The Survey of Scottish Witchcraft

1563-1736

By Julian Goodare, Lauren Martin, Joyce Miller and Louise Yeoman, January 2003

The Survey of Scottish Witchcraft logo

Case Details

C/EGD/2120 Johnnet Wischert

name of accused
Johnnet Wischert
designated title
no information
Accused Reference
A/EGD/2067
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

  • maleficium (secondary characteristic)
  • maleficium (primary characteristic)
  • Implicated by another (secondary characteristic)
  • neighbourhood dispute (secondary characteristic)
Characterisation Notes
This characterisation may change as other family members are also tried later for witchcraft. It therefore seems like a neighbourhood dispute against an argumentative and unpopular family.

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

  • Shape changing
Notes
She cast cantrips or spells.

Counter strategies

  • no information

white magic

  • no information

Elf/fairy elements

  • no information

Shape-changing

  • Animal dog (tyke)

Ritual objects

  • no information

Religious motif

  • no information

Calendar customs

  • no information

Diseases or illness

  • Human illness
  • Human death
  • Quarreling
  • Cursing
  • Midwifery
Notes
Numerous accusations of causing illness and deaths due to her casting cantrips. Accused of delaying the delivery of a child and of causing the child to be stillborn.

Cause of witch's malice

  • Failed business interaction

Other maleficia

  • Property damage

    • Damage to property

    • Whole Estate
    • Ale

    weather modification

    • no information

    Notes
    Accused of spoiling a whole brew (wort) of ale. Also accused of attempting to poison child who she had wanted to wetnurse.

    Other charges

    • Murder
    • Sorcery
    • Cursing
    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. 83-97 reprinted in Spalding.
    Spalding Club Miscellany Vol 1, preface, p. 52. Account of cost of execution