The Survey of Scottish Witchcraft

1563-1736

By Julian Goodare, Lauren Martin, Joyce Miller and Louise Yeoman, January 2003

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Case Details

C/EGD/136 Bessie Aiken

name of accused
Bessie Aiken
designated title
no information
Accused Reference
A/EGD/125
Case date start
19/5/1597
Given case date
no information
Case commission
no information
case complaint
no information
case correspondence
no information
case chronicle
no information
other details
no information

characterisation

  • unorthodox religious practise (secondary characteristic)
  • folk healing (secondary characteristic)
  • folk healing (primary characteristic)
  • Implicated by another (secondary characteristic)
Characterisation Notes
She was part of a group of four women who appear to have been recognised folk healers who met, taught each other, cured for each other and generally worked together as professionals (the group includes c/egd/136, c/egd/133, c/egd/132, c/egd/131). There is no mention of the Devil.
additional persons
name involvement notes
Janet Stewart Witchcraft acquired from

Qualitative information

Non-natural beings

Notes
None
  • no information

Demonic pacts

  • no information

witches meetings

  • Witches meeting
Notes
None

Meeting places

  • no information

musical instruments

  • no information

Folk culture

  • Specific Verbal Formulae
  • Specific ritual acts
  • Unorthodox religious practice
  • Sympathetic magic
Notes
Greed wood (fairies?). Use of circles. Use of red nettles to cure a pain in the loins. Use of fresh butter as a salve. Used salt water for cures. Washed people. She roasted four or five kittens and used the drippings to rub a sick person.

Counter strategies

  • no information

white magic

  • no information

Elf/fairy elements

  • no information

Shape-changing

  • no information

Ritual objects

  • Wood
  • Butter
  • Plant
  • Salt
  • Water
  • Cat
  • Garland

Religious motif

  • Three
  • Prayer
  • Saints

Calendar customs

  • no information

Diseases or illness

  • Rec. healer
  • Healing humans
Notes
Learned some of her art from Jonet Stewart.

Cause of witch's malice

  • no information

Other maleficia

Damage to property

  • no information

weather modification

  • no information

Notes
None

Other charges

  • no information

Notes
None

Plea

Claimed bewitched
no
Claimed possessed
no
Admitted lesser charges
no
No defence
no
Claimed natural causes
no
Notes
None
Case Notes
None
references
name notes
Books of Adjournal JC2/3 fo. 224-229 None
South Leith Kirk session records CH2/716/1. Note in kirk session records that a local parishioner was to be questioned about consulting Bessie Aiken, suspected of witchcraft.
Pitcairn v ii, p. 25-29 almost same text as JC2/3
Pitcairn v ii, p. 52 None