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/173 Elizabeth Bathgate

name of accused
Elizabeth Bathgate
designated title
no information
Accused Reference
A/EGD/162
Case date start
16/12/1633
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)
  • neighbourhood dispute (secondary characteristic)
  • neighbourhood dispute (primary characteristic)
Characterisation Notes
The main testimony was about disputes that Bathgate and her husband had with neighbours.

Qualitative information

Non-natural beings

Notes
None
  • Male grey clothes

Demonic pacts

  • no information

witches meetings

  • Witches meeting
  • Devil present
Notes
None

Meeting places

  • head of the dead mans burne Barn
  • None Mill
  • tenth (teynd) yard Yard
  • in Eyemouth Shore

musical instruments

  • no information

Folk culture

  • Specific ritual acts
  • Shape changing
  • Sympathetic magic
Notes
Alleged use of an enchanted egg (?changeling egg) to kill a child. A bruise caused by Bathgate supposedly swelled into the shape of an egg and rotten egg-like substance flowed from the swelling. Old Lady Cranston declaired that the bairn was betwitched. She was seen dancing widdershins around a mill stone.

Counter strategies

  • Counter-magic

white magic

  • no information

Elf/fairy elements

  • Horseshoe

Shape-changing

  • no information

Ritual objects

  • Horseshoe

Religious motif

  • no information

Calendar customs

  • Michaelmas

Diseases or illness

  • Human illness
  • Human death
  • Animal illness
  • Animal death
  • Quarreling
  • Cursing
Notes
Nipping a child

Cause of witch's malice

  • Failed business interaction
  • Revenge for being called a witch
  • Debt

Other maleficia

  • Property damage

    • Damage to property

    • Mill
    • Boats

    weather modification

    • no information

    Notes
    Fire raising

    Other charges

    • Sorcery
    Notes
    None

    Plea

    Claimed bewitched
    no
    Claimed possessed
    no
    Admitted lesser charges
    no
    No defence
    no
    Claimed natural causes
    no
    Notes
    Argued that no words or deeds were alleged; use of ridicule to challenge witnesses
    Case Notes
    Very detailed case, lots of high status people involved in the investigation, particularly lots of Homes.
    references
    name notes
    Books of Adjournal JC2/7 fo 148v; 154r None
    Spottiswoode Miscellany Vol 2, p 64-6 Copy of the trial records.
    Books of Adjournal JC2/7 fo. 160r-168 None
    RPC 2nd S v5 p. 176-177; 572 PC paper (p. 572) is the summons against Sir Patrik Home of Aittoun and others. It is dated 16/12/1633
    RPC 2nd S, v5 p. 593-594 To be released from prison and to remain in Edinburgh till her trial.
    RPC 2nd S, v5 p. 605 Evidentiary complaint.