In the early months of 1700, Isobell Houston of Renfrew found herself embroiled in the fearful witchcraft accusations that swept through 17th-century Scotland. Living in the small village of Houston, Isobell was married and known locally for her dairy cows—a key detail that featured in the allegations made against her. Her accuser, a young girl named Margaret Laird from nearby Paisley, claimed to be tormented by witches and during episodes described as fits, was said to have named numerous individuals, including Isobell.
The main body of evidence against Isobell consisted of witness testimonies collected in Paisley from April 19 to April 21, 1699. These testimonies largely stemmed from those who observed Margaret's fits and heard her impassioned denunciations of alleged witches. Initially, a trial was proposed to occur in Glasgow on May 19, 1699, but this proceeding did not take place for unknown reasons. Instead, Isobell's case advanced to the higher court in Edinburgh where the trial reconvened on March 12, 1700.
Ultimately, Isobell Houston was released without punishment when the high court decided to desert the diet—a legal term meaning they opted not to pursue the trial further. Despite the pressure of accusations and the looming potential for severe repercussions, Isobell was able to return to her home and her life in Houston. The reasons leading to this decision remain unclear from the historical records, but it marks a moment of respite in an era marked by fear and suspicion.