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/2259 William Coke

name of accused
William Coke
designated title
no information
Accused Reference
A/EGD/2195
Case date start
17/10/1633
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

  • maleficium (secondary characteristic)
  • Implicated by another (secondary characteristic)
  • not enough information (secondary characteristic)
  • not enough information (primary characteristic)
Characterisation Notes
Husband and wife accused each other.

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

Notes
None

Counter strategies

  • no information

white magic

  • no information

Elf/fairy elements

  • no information

Shape-changing

  • no information

Ritual objects

  • no information

Religious motif

  • no information

Calendar customs

  • no information

Diseases or illness

Notes
Accused by his wife of trying to cause boats to sink.

Cause of witch's malice

  • no information

Other maleficia

  • Property damage
  • Weather modification
  • Damage to property

    • Boats

    weather modification

    • Storm
    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
    Kirkcaldy Presbytery records CH2/224/1, f 55v, r. See also D Wesbster 'Tracts on Witchcraft' Edinburgh, 1820, p. 113-124. See also Simpkins 'County Folk Lore Vol VII, Fife, Clackmannan and Kinross'. The project did not check Larner's reference to these printed secondary sources as part of the research.
    Kirkcaldy Old Kirk Session records CH2/636/34. Entry for the accounts/costs of execution, dated 17/12/1633. It lists the costs spent by the church bringing men to try the accused, for purchasing the commisison (£9 3s), for the coal and for making waistcoats for them ('for harden to be jups to them'). It also notes that the town's expenses were for the barrels, ropes, the executioner and his expenses.
    Privy Council Register of Commissions Adv. MA 31.3.10, fo. 64v. None