The Countess of Angus’s Escape from the North Berwick Witch-Hunt

Abstract

The North Berwick witch-hunt began in the autumn of 1590 when the bailie of Trane nt, David Seton, was suspicious ab out the late night excursions of his servant, Geillis Duncan. Questioned under torture, she revealed to him the existence of a large group of witches who met throughout East Lothian. Although Seton was particularly interested in witches plotting attacks on himself, he also uncovered hints of plans to cause a storm to coincide with Anne of Denmark’s voyage to Scotland to marry James VI. As a result the king became convinced that a conspir- acy, plotted in North Berwick church during Halloween of 1590, had been directed at him personally.