The Survey of Scottish Witchcraft

1563-1736

By Julian Goodare, Lauren Martin, Joyce Miller and Louise Yeoman, January 2003


The Survey of Scottish Witchcraft logo

Trial Details

T/LA/808 Marion Mure

Name of the accused
Marion Mure
Associated case
C/EGD/1262 (23/2/1632)
Trial process type
Mixed Central/Local 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
Privy Council Justiciary 19/1/1632 None None
Privy Council Arrest 10/1/1631 None The minister of Leith requested a warrant for arrest because the bailies refused to arrest her without a warrant from the PC. The PC granted it.
Privy Council Suspension of Justiciary 9/2/1632 None The PC charged the bailies to deliver her to them for examination on Tuesday next. They discharged them of proceeding against her in the meantime by virtue of a previously granted commission. They called witnesses as well.
Privy Council Investigation 14/2/1632 None The Privy Council interviewed a doctor for evidence in her case.
Privy Council Justiciary 14/2/1631 None they ordained the bailies of Leith to try her and report back on Tuesday next.
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
None no Tolbooth Leith no
tortures
date of torture torture type
no recorded tortures
ordeals
date of ordeal ordeal type
no recorded ordeals
confessions
central trial confession date location notes
no None Leith None
no 23/2/1632 Leith None

other information

Pre-trial notes
Apparently Mure is arguing that she was or is sick. Dr. Gellie testified that a neighbour of his named Mure asked him so see their aunt (presumably Marion). His diagnosis was 'hypocondriack distraction', he prescribed some medication, and left the case at that. The PC is taking a much more active role than usual, hearing witness testimony and appointing Edinburgh advocates to the commission. I am going with mixed central/local for that reason, even though the trial was held in Leith. The bailies reported back a guilty verdict and execution on 23/2/1632. The 19/1/1632 commission was renewed on 24/1/1632 with three Edinburgh advocates as the commissioners.
watched?
no
watch date
no information
arrested?
yes
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
23/2/1632
trial place
no information

place of trial

settlement
Leith
parish
P/ST/33
presbytery
no information
county
Edinburgh
burgh
no information

verdict

verdict
Guilty
defence
no
female accusers
0
male accusers
0
recorded as high status?
no
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
yes
trial notes
Edinburgh advocates were on the commission.
persons associated with the trial
name title office occupation involvement witchpricker? notes
no recorded additional persons

Post-trial phase

sentence
Execution
executed?
yes
execution date
no information
execution place
no information
execution method
no information
post trial notes
None
other named witches
name trial link accused link
Marioun Lumisden T/LA/811 A/EGD/1251
Helene Hamiltoun T/LA/809 A/EGD/1252

Mentioned as a witch

mentioned as a witch
type name mention date fate linked trialdate trial link notes
no mentions