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/373 Janet Lyle

name of accused
Janet Lyle
designated title
no information
Accused Reference
A/EGD/362
Case date start
29/7/1661
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

  • demonic (secondary characteristic)
  • demonic (primary characteristic)
Characterisation Notes
None

Qualitative information

Non-natural beings

Notes
Strange one; the Devil wanted her to keep his house because his previous wife had died. He gave her silver which turned into stone. She denied having a mark although they found one on her. She confessed to getting paid for her service to the Devil.
  • Male

Demonic pacts

  • Head and foot
  • Body and soul
  • Servant
  • Anti-baptism

witches meetings

  • Witches meeting
  • Devil present
  • Dancing
Notes
Said there were many other 'masked folkes' there.

Meeting places

  • Wolmet bank Bank Head

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
denied committing any malefice

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
None
references
name notes
Books of Adjournal JC2/11; JC2/10 fo. 4r-7r Verdict is also in JC 26/27/5 item 2, this one is either a draft version or a copy of the trial proceedings. JC2/10 and JC2/11 same information. Also found in the High Court Record Index, no. 1 for 29/7/1661, this index did not distinguish between circuit and high court cases. This list of names was added in the margins with a modern hand, no indication of where the person got the list.
High Court Process Notes JC26/27/2 item 6 draft of trial
High Court Process Notes JC26/17/2 item 10 undated
High Court Process Notes JC26/27 Gilmerton witches item 5 filed incorrectly