Elizabeth Bathgate, a 57-year-old resident of Eyemouth in Berwick, found herself at the centre of a witchcraft trial in the year 1634. Married to a maltman, her life was entrenched within the socio-economic fabric of a town that relied heavily on such trades. Despite her stable social standing, Elizabeth's reputation had been under scrutiny for over three decades. Her husband, notably, worked as a servant to Mr. George Auchthertown, who, strikingly, was one of the individuals testifying against her. The involvement of several high-status individuals in her case underscores the serious nature of the accusations she faced.
The trial commenced in Edinburgh on June 4, 1634, amidst a turbulent sequence of events that delayed proceedings. Inclement weather initially stalled the trial as witnesses and jury members struggled to reach Edinburgh by February of that year. The legal process further endured interruptions when the defence requested additional time, asserting they had not been sufficiently informed of the charges—known as the dittay—brought against Elizabeth. This insistence on procedural correctness was atypical for witch trials of the period, which often proceeded with less rigorous adherence to judicial norms.
Elizabeth faced allegations of attending witches' meetings, amidst a web of purported associations with several individuals named in witchcraft contexts. These included prominent mentions by Elspeth and Agnes Wilson, among others. Moreover, the trial records accused Elizabeth of causing damage to property, specifically a mill and boats, suggestive of her influence beyond personal enmity. Ultimately, after a detailed defence presentation, Elizabeth Bathgate was found not guilty. The outcome of her trial, marked by unusually meticulous evidentiary standards, reflects the complexities and variances in the adjudication of witchcraft as fears of the supernatural persisted within early modern Scottish society.