In the spring of 1634, Elizabeth Bathgate, a 57-year-old married woman from Eyemouth, faced the high court in Edinburgh under the shadow of serious allegations. As the wife of a maltman who served Mr. George Ochterlony, Elizabeth occupied a middling socioeconomic position, yet she had carried a reputation for witchcraft within her community for thirty-two years. The legal proceedings against her were extensive, drawing the attention of high-status figures, particularly members of the Home family. Her case was woven into a wider web of accusations; she was repeatedly named by a network of others—including Elspeth, Agnes, and Alison Wilson, as well as Janet Williamson and various others—who identified her either as a known witch or as an accomplice in illicit meetings. Alongside these charges of attending witches' gatherings, Elizabeth was accused of causing tangible destruction to local infrastructure, specifically damage to mills and boats.
The trial, presided over on June 4, 1634, was marked by an unusual level of procedural rigor. The path to judgment had been fraught with delays; a scheduled hearing in February was postponed due to severe weather that prevented witnesses and the assize from reaching the capital, and a subsequent motion for continuance was granted to allow Elizabeth’s legal counsel time to review the *dittay*, or indictment. In contrast to many trials of the era, the court adhered strictly to formal rules of evidence, and Elizabeth’s defense presented detailed and deliberate pleadings in her favor. Notably, her own husband provided testimony against her during the investigation, further complicating the domestic and social implications of the case. Despite the gravity of the accusations and the numerous figures linked to her alleged activities, the final verdict delivered by the court was not guilty.
