Makcalzene,Ewfame

Case Reference: C/EGD/104

Case Summary
Case RefC/EGD/104
AccusedEwfame Makcalzene
Case Start Date27/1/1591
Case Date15/6/1591
Common NameMakcalzene,Ewfame
Characterization
TypePrimarySecondary
Consulting — ✓
Demonic — ✓
Fairies — ✓
Maleficium — ✓
Implicated by Another — ✓
Property Motive — ✓
Treason ✓ ✓
Not Enough Info — ✓
White Magic — ✓

Notes: Part of the North Berwick witch hunt. It involved many people and many accustions about witches meetings, specifically two separate attempts to sink the royal ships. The first to sink Queen Anne on her way home, second to trouble King James after he went to get her in Denmark. In her own trial she was accused of trying to kill her husband and other family members (ie for her own political gain), and for consulting with lots of witches.

Devil PresentYes
Communal SexNo
Devil WorshipYes
Food and DrinkNo
DancingYes
SingingYes

Notes: She was accused of wanting to get her father-in-law. See c/egd/63 and c/egd/103 for a description of the North Berwick meeting. Her trial outlines at least four witches' meetings. She was accused of trying to destroy the King and Queen

Meeting Places
PlaceLocationInversion
KirkNatounNo
KirkNorth BerwickYes
ShoreNew-heavin also called fairy-hoillisNo
HilltopBrum-hoillisNo
ShoreLeithNo

Her servant saw a vision of a man in a white shirt with a tail.

TypeText
New nameCane
Devil Appearances
TypeText
Maleblack man
Spiritin voice

Elphane/Fairyland✓
Food/Drink—
Verbal Formulae✓
Ritual Acts✓
Familiars—
Shape Changing—
Dreams/Visions—
Unorthodox Religious Practice—
Sympathetic Magic✓
Riding Dead—

Notes: The bowl was described as a great bikar that was put around her head and neck to inaugurate her into the craft (perhaps the impetus for the cauldron myths?). Description of a bewitching using materials left in a window (magical use of boundaries). She was accused of using her servants to deliver materials to and from other witches, and those servants seemed to have betrayed her in court by testifying against her.

Elf/Fairy Elements
  • Fairy hill
  • Bored-Stone
Ritual Objects
  • Cat
  • Wax/clay images
  • Bowl
  • Grave earth
  • Corpse powder
  • Stones
  • Blood (animal)

Harm
Human Illness✓
Human Death✓
Animal Illness✓
Animal Death—
Female Infertility—
Male Impotence—
Methods
Aggravating Disease—
Transferring Disease✓
Laying On—
Quarreling✓
Cursing✓
Poisoning✓
Healing / Other
Removal of Bewitchment—
Recognised Healer—
Healing Humans—
Healing Animals—
Midwifery—
Property Damage✓
Weather Modification✓

Disease Notes: Her childbirth pains for two births were transferred, first to a dog and then to a cat.

Property Damage Types
  • Boats
  • Animals
Weather Modification Types
  • Wind
  • Storm
White Magic
  • Love magic
  • Finding lost goods

  • Michaelmas
  • Lammas

  • Sorcery
  • Enchantment

SourceReferenceNotes
Pitcairnv I, part II, page 237same text as JC2/2, Also listed in the High Court Record Index, no. 1 for 7/6/1591,
APSVol 3, p 608-9.Act restoring lands of Cliftonhall to her heirs, in 1592.
Books of AdjournalJC2/2 fos. 201r-207r
Pitcairnv I, part II, page 246
Pitcairnv I, part II, page 247-257Her trial, same as JC2/2
Books of AdjournalJC2/2 fo. 221r - 226vher trial
Calendar of State Papers Relating to Scotlandv. 10, p. 510, 522, 530The first was a letter from James VI to Maitland about torturing her. The second a mention that her trial was to happen the next day in a letter from Bowes to Burghley. Third one, report about her trial from Bowes to Burghley
Process NotesJC26/2 witchcraft bundle, item 22, 21, 20depositions and interrogations.
Process NotesJC26/2 witchcraft bundle, item 2Item 1 is blank
Trials (2)
Trial RefDateYearVerdictSentenceExecution
T/LA/971 No
T/LA/995 9/6/15911591 GuiltyExecution Yes
Case Notes
Brought into the North Berwick stuff.