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/2130 Christen Michell

name of accused
Christen Michell
designated title
no information
Accused Reference
A/EGD/2077
Case date start
9/3/1597
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)
  • maleficium (primary characteristic)
  • Implicated by another (secondary characteristic)
Characterisation Notes
None

Qualitative information

Non-natural beings

Notes
Said Margrat Innes asked her to join the company and she would want for nothing. Agreed but said she would not stay. The devil hit her and she fell on her face and was bedridden for 80 days.
  • Male little cripple man

Demonic pacts

  • Servant
  • Devil's Mark on back of right hand
  • Want nothing

witches meetings

  • Witches meeting
  • Devil present
  • Dancing
Notes
Claimed that she and several other named witches danced with the devil. The dance was led by Thomas Leyis. Claimed they rode on trees. She was inducted into the devil's service by Margrat Innes (deceased).

Meeting places

  • Lammyntownis yard Yard
  • James Thomsoun's yard yard
  • Fish cross Cross
  • meal market Mercat Cross

musical instruments

  • Unspecified

Folk culture

  • Elphane or Fairyland
Notes
None

Counter strategies

  • no information

white magic

  • no information

Elf/fairy elements

  • 12:00

Shape-changing

  • no information

Ritual objects

  • no information

Religious motif

  • no information

Calendar customs

  • Ruidday
  • Halloween

Diseases or illness

  • Human death
Notes
Accused of causing death of son and daughter-in-law by giving them drinks ?poison.

Cause of witch's malice

  • no information

Other maleficia

Damage to property

  • no information

weather modification

  • no information

Notes
None

Other charges

  • Murder
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. 164-5, 169-70. None
Spalding Club Miscellany Vol V, p 66. Accounts for her execution.