Bessie Roy, a woman of modest means and a nurse by trade, found herself at the heart of a witchcraft trial in 1590. Living in Fetterneir, near Aberdeen, Bessie occupied a vital role in her community, serving as a nurse, possibly even as a wet nurse, to the Laird of Boquhane. Her ties within the community extended beyond her profession, as she had been sharing her life with a man, potentially as his common-law wife, for twelve years. Despite this seemingly stable arrangement, her life took a precarious turn when her name appeared in legal proceedings concerning witchcraft, particularly linked to Leslie and Achinleck, individuals who reputedly sought her counsel on matters of witchcraft.
The accusations against Bessie unfolded within the broader context of fear and suspicion that permeated 16th-century Scotland. Her case materialized in the judicial records as a process note associated with Leslie and Achinleck, yet it culminated in her trial in Edinburgh on the 18th of August, 1590. Amidst the charged atmosphere, she was also implicated by five other women who identified her as an accomplice in their trials: Jonet Grant, Janet Clark, Barbara Keand, Bessie Paull, and Marion Bruce. Despite these claims and the societal pressures of the time, the verdict reached by the court declared Bessie not guilty, allowing her to return to her life, though likely not without lingering suspicion and scrutiny from her peers. The trial notes capture a moment of intense personal and public strain for Bessie, reflecting the broader tensions of an era rife with fear of the occult.