The Survey of Scottish Witchcraft

1563-1736

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

The Survey of Scottish Witchcraft logo

Case Details

C/EGD/2122 Bessie Thom

name of accused
Bessie Thom
designated title
no information
Accused Reference
A/EGD/2069
Case date start
9/3/1597
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

  • demonic (secondary characteristic)
  • maleficium (secondary characteristic)
  • Implicated by another (secondary characteristic)
  • Implicated by others (primary characteristic)
Characterisation Notes
None

Qualitative information

Non-natural beings

Notes
Named as having attended meetings but no confession or description of pact.
  • no information

Demonic pacts

  • no information

witches meetings

  • Witches meeting
  • Devil present
  • Dancing
Notes
Claimed that Thomas Leyis led them all in the dancing.

Meeting places

  • James Thomsouns's yard Yard
  • Fish cross Cross
  • meal market Mercat Cross

musical instruments

  • Unspecified

Folk culture

  • Elphane or Fairyland
  • Specific ritual acts
  • Shape changing
Notes
Mentioned of sunrise in confession.

Counter strategies

  • no information

white magic

  • no information

Elf/fairy elements

  • 12:00
  • Sunrise

Shape-changing

  • Animal hares
  • Animal cats

Ritual objects

  • Tree

Religious motif

  • no information

Calendar customs

  • Ruidday
  • Halloween

Diseases or illness

  • Human death
Notes
Accused of murdering her husband with a drink ?poison. Also gave another man 'slaik' at the request of his wife, he later died. Offered to help get rid of another woman's husband.

Cause of witch's malice

  • no information

Other maleficia

Damage to property

  • no information

weather modification

  • no information

Notes
None

Other charges

  • Murder
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
Spalding Club Miscellany Vol I, pp. 167, 169-70. None
Spalding Club Miscellany Vol V, p 66. None