Glossary

Coercion (Extrajudicial Torture): Enhanced interrogation technique, often occurring after one has been accused, and during the trial process.

Daemonologie: Focuses on the study and belief of demons and evil apparitions that are regarded as harmful or unwelcome. In reference to King James VI’s book, Daemonologie, this was intended to portray the reality of witchcraft, devil worshippers, and evil spirits within his own belief system.

Defective (Women): The societal and religious assumptions about the 'defects' (or 'disability') that women had: mentally 'weaker'; spiritually more gullible; closer to animals than men.

Early Modern Period: Following the Middle Ages from about 1500 to 1800.

Scottish Witchcraft Act of 1563: The first Scottish law against witchcraft, making both the practice of witchcraft and the consulting of witches a capital offense, punishable by death. The act was enforced until its abolishment by the House of Lords in 1735 with the Witchcraft Act, no longer making it a crime.

Torture: Means of physical torture would come after trial for information gathering and as a punishment. The three main methods used were banishment, physical punishment (beatings, scolding, flogging, etc.) and execution. The actual term torture was not used in early modern Scotland.

Witch panic/ witch hunt: Period of intense persecution, arrest, and execution of people, supposedly for the crime of witchcraft. In early modern Europe, these periods always coincided with times of societal, religious, and political upheaval.