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/831 Betty (Beatrix) Laing

name of accused
Betty (Beatrix) Laing
designated title
no information
Accused Reference
A/EGD/820
Case date start
13/6/1704
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)
  • maleficium (secondary characteristic)
  • not enough information (secondary characteristic)
  • not enough information (primary characteristic)
Characterisation Notes
accused of using malefices on a smith.

Qualitative information

Non-natural beings

Notes
Denied she made pact but did say she had gone with the devil and that she had renounced her baptism. Said the devil could change shape.
  • Animal Devil black dog

Demonic pacts

  • Anti-baptism

witches meetings

  • Devil present
Notes
Said she saw the devil on Ceres moor.

Meeting places

  • Ceres Moor Moor

musical instruments

  • no information

Folk culture

  • Specific ritual acts
Notes
Denied that she had used a wax image but said she had used water and coals to harm Morton.

Counter strategies

  • no information

white magic

  • no information

Elf/fairy elements

  • no information

Shape-changing

  • no information

Ritual objects

  • Water
  • Coal

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
One of a group of women accused of tormenting a young lad, Patrick Morton. This is another possession case. A group of seven people were charged with causing the tormenting of Patrick Morton, the sixteen year old son of a smith in Pittenweem. The town officials cite the precedent of 'Bargarrans daughter in the west' when applying for a commission for trial. The Privy Council appointed Her Majesty's Advocate, Sir James Stewart to prosecute the cases and the Privy Council said they would pay for it from the treasury.
references
name notes
Process Notes JC26/86 f. 228, 245 f. 228 sheet says 'execution against the persons that are cited by John mathison sherrif mair in the parish of St. Andrews' f. 245 bond of caution
St Andrews Presbytery records CH2/1131/ 1699-1705, pp 293- The presbytery volume has no NAS catalogue number yet.
Process Notes JC26/88 f. 346 arrest warrant
Porteous Rolls JC26/88 f. 346 None
Privy Council PC1/53 p. 247-9 None
Privy Council PC1/53 p. 399, 426 To investigate the whole goings on in the town of Pittenweem regarding witches and witchcraft.