north berwick.

• What is some background context on the importance of this hunt?

  The idea is that Scotland had many less laws and much more land. this made it difficult to govern. This allowed for hunts in Scotland to be much more widespread and torture was consented by the Privy Council
• How was the average lifestyle in Scotland?

  Very poor with many children of witches being accused. There was large poverty and begging.
• Who was the King and give his backstory?

  James VI came to power in 1583 only age 17. His grew up in a political crisis, with his father Lord Darnley being murdered when he was only 8 months old - his mother Queen of Scots married James Hepburn, assumed to be his murderer. James grew up in a highly charged religious environment although Mary was catholic he was brought up as calvinist.
• What was the Queen of Scots scandal?

  Mary was forced to abdicate after an uprising on her son - fled to England in hope Queen Elizabeth (her cousin) would help her. Elizabeth imprisoned her and executed her for plotting to overthrow her in 1587.
• What was James' trip to Denmark?

  James had married 14 yr old Anne of Denmark and she attempted to sail to him twice but failed. After James' cousin (Francis Stewart) refused to go, James went himself in Oct. They sailed back on extreme waters, losing one of the other ships and the witches were blamed.
• Who did James speak to in Denmark who may have impacted him?

  He met numerous scientists and philosophers and even visited Tycho Brahe's home. He conversated with a theologian - Niels Hemmingsen.
• What was James knowledge and belief on witches?

  Although there was little books on witchcraft in Scotland, it may have been possible that James was at a play called 'flying' around 1580 that referenced magic as he quoted it in an essay of his in 1584. Even with the Witchcraft Act 1563, most people were sceptical on their existence.
• Who was a witch that was convicted long before Berwick even began?

  Bessie Dunlop - accused in 1576 and charged with conversing with the devil.
• Who was a suspected witch who caused the storms at sea?

  Anna Keldings - suspected as a witch who disturbed the voyage. she was interrogated and possibly tortured in Copenhagen. In fear, she gave 5 other names - one even the Bourgmaster of Copenhagen. They all confessed saying the devil pulled the ship!
• Who is the key witch of Berwick?

  Gilly Duncan - she was rumoured to have healing abilities. but, when David Seaton (bailiff) accused her of stealing and disapppearing for days, he then tortured her using thumb-screws and cords and resultantly found a mark. she confessed to the storm!
• What are the causation factors for Berwick happening?

  >Gilly Duncan/witches. >James' paranoia. >James' trip. >Weak control. >Superstition.
• Who is another key witch?

  Agnes Sampson - an old woman known for use of cunning folk etc. king James interrogated her after staff found a devil's mark. he used a witch's bridle, cords on limbs and sleep deprivation for 7 days.
• What were Agnes' charges? 🐶

  Healing the sick, sailing across the sea in a sieve and calling the devil through her dog Elva.
• What did Agnes confess to?

  In convincing James, she confessed to hearing the pillow talk between him and wife Anne and then she went onto talk about her covern. She confessed to stealing a corpse to use its knucklebones. She also confessed to throwing a cat into the sea to cause the storm.
• Who did Agnes accuse?

  Barbara Napier - earl of Bothwell's friend. Richard Graham. Effie Mcyalyan - accused of transferring child birth pains onto a dog.
• What are some examples of torture in Berwick?

  Witch's bridle. Cords. Sleep deprivation. Needles under nails. 'Boots' - crushed legs. Pilliwinks.
• How was torture justified?

  Divine rights of kings - idea that Kings are appointed by God. Due to James believing this, he sought to do his duty in protecting people from spirits and the devil - they justify using torture by the excuse of the devil and the Scottish people.
• What is an example of James using his power?

  Barbados trial - forced jurors to be tried for witchcraft after they acquitted the defendant.
• Who is the key male in this hunt?

  John Fian - initially implicated by Gilly, and he was known as having multiple affairs with married women. He was mainly suspected by illiterate locals due to his range of languages he could speak - devil was entrenched in his soul.
• What was John accused of?

  John was accused of many things such as being a secretary of a covern, doing the kiss of shame, transporting a spirit to the mountains, bewitching a man who loved his lover and dismembering unbaptised babies.
• How was John's case?

  He had been arrested in 1590 and was charged with 20 counts of witchcraft. John was tortured heavily with them using ropes to twist his head, needles and boots. He continued to refuse and they carried on the torture to get him to say other people - eventually he did. In imprisonment, he said he had renounced the devil but then later he said the devil had threatened him.
• What royalty became involved and what were they accused of?

  Earl of Bothwell (Francis Stewart). in 1583 he as involved in a plot to force out the royal favourite - earl of arran, which he ended speeded house arrest for. in 1587, he openly criticised Jame s for not doing more on his mum's execution. in 1589, he was accused and found guilty of treason, apart of a group planning to seize the king.
• How did Bothwell become involved in Berwick?

  Although unlikely this relationship would have even occurred, Agnes confessed that Bothwell had come to her to predict how long James would live and what would happen after his death. He even asked her to send a familiar to kill him. Richard Graham also confessed about Bothwell's involvement.
• What happened to Bothwell?

  He was arrested April 1591 and held in Edinburgh Castle. He is eventually placed in Holyrood Palace and James strays away in fear of him and his lies.
• How did James fear increase?

  Bothwell was 'discovered' to being in a mass covern of 200 witches, in which he was a grand master. James becomes very fearful he was going to take the throne and so he starts to press down on hunting, especially after he was caught.
• What was the result for Bothwell?


  He escapes the castle when being held for trial in June. He went to hide and began to build a force to attack Edinburgh. In late December, he attacks the palace but was repelled by guards. He escaped and went into hiding again but James began convicting his supporters too in 1592. In July 1593, he entered the palace and plead to James himself - James was left shaken but cleared him on thinking he was innocent.
• What was the impact of confessions and trials?

  In total, 70 people were implicated between 1590-1597. Gilly, John, Agnes, Barbara and Effie were all executed. Others such as Bressie Braune were also implicated for crimes of witchcraft.
• What was the general commission?

  it was made with no specified objectives, but it made witch trials/convictions likely - mainly 5 judges on a commission. James had made it rule in 1596 that all commission requests had to go to privy council but this wasn't followed until after the Alison Balfour case (1597) - tortured for 2 days (and her family) without a warrant and her 7 yr old daughter was tortured with pilliwinks.
• How was there a lack of central control?

  James always had issues maintaining control and he had a bad relationship with the Kirk, always thinking they didn't do enough about witchcraft. James was also very vulnerable because he had no heir and had little control from Edinburgh due to how rural Scotland was!
• What was the next witch-hunt that occurred in Berwick?

  1597 hunt - began from a large Aberdeen trial in march against Janet Wishart. She was accused of raising storms and causing death/injury to victims. It began to spread even thought the hunt had stopped, and led to about 400 accusations - Margaret Aitken was suspected but then agreed to witch hunt around Scotland. BUT, the hunt ended shortly after.
• What are the widespread factors?

  Torture (unlikely to confess if not so wouldn't be widespread if not), confessions, general commission, lack of control, James and Bothwell.
• What book did James write?

  Daemonologie 1597 - due to James postion his views were widely accepted. the purpose of the book was to publicise the threat posed by witches.
• What event shows James having an interest near the end of the hunt?

  His interest in the Stirlingshire panic in 1597 - took active interest in it and became very concerned with discovering witches even writing a letter to his son Prince Henry (oldest).