In the year 1624, Christiane Hay, a resident of Barrowstouness, a small village in the parish of Bo'ness, Linlithgow, found herself at the center of a dramatic and grave accusation. The region, like much of Scotland during this period, was gripped by a pervasive fear of witchcraft, and Christiane became embroiled in a formal trial—a situation that was unfortunately not uncommon for women of her time and circumstances.
The records of Christiane's case, designated as C/EGD/955, note that her trial commenced on the 18th of March, 1624, under case number T/LA/424. During this epoch in Scottish history, trials for witchcraft were often precipitated by a complex mix of social tensions, economic anxieties, and local grievances, although no specific allegations or details about Christiane's case are extant in this brief excerpt from the historical record.
Christiane's story, encapsulated in these austere lines of records, is a solemn reminder of a turbulent period in Scottish history. It reflects the deeply ingrained fears and societal pressures of early 17th-century Scotland, where supernatural explanations were frequently sought to account for misfortunes and inexplicable events. Her trial, like many others, forms part of the intricate tapestry of what became known as the witch trials of 1563–1736, a shadow that lingered long over Scottish society.