Smythe,Bessie
Case Reference: C/EGD/2231
Case Summary
| Case Ref | C/EGD/2231 |
|---|---|
| Accused | Bessie Smythe |
| Case Start Date | 26/6/1623 |
| Case Date | 21/11/1623 |
| Common Name | Smythe,Bessie |
|---|
Characterisation
| Type | Primary | Secondary |
|---|---|---|
| Unorthodox Religious Practice | — | ✓ |
| Folk Healing | ✓ | ✓ |
| Elphane/Fairyland | — |
|---|---|
| Food/Drink | — |
| Verbal Formulae | ✓ |
| Ritual Acts | ✓ |
| Familiars | — |
| Shape Changing | — |
|---|---|
| Dreams/Visions | — |
| Unorthodox Religious Practice | ✓ |
| Sympathetic Magic | — |
| Riding Dead | — |
Notes: Wayburn leaf also known as plantain was applied to relieve pain.
Ritual Objects
- Wayburn leaf
Religious Motifs
- Prayer
Harm
| Human Illness | — |
|---|---|
| Human Death | — |
| Animal Illness | — |
| Animal Death | — |
| Female Infertility | — |
| Male Impotence | — |
Methods
| Aggravating Disease | — |
|---|---|
| Transferring Disease | — |
| Laying On | — |
| Quarreling | — |
| Cursing | — |
| Poisoning | — |
Healing / Other
| Removal of Bewitchment | — |
|---|---|
| Recognised Healer | — |
| Healing Humans | ✓ |
| Healing Animals | — |
| Midwifery | — |
| Property Damage | — |
| Weather Modification | — |
Disease Notes: Accused of healing using herbs and spoken verse/prayer.
- Charming
| Name | Title | Involvement | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| James Hamilton | Mr | Investigator |
| Source | Reference | 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. |
Trials (1)
| Trial Ref | Date | Year | Verdict | Sentence | Execution |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| T/JO/1107 | No |