Isobel Gowdie's first confession

Isobel Gowdie of Auldearn made four confessions over six weeks in 1662, the first on 13 April. Her confessions describe meetings with the Devil.

Isobel Gowdie gave four confessions across six weeks in 1662. Wikipedia dates the first to 13 April 1662 at Auldearn. Harry Forbes, the local minister, was a witness at each of her four interrogations. The historian John Callow suggests she came forward because she had been involved in a plan to torment Forbes. Wikipedia says the reason is uncertain. The Inverness Courier adds that the route by which she was accused and incriminated herself remains unknown.

In her first confession, she said she arranged to meet the Devil at night in the kirk at Auldearn. She said she renounced her baptism there and that he put his mark on her shoulder and sucked blood from it. She named others she said attended, including Janet Breadhead and Margret Brodie. She said further meetings took place at places including Nairn and Inshoch.

The University of Edinburgh's Survey of Scottish Witchcraft says her confessions are too detailed to summarise fully and advises readers to consult the printed documents. It also says her case may have fed many modern ideas about witches, and that few Scottish cases resemble it.