In February 1597, Aberdeen women Johnnet Wischart and Issobell Cockie were accused of witchcraft and sentenced to death. Aberdeen invoiced them for their own burning. They were also billed for the burial of their “accomplice”, Issobell Mantheith.
From what I can tell from the burgh record extracts, Issobell, Johnnet, and Johnnet’s son Thomas Leyis were named “ringleaders” in group conviction of witches and the three of them were sent bills as they were able to pay. Others were already dead or unable to pay. Issobell Mantheith had hanged herself in prison before she could be executed.
It looks like the whole Leyis family were an unpopular one as they (7 of them) plus 3 complices were executed or banished. The Survey of Scottish Witchcraft says doesn’t mention strangulation, just that they were burnt. (Women convicted of witchcraft were usually strangled before being cremated, but in 1597, they seem to have been burnt alive).
UPDATE: I’m sure a historian of witch trials in Scotland could say much more about how common it was to be invoiced for your own death, but I found some more examples of “receipts” in the Annals of Pittenweem for the 1640s.
3d Nov. 1643. — John Dawson has made payment of his grassmail, and of the soume of £40, expenses depursit upon executing his wyff, to the treasurer.
18th Dec. 1643 –Thomas Cook, son to Margaret Horsbrugh, is ordainit to pay three score of punds for expenses debursit on the executing of his said mother for witchcraft.
12th Jan 1644.– Archibald and Thomas Wanderson are decerned to pay the soumes of ane hundredth marks for defraying of the charges depursit upon their wives, execut for witchcraft.
Cook, D. (ed.) (1867) Annals of Pittenweem : being notes and extracts from the ancient records of that burgh, 1526-1793. pp.49-50
