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/823 Geils Harley

name of accused
Geils Harley
designated title
no information
Accused Reference
A/EGD/812
Case date start
no information
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

  • demonic (secondary characteristic)
  • maleficium (secondary characteristic)
  • not enough information (secondary characteristic)
  • not enough information (primary characteristic)
Characterisation Notes
The indictment specifies malefice committed through sorcery and witchcraft.
additional persons
name involvement notes
David Cowan Witch-pricker

Qualitative information

Non-natural beings

Notes
None
  • no information

Demonic pacts

  • Anti-baptism
  • Body and soul

witches meetings

Notes
None

Meeting places

  • no information

musical instruments

  • no information

Folk culture

Notes
None

Counter strategies

  • no information

white magic

  • no information

Elf/fairy elements

  • no information

Shape-changing

  • no information

Ritual objects

  • no information

Religious motif

  • no information

Calendar customs

  • no information

Diseases or illness

Notes
None

Cause of witch's malice

  • no information

Other maleficia

Damage to property

  • no information

weather modification

  • no information

Notes
None

Other charges

  • Sorcery
  • Necromancy
Notes
None

Plea

Claimed bewitched
no
Claimed possessed
no
Admitted lesser charges
no
No defence
no
Claimed natural causes
no
Notes
None
Case Notes
The edinburgh porteous roll of delinquent dittays from 8/9/1679 all have the standard tag line of accusations: witchcraft, sorcery and necromancy; and renunciation of baptism and giving themselves over to the Devil, body and soul.
references
name notes
Circuit Court Books JC10/3 fo. 17v. None
Process Notes JC26/51 None