Inglis, Dunfermline: Described as having the “reputation and character” of a witch. Executed in 1675. Cause of malice: Jealousy of neighbours.

• Margaret Mairtine, Dunfermline: Confessed to being “lured away from God” and having a meeting with the devil. Fate unknown.

• Nicolas Lauson, St Andrews: Accused of malefices and causing a boy to take fits. Fate unknown.

• Grissell Jaffray, Dundee: A commission for a witchcraft trial was issued in November 1669 but she was found to already be in prison. Execution by burning.

• Catharin Skair, Brechin: Claimed she had a spirit in the shape of a cat, which she fed bread and milk. She was accused of cursing a witness, who then took ill. Died in prison in 1650.

• Catharin Lyell, Montrose: Accused of causing a ship to sink. Confessed and imprisoned. Unknown if later executed.

• Robert Erskine, Perth: He and his sisters were accused of hiring a witch to kill their nephews in order to inherit their dead elder brother’s land. Confessed under interrogation. Executed.

• Jonet Airth, Aberuthven: Suspected of witchcraft and imprisoned but no confession. Executed.

• Margaret Kinard, Auchterarder: Allegedly involved in digging up corpses and laying the flesh above the doors of byres and stables to harm cattle and goods. Fled and recorded as a fugitive in 1649.

• Cruddal Watson, Perth: Interviewed about a claim of witchcraft. Deemed to be poor, honest and hardworking. Case dismissed as slander.