In the spring of 1659, Mareone Guild, a married woman from Tranent, Haddington, found herself entangled in one of the most notorious elements of early modern Scottish society: the witch trials. Mareone, married to a cordiner—an artisan skilled in crafting leather goods—lived a middling life, neither poor nor affluent. However, this modest existence was overshadowed by accusations that would bring her before the judicial authorities of the time. The crux of the charges against Mareone was an alleged involvement in a witches' meeting, a serious accusation that implied consorting with the devil and engaging in witchcraft.
The records from April of 1659 indicate not just one, but three separate confessions from Mareone. The first confession was recorded on April 22nd, followed by another the next day, and a final one on April 27th. These confessions suggest a grueling process indicative of the intense pressure or duress typically faced by those accused. The details of her confessions remain unspecified in these records, but their very existence played a crucial role in sealing her fate. Mareone's case garnered further complexity as her name surfaced in other trials, mentioned by no fewer than seven other women—Elspeth Fouller, Cristian Cranstoun, Janet Crooks, Jonet Thomson, Barbara Cochrane, Janet Watson, and Elspeth Robertson—all of whom cited her as an accomplice.
The trials of Mareone Guild, recorded under two separate trial references, 1685 and 1721, reflect the prolonged scrutiny she endured. Though the details of the trial outcomes are not within the scope of the preserved records, the fact that all these women identified Mareone as a participant in the alleged witchcraft activities paints a picture of a supposed network or coven, a common fear during this turbulent period. Each accusation fed into a narrative that bound these women together in the eyes of the authorities, marking Mareone's story as a demonstrative piece of the wider witchcraft hysteria that swept through parts of early modern Scotland.