In the mid-17th century, during a period marked by widespread fear and suspicion in Scotland, Janet Lyle, a 60-year-old widow from Edmestoun, Newton, just outside of Edinburgh, became ensnared in the web of the Scottish witch trials. Known to have lived a quiet life, Janet's reputation as a person of interest only surfaced a year before her trial. As the brief historical record indicates, she was accused of participating in a witches' meeting, a serious charge reflective of societal fears at the time.
Janet's trial unfolded on the 29th of July, 1661, at a time when accusations of witchcraft often led to dire consequences. During the proceedings at Edinburgh, she was found guilty of the charges laid against her. The record details a series of confessions she made while held in the Tolbooth, the result of interrogations that took place over several days leading up to her trial. These confessions, spanning from the 10th to the 12th and on the day of the trial, are indicative of the intense pressure defendants faced. Her name had also appeared in relation to other accused individuals, such as Elspeth Halliburtonn, Margaret Daillis, and William King, suggesting connections or complicity as perceived by the authorities.
The swift and unforgiving justice of the time saw Janet sentenced to execution by strangulation and burning - a common fate for those convicted of witchcraft. The execution took place the day after her trial, on the 30th of July, 1661. Janet Lyle's case remains a somber example of the tragic outcomes of the witch trials during this turbulent period in Scottish history, reflecting the complex interplay of fear, superstition, and the harsh judicial practices of the era.