Margaret Bane

Bane was accused of several charges, including association with a convicted witch, her sister Jonet Spaldarge, and her extensive knowledge of midwifery.

She was also accused of having killed her former spouse by transferring the labour pains from a woman to him, of not returning a greeting of a man who died later that day, of having been witnessed to perform magic rituals by a loch, and of having predicted the sex of an infant prior to birth.

[4] Before her death, Bane seems to have denounced multiple women: Christiane Arcly, Jonat Davidsone, Jonat Lucas, Margrat Og, Issobell Oige, Issobell Richie, Beatrix Robbie and her own daughter Helene Rogie.

Bane never confirmed these accusations but she did confess to performing malefic, spells of evil intent, with Issobell Richie.

[6] Bane confessed that her sister Jonet had taught her magic and made her a follower of the Devil.

Despite being protected by powerful connections, such as Lady Ross of Auchlossan, who bribed clerks to hide the previous charge, she was trialed, judged guilty and executed by burning at Aberdeen in March 1597.

Some of the accusations against her included: conspiring with her mother to inflict an illness upon her daughter-in-law Bessie, causing a neighbour's animals to run wild before dying, and for casting a stone circle.

[10] Issobell Richie, a witch accused by Bane, denounced Spaldarge and declared that she had gifted a belt capable of harming bearded men.

[11] After Bane's execution in March, the Great Scottish Witch Hunt of 1597 continued for multiple months.