Case details |
| The accused |
Finnie, Agnes |
| Start date | 8/7/1644 |
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| End date | 6/3/1645 |
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| 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. |
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| Notes on case | An extremely complicated case with lots of legal reasoning. |
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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 |
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| Notes | Described as being in 'cumpany with the Devill, in consulting wi him' |
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Folk Culture
| | Specific verbal formulae | Yes |
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| Dreams and visions | Yes |
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| Unorthodox religious practice | Yes |
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| 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. |
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Counter strategies |
| Appeasement |
Shape-changing |
| Type of shape | Notes |
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| Apparition | Agnes and her daughter haunting after a flyting |
Calendar customs |
| Lammas |
| Michaelmas |
Diseases/Illness |
| Human illness | Yes |
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| Aggravating disease | Yes |
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| Laying on | Yes |
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| Quarrelling | Yes |
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| Cursing | Yes |
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| Notes on disease | Paralysis, sweating , pain, broken legs, 'bloodie flux'; after childbirth she caused sweating and loss of speech esp. at 4 and 12pm |
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Cause of witch's malice |
| Debt |
| Failed business interaction |
| Revenge for being called a witch |
| Social slight |
| Taunting |
Other maleficia |
| Property damage | Yes |
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| Notes | Revenge for a godchild not being given her name. |
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Property damage |
| Whole Estate |
|
