The Protestant reformations across Scotland in the 16th century inspired a kind of satanic panic amongst Scots. Witchcraft became a capital offence in 1563 and suddenly everyone was a witch. Someone looked at you the wrong way in the street? Witch. Storms disturbed your wife’s trip from Denmark? According to king James VI witches are behind it.
On Halloween night 1590 widespread witch hunts and trials began. In North Berwick over 70 people were executed and between 70 and 200 more were tortured in two years after being accused of witchcraft. It was in a church in North Berwick where king James VI believed witches had gathered to create the storms that threatened his wife’s life. These are some of the most infamous witch trials and they cause the spread of witch hunts throughout Scotland that lasted nearly 175 years.
In 1596 Aberdeen faced its own series of trials, king James was so concerned over a rise in witchcraft that he visited Aberdeen several times. Out of the 72 people accused of witchcraft in Aberdeen 26 people were executed for witchcraft and 8 people were branded. In St Marys chapel an iron ring was fitted into the wall to hold the accused in chain as they awaited trial. 23 women and one man were held in that church before they were strangled and burned. This ring is still displayed in the church.
One of the more famous witch trials saw a whole family being arrested. Thomas Leyis confessed to meeting a group of witches on Halloween night and claimed to have danced with the devil at midnight. Thomas was executed by strangulation, and his body was burned. His mother Janet Wishart was also accused of over 30 cases of witchcraft. These included making a fisherman ill and having a brown dog stalk her son in law after an argument. Janet was also accused of being responsible for the drowning of two fisherman. Janet was burned alive at the stake.
There were numerous accusations of women digging up bones or injuring fisherman with witchcraft throughout the height of panic. In Aberdeen many of the cases of witchcraft had to do with the unpredictable nature of the North Sea.
The witch trial across Scotland and Europe disproportionately targeted women. 84% of people executed during the Scottish witch trials were women. Women in Aberdeen often being poor and elderly. Witchcraft was used to target single or disinterested woman who did not fit social norms.
Witch trial museums and monuments have become popular throughout Scotland, with one recently opening in my hometown Leven. These are a way to not only educate on these years of Scottish history but also to commemorate the woman killed.
On International Women’s Day in 2022 the Scottish government formally apologised to the victims of the witch trials. Then Prime Minister Nicola Sturgeon calling the trials an “Injustice on a colossal scale.” As of 2025 legislation to postpostumously pardon people accused of witchcraft has remained dormant.
Early this year a new tartan was approved that will cememorate the victums of scottish witch trials. The tartan includes grey for ash, red for blood and a white check of 3 white threads. This is to highlight the goals of the witches of Scotland campaign- pardon, apology and memorial.