Between 1661 and 1662, in what was one of the largest witch hunts in Scottish history, over 600 people were accused of sorcery and devil worship. The young advocate, George Mackenzie, as justice-depute, became closely involved in the trials. While not denying witchcraft’s existence, Mackenzie was disturbed by the ways in which he believed ‘poor innocents die in multitudes by an unworthy martyrdom, and Burning comes in fashion.'