In the mid-17th century, amidst the tumultuous backdrop of the Scottish witch trials, Gretchach Unchach of Wick, Caithness, became embroiled in the widespread hysteria that gripped the nation. The records, sparse yet telling, designate her as someone ensnared within the allegations of witchcraft practices that had permeated the societal framework of the time. Her case, identified under the docket C/EGD/775, is uniquely noted within Larner et al.'s 'Source-book,' though it appears that it remains an outlier, as it was not encapsulated within the primary survey addressed by the Survey of Scottish Witchcraft.
Gretchach's predicament is particularly marked by her designation as a fugitive from the circuit court, as detailed in the records under T/LA/1934. This classification implies that she was absent from the court's proceedings, leading to an indeterminate resolution to her case. Unlike others who faced trial and a definitive fate, the records do not elucidate Gretchach's subsequent journey or the circumstances that led to her fugitive status. This gap leaves her story shrouded in ambiguity, resonating with the experiences of many during the witch trials, who bore the heavy burden of accusation without the clarity of closure from their legal ordeals.