Trial Details
T/LA/995 Ewfame Makcalzene
- Name of the accused
- Ewfame Makcalzene
- Associated case
- C/EGD/104 (15/6/1591)
- Trial process type
- Central Court
| associated trials | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| trial reference | accused | trial type | trial year | trial place |
| no recorded trials | ||||
Pre-trial actions
| commissions | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| commission body | type | date | seal | notes |
| no recorded commission | ||||
| previous commissions | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| commission body | date | |||
| no recorded prior commission | ||||
| appeals | ||
|---|---|---|
| central authority | reason | appeal date |
| no recorded appeals | ||
| complaints | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| type | date of complaint | lodged at | appeal date | complainent | involvement |
| no recorded complaints | |||||
| move to higher legal authority | |
|---|---|
| moved to | date of move |
| no recorded move to higher legal authority | |
| denunciations | |
|---|---|
| denuncation date | dated |
| no recorded denunciations | |
| imprisonments | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| incarceration date | central trial imprison | prison | location | moving |
| no recorded imprisonments | ||||
| tortures | |
|---|---|
| date of torture | torture type |
| None | Tied to pole |
| ordeals | |
|---|---|
| date of ordeal | ordeal type |
| no recorded ordeals | |
| confessions | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| central trial confession | date | location | notes |
| no recorded confessions | |||
other information
- Pre-trial notes
- James VI in a letter to Maitland told him that Ewfame was to 'see the stoup (pillar) tua or three dayes, and upon the suddain staye her in hope of confession.' Interrogated on 7 May 1591 at Holyrood house. She was questioned about whether or not Jonet Drummond wrote to her in the tolbooth, Jonet denied it. They also questioned her servant Bessie Nisbet that same day. At some point she was confronted with Donald Robison, Gellie Duncan and Jonat Straton.
- watched?
- no
- watch date
- no information
- arrested?
- no
- arrest date
- no information
- fled?
- no
- date absconded
- no information
- action dropped?
- no
- action dropped date
- no information
- action dropped by
- no information
- trial action body
- no information
- confronting suspects?
- yes
Trial phase
- trial date
- 9/6/1591
- trial place
- no information
place of trial
- settlement
- Edinburgh
- parish
- no information
- presbytery
- no information
- county
- no information
- burgh
- no information
verdict
- verdict
- Guilty
- defence
- yes
- female accusers
- 11
- male accusers
- 10
- recorded as high status?
- yes
- order for central judiciary trial
- no
- judiciary trial date
- no information
- circuit court (mixed central and local)
- no
- circuit name
- no information
- local court with central representatives
- no
- trial notes
- The trial was continued due to lengthy objections. The assize retired on 11 June to make its deliberations. The assize's notes on guilt for each item are reproduced in the books of adjournal and Pitcairn. Jury decided on 14/6/1591.
| persons associated with the trial | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| name | title | office | occupation | involvement | witchpricker? | notes |
| David MacGill | Mr | None | advocate | Prosecutor | no | Involved in cases in 1586, 1590-1, 1593, 1614 and 1628-9. |
| John Moscrop | Mr | None | advocate | Defence | no | Involved in trials in 1591. |
| David Ogilvie | Mr | None | advocate | Defence | no | Involved in 1591. |
| Robert Ker | Mr | None | advocate | Defence | no | Involved in trial in 1592. |
| Henry Nisbet | Mr | burgess | advocate | Defence | no | Involved in trial in 1591. |
| John Russell | Mr | None | advocate | Defence | no | Involved in trials in 1591 and 1610. |
| John Skene | Mr | Clerk Depute for Council of Session | advocate | Defence | no | Involved in case and trial in 1591 and 1597. |
| James Johnston | of Elphinstone | None | None | Chancellor | no | Involved in trial in 1591. |
Post-trial phase
- sentence
- Execution
- executed?
- yes
- execution date
- no information
- execution place
- Castle Hill
- execution method
- Burn
- post trial notes
- Her doom was pronounced on 15 June 1591
| other named witches | ||
|---|---|---|
| name | trial link | accused link |
| Katherine Campbell | T/LA/996 | A/LA/2796 |
| Catheren Carutheris | T/LA/997 | A/LA/2797 |
| Jonet Cunninghame | T/LA/998 | A/LA/2798 |
| Agnes Sampsoune | T/LA/934 | A/EGD/52 |
| Robert Grierson | T/LA/929 | A/EGD/110 |
Mentioned as a witch
| mentioned as a witch | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| type | name | mention date | fate | linked trialdate | trial link | notes |
| no mentions | ||||||