In the spring of 1662, Walter Dykis, a resident of Haddington, became ensnared in a widespread judicial fervor that saw scores of individuals denounced by a man named James Welch. During this period of heightened scrutiny, Walter was formally accused of witchcraft, marking a precarious moment in the legal records of East Lothian. Despite the gravity of the charges, the authorities determined that he was too young to face a full criminal trial, opting instead to commit him to imprisonment rather than the scaffold or the stake.
Notwithstanding his youth, Walter’s involvement in the judicial proceedings remained significant. During his confinement, he provided a confession that was documented by the authorities, and he actively participated in the legal process by denouncing others. The officials overseeing the case deemed these statements credible, treating his testimony with the same weight afforded to adult witnesses. Consequently, while his age spared him from the ultimate penalty, his life was fundamentally altered by the legal system’s reliance on his recorded admissions.