In the early spring of 1617, Patrick Rid, a 50-year-old resident of Bathgate in Linlithgow, found himself at the center of a witchcraft accusation that would disrupt his life and the lives of his family. As a married man with grown children, Patrick's life had likely been shaped by the rhythms of family and community within the town. However, on March 26, 1617, the tranquil life he had known was overshadowed by the specter of a witch trial, an event that was not uncommon in Scotland during this period. Patrick's case underscores the permeating fear and suspicion that characterized the witch trials of early modern Scotland.
As the legal proceedings unfolded, Patrick's trial was scheduled for April in Linlithgow. During this time, the presbytery recorded a note on April 23 indicating the forthcoming trial, suggesting that the local religious and legal institutions were closely involved in the process. Such entries reveal the procedural aspects of the era's witch trials, highlighting how communities grappled with these accusations through a blend of ecclesiastical and civil jurisdiction. While details of the trial's outcome are not encapsulated in this brief account, Patrick Rid's case serves as a poignant example of the trials that many in 17th-century Scotland faced—situations steeped in fear, steeped in communal anxiety, and tangled in the complex tapestry of early modern beliefs and legal frameworks.