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/2140 Issobell Robie

name of accused
Issobell Robie
designated title
no information
Accused Reference
A/EGD/2087
Case date start
6/4/1597
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

  • unorthodox religious practise (secondary characteristic)
  • demonic (secondary characteristic)
  • not enough information (secondary characteristic)
  • not enough information (primary characteristic)
  • white magic (secondary characteristic)
Characterisation Notes
Accused of (?) protective magic and of shape shifting, but not very specific accusations.

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

  • Specific ritual acts
  • Shape changing
  • Unorthodox religious practice
Notes
Told her guidman (husband) to walk 3 times withershins round any cows before he bought them, ?to protect or identify the best one. Offered a beggar some milk, which he refused. When asked why he did not take it replied that she had milk from her own and other people's cows, including a forrow cow - a cow not in calf.

Counter strategies

  • no information

white magic

  • Protective

Elf/fairy elements

  • no information

Shape-changing

  • Animal as a hare

Ritual objects

  • no information

Religious motif

  • Three

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

  • 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, p 184-6, 191-2. Order to be apprehended. Notes recorded by minister Mr John Ross.