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/JO/2881 Bessie Howie

name of accused
Bessie Howie
designated title
no information
Accused Reference
A/JO/2760
Case date start
13/6/1649
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

  • folk healing (secondary characteristic)
  • folk healing (primary characteristic)
  • not enough information (secondary characteristic)
Characterisation Notes
Seems to have got into trouble because she advised people to use healing rituals.

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 ritual acts
  • Sympathetic magic
Notes
Entries record that she advised the use of the blood and feathers of a black hen as a healing charm. Note: black cocks were used to cure the falling sickness but there is no mention of the illness or symptoms she was treating.

Counter strategies

  • no information

white magic

  • no information

Elf/fairy elements

  • no information

Shape-changing

  • no information

Ritual objects

  • Hen
  • Feathers
  • Blood (animal)

Religious motif

  • no information

Calendar customs

  • no information

Diseases or illness

  • Healing humans
Notes
No details about the symptoms of illness which she could cure.

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
Jedburgh Presbytery records CH2/198/3. Several entries record the presbytery investigations into the accused. Last entry recorded that she was referred to the magistrates in Jedburgh.