McNicol,Janet

Case Reference: C/EGD/604

Case Summary
Case RefC/EGD/604
AccusedJanet McNicol
Case Start Date22/1/1662
Case Date15/10/1673
Common NameMcNicol,Janet
Characterization
TypePrimarySecondary
Unorthodox Religious Practice
Demonic
Maleficium
Implicated by Another

Notes: Confession of pact.

Devil PresentYes
Communal SexNo
Devil WorshipNo
Food and DrinkNo
DancingNo
SingingNo

Notes: Confessed that she met others at Bute Quay and she fell in the water but the good looking man pulled her out.

Meeting Places
PlaceLocationInversion
ShoreBute QuauNo

Devil in the form of a leper which she confessed she knew to be an evil spirit. In 1662 she confessed that she met 2 men, one was a gross copperfaced man whom she knew was an evil spirit, the other was a well favoured young man.

TypeText
New nameMary Lykeas
Anti-baptism
Want nothing
Servant
Devil Appearances
TypeText
Maleleper
Malegross copperfaced man
Malewell-favoured young man

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

  • Halloween
  • All Saints Day

NameTitleInvolvementNotes
Archibald Bannatyne of LubasChancellor
Ninian Bannatyne younger of KamesProsecutor
John Campbell Investigator
Colin Campbell Sir of AberuchillProsecutor
John Glass Investigator
Donald MacGilchrist Investigator
Thomas MacKinlay Investigator
Duncan MacNicoll Investigator
Henry Melis Prosecutor
John Stewart MrInvestigator
Robert Stewart Investigator
Robert Wallace Investigator

SourceReferenceNotes
Highland PapersVol III, pp 13-14, 26J K Hewison, Isle of Bute in the Olden Tyme, Edinburgh, 1893-5, vol. 2 p. 262-263.
Argyll Justiciary RecordsVol 1, p 20-1.The volume of Argyll Justiciary Records gives some details about accusation, trial and verdict.
Trials (3)
Trial RefDateYearVerdictSentenceExecution
T/JO/1881 No
T/JO/1910 No
T/JO/205 15/10/16731673 GuiltyExecution Yes
Case Notes
Initally accused in 1662.