Richie,Issobell
Case Reference: C/EGD/2163
| Case Ref | C/EGD/2163 |
|---|---|
| Accused | Issobell Richie |
| Case Start Date | 24/4/1597 |
| Case Date | 24/4/1597 |
| Common Name | Richie,Issobell |
|---|
| Type | Primary | Secondary |
|---|---|---|
| Consulting | — | ✓ |
| Demonic | — | ✓ |
| Folk Healing | — | ✓ |
| Maleficium | ✓ | ✓ |
| Implicated by Another | — | ✓ |
| White Magic | — | ✓ |
Notes: The accused was found guilty on four points of her dittay, but it does not record which ones. She confessed to taking another woman and introducing her to the meetings and causing the death of several people.
| Devil Present | Yes |
|---|---|
| Communal Sex | No |
| Devil Worship | No |
| Food and Drink | No |
| Dancing | Yes |
| Singing | No |
Notes: Dittay recorded that she confessed to attending meetings - but no details.
Meeting Places
| Place | Location | Inversion |
|---|---|---|
| between Lumphanan and Cragleuch | No |
Dittay recorded that Richie attended meetings and received 'honours' from the devil, her master. She does not appear to have confessed to anything specific. No other details of pact described.
| Type | Text |
|---|---|
| Tacit pact |
| Elphane/Fairyland | — |
|---|---|
| Food/Drink | — |
| Verbal Formulae | — |
| Ritual Acts | ✓ |
| Familiars | — |
| Shape Changing | — |
|---|---|
| Dreams/Visions | — |
| Unorthodox Religious Practice | — |
| Sympathetic Magic | ✓ |
| Riding Dead | — |
Notes: Weighed pillows that, when given back to the person, caused them to die. Given a belt from Spaldarge (as a sign of her pact with the devil) which she used to cause the death of several people. Also used a stick tied with red thread, which she used to remove bewitchment. Claimed that she predicted a woman would have only boys. She had 6 but they did not live. Gave a pot filled with 'devylische confectionis' to one woman, who later died.
Ritual Objects
- Pillows
- Belt
- Branch
- Thread
- Pot
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: Asked to remove a bewitchment from a woman at the request of her mother. Used a stick with red thread. The bewitchment had been caused by another named witch.
White Magic
- Prophesy
- Halloween
| Name | Title | Involvement | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| John Leslie | of Balquhan | Sheriff-depute | |
| Thomas Leslie | Mr | Sheriff-depute | |
| Alexander Rutherford | Prosecutor |
| Source | Reference | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Spalding Club Miscellany | Vol I, p 140-2, 154-6. | Second entry records the trial and verdict. |
| Spalding Club Miscellany | Vol V, p 67 | financial accounts of her execution. |
| Trial Ref | Date | Year | Verdict | Sentence | Execution |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| T/JO/1308 | 24/4/1597 | 1597 | Guilty | Execution | Yes |