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/184 Helene Clerk

name of accused
Helene Clerk
designated title
no information
Accused Reference
A/EGD/173
Case date start
16/10/1643
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
Also testified that she (Helen) was cured by a spae wife 20 years before she was investigated.

Qualitative information

Non-natural beings

Notes
None
  • no information

Demonic pacts

  • Devil's Mark

witches meetings

Notes
None

Meeting places

  • no information

musical instruments

  • no information

Folk culture

Notes
Helen was cured by a spae wife of South Leith 20 years ago who was burnt for witchcraft. The spae wife was called Elspeth the spae wife. She was offered a chopping (chopin) of ale. And people asked her for their health back.

Counter strategies

  • Appeasement

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

  • Quarreling
  • Cursing
Notes
Quarrels with other boatmen regarding her son. She made threats over unpaid debts, and poor quality of commissioned boots. Cursed because a man refused to marry her daughter.

Cause of witch's malice

  • no information

Other maleficia

  • Property damage
  • Weather modification

    • Damage to property

    • no information

    weather modification

    • Storm
    Notes
    Supposedly raised a storm in Newhaven harbour. She predicted that there wouldn't be enough salt for the Dunbar herring drove.

    Other charges

    • no information

    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 JC2/8 fo. 351r-351v Larner also notes that she in mentioned in JC 26/14 (5).
    Books of Adjournal JC2/8 p. 424 None
    Process Notes JC26/13 Bundle 1 the rest of bundle one is further back in the box, separated from the rest.