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/152 Robert Erskine

name of accused
Robert Erskine
designated title
no information
Accused Reference
A/EGD/141
Case date start
30/10/1613
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)
  • maleficium (secondary characteristic)
  • political motive (secondary characteristic)
  • political motives (primary characteristic)
  • property motive (secondary characteristic)
Characterisation Notes
He and his sisters were accused of killing their nephews in order to inherent his dead elder brother's land and title of Laird of Dun. They hired a witch.

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
He used poison obtained by his sisters from a witch to poison his nephews.

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 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

  • Consulting
  • 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
None
references
name notes
Pitcairn III, p. 260-264 None