THE SCENE: In this tale of medieval witchcraft, a petty dispute over money gets perilous when a woman summons a devil to inflict an annoying bee upon her enemy. Soon she finds herself sucked into a world of dance.
THE TEXT: Janet Watsone confessed that, in April last, or thereby, who being at the buriell if the Lady Dalhousie, there was a rix-dollar given to Jean Bughane, to be pairted [shared] among a certain number of poore folks, whereof who was one. And the said Jean Bughane did run away with the said money, so that the she got no part of it. And she come home to her own house, being verrie grieved and angry at it, wished to have a mendse of Jean Bughane. Upon which the DEIVILL appeared unto her, in the likeness of a prettie boy, in green clothes, and asked, “What ailed her? And what amends she would have, he should give her.” And at that tyme the DEIVIL gaive her his marks; and went away from her in the likeness of a blak doug [dog]. And constantly, for three days thereafter, there was a great bee come to her. And upon one morning, when she was changing her shirt, it did sit down upon her shoulder (she being naked) where she had one of the marks.
As also she was at a Meeting in Newton-dein with the DEAVILL, who had green clothes upon him, and a black hat upon his head; where she denyd Christ, and took her self to be a servant of the DEIVILL. Wherefore she acknowledged that she was, from her heart, sorrowful for the doing of it. And likewise, he then gave her a new name and called her “WELL-DANCING JANOT” – and promised her money at the next Meeting.
And also, that upon another night, THE DEIVILL was very heavie upon her in her bed. As also, she confessed that Bessie Moffit, Elspeth Grahame, and Jenot Mikeljohn come to her house, and took her away to that Meeting; when they all danced together. At which tyme, when she renounced her baptism, the DEIVILL laid his hand upon her head, and had her “give all over to him that was under the land,” and she did so. Which has promises she confessed, in presence of the under-subscribed, without compulsion.
– Confession of Janet Watsone; and Notices relative to Christiane Wilsone and Janet Paistoun, all accused of Witchcraft, 17th Century AD
