Survey of Scottish Witchcraft, 1563 - 1736

Goodare, Julian; Yeoman, Louise; Martin, Lauren; Miller, Joyce

Case Details

C/EGD/1954 Helen Casse

name of accused: Helen Casse
designated title: no information
Accused Reference: A/EGD/1911
Case date start: 3/5/1661
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)
not enough information (secondary characteristic)
not enough information (primary characteristic)

Characterisation Notes: None

additional persons
name	involvement	notes
William Murray	Commissioner
James Richardson	Commissioner
Robert Dobie	Commissioner
John Preston	Commissioner
John Biggar	Commissioner
William Rig	Commissioner
John Jossie	Commissioner
Thomas Smith	Commissioner
Robert Ramage	Commissioner
Oliver Colt	Investigator
Robert Strachan	Investigator
Robert Douglas	Investigator
James Dundas	Prosecutor
Patrick Thomson	Investigator

linked trials
name	trial type	link	year	notes
Helen Casse	Mentioned in trial	T/LA/2226	None
Helen Casse	Central Court	T/LA/318	1661

Qualitative information

Non-natural beings

Notes: Said the devil rejected her because she was open to good and would spoil him and all his company. In another document it stated that she had carnal dealings with the devil. Said that she confessed due to fear of torture. Another extract recorded that she thought the devil was cloven footed.

Male very well clothed
Male cloven feet
Male Green Clothes

Demonic pacts

Servant
Devil's Mark
Sex
Anti-baptism said she refused to do this
Head and foot

witches meetings

Devil present

Notes: She was gathering sticks when the Devil appeared.

Meeting places

own house Yard
Restalrig Loan Road
Duddingston Links

musical instruments

no information

Folk culture

Elphane or Fairyland

Notes: None

Counter strategies

no information

white magic

no information

Elf/fairy elements

Green

Shape-changing

no information

Ritual objects

no information

Religious motif

no information

Calendar customs

no information

Diseases or illness

Notes: None

Cause of witch's malice

no information

Other maleficia

Damage to property

no information

weather modification

no information

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 JC2/11; JC2/10 fos. 21v-27r	JC2/11 and JC2/10 have the same text. Also found in the High Court Record Index, no. 1 for 20/8/1661, this index did not distinguish between circuit and high court cases. This list of names was added in the margins with a modern hand, no indication of where the person got the list.
High Court Process Notes JC 26/27, bundle 1, items 1, 2, 6. Also bundle 'Gilmerton witches' items 3, 4.	Notes ofdittay, verdict and sentence with others from same trial. Item 6 includes reference to carnal dealings. JCs to be re-catalogued, check with NAS staff. Note about trial misfiled in 'Gilmerton witches' bundle.
APS Vol 7, p 197.	None