North Berwick and wider Scottish hunts

Question 1

When did the North Berwick witch hunt take place?

Answer 1

1590-91

Question 2

What happened to James VI parents?

Answer 2

Father was murdered when he was a baby. Mother (Mary Queen of Scots) killed by Elizabeth the 1st.

Question 3

Who is James most significant cousin?

Answer 3

The Earl of Bothwell

Question 4

What is Calvinism?

Answer 4

A branch of Protestantism that emphasises sovereignty of God and authority of the bible.

Question 5

Why was Gilly Duncan accused of being a witch?

Answer 5

She had gained a reputation for being a healer and her boss, David Seaton had caught her sneaking out at night.

Question 6

Who is David Seaton?

Answer 6

A local official and Gilly’s employer. Decides to question Gilly who he may have had an affair with. He accused her of stealing and unexplained absences.

Question 7

How did David Seaton get Gilly Duncan to confess?

Answer 7

He tortured her with pilliwinks and cords around her head, which was illegal without the Privy councils permission. He then found the witches mark which led to her confession.

Question 8

Who did Gilly Duncan denounce?

Answer 8

John Fian and Agnes Sampson

Question 9

What was the socio-economic context of the North Berwick witch hunts.

Answer 9

Strong Anti-Catholic sentiment- suspicion of rituals.
Majority of population relied on subsistence farming. Poor country so the appeal for witches was understandable. Deeply patriarchal, women had very little to non power.

Question 10

What was the political context of the North Berwick hunts?

Answer 10

Weak central government-local officials could persue own agenda. Torture often used without permission.

Question 11

What was the role of torture in NB?

Answer 11

Was approved by James, Agnes Sampson was subject to thumb screws and cords around the head. Could only be used if approved by privy council however was frequently used without official permission.

Question 12

What happened to John Fian

Answer 12

Was arrested and charged with 20 counts of witchcraft and high treason. He was tortured and claimed he renounced the devil but could never escape his clutches. Tortured by head twisting with rope, needles in fingernails, placed in the boots. Refused to confess.

Question 13

Why was John Fian accused?

Answer 13

He was one of the few well educated people who knew Greek and Latin, people suspected that he had secret knowledge.

Question 14

How did James’ background influence his beliefs?

Answer 14

His childhood was marked by political crisis- dad murdered when he was young and mother was forced to abdicate and fled to England- executed in 1587. Thought plots would begin at any time. Grew up in a religious environment- Calvinist tutors- appeased Catholics to maintain stability.

Question 15

Outline the Earl of Bothwell’s role in creating a state of instability.

Answer 15

He invoked plots in the 1580s, was accused of plotting against James and ordering witches to use magic against the King. He attempted to kill James in December 1591 which aided the air of instability.

Question 16

Outline Bothwell’s involvements in NB.

Answer 16

Sampson confessed that he asked her to divine how long James would live and requested she predict what would happen after his death. Richard Graham confessed he was part of the conspiracy. James was suspicious of Bothwell due to Danish storms and also feared his power as a magician.

Question 17

Compare the 1563 witchcraft act in England and Scotland.

Answer 17

English: would only be executed if you killed someone, damaged people or animals twice.
Scottish: Executed for any use of witchcraft.

Question 18

What features were unique to the NB hunts in comparison to the later Scottish hunts?

Answer 18

The involvement of Bothwell, Involvement of James, women of higher status were accused.

Question 19

Outline typical features of Scottish witch hunts.

Answer 19

Local gossip tended to lead to accusations (pressure from below)
Use of torture with approval of Privy council
Mass hysteria- natural phenomenon caused panic such as crop failure and weather events.

Question 20

What influence did the Kirk have over the wider hunts?

Answer 20

They took over prosecuting witches due to disorganization of the government, promoted witch hunting from 1592 and became the driving force. Churches had a box in which people could put in names of possible witches.

Question 21

How did the case of Margaret Aitken cause the decline of witch hunting after 1597?

Answer 21

Was accused of being a witch but offered immunity to convict other witches. Discredited after 4 months due to identifying people she had previously cleared. Led to more skepticism and harsher laws.

Question 22

What was the 1591 commission?

Answer 22

A commission set up by the Privy Council to hunt down witches. Only 6 commissioners.

Question 23

What did the 1592 Kirk-state commission do?

Answer 23

Was passed to promote witch-hunting as commissioners sent around Scotland with authority to empower local leaders to investigate witchcraft. License for an indiscriminate witch hunt.

Question 24

How many were tried an executed in the 1597 hunt?

Answer 24

400 tried and 200 executed.

Question 25

How did the 1597 Privy Council order play into the downfall of with hunts in Scotland.

Answer 25

Considered each request for a commission to hold a witchcraft trial. Commissions issued to three or four men to prevent acting on prejudice.

Question 26

What specific plots made James initially suspicious of Bothwell?

Answer 26

1583 plot to oust the royal favourite. 1587, criticised James for failing to prevent the execution of his mother. 1589, found guilty of treason, part of a group planning to seize the King.

Question 27

When did NB judicial proceedings start and how long did they last?

Answer 27

1590, 3 years.

Question 28

How many were implicated in the NB trials?

Answer 28

70

Question 29

Who was not executed due to the fact they were pregnant?

Answer 29

Barbara Napier

Question 30

What happened in October 1591 which dramatically sped up witch trial proceedings?

Answer 30

Judges were named on commission, they were allowed to torture at will.

Question 31

When did the Privy council start to reduce the number of commissions given out?

Answer 31

After 1597.

Question 32

What was the issue with Scotland’s judicial system?

Answer 32

Only a majority jury verdict was needed to prove someone guilty, led to higher conviction rates.

Question 33

Why did the poverty of Scotland make witch hunting more believable?

Answer 33

The devil would promise people infinite wealth and riches, seemed viable that people would enter a pact.

Question 34

What torture methods were used on Gilly Duncan?

Answer 34

Pilliwinks, cords around the head.

Question 35

What increased witch hunts in October 1591?

Answer 35

Five judges were named on commission with permission to torture at will.

Question 36

How did the case of Alison Balfour contribute to the decline of witchcraft in Scotland?

Answer 36

She was tortured for two days without a warrant from the King, her 81 year old husband, son and 7 year old daughter were all tortured. She was executed despite recounting the confession mad under torture.

Question 37

What were the conditions leading to the 1597 hunt?

Answer 37

Came at a time of poor harvest, plague and disease. Judicial procedure s also contributed to increased executions, relied on local witnesses.

Question 38

Why was there conflict between James and the Kirk?

Answer 38

James was unwilling to take action against Catholics, some people in the Kirk believed that he should be subject to their authority as they believed he wasn’t appointed by God.

Question 39

Why did Bothwell remain a threat when there was weak central control?

Answer 39

He could make a claim to the Scottish throne as James had no heir.

Question 40

What areas of the country was it difficult to maintain control of?

Answer 40

The Highlands and the Islands, most places that were far from Edinburgh.

Question 41

What were the key points made in Daemonologie?

Answer 41

That witches had close allegiance with the devil and made pacts, witches would gather at covens, witches only have certain powers as the Devil’s powers were limited.

Question 42

How does James provide a guide to identifying witches?

Answer 42

Held the search for the devil’s mark in high regard, suggested the swimming test, said demonic possession was easy to identify and could be cured by fasting and prayer, women more easily deceived due to Eve being deceived by the serpent.

Question 43

What evidence is there that James was still interested in witchcraft in 1597?

Answer 43

He took and active interest in the Stirlingshire panic. he reignited the case due to his interest when it was about to be quashed.