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/126 John Stewart

name of accused
John Stewart
designated title
no information
Accused Reference
A/EGD/115
Case date start
24/6/1596
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

  • consulting (secondary characteristic)
  • consulting (primary characteristic)
  • maleficium (secondary characteristic)
  • political motive (secondary characteristic)
Characterisation Notes
He was accused of murdering his brother the Earl of Orkney by hiring Aleson Balfour. The High Court index has him charged with 'consulting a witch'.
additional persons
name involvement notes
no additional persons recorded

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

Notes
None

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

  • no information

Diseases or illness

  • Human death
Notes
None

Cause of witch's malice

  • no information

Other maleficia

Damage to property

  • no information

weather modification

  • no information

Notes
None

Other charges

  • Treason
  • Poisoning
Notes
None

Plea

Claimed bewitched
no
Claimed possessed
no
Admitted lesser charges
no
No defence
no
Claimed natural causes
no
Notes
None
Case Notes
This is a typical dynastic struggle case where a witch was hired as one attempt of many to kill a rival claimant. In this case it was his brother, and many others were accused of working with him to kill Patrick Earl of Orkney.
references
name notes
Books of Adjournal JC2/3 fo. 41-47 Also listed in the High Court Record Index, no. 1 for 24/6/1596
Pitcairn v I, part ii, page 373-377 same text as JC2/3
Process Notes JC26/3 None