John Bain, Common Pricker of Scotland

In the late 1600s, a Scottish woman was convicted on meagre evidence. "John Bain, a common pricker, swore that, as he passed her door, he heard her talking to the devil. She said, in defence, that it was a foolish practise she had of talking to herself, and several of her neighbours corroborated her statement; but the evidence of the pricker was received. He swore that none ever talked to themselves who were not witches" (Mackay 533).

When a devil's mark was found upon her body, Bain's testimony of her guilt was deemed conclusive. She was convicted and burnt.

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John Bain, Common Pricker of Scotland copyrighted 1996-1998 to Shantell Powell.