The Great Witch of Scotland

In the late 16th century, with the encouragement of King James VI, Scotland experienced one of its most shameful periods of widespread, brutal witch hunts. While they took place right across the country, one of the largest and most famous trials took place in Aberdeen in 1597, resulting in a woman called Janet Wishart being known as the Great Witch of Scotland.

Testimonies claimed that Janet had long been suspected of witchcraft by her neighbours with 31 charges spread over a period of 24 years. The majority of incidents seem to have stemmed from her short temper and sharp tongue, directed at anybody with the misfortune of crossing her. It was a dangerous time to be an outspoken woman.

In May 1572, five men all witnessed Janet leaving her neighbour Adam Mair’s home in the early hours of the morning. They woke Mair’s wife to tell her of her husband’s infidelity and received a furious tongue-lashing from Janet in the process, cursing them for meddling. Later that day, two of the accusers were found drowned where they had been washing.

On Halloween 1596, Janet was accused of meeting other witches, including her son Thomas, by Castlegate where they danced with the Devil. It’s said that while imprisoned and awaiting trial, the Devil visited Janet and told her that if she denied everything then he would return for her. Regardless of pleading her innocence, with the sheer number of people testifying, she stood no chance of being granted her freedom.

Even Janet’s own son-in-law stood against her, claiming that she had cursed him after he struck his wife. Every night from then on, a brown dog would burst into his bedroom and attack him while leaving Janet’s daughter alone. The dog only relented after the man threatened to go to the minister about the supernatural occurrences.

Once the trial was over, both Janet and her son were burned to death, a particularly harsh punishment considering most of those found guilty of witchcraft were strangled before the flames were lit. In a small consolation, Janet’s husband and three daughters were all found innocent, but their close connection to such a feared figure saw them banished from Aberdeen forever.