In the annals of Scottish witch trials during the volatile period of 1563 to 1736, we encounter the intriguing case of John Mylne, a woman residing in Inveraray within Aberdeen. On the 6th of September, 1658, John found herself entangled in the complex web of accusations and suspicions that surrounded witchcraft. Unlike typical assumptions derived from first names, John was indeed female, as clearly indicated in the records, showcasing her unique circumstance in the traditionally patriarchal context.
The details of John's trial play out in the historical Aberdeen Roll, a document tracing the various accusations and legal proceedings of the time. On that notable September day in 1658, the proceedings against her reached a pivotal juncture, yet they culminated in what is described in legal terms as a "diet deserted." This phrase indicates that the trial was effectively abandoned or discontinued for reasons not elaborated in the surviving records. Such an outcome leaves a lacuna in the narrative, depriving us of the specifics surrounding the accusations themselves and the nuances of the trial's abandonment.
The story of John Mylne, though shrouded in the mystery common to many such cases of the era, highlights the often precarious and unpredictable legal environment women accused of witchcraft faced. Her case joins countless others in the tapestry of Scottish witch trials, a reflection of societal stresses and belief systems where the line between suspicion and legal action was often thin and fraught with peril.