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/2119 Isobel Cockie

name of accused
Isobel Cockie
designated title
no information
Accused Reference
A/EGD/2066
Case date start
2/2/1597
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)
  • folk healing (secondary characteristic)
  • maleficium (secondary characteristic)
  • maleficium (primary characteristic)
  • Implicated by another (secondary characteristic)
  • neighbourhood dispute (secondary characteristic)
  • white magic (secondary characteristic)
Characterisation Notes
Numerous accusations, most about malefice after disputes, but also named by Janet Wischart and Helen Makkie. Was also getting paid for healing.

Qualitative information

Non-natural beings

Notes
None
  • no information

Demonic pacts

  • no information

witches meetings

  • Dancing
Notes
Janet Wischart and Helen Makkie confessed that Cockie had been with them at meetings on Hallowe'en at the fish and meal markets and the market cross in Aberdeen. Cockie does not appear to have confessed to anything and appears to have denied the charges.

Meeting places

  • Aberdeen Mercat Cross
  • Aberdeen Fish cross
  • Aberdeen Meal market

musical instruments

  • Unspecified

Folk culture

  • Elphane or Fairyland
  • Specific Verbal Formulae
  • Specific ritual acts
  • Sympathetic magic
Notes
Accused of casting 'cantryps' between a victim's doors after which he took ill. Accused of having left a many coloured cloth at a neighbour's house. When she burnt it (fearing it was witchcraft) the fire cracked and they thought the house would fall. Said to one man 'I shall gar thee forthinkit that thow hev territ my howss, I being fra ham' - he then took ill. Met at twelve midnight. Gave a man a drink of herbs, butter and saifroun (saffron?), which he was to drink 3 times. Also wrapped a knotted green thread about his body and oxsters, then put it in the fire. Another thread was left round his waist and if it broke or not to put it in the fire. Told a woman to go to south running water to wash him. She was paid 20 shillings and half a firlot of meal for this.

Counter strategies

  • no information

white magic

  • Prophesy

Elf/fairy elements

  • 12:00
  • Green

Shape-changing

  • no information

Ritual objects

  • Cloth
  • Thread
  • Herb
  • Fire
  • Water

Religious motif

  • no information

Calendar customs

  • Fastings eve
  • Halloween

Diseases or illness

  • Human illness
  • Human death
  • Animal illness
  • Animal death
  • Transferring disease
  • Laying on
  • Rec. healer
  • Healing humans
Notes
Accused of causing a neighbour's milk to fail to churn. Accused of casting an illnes onto a neighbour after he and her husband fell out over the ownership of a house. Gave a man a drink with herbs, butter and saffron and a knotted green thread

Cause of witch's malice

  • no information

Other maleficia

  • Property damage

    • Damage to property

    • Dairy
    • Mill
    • Whole Estate
    • Crops

    weather modification

    • no information

    Notes
    Ruined milk products. Spoiled a mill. Caused a neighbour to be ruined and spoiled another's crops.

    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
    Spalding Club Miscellany Vol I, pp. 84, 111-116. None
    Spalding Club Miscellany Vol V, p 65. Lists of expenses for execution.
    Spalding Club Miscellany Vol I, preface, p. 52. None