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/1628 Bessie Scott

name of accused
Bessie Scott
designated title
no information
Accused Reference
A/EGD/1614
Case date start
3/6/1649
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

  • demonic (secondary characteristic)
  • demonic (primary characteristic)
  • Implicated by another (secondary characteristic)
  • not enough information (secondary characteristic)
Characterisation Notes
None

Qualitative information

Non-natural beings

Notes
Claimed that her mother took her to meet her 'master'. Said she thought the devil rose out of the ground. She also said she was re-baptised with water.
  • Male in grey clothes

Demonic pacts

  • Want nothing
  • Anti-baptism
  • New name Maide
  • Devil's Mark nipped her, very sore

witches meetings

  • Witches meeting
  • Devil present
Notes
Meetings with the devil and others were held at the gloaming (evening).

Meeting places

  • None Park

musical instruments

  • no information

Folk culture

Notes
None

Counter strategies

  • no information

white magic

  • no information

Elf/fairy elements

  • no information

Shape-changing

  • no information

Ritual objects

  • no information

Religious motif

  • no information

Calendar customs

  • no information

Diseases or illness

Notes
None

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
Corstorphine Kirk Session records CH2/124/1, p 31, 33-4. None
Committee of Estates PA11/8 fo. 123v. None