Cairnes,Agnes (Bigis)
Case Reference: C/EGD/792
| Case Ref | C/EGD/792 |
|---|---|
| Accused | Agnes (Bigis) Cairnes |
| Case Start Date | 2/4/1659 |
| Case Date | 5/4/1659 |
| Common Name | Cairnes,Agnes (Bigis) |
|---|
| Type | Primary | Secondary |
|---|---|---|
| Unorthodox Religious Practice | — | ✓ |
| Demonic | ✓ | ✓ |
| Fairies | — | ✓ |
| Implicated by Another | — | ✓ |
Notes: The record is comments from people who witnessed her confession, very patchy. She mentioned going away with the Fferrie, and contact with the Devil. From what we have in the witness depositions she confessed to demonic elements then retracted. She was described as 'one demented' so I think the main impetus behind her case was all the devil stuff.
| Devil Present | No |
|---|---|
| Communal Sex | No |
| Devil Worship | No |
| Food and Drink | No |
| Dancing | No |
| Singing | No |
Notes: Says she hosted witches within the walls of ??? Dundrenan.
Meeting Places
| Place | Location | Inversion |
|---|---|---|
| House | Jon Wilson's | No |
The devil drank to her. She said the Devil came to her in prison and said he could strangle her like he did for Helen Harris. She claimed that no one else could see the devil in the tolbooth because he had rubbed something in her eyes.
| Type | Text |
|---|---|
| Devil's Mark | on her secret member |
| Sex | nature was cold |
| New name | Whoore |
| Anti-baptism |
Devil Appearances
| Type | Text |
|---|---|
| Male Fairy | |
| Male |
| Elphane/Fairyland | ✓ |
|---|---|
| Food/Drink | — |
| Verbal Formulae | — |
| Ritual Acts | — |
| Familiars | — |
| Shape Changing | — |
|---|---|
| Dreams/Visions | — |
| Unorthodox Religious Practice | ✓ |
| Sympathetic Magic | — |
| Riding Dead | — |
Notes: She confessed to being away with the Fferrie. Had a great meeting with the not earthen folkis and not earthly talkis. They had a fire and dancing and myrth. When asked how she knew them she said they were 'fairer and beltin busked [beltane bound] and that they spak with ane eldridge voyce' [elvish voice]. She said the Devil came to her in prison and said he could strangle her like he did for Helen Harris. She claimed that no one else could see the devil in the tolbooth because he had rubbed something in her eyes.
Elf/Fairy Elements
- Group of fairies
Religious Motifs
- Prayer
- Beltane
| Name | Title | Involvement | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| John Quart | Investigator | ||
| Thomas Wylie | Mr | Investigator |
| Source | Reference | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Circuit Court Books | JC10/1 fo. 258v-259r, 260v, 269r | |
| Circuit Court Papers | JC10/15/3 | |
| Process Notes | JC26/26 Dumfries dittays 1659 (Biggest dittay roll) | |
| Process Notes | JC26/26 Dumfries bundle | Kircudbright Roll at the Dumfries court |
| Trial Ref | Date | Year | Verdict | Sentence | Execution |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| T/LA/1141 | 2/4/1659 | 1659 | Guilty | Execution | Yes |