In February 1677, Bessie Weir, a married woman residing in the town of Polloktoun in Paisley, Renfrew, became the subject of intense judicial scrutiny. Her legal proceedings were conducted under a Privy Council commission, a formal mechanism that underscored the gravity with which the authorities viewed her case. The trial, held in Renfrew on February 14, 1677, was marked by significant oversight, as central representatives from Edinburgh were dispatched to participate in the local proceedings, which were duly recorded in the minute books of the circuit court. Bessie faced serious charges categorized under *maleficium*, or the practice of harmful magic, as well as allegations concerning participation in a witches' meeting.
Following the evidence presented at the trial, the court delivered a verdict of guilty. Consequently, the sentence of execution was carried out six days later, on February 20, 1677. In accordance with the judicial practices of the era, Bessie was taken to the Gallow Green, where she was subjected to the method of strangulation and burning. Her case stands as a documented instance within the broader context of the Scottish witch trials, illustrating the structured, state-sanctioned legal processes that governed such prosecutions during this period.