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/JO/3035 Helene Rogie

name of accused
Helene Rogie
designated title
no information
Accused Reference
A/JO/2898
Case date start
4/4/1597
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)
  • maleficium (primary characteristic)
  • Implicated by another (secondary characteristic)
Characterisation Notes
Implicated by assocation with her mother (M. Bane) who was burnt for witchcraft.

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

  • Specific ritual acts
  • Sympathetic magic
Notes
Accused of having caused her daughter-in-law's illness, which was made worse with some milk that was given to her by Rogie's own mother (M. Bane). Was seen to be carrying out some strange ritual of measuring some land and building a cairn of stones and also casting 'yerd and stane' over her shoulder. Erd and stane was a symbolic ritual associated with land ownership. Rogie did not answer the person who saw her carry out the ritual, who then took ill and died. An image of a man, made of soft lead (?wax/clay) was found in her purse.

Counter strategies

  • no information

white magic

  • no information

Elf/fairy elements

  • no information

Shape-changing

  • no information

Ritual objects

  • Stones
  • Wax/clay images
  • Milk
  • Earth

Religious motif

  • no information

Calendar customs

  • Halloween

Diseases or illness

  • Human illness
  • Human death
  • Animal illness
  • Animal death
Notes
Accused of having cast an illness onto her daughter-in-law (aided by her mother Margaret Bane). Caused oxen and horse of a male neighbour to run wild and die.

Cause of witch's malice

  • no information

Other maleficia

  • Property damage

    • Damage to property

    • Whole Estate

    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
    Spalding Club Miscellany Vol I, pp. 145-7, 153-6, 193. Record of dittay and verdict. No confession
    Spalding Club Miscellany Vol V, p 67. financial accounts of her execution