In 1590 a coven of approximately 200 witches, both male and female from East Lothian, got together in a deserted church known as St Andrews in North Berwick. The intention of the gathering was to plot to kill the King of Scotland (King James VI), by conjuring up a storm to sink his ship whilst he was returning home with his new wife, Queen Anne.
How the Storm was Conjured
To conjure this storm they performed a spell which involved sacrificing a black cat by burning it in a fire. A man’s corpse was stolen from a nearby graveyard and the extremities such as the hands, feet and genitalia were cut off. The extremities were then attached to the charred cat, which was then thrown into the sea. After the body of the cat had sunk, the sky turned black and a storm erupted. King James’ ship amazingly survived the terrible storm and returned safely.
The Witchcraft Investigation and Witch Trials
A witchcraft investigation in Edinburgh brought forward initial details of this gathering which was investigated further. A witch named Geillis / Gilly Duncan admitted to being in cohorts with the devil, and named several other witches such as Barbara Napier, Agnes Sampson, and Agnes Thomson, who were in turn interrogated.
Agnes Sampson confessed in front of King James himself at Holyrood House. After being tortured she implicated more than 70 people in the attempt to kill the King, including the 5th Earl of Bothwell. Agnes claimed that the devil had informed them how to conjure the storm with the intention of causing death, and she explained the details of the ritualistic spell. Both Geillis and Agnes Sampson were burned at the stake shortly after this confession.
It is a matter of opinion whether these witches were under the influence of or in cohorts with the devil, or were acting of their own free will. However, this was the first major witch trial in Scotland, and over 100 suspected witches were tortured as a consequence of this trial.
The Berwick Witches did not succeed in their plot to kill the King. King James VI of Scotland became King James I of England, and holds the record for more witch hangings than any other member of the English monarchy.
Readers may also enjoy reading ‘What is Witchcraft? – A Brief Guide’.
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