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/137 James Reid

name of accused
James Reid
designated title
no information
Accused Reference
A/EGD/126
Case date start
21/7/1603
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)
  • folk healing (primary characteristic)
  • maleficium (secondary characteristic)
Characterisation Notes
Reid was consulted by the Chrysties to destroy David Libbertoun a burgess baxter in Edinburgh. I think Reid was hired to remove a bewitchment, he seemed to be taking off lots of illnesses in the Chrystie household, and guideing the attack on D. Libberton for the Chrystie's not himself.
additional persons
name involvement notes
no additional persons recorded

Qualitative information

Non-natural beings

Notes
Doesn't specify a demonic pact. Just said that he learned the craft (of healing) from the devil his master, that he consulted with the Devil and that the Devil gave him 'thrie penneis at ane tyme'.
  • Male
  • Animal Devil Horse

Demonic pacts

  • no information

witches meetings

  • Witches meeting
  • Devil present
Notes
None

Meeting places

  • Bynnie-craigs Craigs
  • Corstorphine-craigs Craigs

musical instruments

  • no information

Folk culture

  • Specific ritual acts
  • Unorthodox religious practice
  • Sympathetic magic
Notes
He used south running water. Used raw flesh with nine notches on it to bewitch someone, by putting it under their door (this could have been an unwitching ceremony?).

Counter strategies

  • no information

white magic

  • no information

Elf/fairy elements

  • no information

Shape-changing

  • no information

Ritual objects

  • Water
  • Flesh
  • Wax/clay images
  • Salt
  • Thread

Religious motif

  • Nine

Calendar customs

  • no information

Diseases or illness

  • Human illness
  • Animal illness
  • Rec. healer
  • Healing humans
Notes
None

Cause of witch's malice

  • no information

Other maleficia

  • Property damage

    • Damage to property

    • Crops
    • Animals

    weather modification

    • no information

    Notes
    None

    Other charges

    • Sorcery
    • Charming
    Notes
    None

    Plea

    Claimed bewitched
    no
    Claimed possessed
    no
    Admitted lesser charges
    no
    No defence
    no
    Claimed natural causes
    no
    Notes
    None
    Case Notes
    None
    references
    name notes
    Books of Adjournal JC2/3 fo. 999-1002 None
    Pitcairn v ii, p. 421-422 same text as JC2/3