In the spring of 1617, Agnes Knox, a 50-year-old resident of Bathgate in Linlithgowshire, found herself irrevocably entangled in the wave of witch trials sweeping through Scotland. The records note her age and marital status, suggesting a settled life with a family of grown children. It is remarkable and perhaps telling of the times that her children were also drawn into the vortex of accusations, reflecting the broader societal fears and familial implications often seen in witchcraft cases of this period. Agnes's case was formally opened on the 26th of March, under the case name Knox, Agnes, marking the beginning of a haunting chapter in her life.
Following the initiation of her case, Agnes's trial was slated to occur in Linlithgow, as noted by the presbytery on the 23rd of April, 1617. This presbytery note indicates the local church's vested interest in proceeding with the trial, which was not uncommon given the strong ecclesiastical influence in such matters. This community-centered approach put a lens on the perceived moral and spiritual transgressions, though the records provide little insight into the specific allegations she faced. The documentation succinctly marks the dates but spares no detail of any defence she might have mounted, leaving much about Agnes's ordeal to historical silence. These scant records capture only the bare outlines of Agnes’s life during this critical episode, underscoring the often fragmentary nature of historical documentation from this turbulent era in Scottish history.