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/2121 Thomas Leyis

name of accused
Thomas Leyis
designated title
no information
Accused Reference
A/EGD/2068
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)
  • maleficium (secondary characteristic)
  • Implicated by another (secondary characteristic)
  • neighbourhood dispute (secondary characteristic)
  • neighbourhood dispute (primary characteristic)
  • white magic (secondary characteristic)
Characterisation Notes
Witches meeting and tacit pact are probably not the primary characterisation although they feature. Family assocation appears very important and so neighbourhood dispute seems likely.

Qualitative information

Non-natural beings

Notes
Dittay mentions that Leyis's lover (Elspeth Reid) confessed that Leyis had asked her to meet a man, to take him by the ear and put her foot on the man's foot - all of which she refused to do.
  • Male a little cuttie fellow with a staff
  • Animal Devil magpie
  • Animal Devil jackdaw

Demonic pacts

  • tacit pact servant mentioned by prosecution

witches meetings

  • Witches meeting
  • Devil present
  • Food and drink
  • Dancing
Notes
None

Meeting places

  • Aberdeen Mercat Cross

musical instruments

  • Unspecified

Folk culture

Notes
Leyis was accused of using cantrips to bewitch but no description of what they involved. Accused of having predicted the birth of a female child (his daughter) before Elspeth Reid knew she was pregnant. The child would be born on a Sunday after Martinmas.

Counter strategies

  • no information

white magic

  • Prophesy

Elf/fairy elements

  • no information

Shape-changing

  • no information

Ritual objects

  • no information

Religious motif

  • no information

Calendar customs

  • Halloween

Diseases or illness

  • Cursing
Notes
Was witnessed to have cursed Mr Andrew Clark who he said would die if he took his mother to trial.

Cause of witch's malice

  • no information

Other maleficia

  • Property damage

    • Damage to property

    • Whole Estate

    weather modification

    • no information

    Notes
    Accused of helping his mother bewitch goods and gear belonging to a neighbour.

    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
    Spalding Club Miscellany Vol I, pp. 83-4, 97-101 reprinted minutes of trial.
    Spalding Club Miscellany Vol V, p 182. Burgh accounts for execution.
    Spalding Club Miscellany Vol I, preface, p. 52. None