The Survey of Scottish Witchcraft

1563-1736

By Julian Goodare, Lauren Martin, Joyce Miller and Louise Yeoman, January 2003

The Survey of Scottish Witchcraft logo

Case Details

C/EGD/755 Elspeth Rule

name of accused
Elspeth Rule
designated title
no information
Accused Reference
A/EGD/744
Case date start
10/1708
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)
  • neighbourhood dispute (secondary characteristic)
  • not enough information (secondary characteristic)
  • not enough information (primary characteristic)
Characterisation Notes
mention of using curses and enchantments against her neighbours. And also for 'corresponding' with the Devil.

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

Notes
None

Cause of witch's malice

  • no information

Other maleficia

Damage to property

  • no information

weather modification

  • no information

Notes
None

Other charges

  • Enchantment
  • Cursing
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
Porteous Rolls JC26/86 f. 250 see also H. Arnot, Celebrated Criminal Trials in Scotland, Edinburgh, 1785, p.411-412 The project did not survey Larner et al.'s reference to this secondary source.
Process Notes JC26/88 f. 342 warrant for arrest, alphabetical list of verdicts from that circuit court, another porteous roll.
Process Notes JC26/91 f. 457 Assize verdict, unopened documents with the seal still intact. But the verdict was written on the outside and elsewhere - so it was decided not to have the NAS open the document.