In the summer of 1629, the small coastal community of Eyemouth in Berwick became the site of a legal inquiry involving Janet Liddel. Her case was set in motion on July 27, 1629, following a denunciation made by Margaret Loche, a woman who had previously confessed to the crime of witchcraft. This formal accusation placed Janet under the scrutiny of the local judiciary, leading to her inclusion in the rigorous legal procedures of the era regarding suspected maleficium.
Following the initial denunciation, the archival trail for Janet reflects the administrative gravity of the proceedings. Her case, documented under reference C/EGD/1133, moved toward the courtroom, where she was subjected to formal legal processes under references T/LA/138 and T/LA/152. These records, dated September 5, 1629, chart the trajectory of the trial as it moved through the Scottish judicial system, marking the definitive steps taken in her prosecution.