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/JO/2843 Elspit Scot

name of accused
Elspit Scot (alias Elizabeth)
designated title
no information
Accused Reference
A/JO/2731
Case date start
23/12/1612
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

  • folk healing (secondary characteristic)
  • folk healing (primary characteristic)
Characterisation Notes
appears to be about charming and healing as accused confessed to this, but few other details.

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

  • Elphane or Fairyland
  • Specific ritual acts
  • Sympathetic magic
Notes
South running water used, no words to be spoken on the way from collecting water or power of healing would be lost. Said that her own child had been taken by the fairies

Counter strategies

  • no information

white magic

  • no information

Elf/fairy elements

  • Changeling

Shape-changing

  • no information

Ritual objects

  • Water
  • Shirt

Religious motif

  • no information

Calendar customs

  • no information

Diseases or illness

  • Rec. healer
  • Healing humans
Notes
recorded has having given advice about curing people.

Cause of witch's malice

  • no information

Other maleficia

Damage to property

  • no information

weather modification

  • no information

Notes
None

Other charges

  • Charming
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
Linlithgow presbytery records CH2/242/1, 42-43. None