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/1058 Margaret Burges

name of accused
Margaret Burges (alias Lady Dalyell)
designated title
no information
Accused Reference
A/EGD/1047
Case date start
25/11/1628
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

  • demonic (secondary characteristic)
  • maleficium (secondary characteristic)
  • Implicated by another (secondary characteristic)
  • neighbourhood dispute (secondary characteristic)
  • neighbourhood dispute (primary characteristic)
Characterisation Notes
The main accusations against her involved fall out from work, cloth, rent payment, debt, etc. Her thirteen year old female servant was questioned about whether or not Margaret had kissed her. She said yes, many times and she had kissed back. Not sure exactly what was meant by this line of questioning? The investigation and trial resulted from a backfire of Margaret's attempt to clear her name of witchcraft with slander litigation. The kirk session hearing the case decided there was enough evidence to petition the privy council for a commission of justiciary. She was also implicated, on 3 October 1628, by Elspeth Baird, burnt for witchcraft in Leith.

Qualitative information

Non-natural beings

Notes
None
  • no information

Demonic pacts

  • Devil's Mark Leg

witches meetings

Notes
None

Meeting places

  • no information

musical instruments

  • no information

Folk culture

Notes
A woman diagnosed Margaret as the cause of a bewitchment.

Counter strategies

  • no information

white magic

  • no information

Elf/fairy elements

  • no information

Shape-changing

  • no information

Ritual objects

  • no information

Religious motif

  • no information

Calendar customs

  • Easter
  • Lammas
  • Whitsunday

Diseases or illness

  • Human illness
  • Animal illness
  • Animal death
  • Quarreling
  • Cursing
Notes
These were in revenge for quarrels.

Cause of witch's malice

  • Business interactions
  • Revenge for being called a witch

Other maleficia

Damage to property

  • no information

weather modification

  • no information

Notes
None

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
A funny note: Margaret claimed that her lease had been eaten by a dog. Her case seems to have resulted from a backfire from Margaret's pursuit of a slander case after she had been called a witch. The Kirk session of Cramond was convinced by the evidence of the defendants (i.e. the 'slanderers'), and decided to apply for a commission of justiciary from the Privy Council, which they received.
references
name notes
RPC 2nd S, v2 p. 494 None
Process Notes JC26/9 item 11 'Margaret Burges bundle' Witness statements
Process Notes JC26/9 items 1, 9, 10x 'Margaret Burges bundle' Dittay some more formal than others.
Process Notes JC26/9 item 3, 4x, 5x, 8, 12 'Margaret Burges bundle' Trial transcripts, list of assize and verdict.
Process Notes JC26/9 item 2x 'Margaret Burges bundle' Witness statement
Process Notes JC26/9 item 6 'Margaret Burges bundle' Commission
Process Notes JC26/9 item 7 'Margaret Burges bundle' Process papers - summons for the assize