North Berwick Case study Flashcards
When was the North Berwick Witch Hunt?
1590-1597
How many people were affected in the hunt?
70 people between 1590-1593
Which group of people were targeted?
A large number of women but some men as well
How was the Scottish government system different to England?
It was less complex and fewer royal agents to keep an eye on local officials
What religious changes did Scotland go through in the sixteenth century?
A reformation- but along stricter Protestant lines, there was a heightening on anti-Catholic feeling
How else was Scotland different to England?
3
Torture could be used with authority from the government
A greater number of people were poor
Only a majority was needed to find someone guilty, not a unanimous decision
What role does James take in the witch hunts?
He is actively involved, personally interrogating the witches
How did James childhood lead to paranoid thoughts?
His mother (Mary Queen of Scots) was forced to abdicate due to conspiracies later killed by Elizabeth I.
His mother was a Catholic but he was taught there was a Catholic antiChrist working in Scotland
It led to him being fearful of treason and plots to kill him
What impact did James VI have on the witch hunts?
He couldn’t have led to them starting but could have helped them to become more widespread as James became more involved
Why did James have to travel to Denmark?
His wife Anne was from Denmark and he needed to go and collect her as storms had prevented her from travelling
How did James’ visit to Denmark influence his beliefs on magic?
Niels Hemmingsen- he had written a book on magic and related subjects in 1575
Witch Trials in Denmark had taken place throughout the C16th
How was Anna Koldings connected to the Denmark visits and the North Berwick witch trials?
She was accused of raising a storm to sink Anne’s ship and sending demons onboard to pull it under
She gave the names of 5 other women- who were also accused, including Agnes Sampson
Who were Gilly Duncan and David Seaton?
Gilly Duncan had worked for David Seaton, a local bailiff
She had taken time off work to heal ill and elderly members of her community - they recovered
He also accused her of stealing, there were also rumours of them having an affair
What is Gilly Duncan accused of?
Having ‘unnatural healing abilities’
How was Gilly treated after she was arrested?
She was tortured with thumbscrews and cords around her head - failed to confess
She was searched for a witches mark- this led to her confession
Who was Agnes Sampson?
She was a friend of Gilly Duncan and was personally interrogated by King James.
She was an elderly woman who had a reputation as a midwife, healer and cunning woman
What was Agnes Sampson accused of?
Healing the sick, discovering information of a personal nature on behalf of others, sailing across the sea in a sieve, calling on the devil in the form of a dog to assist with healing.
What happened during Agnes Sampsons trial?
She was tortured both during questioning (cords tied around her limbs) and while imprisoned (witches bridle and sleep deprivation)
She admits to being responsible for the storms during James journey from Denmark
She was able to repeat what James said to Anne on their first night of marriage
She accused many other witches, including some high ranking members of society
Who was John Fian?
A schoolmaster, who was implicated by Gilly Duncan.
He was suspected because he was able to speak Latin and Greek- illiterate locals didn’t trust him
What was John Fian accused of?
Being the secretary at coven meetings, bewitching a man, attempting to bewitch a woman to fall in love with him, robbing graces for body parts to use in charms
How was John Fian tortured and why do we know this?
It was recorded in Newes from Scotland
Nails under the fingers
Boots
Head twisted with a rope
Who was the Earl of Bothwell?
First cousin of James- but loses favour when he openly criticises James
James disliked Bothwell- Bothwell had suggested that James make the journey to Denmark- storms part of a plot to kill James
What happens to Bothwell?
Bothwell is arrested but escapes, he pleads with the King who gives him a trial- he is initially acquitted.
James fears him and withdraws his pardon- Bothwell flees to Europe
How does Bothwell explain why the trials became widespread?
Shows that belief in magic was tightly intertwined with politics- increased paranoia of treason for James
Suggests that there could be ulterior motives for accusations
What led to the national hunt in 1597?
The general commission
Lack of central control
James VI and “Daemonologie”
What was happening in in Scotland at the time?
The hunt came at a time of poor harvest, and widespread plague and disease
Judicial procedures and central control weak
What was the general commission?
5 judges were given permission to torture at will, commissions were then given to nobles and magistrates - this made trials and convictions more likely
Why was central control weak in Scotland?
James was unwilling to deal with the Catholics and it was difficult for him to maintain control from Edinburgh to the highlands and islands
Why was Daemonologie written?
In response to Reginald Scot’s sceptical work
Clarify his stance on witchcraft
When was Daemonologie written?
1597
What does James clarify regarding magic and witchcraft?
The Devil is extremely powerful and a danger
Witches have a close association with the Devil
God limited magical powers
What does James outline should take place in a hunt?
Search for Devil’s Marks- very important
Swimming test an effective identification method
Women are more like to be witches because they are vulnerable to be led astray
What was the impact of Daemonologie?
It was published several times and distributed across Europe- James was seen as an expert
It inspired a witch hunting fervour
What impact did James have on the witch hunts?
He politicised them- treason and witchcraft became linked
Some historians argue that witch hunting responsibility was given to the Church in 1592, limiting James’ influence
What involvement did James have in the 1597 trials?
He continued to want to interrogate witches personally, and took an active interest
What brought the 1597 trials to an end?
Some of trials led to false accusations and miscarriages of justices
Some commissions started to be withdrawn
Overall what were the causes?
7
- James paranoia
- Crop failures & weather
- Denmark
- Popular beliefs
- Weak Gov monarchy
- Rural nature of scotland
- Gilly Duncan & David Seaton
Overall why was the case widespread?
- James involvement
- Torture
- Weak legal system
- Context issues
- Earl of Bothwell
Why did North Berwick occur due to its location (Scotland)?
- Had less complex system of gov. than England —> rural areas difficult to govern
- Weak monarchy —> allows torture to be used w/o privy council consent
- Majority of local judges found a defendant guilty
- Protestant reformation —> happened along stricter Calvinist lines
- Scotland poor
- Deeply patriarchal society
- Deeply held belief in faeries & folk magic
What was the government system like in Scotland compared to England (North Berwick)?
Scotland had a less complex system of government than England
Allowed witch hunts without interference - rural areas more difficult to govern
How was torture allowed in the North Berwick trials?
According to law, torture could only be used with consent of privy council
The monarchy was weak so local judges often allowed it
How was Scotland a patriarchal society (North Berwick)?
Children accused of witches would suffer the same reputation & were referred to as a “witch’s get”
A deeply patriarchal society
How involved was James VI in the North Berwick trials?
He was personally involved - even personally interrogated witches
Which monarch was involved in the North Berwick trials?
James VI
What religious environment did James VI grow up in?
He grew up in a highly charged religious environment
Mother was a Catholic but tutors were Calvinist & Scotland was struggling to define its religious identity
He was easily attracted to the idea of a (Catholic) antichrist working in Scotland
How did James VI’s age affect the North Berwick trials?
He was relatively young when the trials happened (24 yrs old) & was inexperienced as a monarch
(Some have said weak)
