In the year 1662, John Hay, a messenger residing in the burgh of Tain in Ross, found himself embroiled in an accusation of witchcraft—a charge that loomed large across Scotland during this tumultuous period. As a member of the lower socioeconomic class, employed to deliver messages across the region, John was part of a community often subjected to the suspicions and fears that surrounded witchcraft allegations. These fears were particularly heightened during the mid-17th century, a time when Scotland was experiencing waves of witch trials.
On the 8th of August, John stood trial under the case designation C/EGD/1557, formally recorded as Hay, John. The trial, documented in the records as T/JO/1018, proceeded with the scrutiny typical of such charges, which often combined local gossip, personal grievances, and broader societal anxieties. Amid the heightened tensions that characterized the Scottish witch trials, John faced what was likely a combination of witness testimonies and community hearsay presented against him.
Thankfully for John, the conclusion of his trial was not as grim as it often was for others in his situation. The verdict pronounced was "Not Guilty," an outcome that spared him the fate many others unfortunately met. John's acquittal, formally recorded and undoubtedly a relief, allowed him to return to his duties and life in Tain. His story, preserved in historical documents, serves as a reminder of the precariousness of existence in a time when fear of the supernatural could dramatically alter the course of one's life.