Survey of Scottish Witchcraft, 1563 - 1736

Goodare, Julian; Yeoman, Louise; Martin, Lauren; Miller, Joyce

Case Details

C/EGD/691 Isobell Eliot

name of accused: Isobell Eliot
designated title: no information
Accused Reference: A/EGD/680
Case date start: 13/9/1678
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)
maleficium (secondary characteristic)
Implicated by another (secondary characteristic)
not enough information (secondary characteristic)
not enough information (primary characteristic)

Characterisation Notes: None

additional persons
name	involvement	notes
Robert Hepburn	Investigator
John Pringle	Investigator
William Baillie	None
Adam Cockburn	None
William Cuningham	None
David Hepburn	None
George Cockburn	None
Robert Cockburn	None
William Borthwick	None
John Belshes	None
John Sinclair	None
James Calderwood	Investigator
Robert Spottiswoode	None
James Cockburn	Investigator
George Moodie	Investigator
James Grierson	None
John Makmath	Investigator

linked trials
name	trial type	link	year	notes
Isobell Eliot	Central Court	T/JO/609	1678
Isobell Eliot	Mentioned in trial	T/LA/1452	None

Qualitative information

Non-natural beings

Notes: First he kissed her, he didn't lay with her immediately because she was pregnant. He lay with her after she was kirked (i.e. lying in period). He rebaptised her and three others by a 'waff' of his hand across their faces. Helen Laying and the Devil laid hands on her for the renunciation of her baptism.

Male

Demonic pacts

Anti-baptism
New name Jean
Sex
Head and foot

witches meetings

Witches meeting
Devil present

Notes: Lots of witches and a flaming fire 'Devil gave them a kind of sacrament and preached among them and blasphemed God'.

Meeting places

Helen Laying's (c/egd/692) House
flaming fire in Crighton

musical instruments

no information

Folk culture

Elphane or Fairyland
Shape changing

Notes: While in the shape of bees she and Marion Veitch carried the poison used to kill Veitch's grandson in their 'cleuchis, wings and mouth'. She claimed that Helen Laying (her master) kept her from church and had her carry water from a well instead.

Counter strategies

no information

white magic

no information

Elf/fairy elements

Well

Shape-changing

Insect Bummie Bee

Ritual objects

no information

Religious motif

no information

Calendar customs

no information

Diseases or illness

Human death
Poisoning

Notes: Accused of killing the daughter of Katharine Halyday (c/edg/619). Helped Kill the grandson of Marion Veitch (c/egd/694).

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 JC2/15 ff. 17v-19v	None
RPC 3rd series, vol 6, pp. 627-9	Records the verdict and the carrying out of the execution. Costs of burning and legal process also itemised.
Process Notes JC26/49	assize notes
Process Notes JC26/49, 'peaston witches' items 1, 2, 4, 5	case details