The Bargarran witch trial involving young Christian Shaw near Paisley really happened and was not only known to Fifers and those in Pittenweem due to the spread of news and pamphlets but, according to contemporary sources, Cowper read and talked about the young girl’s symptoms to Peter. In some accounts, he read the story over and over again, in others (A Just Reproof) he only mentioned it one or two times and then barely. Folk would also have known about Salem and the witch-hunt there. As Brain P Levack notes in his book Witch Hunting in Scotland: Law, politics and religion, there was a narrative of demonic possession circulating at the time that those affected followed. He notes that Cowper read Shaw’s account to Morton, and writes: ‘Demoniacs (those possessed) in all societies act the way in which their religious culture tells them they should act.’ Peter Morton was no exception. Internalising his beliefs and his fears, he likely collapsed/fitted, became caught up in a kind of ‘hysteria’ and then was coached to maintain a level of behaviour/symptoms that resembled possession as it was understood back then. As Levack adds, ‘Christian Shaw’s possession provided a script for yet another Scottish possession (Morton’s).’

Alexander McGregor is also a real character, a fisherman, and the events he was involved in also happened. The incident with Isobel Adam at Hogmanay really occurred, as did his remembrance of it almost a year later as an act of malfeasance that involved more than one woman, with terrible consequences. I tried to imagine the circumstances and conversations around all this and the role of the reverend (who was involved). His death, however, is a fiction.

In terms of the imprisoned women, the reverend was integral to their torment. He often ordered the torture, the restrictions imposed upon them, and washed his hands of them as described in the book. Whether or not he knew the guards were eating the food provided for Thomas Brown and his cellmates, I’m uncertain, but the family — and the Gentleman of Fife and the Edinburgh magistrates and lawyers — certainly believe Brown’s death shouldn’t have occurred.

Where Reverend Patrick Cowper is most guilty, however, is in his behaviour in the lead up to, and during, the horrific murder of Janet Cornfoot. He was behind her incarceration in St Fillan’s Cave, and in having her put in the lower cell of the Tolbooth. One can only assume he knew it wouldn’t be hard for her to escape (the grating was loose). He did dine with the bailies that night, and told the townsfolk, upon her arrest and return, to do what they wanted with her.