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/2168 Meriorie Mutche

name of accused
Meriorie Mutche
designated title
no information
Accused Reference
A/EGD/2113
Case date start
21/11/1597
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)
  • maleficium (secondary characteristic)
  • neighbourhood dispute (secondary characteristic)
  • neighbourhood dispute (primary characteristic)
  • property motive (secondary characteristic)
Characterisation Notes
This seems to have been a local dispute, which involved 3 accused and a group of men (notably the Crukshanks). All three were acquitted and the pursuers ordered not to trouble them again. Similarly the families and friends of the accused were ordered not to cause any further trouble for the Crukshanks.

Qualitative information

Non-natural beings

Notes
Laird of Esslemont claimed that she had been searched by William May who said she had marks under her left ear and neck.
  • no information

Demonic pacts

  • Devil's Mark left ear
  • Devil's Mark neck

witches meetings

Notes
Accused of having kept meetings with other witches at several places but she does not appear to have confessed to this, nor were any specific details of meetings given.

Meeting places

  • no information

musical instruments

  • no information

Folk culture

  • Elphane or Fairyland
  • Specific Verbal Formulae
  • Specific ritual acts
  • Unorthodox religious practice
Notes
Accused of putting 'ane schot' in the side of one of her neighbours who contracted a sickness. Accused of using 'cantripis and incantationsis' to cause animals to die. Said to have turned herself three times backwards around a victim and touched the victim's hair with her hand, and afterwards the victim took ill.

Counter strategies

  • no information

white magic

  • no information

Elf/fairy elements

  • Elfshot

Shape-changing

  • no information

Ritual objects

  • no information

Religious motif

  • Three

Calendar customs

  • Ruidday

Diseases or illness

  • Human illness
  • Human death
  • Animal illness
  • Animal death
  • Quarreling
  • Cursing
Notes
Promised to do a neighbour 'ane evil turne' after they had quarrelled. Although some of her victims were woman most were men and all the accusers were men.

Cause of witch's malice

  • Revenge

Other maleficia

  • Property damage

    • Damage to property

    • Plough
    • Animals
    • Whole Estate

    weather modification

    • no information

    Notes
    Accused of harming equipment and beasts and reducing one man to poverty.

    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 131-2, 139-40. Second entry records that the accused was 'clengit' (cleansed) of the charges.