Leyis,Thomas
Case Reference: C/EGD/2121
Case Summary
| Case Ref | C/EGD/2121 |
|---|---|
| Accused | Thomas Leyis |
| Case Start Date | 2/2/1597 |
| Case Date | 23/2/1597 |
| Common Name | Leyis,Thomas |
|---|
Characterization
| Type | Primary | Secondary |
|---|---|---|
| Demonic | — | ✓ |
| Maleficium | — | ✓ |
| Implicated by Another | — | ✓ |
| Neighbourhood Dispute | ✓ | ✓ |
| White Magic | — | ✓ |
Notes: Witches meeting and tacit pact are probably not the primary characterisation although they feature. Family assocation appears very important and so neighbourhood dispute seems likely.
| Devil Present | Yes |
|---|---|
| Communal Sex | No |
| Devil Worship | No |
| Food and Drink | Yes |
| Dancing | Yes |
| Singing | No |
Meeting Places
| Place | Location | Inversion |
|---|---|---|
| Mercat Cross | Aberdeen | No |
Dittay mentions that Leyis's lover (Elspeth Reid) confessed that Leyis had asked her to meet a man, to take him by the ear and put her foot on the man's foot - all of which she refused to do.
| Type | Text |
|---|---|
| tacit pact | servant mentioned by prosecution |
Devil Appearances
| Type | Text |
|---|---|
| Male | a little cuttie fellow with a staff |
| Animal Devil | magpie |
| Animal Devil | jackdaw |
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: Was witnessed to have cursed Mr Andrew Clark who he said would die if he took his mother to trial.
Other Maleficia Notes: Accused of helping his mother bewitch goods and gear belonging to a neighbour.
Property Damage Types
- Whole Estate
White Magic
- Prophesy
- Halloween
| Type | Text |
|---|---|
| Unspecified |
- Sorcery
| Name | Title | Involvement | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alexander Jaffry | also appeared as witness to Leyis's mother's confession. | ||
| Thomas Leslie | Mr | Sheriff-depute | also appeared as witness to Leyis's mother's confession. |
| William Reid | Mr | also appeared as witness to Leyis's mother's confession. |
| Source | Reference | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Spalding Club Miscellany | Vol I, pp. 83-4, 97-101 | reprinted minutes of trial. |
| Spalding Club Miscellany | Vol V, p 182. | Burgh accounts for execution. |
| Spalding Club Miscellany | Vol I, preface, p. 52. |