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/2231 Bessie Smythe

name of accused
Bessie Smythe
designated title
no information
Accused Reference
A/EGD/2169
Case date start
26/6/1623
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)
Characterisation Notes
None

Qualitative information

Non-natural beings

Notes
None
  • no information

Demonic pacts

  • no information

witches meetings

Notes
None

Meeting places

  • no information

musical instruments

  • no information

Folk culture

  • Specific Verbal Formulae
  • Specific ritual acts
  • Unorthodox religious practice
Notes
Wayburn leaf also known as plantain was applied to relieve pain.

Counter strategies

  • no information

white magic

  • no information

Elf/fairy elements

  • no information

Shape-changing

  • no information

Ritual objects

  • Wayburn leaf

Religious motif

  • Prayer

Calendar customs

  • no information

Diseases or illness

  • Healing humans
Notes
Accused of healing using herbs and spoken verse/prayer.

Cause of witch's malice

  • no information

Other maleficia

Damage to property

  • no information

weather modification

  • no information

Notes
None

Other charges

  • Charming
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
Lanark Presbytery Records CH2/234/1. See also W Hunter 'Biggar and the House of Fleming' Biggar, 1862, p. 379. The project did not check Larner's reference to this printed secondary source as part of the research. No pagination in presbytery records.