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/147 Beigis Tod

name of accused
Beigis Tod
designated title
no information
Accused Reference
A/EGD/136
Case date start
27/1/1591
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)
  • maleficium (secondary characteristic)
  • Implicated by another (secondary characteristic)
  • neighbourhood dispute (secondary characteristic)
  • treason (secondary characteristic)
  • not enough information (secondary characteristic)
  • not enough information (primary characteristic)
Characterisation Notes
The treason charge and bein and implicated by another witch happened in 1591. Part of the North Berwick witch hunt. It involved many people and many accustions about witches meetings, specifically two separate attempts to sink the royal ships. The first to sink Queen Anne on her way home, second to trouble King James after he went to get her in Denmark. I think her original accusation stemmed from this episode.
additional persons
name involvement notes
no additional persons recorded

Qualitative information

Non-natural beings

Notes
None
  • no information

Demonic pacts

  • no information

witches meetings

  • Witches meeting
  • Devil present
  • Malificium
Notes
The group met the Devil at Beigis' house for drinks. They met in the thorns near the iron gate of Seton. Also did a cat ritual at the gate of Seton and cast ot to the Devil. Was accused of meeting at the Salt pans in 1591 as part of the North Berwick hunt.

Meeting places

  • Deam futtie of Longniddry Dam
  • Beigis' house House
  • Seaton-thorn Thorn
  • iron gate of Seaton Gate
  • near the pannes Salt pans

musical instruments

  • no information

Folk culture

  • Specific Verbal Formulae
  • Specific ritual acts
  • Unorthodox religious practice
  • Sympathetic magic
Notes
They did rituals with a cat and named it Margaret.

Counter strategies

  • Appeasement

white magic

  • no information

Elf/fairy elements

  • Thorn Tree

Shape-changing

  • Spirit As herself
  • Animal a Dog

Ritual objects

  • Pot
  • Cat

Religious motif

  • Nine

Calendar customs

  • no information

Diseases or illness

  • Human illness
  • Human death
  • Laying on
  • Quarreling
  • Cursing
Notes
None

Cause of witch's malice

  • no information

Other maleficia

  • Property damage
  • Weather modification

    • Damage to property

    • Boats
    • Ale

    weather modification

    • Wind
    • Storm
    Notes
    None

    Other charges

    • Sorcery
    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 JC2/4 fo. 221v-222r, 222v-223v Also found in the High Court Record Index, no. 1 for 27/5/1608.
    Witchcraft Papers JC40/2-3 None
    Pitcairn v ii, 542-44 same text as second part of JC2/4 reference.
    Pitcairn v I, part II, page 230-241 same as JC2/2
    Books of Adjournal JC2/2 fos. 201r-207r None