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/59 John Fean

name of accused
John Fean (alias Cunninghame)
designated title
Dr.
Accused Reference
A/EGD/48
Case date start
no information
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)
  • demonic (primary characteristic)
  • maleficium (secondary characteristic)
  • neighbourhood dispute (secondary characteristic)
  • political motive (secondary characteristic)
  • treason (secondary characteristic)
  • white magic (secondary characteristic)
Characterisation Notes
None
additional persons
name involvement notes
no additional persons recorded

Qualitative information

Non-natural beings

Notes
The Devil appeared to him so he could get revenge on a guy for broken promises. He claimed to have agreed to join the Devil for revenge. He got the Devil's mark in bed, the devil struck him with a rod, he was then in 'grit extasies and transis', he was carried around to mountains.
  • Male In quhyte rayment
  • Male a black man

Demonic pacts

  • Servant
  • Want nothing
  • Devil's Mark Marked with a rod.

witches meetings

  • Witches meeting
  • Devil present
  • Devilworship
  • Food and drink
  • Dancing
  • Singing
Notes
He confessed to be carried along the water. Satan stood as in a pulpit and preached sermons, some of which is quoted in the trial text. They kissed the Devil's behind. The Devil carried him across the see to the Queen's ship. They travelled to a ship where they drank good wine and ale then went home. He sat on the left side of the Devil and was lead about widdershins then kissed is arse. Satan told them to collect all the cats, he was seen chasing cats. Accused of dismembering unbaptised babies. Supposedly a blue flame at the meeting. See Agnes Sampson for a description fo the North Berwick kirk witches' meeting (c/egd/63). See also Napier (c/egd/103) for more detials about the North Berwick meeting.

Meeting places

  • North Berwick kirk Kirk
  • A ship off the coast of the pannes Ship
  • Brumhoillis Hilltop

musical instruments

  • no information

Folk culture

  • Specific Verbal Formulae
  • Specific ritual acts
  • Unorthodox religious practice
  • Sympathetic magic
Notes
Use of cats to raise winds to sink ships. They took an object that looked like a fute-ball and cast it in the see to raise 'ane vapour and ane reik' to send the King's ship off. He blew on a woman's hand to open a lock. He lit a horse with candles, a magical thing. He carried the mole's feet around as a talisman so that he wouldn't lack silver. He walked withershins. He could predict the future of when and how people would die if he knew their birth day. Night flying. Newes From Scotland, describes a foiled love magic attempt.

Counter strategies

  • no information

white magic

  • Opening Lock
  • Astrology
  • Love magic

Elf/fairy elements

  • no information

Shape-changing

  • no information

Ritual objects

  • Cat
  • Corpse
  • Mole's feet

Religious motif

  • Eschatology

Calendar customs

  • Halloween

Diseases or illness

  • Animal death
Notes
None

Cause of witch's malice

  • Revenge

Other maleficia

  • Property damage

    • Damage to property

    • Buildings
    • Boats
    • Crops
    • Animals

    weather modification

    • Wind
    • Whirlwind
    Notes
    The Devil persuaded him to burn down a house in revenge for not keeping a promise.

    Other charges

    • Enchantment
    • 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
    Pitcairn v I, part ii, page 209-223 his trial, a combo of High Court books of adjournal (JC2/2) and exerpt from Newes from Scotland.
    Books of Adjournal JC2/2 fo. 195r-197r His trial
    Pitcairn v I, part II, page 230-241 same text as JC2/2
    Books of Adjournal JC2/2 fos. 201r-207r None
    Pitcairn v I, part II, page 246 None
    Calendar of State Papers Relating to Scotland v. 10, p. 463 he is mentioned in a sceptical letter as having been executed
    Process Notes JC26/2 mentioned