In the late 17th century, amidst the turbulent backdrop of the Scottish witch trials, Mary Sommerveil of Grange, Roxburgh, found herself ensnared in the judicial mechanisms of her time. Records indicate that on the 3rd of July, 1671, Mary was brought before local authorities under the charge of witchcraft, a serious accusation that cast long shadows over many in that era. Her case, catalogued as C/EGD/590, mentions that she was released on the condition that she would stand trial should she be called upon. This conditional freedom likely reflects either the lack of concrete evidence against her at the time or perhaps the influence of local support advocating on her behalf.
Furthermore, subsequent developments in Mary’s legal predicament are illuminated by the records of the circuit court. Dated the 24th of May, 1671, the court notes indicate that Mary was again released under caution, with a stipulation to appear for trial in Edinburgh if summoned. This implies that while the authorities in Roxburgh regarded the accusations seriously, they deferred her ultimate judgement to a higher authority in Edinburgh, a common practice aiming to centralize sensitive rulings during this period. Such decisions were not uncommon in witchcraft cases, where the gathering of sufficient testimony was often crucial before a trial could proceed. Through these fragments of history, we glimpse a narrative fraught with the uncertainty and peril characteristic of the era’s witch trials.