The Survey of Scottish Witchcraft

1563-1736

By Julian Goodare, Lauren Martin, Joyce Miller and Louise Yeoman, January 2003

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Case Details

C/EGD/217 Elizabeth Maxwell

name of accused
Elizabeth Maxwell
designated title
no information
Accused Reference
A/EGD/206
Case date start
21/1/1650
Given case date
no information
Case commission
no information
case complaint
no information
case correspondence
no information
case chronicle
no information
other details
no information

characterisation

  • unorthodox religious practise (secondary characteristic)
  • demonic (secondary characteristic)
  • folk healing (secondary characteristic)
  • maleficium (secondary characteristic)
  • neighbourhood dispute (secondary characteristic)
  • neighbourhood dispute (primary characteristic)
Characterisation Notes
Mostly illnesses from neighbourhood disputes.

Qualitative information

Non-natural beings

Notes
The mark was blue.
  • no information

Demonic pacts

  • Devil's Mark on the viens and sinews of her leg.

witches meetings

Notes
None

Meeting places

  • no information

musical instruments

  • no information

Folk culture

  • Specific Verbal Formulae
  • Specific ritual acts
  • Unorthodox religious practice
  • Sympathetic magic
Notes
Took a rowan over her head to cure a sickness. Asked God for her daughter's health. A man saw her riding a cat and leading two in her hands. He became ill after he witnessed this.

Counter strategies

  • Prayer
  • Prayer

white magic

  • no information

Elf/fairy elements

  • no information

Shape-changing

  • no information

Ritual objects

  • Rowan tree
  • Cat

Religious motif

  • Prayer
  • Prayer

Calendar customs

  • no information

Diseases or illness

  • Human illness
  • Quarreling
  • Cursing
  • Healing humans
Notes
Quarrelling followed by sickness. Quarrel about an exchange, parted in wrath, sickness. Refused to pay the monthly maintenance (pay due to troops) and the collector became ill.

Cause of witch's malice

  • Social slight

Other maleficia

  • Property damage

    • Damage to property

    • Ale

    weather modification

    • no information

    Notes
    A woman was collecting a £10 debt from Elizabeth, Elizabeth refused to pay and threatened her ale, and the woman became poor.

    Other charges

    • no information

    Notes
    None

    Plea

    Claimed bewitched
    no
    Claimed possessed
    no
    Admitted lesser charges
    no
    No defence
    no
    Claimed natural causes
    no
    Notes
    None
    Case Notes
    Part of a group of 7 investigated by the Presbytery of Dumfries on this date.
    references
    name notes
    Process Notes JC26/13 Bundle A None