Witch Confessions

Almost all witches who have been executed in Scotland for this alleged crime have confessed, and their confessions are remarkahly uniform, particularly as to
their carnal dealings with the devil. This is not to be wondered at, as the report of the confession of one produced similar impressions upon the disturbed
imagination of another, and none confessed until they were reduced to a state of delirious and bewildered imbecility.

Kept without sleep, and incessantly tormented in their bodies by prickers, or in their minds by the clergy; excluded from all but their tormentors ; believing what they had been told of others, although conscious of their own innocence ; hearing of nothing but terrible horrors, expecting no mercy, and with the dread of the bale-fire continually before their eyes, when worn out with suffer-
ings, at last they were left alone without fire, light, or comfort, in some dungeon, kirk-steeple, or such place,
in the state of partial derangement to whch they were reduced, there can be no doubt that they dreamt of the
pitiable absurdities which they afterwards believed to be true, confessed, and were burnt, while their nearest re-
latives dared not, even to themselves, complain of the wrong.

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