Witchcraft in Scotland Flashcards
Witchcraft before 1590s.
Dealt with in ecclesiastical courts before 1563.
Witchcraft Act, 1563.
Criminalised witchcraft.
Describe the religious situation in Scotland, late sixteenth century.
Reformation- Calvinists had seized power, were trying to rid Scotland of Catholic institutions.
Uneasy coexistence between the Catholics and the Protestants.
Late 1580s, the Scottish clergy had more of an influence on the secular government than English counterparts.
What happened to the influence of the Presbyteries?
Increased at the expense of the Bishops, who had drawn authority from being appointed by Crown and were the way that the government exerted its influence on the Church (Kirk).
Presbyteries looked to God and the Kirk for authority, rather than the King.
Religious and secular authority overlapped in lowland Scotland.
By the late 1580s, what was the Kirk’s view on witchcraft?
Previously, hadn’t been obsessed with witchcraft. But, by late 1580s, General assembly of Kirk pressured gov. to establish a godly state by persecuting witches.
What was the general nature of accusations in Scotland?
Neighbours accusing one another.
What were the three main secular courts that a witch could be tried?
The Court of Judiciary (the highest court, in Edinburgh).
Circuit courts, in shires, presided over by judges in Central Court. Not regular.
Regality courts, judicial powers from crown to try serious crimes. Independent jurisdictions presided over by local landowners, not judges.
Why was the legal system in Scotland different to England?
- Regality courts did not exist in England. They had a much higher conviction and execution rate than judiciary and circuit courts.
- Scottish Privy Council performed routine legal functions, intervening in every level of the judicial system.
- Torture only legal in Scotland if authorised by Privy Council or Parliament. Privy council only issued two warrants (one in 1591 and one in 1610), yet much evidence suggests torture used illegally. Local level may consist of beatings, or using pricking for Devil’s mark. Could turn into torture, consistent pricking.
The socio-economic context to the Scotland witch-hunts.
Scotland in early modern period mainly rural, 1/5 in towns, Edinburgh largest town, 18,000 in 1600.
Most people outside of towns engaged in subsistence farming (farming only just enough for family, leaving little to none to be sold). Many in poverty.
When and what does Brian Levack say about socio-economic context?
2007, ‘a general sense of anxiety’ from harvest failures in late 1500s, leading to famine.
What was the general attitude to witchcraft cases following the 1563 Act?
No major increase in witchcraft cases.
Incomplete records suggest there were about 60 cases in 1560s and 6 in 1570s, 14 in 1580s.
General assembly lenient to those who consulted witches, despite it being a capital crime. Seen as moral failure, not a case of pact with Devil.
Punishment= public repentance.
Before 1590, accusations usually maleficium, not Devil’s pact.
When and how does Christina Larner describe the differences between witchcraft trials before 1590 and North Berwick hunts?
1981, ‘clear cut’.
When was James VI proclaimed King of Scotland and how was he raised?
1567, raised by Protestant scholars so had an aversion to Catholicism. Calvinist scots saw it as entwined with sorcery.
Why was James’ position weak in late sixteenth century?
1589, Catholic Earl of Huntly led a rebellion. Supported by Earl of Bothwell, who hated James’ chancellor, Sir John Maitland.
James quashed the rebellion, briefly imprisoned Huntly and Bothwell, yet released them September, 1589.
Why did James want to get married?
By 1589, reputation damaged for having not produced an heir and the fact that he had male favourites.
Chose Anne of Denmark.
Describe the struggles of James and Anne of Denmark meeting?
Danish fleet bringing Anne to Scotland left in September, 1589, but perilous weather made them seek shelter in Norway.
James decided to sail to Norway, with the fleet reaching Oslo in November.
When did James and Anne of Denmark get married?
23rd November 1589. They then travelled to Denmark, staying for 6 months.
What theologian did James meet in Denmark and how was he influenced?
Niels Hemmingsen (author of a book on witchcraft). Perhaps he listened and was influenced by some of his demonological ideas?
Yet, recent research has shown Hemmingsen’s ideas were not so ‘continental’, he denied the existence of the sabbat.
Most Danes concerned with Maleficium, not the Devil’s Pact.
Describe James and Anne’s journey back to Denmark.
Sailed back to Scotland in April. One ship was lost due to the weather, but James and Anne made it back safely.
Explain the first Danish witch.
May 1590, Danish witch confessed she used sorcery to hinder Anne’s crossing and accused several others. All executed.
What was James’ stance on witchcraft upon his return to Scotland?
No indication that James’ actions in months after return to Scotland were affected by continental theories.
Papists, Jesuits, quarrelsome lords took most of his attention.
Why was James’ relationship with Bothwell significant?
May, 1590, friendly.
Bothwell left court, returned in July, quarrelled and left again.
Yet, September Bothwell was appointed Lord Lieutenant of the Borders.
Conflict with Maitland reconciled.
Gilly Duncan
November, 1590, maid servant Gilly Duncan from Tranent arrested, as David Seaton (who she worked for) was suspicious of her absence every night.
Had reputation as local healer, tortured using ‘pilliwinks’ and after discovery of Devil’s mark, confessed.
Further torture, claimed to have been one of 200 witches, who gathered in Auld Kirk at North Berwick on All Hallows Eve (Halloween).
Who else did Gilly Duncan name?
Named over 70 accomplices:
Dr John Fian (schoolmaster), Agnes Sampson (midwife and local healer), Barbara Napier (Earl of Archbald of Angus’ wife), Euphane MacCalzean (daughter of Lord Cliftonhall).
Most interestingly, Richard Graham and Earl of Bothwell, saying they plotted James’ death, trying to sink ship from Denmark.
Where did the North Berwick trials, 1590 emerge from?
East- Lothian witch-hunts.
Why can it be argued that James was not responsible for starting the hunts of 1590-1?
At least three accused witches were executed before James and Privy Council got involved.
