350-year-old book reveals who was accused of witchcraft in Scotland

The pages of a 350-year-old book used to record the names of those accused of witchcraft in Scotland have been published online.

The Names of Witches in Scotland, 1658 collection, was drawn up during a time when the persecution of supposed witches was rife.

The book also lists the towns where the accused lived and notes of confession.

It is believed many were healers, practicing traditional folk medicine.

Some of the notes give small insights into the lives of those accused.

It is recorded that the spouse of Agnes Watsone, from Dumbarton, is “umquhile” (deceased).

A majority of those accused of witchcraft were women although the records reveal that some men were also persecuted.

Jon Gilchreist and Robert Semple, from Dumbarton, are recorded as sailors.

A James Lerile of Alloway, Ayr, is noted as “clenged”, in other words cleaned or made clean.

While Mr Lerile’s fate is unclear, the term probably meant banishment or death