Case details |
The accused |
Finnie, Agnes |
Start date | 8/7/1644 | End date | 6/3/1645 |
Characterisation |
Demonic Maleficium Neighbourhood dispute Unorthodox religious practice
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Notes on characterisation | 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. | Notes on case | An extremely complicated case with lots of legal reasoning. |
People involved in case |
Name |
Involvement in case |
Notes |
Alexander Colville |
Investigator |
kirk session/presbytery interrogation |
James Eleis |
Investigator |
Kirk session/presbytery interrogation |
Patrick Henderson |
Investigator |
Kirk session/presbytery interrogation |
Mungo Law |
Investigator |
kirk session/presbytery interrogation |
Qualitative information
Non-natural beings |
Implied demonic pact | Yes | Notes | Described as being in 'cumpany with the Devill, in consulting wi him' |
Folk Culture |
Specific verbal formulae | Yes | Dreams and visions | Yes | Unorthodox religious practice | Yes | Folk 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 |
Shape-changing |
Type of shape | Notes |
Apparition | Agnes and her daughter haunting after a flyting |
Calendar customs |
Lammas |
Michaelmas |
Diseases/Illness |
Human illness | Yes | Aggravating disease | Yes | Laying on | Yes | Quarrelling | Yes | Cursing | Yes | Notes on disease | 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 |
Debt |
Failed business interaction |
Revenge for being called a witch |
Social slight |
Taunting |
Other maleficia |
Property damage | Yes | Notes | Revenge for a godchild not being given her name. |
Property damage |
Whole Estate |
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