In the spring of 1662, the quiet village of Leathen, nestled in the parish of Auldearn in the county of Nairn, became a focal point of one of Scotland's many witch trials. Agnes Brodie, a woman from the local community, found herself ensnared in the web of accusations that characterized this tumultuous period in Scottish history. The records indicate her date of trial as April 14, 1662, under the case designation (C/EGD/460), marking her official embroilment in the witch trials that swept across Scotland in the 17th century.
Agnes’s residence in Auldearn placed her amidst a region with a storied history of witchcraft accusations, an area already infamous due to the notorious trials previously held there. Her trial, catalogued under (T/LA/1849), unfolded in a period when fear of witchcraft and supernatural malfeasance was at a heightened pitch. The details preserved from this trial, though sparse, point to the powerful currents of suspicion and fear that could isolate and indict individuals based on the barest whispers of witchcraft. Agnes Brodie’s case contributes to the rich tapestry of early modern Scottish witch trials—a sobering reminder of the social and cultural forces that shaped the lives of so many like her during these dark chapters of history.