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patient and tender ministrations of her spiritual advisers； arrived at
complete resignation to her fate and genuine repentance for her misdeeds。
＇5＇ The Memorial is fully entitled： A Worthy and Notable Memorial
of the Great Work of Mercy which God wrought in the Conversion of Jean
Livingstone Lady Warristoun； who was apprehended for the Vile and
Horrible Murder of her own Husband； John Kincaid； committed on
Tuesday； July 1； 1600； for which she was execute on Saturday following；
Containing an Account of her Obstinacy； Earnest Repentance； and her
Turning to God； of the Odd Speeches she used during her Imprisonment；
of her Great and Marvellous Constancy； and of her Behaviour and Manner
of Death： Observed by One who was both a Seer and Hearer of what
was spoken。
Her confession； as filleted from the Memorial by the Pitcairn Trials； is
as follows：
I think I shall hear presently the pitiful and fearful cries which he
gave when he was strangled！ And that vile sin which I committed in
murdering my own husband is yet before me。 When that horrible and
fearful sin was done I desired the unhappy man who did it （for my own
part； the Lord knoweth I laid never my hands upon him to do him evil； but
as soon as that man gripped him and began his evil turn； so soon as my
husband cried so fearfully； I leapt out over my bed and went to the Hall；
where I sat all the time； till that unhappy man came to me and reported
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that mine husband was dead）； I desired him； I say； to take me away with
him； for I feared trial； albeit flesh and blood made me think my father's
moen ＇interest＇ at Court would have saved me！
Well； we know what the Laird of Dunipace did about it。
‘‘As to these women who was challenged with me；'' the confession
goes on；
I will also tell my mind concerning them。 God forgive the nurse； for
she helped me too well in mine evil purpose； for when I told her I was
minded to do so she consented to the doing of it； and upon Tuesday； when
the turn was done； when I sent her to seek the man who would do it； she
said； ‘‘ I shall go and seek him； and if I get him not I shall seek another！
And if I get none I shall do it myself！''
Here the writer of the Memorial interpolates the remark； ‘‘This the
nurse also confessed； being asked of it before her death。'' It is a
misfortune； equalling that of the lack of information regarding the
character of Jean's husband； that there is so little about the character of the
nurse。 She was； it is to be presumed； an older woman than her mistress；
probably nurse to Jean in her infancy。 One can imagine her （the stupid
creature！） up in arms against Kincaid for his treatment of her ‘‘bonny
lamb；'' without the sense to see whither she was urging her young mistress；
blind to the consequences； but ‘‘nursing her wrath'' and striding
purposefully from Warriston to Holyroodhouse on her strong plebeian legs；
not once but several times； in search of Weir！ What is known in Scotland
as a ‘limmer；' obviously。
‘‘As for the two other women；'' Jean continues；
I request that you neither put them to death nor any torture； because I
testify they are both innocent； and knew nothing of this deed before it was
done； and the mean time of doing it； and that they knew they durst not tell；
for fear； for I compelled them to dissemble。 As for mine own part； I
thank my God a thousand times that I am so touched with the sense of that
sin now： for I confess this also to you； that when that horrible murder was
committed first； that I might seem to be innocent； I laboured to counterfeit
weeping； but； do what I could； I could not find a tear。
Of the whole confession that last is the most revealing touch。 It is
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hardly just to fall into pity for Jean simply because she was young and
lovely。 Her crime was a bad one； much more deliberate than many that；
in the same age； took women of lower rank in life than Jean to the crueller
end of the stake。 In the several days during which she was sending for
Weir； but failing to have speech with him； she had time to review her
intention of having her husband murdered。 If the nurse was the prime
mover in the plot Jean was an unrelenting abettor。 It may have been in
her calculations before； as well as after； the deed itself that the interest of
her father and family at Court would save her； should the deed have come
to light as murder。 Even in these days； when justice is so much more
seasoned with mercy to women murderers； a woman in Jean's case； with
such strong evidence of premeditation against her； would only narrowly
escape the hangman； if she escaped him at all。 But that confession of
trying to pretend weeping and being unable to find tears is a revelation。 I
can think of nothing more indicative of terror and misery in a woman than
that she should want to cry and be unable to。 Your genuinely hypocritical
murderer； male as well as female； can always work up self…pity easily and
induce the streaming eye。
It is from internal evidences such as this that one may conclude the
repentance of Jean Livingstone； as shown in her confession； to have been
sincere。 There was； we are informed by the memorialist； nothing
maudlin in her conduct after condemnation。 Once she got over her first
obduracy； induced； one would imagine； by the shock of seeing the
realization of what she had planned but never pictured； the murder itself；
and probably by the desertion of her by her father and kindred； her
repentance was ‘‘cheerful'' and ‘‘unfeigned。'' They were tough…minded
men； those Scots divines who ministered to her at the last； too stern in
their theology to be misled by any pretence at finding grace。 And no
pretty ways of Jean's would have deceived them。 The constancy of
behaviour which