Halloween Ceremony Pardons Executed 'Witches'

[Champ]

A town is to mark Halloween by officially pardoning 81 witches executed more than 400 years ago, it emerged today.

The pardons were granted under ancient feudal powers due to be abolished within weeks.

Descendants and namesakes of those put to death in the town of Prestonpans, East Lothian, during Scotland’s 16th and 17th century witch-hunts are expected to attend Sunday’s ceremony.

More than 3,500 Scots, mainly women, were executed in the Reformation atmosphere of paranoia and suspicion that reached its peak under the rule of King James VI – later King James I of England.
http://news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=3689724

[WillParkinson]

1. Gee, that's mighty nice of them....

I mean, really, we're sorry you were a witch. Here, have a pardon. Oh, you're dead? Oh, we killed you? Oh, sorry. Here, have a pardon.

[mirandaod]

2. Another rousing endorsement for capital punishment.

[sui generis]

3. here's a list of everyone who's ever been executed

for witchcraft - where there are still recorded names.

There are many more records that were lost in subsequent wars, church fires, and just plain lost. . .

http://www.kenthamilton.net/pagan/burning.html

[Kelli372]

4. Thanks for the link..

There was even someone executed in there for being a werewolf! Wonder how they determined that! There was also someone in there who I may be a descendent of from England...how eerie.