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/792 Agnes (Bigis) Cairnes

name of accused
Agnes (Bigis) Cairnes
designated title
no information
Accused Reference
A/EGD/781
Case date start
2/4/1659
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)
  • Implicated by another (secondary characteristic)
Characterisation Notes
The record is comments from people who witnessed her confession, very patchy. She mentioned going away with the Fferrie, and contact with the Devil. From what we have in the witness depositions she confessed to demonic elements then retracted. She was described as 'one demented' so I think the main impetus behind her case was all the devil stuff.

Qualitative information

Non-natural beings

Notes
The devil drank to her. She said the Devil came to her in prison and said he could strangle her like he did for Helen Harris. She claimed that no one else could see the devil in the tolbooth because he had rubbed something in her eyes.
  • Male Fairy
  • Male

Demonic pacts

  • Devil's Mark on her secret member
  • Sex nature was cold
  • New name Whoore
  • Anti-baptism

witches meetings

  • Witches meeting
Notes
Says she hosted witches within the walls of ??? Dundrenan.

Meeting places

  • Jon Wilson's House

musical instruments

  • no information

Folk culture

  • Elphane or Fairyland
  • Unorthodox religious practice
Notes
She confessed to being away with the Fferrie. Had a great meeting with the not earthen folkis and not earthly talkis. They had a fire and dancing and myrth. When asked how she knew them she said they were 'fairer and beltin busked [beltane bound] and that they spak with ane eldridge voyce' [elvish voice]. She said the Devil came to her in prison and said he could strangle her like he did for Helen Harris. She claimed that no one else could see the devil in the tolbooth because he had rubbed something in her eyes.

Counter strategies

  • no information

white magic

  • no information

Elf/fairy elements

  • Group of fairies

Shape-changing

  • no information

Ritual objects

  • no information

Religious motif

  • Prayer

Calendar customs

  • Beltane

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
None
references
name notes
Circuit Court Books JC10/1 fo. 258v-259r, 260v, 269r None
Circuit Court Papers JC10/15/3 None
Process Notes JC26/26 Dumfries dittays 1659 (Biggest dittay roll) None
Process Notes JC26/26 Dumfries bundle Kircudbright Roll at the Dumfries court