Janet Lyes, a woman residing in Berwick, finds her name etched into the annals of early modern Scottish history not for deeds of her own choosing, but due to the happenings of the tumultuous year of 1649. It is recorded within the historical documents that Janet was involved in a case with the designation C/EGD/1978, which eventually led to a trial noted as T/LA/1998. These records situate her within the broader context of the Scottish witch trials, a period rife with accusation and superstition.
The only indication of Janet’s origins suggests a possible connection to Lauder, as noted by a Lauren presumably involved in her case or its historiography. However, the primary documentation remains sparse about her personal history. What we do know places Janet within the wider societal climate of the mid-17th century when fear of witchcraft permeated daily life and community tensions often combusted in the flames of witch trials. On October 2, 1649, Janet's ordeal intertwined with history as she stood trial amid these fear-fueled times, a testament to the period's harsh realities for many in positions similar to hers.