Borders Witch Hunt

The years between 1600 and 1700 were a period of war, famine, plague and religious upheaval in Scotland.A time when ordinary women, and men, of the Scottish Borders who fell under the suspicion of the Kirk would face interrogation and torture.A time when fear of Auld Nick turned the world upside down and the cry of witch would almost always lead to the rope and the flame.Mary Craig explores this tremulous period of Scottish history and examines the causes and effects of the 17th century witchcraft trials and executions in the Scottish Borders.

Mary W. Craig is a writer and historian, a former Carnegie scholar and a graduate of the University of Glasgow. She writes about ordinary people and how they live their lives buffeted by the politics and economics of the elite. Mary also gives talks and lectures on various aspects of Scottish and Europe history to community groups across the country. Some historians are known as hedgehogs, happily snuffling about rooting out the minutest of historical details. Others are known as eagles, soaring on high they see great vistas of historical events. A few are known as magpies: if something shiny and interesting catches their eye, they will try to capture it where possible. Mary is a magpie.