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Animals Crime and Punishment Folklore

Schoolmaster seduced a cow

John Fian, executed 1591, was said to have accidentally seduced a cow instead of a young woman he liked. He asked her brother to get “her private hairs” for a spell, but her mother (being a witch also) gave him hair from an udder instead. Sorcerer no, perv yes.

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North Berwick Lifeboat Day

In the 1880s, “Lifeboat Day” was the biggest fĂȘte of the year in North Berwick. In addition to rescue manoeuvres by the lifeboatmen, there was a greased mast to climb, diving competition and a “tub race” across the harbour, in drag.