The Survey of Scottish Witchcraft

1563-1736

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

The Survey of Scottish Witchcraft logo

Case Details

C/EGD/2410 Marione Corsan

name of accused
Marione Corsan
designated title
no information
Accused Reference
A/EGD/2339
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)
  • folk healing (secondary characteristic)
  • maleficium (secondary characteristic)
  • neighbourhood dispute (secondary characteristic)
  • not enough information (secondary characteristic)
  • not enough information (primary characteristic)
Characterisation Notes
The dittay in 1650 has healing and quarrelling. 1659 presbytery records include details about her healing advice.

Qualitative information

Non-natural beings

Notes
None
  • no information

Demonic pacts

  • no information

witches meetings

Notes
None

Meeting places

  • no information

musical instruments

  • no information

Folk culture

  • Specific ritual acts
  • Unorthodox religious practice
  • Sympathetic magic
Notes
Confessed that she cured a neighbour of the falling sickness by laying her in a newly dug grave and cutting her belt in 9 pieces. The neighbour was better until the two fell out and the illness returned. A woman dreamt she was flyting with Marion, when she woke she saw two cats. She gripped a woman and said she accused her of calling her mother a witch, then she fell ill. The woman sought appeasement and Marion said no. The woman went to pray and heard Marion and her mother consulting with a third person she supposed to be the Devil. Marion wanted to cut her tongue out and the Devil said it couldn't be gotten. The woman fell over screaming.

Counter strategies

  • Appeasement

white magic

  • no information

Elf/fairy elements

  • no information

Shape-changing

  • In Dream dreamt she was flyting with the suspect

Ritual objects

  • Belt

Religious motif

  • Nine

Calendar customs

  • no information

Diseases or illness

  • Laying on
  • Quarreling
  • Cursing
  • Healing humans
Notes
Accused of healing woman of falling sickness but that the illness returned after Corsan fell out with her. Quarrels and curses about Marion's debt.

Cause of witch's malice

  • Debt

Other maleficia

  • Property damage

    • Damage to property

    • Ale

    weather modification

    • no information

    Notes
    She caused an ale barrels to break and a man to swell up.

    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
    Seems to have been investigated in 1650 by the Presbytery of Dumfries where a commission was sought (along with 7 others) and again in 1659.
    references
    name notes
    Dumfries Presbytery records CH2/1284/1, p. 230. See also A E Truckell 'Unpublished List of Witchcraft Cases in Galloway and Dumfriesshire' ], pp. 7-17. The project did not check Larner's reference to this printed secondary source as part of the research. Entry records inquiry into accusations about healing advice.
    Process Notes JC26/13 Bundle A None