Witchcraft and Folk Belief in the Age of Enlightenment by Lizanne Henderson

Author:Lizanne Henderson
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780230359048
Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan

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“Worshipping at the Altar of Ignorance”: Some Late Scottish Witchcraft Cases Considered

Upon the whole, I do believe that there is scarcely a more rare providence of this nature in any true history, – a more exact caution in any enquiry or trial of this kind, – a more clear probation without confession of the panels themselves, – or a more just sentence, putting together all circumstances upon record.

Francis Grant (1698)1

A major concern of this study is to investigate the decline or otherwise of witch belief at the dawn of the Scottish Enlightenment and its relationship with folk culture. While the philosophes and literati repeatedly rejoiced that superstition was dead or dying, the reality was that witch belief survived long after the views of the sceptics and the deists had been expressed. In this respect the role of the Kirk was crucial. This chapter investigates the rearguard actions of the Church, concerned as it was with issues of atheism and sadducism in the earliest stages of enlightenment. It also examines the ministers and their followers in prolonging witch belief and the lingering presence of demonic interference. From the late seventeenth century onwards, there was a palpable decline in the number of witch trials and executions, though not, as will be demonstrated, in expressions of witch belief. There are indications that, in the post-1663 phases of witch prosecution, the suspects were primarily accused of malefice. Several cases can be shown to highlight the nature of those accusations and the supposed activities of witches; others suggest that having a reputation for witchcraft could have unexpected advantages, such as in the 1688 case of Catharine MacTargett of Dunbar, who appeared to almost luxuriate in her powers. Some trials are illustrative of how witchcraft could be used to further a particular cause or agenda of the day. For instance, in the immediate aftermath of the widely reported Christian Shaw episode (1696–97), and the events at Pittenweem (1704–05), details from the trials, confessions and observations of witnesses, were used as debating points in the printed literature over the reality, or otherwise, of witchcraft. While some commentators chose to use these cases as exemplars of fraud, deception or error, others interpreted them as evidence of the real threat posed by witchcraft and utilized the stories as a way of combatting doubt and atheism in the preternatural world. Demonic possession, while not a strong theme in Calvinist Scotland, was a feature of both of these cases, though it loomed particularly large in the trial surrounding the bewitchment of Christian Shaw. The horrific example of the lynching at Pittenweem seems to represent a popular reaction against the inactivity of the authorities. It could also be interpreted as indicative of changing attitudes of the state towards the legal processes against witchcraft coming into direct conflict with folk attitudes and the opinions of some ministers. A particular study is included of Gaelic-speaking Scotland in order to provide a context for what is deemed to be the last execution for witchcraft. Although

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