In the spring of 1671, the legal machinery of the Scottish state focused its attention on John Crisbie, a resident of the county of Roxburgh. Little remains in the archival record to illuminate the specific nature of the allegations brought against him; however, the case (C/EGD/811) reached a critical juncture on May 24th, when the matter came before the circuit court. This period was characterized by rigorous judicial oversight regarding the prosecution of witchcraft, and the court’s decision-making reflected the formal procedures required to manage such serious charges.
Following the proceedings on May 24th, the court determined that John was to be released from immediate detention. This liberation was not an unconditional dismissal, but rather was contingent upon a legal caution—a formal pledge or bond—requiring him to remain available should the high court in Edinburgh see fit to summon him for a full trial at a later date. This directive, preserved in trial note T/LA/1166, marks the final extant record of his case, leaving the ultimate resolution of his legal entanglement to the shadow of potential future summons.