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/183 Agnes Finnie

name of accused
Agnes Finnie
designated title
no information
Accused Reference
A/EGD/172
Case date start
8/7/1644
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)
  • maleficium (secondary characteristic)
  • neighbourhood dispute (secondary characteristic)
  • neighbourhood dispute (primary characteristic)
Characterisation Notes
Maleficium followed disputes about her work as a shop-keeper. She may have been thought to lift a disease from someone, but she was not a folk healer at all.

Qualitative information

Non-natural beings

Notes
Described as being in 'cumpany with the Devill, in consulting wi him'
  • no information

Demonic pacts

  • no information

witches meetings

Notes
None

Meeting places

  • no information

musical instruments

  • no information

Folk culture

  • Specific Verbal Formulae
  • Shape changing
  • Unorthodox religious practice
Notes
Tried to remove witches' malice with a gift of ale. Against defence saying prayer is not demonic, it was argued that it could be if it was used as a devilish charm.

Counter strategies

  • Appeasement

white magic

  • no information

Elf/fairy elements

  • no information

Shape-changing

  • Apparition Agnes and her daughter haunting after a flyting

Ritual objects

  • no information

Religious motif

  • Prayer

Calendar customs

  • Lammas
  • Michaelmas

Diseases or illness

  • Human illness
  • Aggravating disease
  • Laying on
  • Quarreling
  • Cursing
Notes
Paralysis, sweating , pain, broken legs, 'bloodie flux'; after childbirth she caused sweating and loss of speech esp. at 4 and 12pm

Cause of witch's malice

  • Revenge for being called a witch
  • Social slight
  • Taunting
  • Debt
  • Failed business interaction

Other maleficia

  • Property damage

    • Damage to property

    • Whole Estate

    weather modification

    • no information

    Notes
    Revenge for a godchild not being given her name.

    Other charges

    • Murder
    Notes
    None

    Plea

    Claimed bewitched
    no
    Claimed possessed
    no
    Admitted lesser charges
    no
    No defence
    no
    Claimed natural causes
    no
    Notes
    Discredited witnesses, no words or deeds specified
    Case Notes
    An extremely complicated case with lots of legal reasoning.
    references
    name notes
    SJC v3, pp. 627-675 None
    Books of Adjournal JC2/8 fos. 390-408; 408-409 trial proceedings
    Books of Adjournal JC2/8 fos. 409-418 Also found in the High Court Record Index, no. 1 for 18/12/1644
    RPC 2nd S v8, pp. 134-5 None
    Witchcraft Papers JC40/9 indictment 1644