In the swirling midst of the Scottish witch trials, Mary Sommerveil of Grange, Roxburgh, found herself enmeshed in the judicial machinery that marked this tumultuous era. On July 3, 1671, Mary was apprehended under the suspicion of witchcraft, a charge that, by then, had been levied against thousands across Scotland. The records from her case, marked under C/EGD/590, reveal that a decision was made for her release, albeit with the stipulation that she was to stand trial should the summons come from Edinburgh.
The subsequent entry for Mary's trial, filed under T/LA/771, provides further clarity. On May 24, 1671, the circuit court decreed her release, yet she remained under caution to appear for trial if required. This conditional release, not uncommon at the time, underscored the precarious nature of life for those accused of witchcraft. It placed Mary in a state of suspended existence, a woman simultaneously freed and ensnared by the promise of future trial. Such legal proceedings mirrored the societal anxiety surrounding witches, fluctuating between releases and condemnations as communities grappled with their fears and the demands of justice.