In the historical records of the Scottish witch trials, a poignant entry pertains to an individual whose name remains unknown, yet whose fate is recorded in the annals of judicial proceedings from 1587. This person, identified only as the "witche of Barnweill," resided in the area of Barnweill in Ayrshire. The entry, dated June 12th of that year, provides a stark account of the costs associated with the execution, yet offers no details of the trial itself, accusations, or personal background, leaving much about their life shrouded in mystery.
The records detail the expenses incurred during the execution, itemizing the provision of basics such as candles, food, and drink, alongside the materials necessary for carrying out the grim sentence – pyk barrellis, coal, heather, and other indispensable items. This notation of £7, 3s. 8d. brings a cold, logistical clarity to the tragic end of an individual victim to the witch trials that swept through Scotland during that era. What remains in these brief lines is a haunting echo of a life reduced to a ledger entry, signifying the loss and societal upheaval typical of the period's fervor.