In February 1659, Bessie Lacost, a resident of Stenton in Haddington, became the subject of intense legal scrutiny concerning allegations of witchcraft. Her case, documented under references C/EGD/313 and T/JO/204, indicates a process that extended beyond local authorities to the commissioners in Edinburgh. Officials sought formal guidance on how to manage the prosecution, reflecting the gravity with which the charges were viewed at the time. While an undated indictment exists within the legal records, the final resolution of Bessie’s trial remains obscured by the limitations of the surviving documentation; the records do not confirm the specific outcome of the proceedings against her.
The extent of Bessie’s involvement in these accusations is further highlighted by the testimonies of others circulating within the judicial system of the period. She was frequently named by fellow accused individuals, appearing as an accomplice in the depositions of Janet Wood and Marion Angus. Furthermore, Bessie was specifically denounced by Jean Sydserff, Alleson Fermor, and Helen Heriot. These women, having implicated Bessie, were themselves subjected to trial by Justices of the Peace and subsequently transferred to Edinburgh for sentencing, illustrating a period of heightened legal activity where accusations often moved in interconnected chains through the courts.