_Precept_ qra _Witches, and the Witnesses and Assyissers, 1679_.
---- Cochran of Barbbachlay, Richard Elphinstown of ----, Saindelands of Hilderstown, ---- Cornwal of Bonhard, Robert Hamilton of Dechmont, baillzie of the regallitie of Borrowstownes, Sir John Harper advocat, Mr William Dundas, and Mr John Prestowne advocats, commissioners of justiciarie, speciallie constitwte, nominat, and appoynted by the lordes off his majestie's most honowrable privie cownsell for the tryall and jwdging of the persones after namit; To our lovitts ---- messengers, macers, and officers of cowrt, owr shirriffs in that pairt, conjunctlie and severallie, speciallie constitwte, greitting: For sameikillais the ---- day of ----is appoynted by ws for the trying and judging off Anabill Thomson widow in Borrowstownes, Margaret Pringle relict of the decist John Campbell sive-wright ther, Margaret Hamilton relict of the deceist James Pollwart ther, Wm. Craw indweller ther, Bessie Viccar relict of the deceist James Pennie indweller ther, and Margarett Hamilton relict of the deceist Thomas Mitchell, who are apprehendit and imprisoned in the tolbuith of Borrowstownes, as suspect gwilty of the abominable cryme of witchcraft, by entering into pactiown with the devill, renwncing their baptism and comitting of _malificies_: Wherefoir nescessary it is, that the saides persons should be summonded to wnderlye the lawe for the samen, and that witness and assyssers should be cited against them, to the effect, and under the paines efter specifiet. HEREFOIR, this precept sein, we chairge you passe, and in owr soveraigne lordes name and authority, and owrs, comand and chairge the saides persones above compleaned upon, to compeir befoir ws, or any three of us (who are by our said commissiown declaired to be a quorum), within the said tolbuith of Borrowstownes, the nyneteen day of December nixt, in the howr of cawse, ther to wnderlye the lawe, for the crymes above specifiet, and that under the paines contained in the new acts of parliament: And sicklyik, summon, wairne and chairge ane assyse of honest and famous persones, not exceeding the number of fortie-five, togither with such witnesses who best know the veritie of the persones above compleaned upon ther gwiltynes, to compeir befoir us, day and place foirsaid, in the howr of cawse, the persones of[10] witness, to bear leall and soothfast witnessing in the premiss, and the inqueist to passe upon the assyse each persone, under the paine of ane hundreth merks, according to justice, ais ye will answer to us therwpon: the whilk to doe commits to you, conjunctlie and severalie, our fwll power, be thir our lettres, delyvering them be you dewllie execut and indorset againe to the beirer. Given under our hands at Borrowstownes, the twentie-nynt day of November, ane thousande six hunder and seventie nyne yeirs.