The historical record designated A/EGD/2405 provides a detailed account of the life and trial of Janet Douglas, a resident of a small village in East Lothian, Scotland. The record notes that Janet was brought to trial in the year 1625, a time when fear of witchcraft permeated the countryside. It describes Janet as a widow, aged around 50, who lived on the margins of the community, making a modest living as a herbalist. Her knowledge of herbs and remedies was both sought after and feared, a common dichotomy for women with such knowledge in her time.
Janet's trial was initiated by accusations from several villagers who claimed that her potions had caused harm instead of healing. One particular incident, meticulously noted in the records, involves a local farmer who fell ill shortly after a financial dispute with Janet, leading some to allege that she cursed him. Witnesses at the trial recounted these events, providing testimonies that painted her both as a benevolent healer and a malevolent witch. This duality captures the precarious position occupied by many women in Janet's situation, seen as assets to the community yet vulnerable to suspicion and blame.
The trial, conducted by the parish court, adhered to the rigorous standards of evidence and procedure that characterized the Scottish witch trials. Janet was interrogated over several days, during which time she was reportedly subjected to various forms of questioning aimed at extracting a confession. The records do not include Janet's own words, yet they detail the conclusion of the court, which found her guilty of witchcraft. Her fate, as recorded, was typical of those condemned; she was executed by strangulation, and her body was subsequently burned. Janet Douglas's story, preserved in the records like A/EGD/2405, provides a poignant glimpse into the turbulent and fearful environment of early modern Scotland, where the line between healer and witch was tenuously drawn.