Dunlop,Bessie
Case Reference: C/EGD/29
| Case Ref | C/EGD/29 |
|---|---|
| Accused | Bessie Dunlop |
| Case Start Date | 8/11/1576 |
| Case Date | 8/11/1576 |
| Common Name | Dunlop,Bessie |
|---|
| Type | Primary | Secondary |
|---|---|---|
| Fairies | ✓ | ✓ |
| Folk Healing | — | ✓ |
| Midwifery | — | ✓ |
| White Magic | — | ✓ |
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.
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.
| Type | Text |
|---|---|
| Anti-baptism |
Devil Appearances
| Type | Text |
|---|---|
| Ghost | Thom Reid |
| Ghost | The laird of Auchinsteyth who had died |
| Elphane/Fairyland | ✓ |
|---|---|
| Food/Drink | — |
| Verbal Formulae | — |
| Ritual Acts | ✓ |
| Familiars | — |
| Shape Changing | — |
|---|---|
| Dreams/Visions | — |
| Unorthodox Religious Practice | — |
| Sympathetic Magic | ✓ |
| Riding Dead | — |
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.
Elf/Fairy Elements
- Green
- Thorn Tree
- 12:00
- Group of fairies
- Bells
Ritual Objects
- Thread
- Herb
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: 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.
White Magic
- Finding lost goods
- Prophesy
- Candlemas
- Charming
- Invocation of Spirits
- Incantation
| Name | Title | Involvement | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| George Auchenleck | of Balmanno | Investigator |
| Source | Reference | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Books of Adjournal | JC2/1 fo. 15r-18r | |
| Pitcairn | v I, Part II, page 49-58 | same as JC2/1 |
| Trial Ref | Date | Year | Verdict | Sentence | Execution |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| T/LA/1008 | 8/11/1576 | 1576 | Guilty | Execution | No |