Queen's Evidence and Wandering Minstrels

Available for over a year

Alistair Heather, Scots writer and presenter of BBC documentary The Rebel Tongue on Charlie Leslie, the Jacobite Minstrel who travelled the North East selling and singing Jacobite ballads; Dr Nikki Macdonald - false tongue you lied - the unique way to make up for your slander in 17th century Scotland and how an accusation of slander could stop you being tried as a witch. Dr Hannah Telling on the use of 'Queen’s evidence' in a tragic rape case in Cupar in Fife 1853 - the victim was found dead in the river - police originally thought it was accidental drowning or suicide but then an anonymous letter blew the case wide open and showed it was rape - we crack the identity of the concerned citizen behind the letter, who turns out to be an incomer from Norfolk who wanted to see justice done.