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/296 Elizabeth Black

name of accused
Elizabeth Black
designated title
no information
Accused Reference
A/EGD/285
Case date start
11/5/1658
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
None

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

  • Human 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
She was tried twice (with two others). In her first trial on 23/3/1659 in the circuit court she was found guilty and ordered to be transported. Until that could be arranged she was to be held in Stirling prison. Apparently after two years of imprisonment they petitioned privy council, who ordered another trial due to irregularities in the first one. The second trial was a local one, we don't know the outcome.
references
name notes
Circuit Court Books JC10/1 fo. 242r-242v See also Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, V9, 49-52. The project did not check Larner's reference to this printed secondary source as part of the research.
RPC 3rd series, vol 1, 26, 75. Order for retrial after irregularities in the first trial at Stirling. To be held by 1/9/1661. Later entry extends this to 1/1/1662.
High Court Process Notes JC 26/27, 'Margaret Hutcheson' bundle Order to extend date of trial to 1/1/1662 or to set accused at liberty. In 'Margaret Hutcheson's bundle, un-numbered item. Check with NAS staff.
Stirling Presbytery records CH2/722/6, pp. 89-97. None
Circuit Court Books JC10/1 fo. 244v, 245 Sentenced to transportation.
Process Notes JC26/24 JP order assize to appear in Edinburgh for a trial for 3/9/1658, I don't think the trial happened.
Process Notes JC26/26 bundle 3 'Stirling witches' item 2 Released from prison.
Process Notes JC26/26 Bundle 3 'Stirling witches' item 2 Witness statements.
Process Notes JC26/26 bundle 3 'Stirling witches', item 8 Supplication protesting her guilty verdict.
Process Notes JC26/26 bundle 3 'Stirling witches', item 21 Mentioned
Process Notes JC26/26 Stiriling Court Roll None