In the tumultuous climate of 1662, amid the widespread fear and suspicion that characterized the Scottish witch trials, Mary McFinley Vic Comes found herself ensnared in accusations of witchcraft. Residing in Inverness, a Northern Scottish town that had not escaped the fervor of witch hunts, Mary’s life took a harrowing turn when she was formally accused on the 4th of September, 1662.
The historical records, though sparse, portray a deeply distressing period for Mary. After being named in case number C/EGD/1663, Mary was subjected to an array of torturous practices, ostensibly as a means to extract confessions or evidence of witchcraft—a common yet brutal strategy of the time. In June of 1662, she endured sleep deprivation, a method designed to break the will and sanity of those accused. This was accompanied by the infliction of severe physical pain, as records detail the burning of her feet and whipping. Further compounding her suffering, she was subjected to hanging by her thumbs, an agonizing ordeal, and was continuously bound with ropes, restricting her movement and causing additional torment.
The trial notes, labeled under T/JO/991, regrettably do not provide details of Mary's courtroom experience or the testimonies presented, leaving a gap in the narrative of her legal proceedings. Nonetheless, the documentation of her torture speaks volumes about the severity and intensity of her persecution. It illustrates the dire circumstances under which many accused of witchcraft struggled, casting a stark light on this period of Scottish history.