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/29 Bessie Dunlop

name of accused
Bessie Dunlop
designated title
no information
Accused Reference
A/EGD/18
Case date start
8/11/1576
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

  • folk healing (secondary characteristic)
  • midwifery (secondary characteristic)
  • white magic (secondary characteristic)
Characterisation Notes
Alastair Hendry has Thom Reid, the man Bessie claimed to learn her craft from, as an Officiare (barony officer) to the Lord of Blair, and killed at the Battle of Pinkie, 10/9/1547. Not sure he was a real person and he pre-dates the survey so I have not made a separate reference for him. Although she confessed to renunciation of baptism we have not ticked demonic as a secondary characterisation as the case was more about fairies than demonic material.

Qualitative information

Non-natural beings

Notes
Thom Reid was described as having died at Pinkie. She described as a good, elderly man in grey clothes, grey brekins (trousers), white shanks, a black hand, with a white wand. Thom Reid asked her to 'trow' (trust in) him and give up Christianity. She would not do it, but offered to be true in every other way.
  • Ghost Thom Reid
  • Ghost The laird of Auchinsteyth who had died

Demonic pacts

  • Anti-baptism

witches meetings

Notes
Thom came to her when she was lamenting the sickness of her cows, husband and children and the land-ill (famine?). She had just risen out of child-bed. He told her to mend her ways with God, what would happen and then disappeared into a hole.

Meeting places

  • near her house Field
  • thorne of Damwstarnok Thorn
  • her own House

musical instruments

  • no information

Folk culture

  • Elphane or Fairyland
  • Specific ritual acts
  • Sympathetic magic
Notes
She was told to be silent about her visit to the fairies. There were 12 of them, 8 women and 4 men. Indication of how she was questioned to get accomplices and more information. The fairies wanted her to go with them. Loads of information about fairies. Specific roots and herbs were mentioned, including ginger, liquorice, clover, and anis seed. Thom gave her a green thread to help with child birth curing but she lost it. They asked if she supported the Reformed faith, she said that Thom said it was not good, but the old faith needed fixing. 12:00 hour of the day was Thom's most common time to appear. The Queen of Elphan commanded him to wait upon her. She was asked specifically if she met him by lochs and water side, she said only once.

Counter strategies

  • no information

white magic

  • Finding lost goods
  • Prophesy

Elf/fairy elements

  • Green
  • Thorn Tree
  • 12:00
  • Group of fairies
  • Bells

Shape-changing

  • no information

Ritual objects

  • Thread
  • Herb

Religious motif

  • no information

Calendar customs

  • Candlemas

Diseases or illness

  • Healing humans
  • Midwifery
Notes
Claimed she could accomplish things with the help of Thom Reid (her ghost). He taught her about herbs. Was paid in kind for her healing. Confessed to healing quite rich people. Was asked if she could help with child-birth, said she lost the green thread.

Cause of witch's malice

  • no information

Other maleficia

Damage to property

  • no information

weather modification

  • no information

Notes
None

Other charges

  • Charming
  • Invocation of Spirits
  • Incantation
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 JC2/1 fo. 15r-18r None
Pitcairn v I, Part II, page 49-58 same as JC2/1