WITHERLINS

Paying for the privelege 

While the English were content to simply hang their witches, the Scots preferred to burn theirs.  Not only that, but the accused witch was often forced to pay for the privilege!  When Janet Wishart and Isabel Crocker were due to be burned as witches in February 1596, they were (presumably before the event) presented with the following - an itemised bill…

For twenty loads of peat to burn them                                             - 40 shillings

For a boll (6 bushels) of coal                                                              - 24 Shillings

For 4 tar barrels                                                                                  - 26 shillings and 3 pence

For fir and iron barrels                                                                       - 16 shillings and 8 pence

For a stake, and the dressing of it                                                    - 16 shillings

For 4 fathoms 924 feet) of tows (hangman’s rope)                          - 4 shillings

For carrying the peat coals and barrels to the hill                            - 8 shillings and 4 pence

To one Justice for their execution                                                     - 13 shillings and 4 pence

In all they were charged the princely total of £11 10 shillings.  Other defendants got off relatively lightly, suffering merely a branding upon the cheek,  at a very reasonable 6 shillings and 8 pence!

And finally, to add insult to injury, all tortures had to be paid for item by item.

Source:  Strange Laws of Old England- Cawthorne- 2004