In the early months of 1597, the judicial machinery of Aberdeen turned its attention toward Johnnet Wischert, a 50-year-old married woman from the lower socioeconomic strata of the city. As the winter chill persisted in February, Johnnet found herself formally indicted under the statutes governing witchcraft, a period of heightened scrutiny that required the adjustment of official records to align with the New Year’s commencement on March 25. The charges brought against her were grave, centering on the allegation of a demonic pact, a criminal association that elevated her case beyond local disputes into the realm of spiritual treason.
The proceedings moved with considerable swiftness through the local courts, where the legal apparatus sought accountability not only for the spiritual transgression of the pact but for tangible losses sustained by the community. Johnnet was held responsible for instances of property damage, specifically involving the destruction of an entire estate and the loss of ale. Following the trial (T/JO/1 and T/JO/4), the verdict was delivered with finality: Johnnet was found guilty. As was the standard practice for those convicted of such crimes in Aberdeen during this era, the sentence was carried out by fire, and she was subsequently executed.