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/3095 Agnes Fren

name of accused
Agnes Fren (alias Frem)
designated title
no information
Accused Reference
A/JO/2956
Case date start
25/4/1597
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

  • unorthodox religious practise (secondary characteristic)
  • folk healing (secondary characteristic)
  • maleficium (secondary characteristic)
  • not enough information (secondary characteristic)
  • not enough information (primary characteristic)
Characterisation Notes
None

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
  • Unorthodox religious practice
  • Sympathetic magic
Notes
Accused of taking three hairs from her cow's tail, cutting it into pieces and putting them in the trough. Later her cow gave milk but her neighbour's did not. Accused of taking a calf under her arm to charm it. She told a woman to bury clippings from the front hooves in her yard. Carried a newborn calf three times round its mother.

Counter strategies

  • no information

white magic

  • no information

Elf/fairy elements

  • no information

Shape-changing

  • no information

Ritual objects

  • Hair
  • Nail trimmings

Religious motif

  • Three

Calendar customs

  • no information

Diseases or illness

  • Animal illness
  • Healing animals
Notes
Took a calf under her arm, then (?) told woman to bury clippings from the front hooves in her yard.

Cause of witch's malice

  • no information

Other maleficia

  • Property damage

    • Damage to property

    • Dairy

    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, p 183, 191-2. Order to be apprehended. Notes recorded by minister Mr John Ross.