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/735 Alexander Lyle

name of accused
Alexander Lyle
designated title
no information
Accused Reference
A/EGD/724
Case date start
19/4/1699
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 possesion (secondary characteristic)
  • demonic possessions (primary characteristic)
  • Implicated by another (secondary characteristic)
Characterisation Notes
He was told another child that he was a warlock and that his mother was a witch. He was accused of tormenting a boy and a possessed girl. He was subjected to the water test (possibly by other children?) and failed - he did not sink. They did the test on another boy who sank.
additional persons
name involvement notes
no additional persons recorded

Qualitative information

Non-natural beings

Notes
His mother told him to do the head and foot to give himself over to the devil. The Devil took him away with him.
  • Male black man

Demonic pacts

  • Head and foot

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

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
Most of the witness testimony was given in Paisley (19-21 April 1699) and it came from people who witnessed Laird's fits and denunciations among other things.
references
name notes
Books of Adjournal JC3/1 f. 89 None
Circuit Court Books JC10/4 part 3 None
Process Notes JC26/81 f. 9 Dittay roll for a trial set for 19/5/1699 in Glasgow that doesn't seem to have happened.