Stewart, Earl of Bothwell,Francis
Case Reference: C/EGD/124
Case Summary
| Case Ref | C/EGD/124 |
|---|---|
| Accused | Francis Stewart, Earl of Bothwell |
| Case Start Date | 23/5/1589 |
| Case Date | 10/8/1593 |
| Common Name | Stewart, Earl of Bothwell,Francis |
|---|
Characterization
| Type | Primary | Secondary |
|---|---|---|
| Consulting | ✓ | ✓ |
| Maleficium | — | ✓ |
| Implicated by Another | — | ✓ |
| Political Motive | — | ✓ |
| Treason | — | ✓ |
Notes: He was charged with consulting Richard Graham and other witches.
| Elphane/Fairyland | — |
|---|---|
| Food/Drink | — |
| Verbal Formulae | — |
| Ritual Acts | ✓ |
| Familiars | — |
| Shape Changing | — |
|---|---|
| Dreams/Visions | — |
| Unorthodox Religious Practice | — |
| Sympathetic Magic | — |
| Riding Dead | — |
Notes: Accused of being involved in the use of wax images, poison and other means to kill King James. The poison was made from flesh off the forehead of a newly calved foal and the skin of an adder. Also accused of being part of incantations and triangle making to raise spirits to help him destroy the king.
Ritual Objects
- Wax/clay images
- Flesh
- Snake skin
- Treason
- Consulting
| Source | Reference | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| RPC | v4 p. 643-4 | Same text as Pitcairn v I, part II, page 259-260 J.PROC.S.R.O. LIST; narration of later developments concerning the Earl of Bothwell RPC v5, p. 94 note 1. |
| APS | Vol 3, pp 537-8. | Ratification of the process against Bothwell. Dated 31/5/1592 this was after he had escaped from Edinburgh castle. His punishment was to lose his lands and titles. |
| RPC | v5 p. 173-175 | |
| Books of Adjournal | JC2/2 fo. 138r-142v | Narrates his treason trial, but nothing about witchcraft. |
| Calendar of State Papers Relating to Scotland | v. 11, pp. 61-2, 63 | |
| Process Notes | JC26/2 roll | |
| Process Notes | JC26/2 witchcraft bundle, item 9 | statement about why Richard Graham's testimony can't be taken in evidence against Bothwell. |
| Process Notes | JC26/2 witchcraft bundle, item 7 | list of assize |
| Process Notes | JC26/2 witchcraft bundle, item 6x, 5 | trial transcript, draft, the page is damaged so can't tell exactly what it is. |
Trials (2)
Case Notes
Charges went back to 1589, when it was claimed he led a band of 'broken men and borderers' against the king. The charges of treason were elaborated with those of necromancy and witchcraft later. He was in ward in Edinburgh Castle 15 April 1591 and escaped 21/6/1591. He was linked to the North Bewick cases and was believed to have consulted with witches for the destruction of James VI. Bothwell was stripped of lands. He was forgiven all charges on 14/8/1593. Charges against him were reopened again on 20/9/1594 when he joined with the Catholic lords