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/2262 Jonet Tailzour

name of accused
Jonet Tailzour (alias witch of Monza)
designated title
no information
Accused Reference
A/EGD/2198
Case date start
29/1/1633
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

  • unorthodox religious practise (secondary characteristic)
  • folk healing (secondary characteristic)
  • folk healing (primary characteristic)
  • maleficium (secondary characteristic)
  • neighbourhood dispute (secondary characteristic)
Characterisation Notes
She seems to have been a healer but local people seem to have turned on her and complained about her transferring illness and cursing them.
additional persons
name involvement notes
no additional persons recorded

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

  • Elphane or Fairyland
  • Specific Verbal Formulae
  • Specific ritual acts
  • Unorthodox religious practice
  • Sympathetic magic
Notes
Many details about her healing rituals some of which used words in the form of prayers. Others involved complicated use of south running water, hair and nail trimmings, bannocks, and other objects.

Counter strategies

  • no information

white magic

  • no information

Elf/fairy elements

  • Thorn Tree

Shape-changing

  • no information

Ritual objects

  • Water
  • Clothing
  • Stones
  • Nail trimmings
  • Bannock
  • Hair

Religious motif

  • Prayer
  • Trinity
  • Three

Calendar customs

  • no information

Diseases or illness

  • Transferring disease
  • Removal bewitchment
  • Cursing
  • Rec. healer
  • Healing humans
  • Healing animals
Notes
Seems to have been a recognised healer as many witnesses described her cures. They seemed concerned that the cures went wrong and other people/animals then took ill.

Cause of witch's malice

  • Failed healing
  • Revenge

Other maleficia

Damage to property

  • no information

weather modification

  • no information

Notes
None

Other charges

  • Charming
  • Sorcery
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
Stirling Presbytery records CH2/722/5. See also Ronald 'Landmarks of Old Stirling', p. 354. The project did not check Larner's reference to this printed secondary source as part of the research.
Stirling Burgh Court Book B66/17/7, 23/3/1633 Note in burgh court book that she had been tried for witchcraft and banished and that the burgh was not to give her shelter in the future. This reference was supplied by John G. Harrison from Stirling.
Privy Council Register of Commissions ADV. MA 31.3.10, fo. 54r. None