Ewfame Makcalzene, a woman of notable standing from Cliftonhall near Edinburgh, found her life irrevocably altered amidst the tumultuous witchcraft trials of late 16th century Scotland. Born into an illustrious family, Ewfame enjoyed the social privileges that accompanied an upper socioeconomic status. Her marriage further cemented her place within the elevated echelons of society. However, these advantages could not shield her when she became embroiled in the infamous North Berwick witch trials, implicated amongst a web of accusations that swept through the area in 1591.
The charges brought against Ewfame were grave and multifaceted, centering on maleficium—the alleged performance of harmful magic—and participation in a witches' meeting, a common accusation during the witch hunts which were often steeped in both superstition and fear. As her trial unfolded in Edinburgh in June of 1591, extensive deliberations consumed the court proceedings, marked by lengthy objections that prolonged the process. Despite these hurdles, the jury returned a guilty verdict. Just a few days after they retired for deliberation, on June 14, Ewfame was sentenced to execution by burning at Castle Hill, a common method of execution for those found guilty of witchcraft during this turbulent period.
Ewfame's trial records note that she underwent torture, a brutal tactic often employed to extract confessions or further implicate others. She was tied to a pole, an inhumane method used to break the resolve of the accused. Her name surfaced again in the testimonies of others tried alongside her, such as Katherine Campbell, Catheren Carutheris, Jonet Cunninghame, and Robert Grierson, who named her as an accomplice. Allegations extended to causing damage to property, including boats and animals, accusations emblematic of the times, where any misfortune could be ascribed to malevolent supernatural interference. Thus, Ewfame Makcalzene’s tragic story is embedded within the broader context of fear and suspicion that characterized the Scottish witch trials, reflecting the volatile intersection of social standing, superstition, and justice in early modern Scotland.