Bibliographical Notes on the Witchcraft Literature of Scotland

BIBLIOGRAPHICAL NOTES ON THE WITCHCRAFT LITERATURE OF SCOTLANDBy JOHN FERGUSON, LL.D., F.S.A.THE original draft of the present paper was read to the British Archreological Association at the concluding meeting of the Glasgow Congress, on Tuesday, 4th September 1888. Several considerations induced me to bring the topic before the Association. It had been my fortune to pass a number of the books through my hands, so that I could speak of them from personal observation. Further, although Glasgow all but escaped the contamination of witch trials and executions, some notable events in the history of the epidemic happened near it, and were connected with the place. One of these was the bewitching of Sir George Maxwell of Pollok in 1677-78. Twenty years later, in 1696-97. occurred the case of Christian Shaw at Bargarran," an old house not far from Erskine Ferry on the Clyde, some eight or ten miles below Glasgow, which ended in the burning of several persons at Paisley. The physician who was consulted on the occasion, and whose report is still extant, was Dr Matthew Brisbane, at that time Professor of Medicine in the University of Glasgow. Another point of interest in the literature is also connected with the University. George Sinclar, who was reappointed Professor of Mathematics and Philosophy in 1688 published, in 1685, the first collection of witchcraft stories-one so fascinating, that its abiding popularity can be easily understood.