Survey of Scottish Witchcraft, 1563 - 1736

Goodare, Julian; Yeoman, Louise; Martin, Lauren; Miller, Joyce

Case Details

C/EGD/2172 Andro Man

name of accused: Andro Man
designated title: no information
Accused Reference: A/EGD/2117
Case date start: 21/10/1597
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)
folk healing (secondary characteristic)
maleficium (secondary characteristic)
white magic (secondary characteristic)

Characterisation Notes: None

additional persons
name	involvement	notes
Alexander Chalmer	Prosecutor
Thomas Leslie	Prosecutor
Peter Blackburn	Minister
Robert Howie	Minister
John Sinclair	Jailor
Robert Gareant	Jailor
Hucheon Rose	Clerk
George Gordon	Sheriff
Irvine Alexander	Confession Witness
Patrick Stewart	Confession Witness
Matthew Stewart	Confession Witness
Alexander (Sanders) Menzies	Confession Witness
James Inglis	Confession Witness
Thomas Gregor	Confession Witness
Henry Anderson	Confession Witness
George Smart	Confession Witness
Thomas Robertson	Confession Witness
Thomas Menzies	Confession Witness

linked trials
name	trial type	link	year	notes
Andro Man	Local Court	T/JO/1298	1598
Andro Man	Mentioned in trial	T/JO/1309	None

Qualitative information

Non-natural beings

Notes: This is an interesting case, which has a range of supernatural beings. Claimed the Queen of Elves gave him his power/knowledge of healing. Claimed to have met ghosts of James IV and Thomas the Rhymer at a fairy meeting. The elves were shadows but were starker than ordinary men. Man had a sexual relationship with the Queen, with whom he had several children.

Female Fairy Quene of Elphen
Spirit Christonday/Angel
Ghost Thomas Rhymer/James IV
Animal Devil Stag deer
Other Demon Black beast

Demonic pacts

Devil's Mark on 3rd finger/ right hand
Kisses Devil's bottom
Sex

witches meetings

Food and drink
Dancing

Notes: Man described meeting the elves where there was playing and dancing, and they 'had fair coverit' tables.

Meeting places

no information

musical instruments

no information

Folk culture

Elphane or Fairyland
Food and drink
Specific Verbal Formulae
Specific ritual acts
Unorthodox religious practice
Sympathetic magic
Riding the dead

Notes: Hit animals with a bird to cure them. Also black wool and salt as a remedy for diseases. Spoke 'orisonis sic of Sanct John'. Put stones in the 4 corners of a ward (piece of land) to protect the crops and good. Put a man 9 times forwards through a piece of yarn and transferred the sickness to a cat, which he put backwards through the same piece of yarn. Spoke the words Benedicite and Maikpeblis to summon and dismiss the Queen of Elves. Claimed if an iron plough was dipped in salmon water it would help stop the oxen from running away.

Counter strategies

no information

white magic

Protective
Prophesy

Elf/fairy elements

Fairy hill
Queen of Fairy

Shape-changing

no information

Ritual objects

Water
Bird (dead)
Yarn
Salt
Blood (animal)
Stones
Cat
Dog
Plough

Religious motif

Eschatology
Prayer
Saints
Nine

Calendar customs

Halloween
Ruidday

Diseases or illness

Transferring disease
Healing humans
Healing animals

Notes: Treated the falling sickness and lunsaucht - lungsocht (a lung disease in cattle) but not 'stand deid'.

Cause of witch's malice

no information

Other maleficia

Property damage

Damage to property

Dairy
Crops

weather modification

no information

Notes: None

Other charges

Charming

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. 117-125.	Includes summons for assize (pp. 117-9), dittay, assize verdict and confession.