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/313 Bessie Lacost

name of accused
Bessie Lacost
designated title
no information
Accused Reference
A/EGD/302
Case date start
5/1/1659
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)
  • Implicated by another (secondary characteristic)
  • not enough information (secondary characteristic)
  • not enough information (primary characteristic)
Characterisation Notes
None

Qualitative information

Non-natural beings

Notes
She was 'seriously exhorted' to tell the truth about her relations with the Devil.
  • Male sea green clothes with a hat or bonnet

Demonic pacts

  • Anti-baptism
  • New name tried to name her Jeane, she said no

witches meetings

  • Food and drink
  • Dancing
  • Singing
Notes
They 'had a feast' of ale and wheat bread at meetings.

Meeting places

  • no information

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
Not sure when she was tried?
references
name notes
Process Notes JC26/26 Bundle near the end marked 'Witchcraft'. Confession taken before the JPs, Also found in the High Court Record Index, no. 1 for 1/3/1659, this index did not distinguish between circuit and high court cases. This list of names was added in the margins with a modern hand, no indication of where the person got the list.
Dunbar Presbytery records CH2/99/2, p 32. Note that Stenton session had presented a case about the accused who was suspect of witchcraft. Presbytery referred the case to the civil magistrate. No details about accusations.