Getting shot of elves: healing, witchcraft and fairies in the Scottish witchcraft trials

Hall, A. (2005) Getting shot of elves: healing, witchcraft and fairies in the Scottish witchcraft trials. Folklore, 116(1), pp. 19-36. (doi: 10.1080/0015587052000337699)

Abstract

This paper re-examines the evidence of the Scottish witchcraft trials for beliefs associated by scholars with "elf-shot." Some supposed evidence for elf-shot is dismissed, but other material illuminates the interplay between illness, healing and fairy-lore in early modern Scotland, and the relationship of these beliefs to witchcraft itself.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Hall, Alaric
• Authors: Hall, A.
• Subjects: G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GR Folklore; D History General and Old World > DA Great Britain
• College/School: College of Arts & Humanities > School of Humanities > Celtic and Gaelic
• Journal Name: Folklore
• Publisher: Routledge, part of the Taylor & Francis Group
• ISSN: 0015-587X
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2005 Taylor & Francis
• First Published: First published in Folklore 116(1):19-36
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher