WITHERLINS

Thou shall not suffer a witch to live: Exodus 22:18

In its original Hebrew text the verse reads: M'khashephah lo tichayyah. Literally this means: "May am'khashephah not live" or "You will not keep a m'khashephah in life." M'khashephah is the feminine form - although it also has a collective meaning, of a term which can also be used in the masculine - m'khasheph. It means someone who practices k'shaphim, a magic characterized by spell-working that aggressively makes changes in the environment.

Little is heard of witchcraft in Scotland before 

the latter half of the 1 6th century, but in the 

year 1563, in the reign of Mary, Queen of 

Scotland, a strenuous Act directed against the 

practice of witchcraft became law, and was 

most rigorously enforced. 

 As this has been described as the law under 

which all the subsequent witch trials took place 

its significant phraseology may in part be 

quoted : 

 "The Estates enact that nae person tike 

upon hand to use ony matter of witchcrafts, 

sor.'ery or necromancy, nor give themselves 

furth to have ony sic craft or knowledge thereof; 

also that nae person seek ony help, response, 

or consultation at ony sic users or abusers of 

witchcraft under the pain of death." 

Curiouslyenough the passing of this and similar 

Acts was attended by results as unexpected as 

they were unforeseen. Belief in witchcraft became 

the passion of public credulity. Accusations, 

generally false and often even ludicrous in their 

solemn foolishness, were trumped up, and 

action followed, that hurried countless helpless 

human beings to the stake to die a cruel and 

shameful death. It was a time of terror, an 

epoch of superstitious sacrifice, extending and 

gathering force as the reign of Mary merged 

into the Regency, only finding pause at the 

removal of James VI. of Scotland to London, 

there to preside over the united destinies of 

these islands. As is well known, this monarch 

evinced a more than personal interest in matters 

pertaining to the "unseen world' and this.

Gathering up his ideas and conclusions, he embodied 

them in a singular treatise entitled 

King James's Daeimonologie concerning

Sorcery & Witchcraft [1587]

Less creditable to his memory is this extract,

" The persons that give themselves to witchcraft are of 

two sorts, rich and of better accompt, poore and of baser 

degree. These two degrees answere to the passions in 

them, which the divell uses as means to entice them to 

his service : for such of them as are in great miserie and 

povertie, he allures to follow him, by promising unto 

them great riches and worldly commoditie. Such as 

though rich, yet burne in a desperate desire of revenge, 

he allures them by promises to get their turne satisfied to 

their heart's contentment." 

It is told that not only did he favour executions for 

this alleged crime, but actually took pleasure in 

witnessing the sacrifice of the condemned. 

With the death of James a phase of quiescence in witch 

quest and sacrifice is entered upon - a 

lull which lasted for some fifteen years. 

It was again, however, to be broken - this time by the 

unfortunate intervention and misdirected zeal of 

the Church itself. The General Assembly, 

stimulated by a desire for Puritanical perfection, 

awakened the slumbering credulity of belief: that 

direct Satanic Power stalked abroad in the land 

in the form of Witchcraft. 

Condemnatory Acts were passed in the years

1640-43-44-45 and 49. Again the stake and tar faggot 

blazed. The Levitical law was accepted as a too literal 

injunction, and from this time forward it is the 

clergy who particularly figure as the pursuers of 

witches, keen and relentless to a degree.

The Earliest Tract Upon Scottish Witchcraft

Newes From Scotland  is the earliest tract on Scottish 

Witchcraft.

It claims to give a true account of a famous trial of alleged 

witches in North Berwick which had far reaching effects 

due to the fact that King James VI himself played a 

prominent part in it, giving credence to the existence of 

witchcraft and setting the standard for later trials. 

A little of the Stewart History...

James, was the only son of Mary, queen of Scots (1542–1587)
and her second husband, Henry Stewart, Lord Darnley 
(1545/6–1567). (See portrait above right.)
 
King James VI of Scotland, and the 1st of England, made 
a lasting impression on British and world history. 
 
Henry IV of France called him "the wisest fool in Christendom."
 
 James was born at Edinburgh castle  and ascended to the 
throne of Scotland when he was just one-year old, following 
his mother's exile.
 
He was was from the Royal House of 
Stewart which traces its origins back to 
Robert the Bruce.
 
He was the authour of the King James Bible, currently 
in use, the original 1611 version of whichcontained the 
Pagan Zodiac! 
 
He died in on March 27th, 1625 after a period of senility, 
in Hertfordshire...
 
 

Source for main article:
Witchcraft and . . superstitious record in the 
south-western district of Scotland : 
witchcraft, fairy lore, wraiths, death customs, ghost lore..(1911)
Authour: Wood, John Maxwell