The Scottish Witch Hunt

Edinburgh has a unique dark atmosphere.. The old buildings, the graveyards, its history, everything about it makes you feel its melancholic vibes. Especially the stories about the massive witch hunt are so interesting, yet sound so unfair. It is chilling to know that you're walking atop the same ground that once saw the terrible death of hundreds of accused witches.

Between the 15th and 18th centuries more women were murdered in Edinburgh than anywhere else in Scotland and Scotland has the "honour" of having executed the most people under this charge. King James VI of Scotland believed that witchcraft was a form of Satanism and had an obsession with the dark arts. He said that anyone suspected of being a witch must be in league with the Devil himself, and thus must be put to death.

During the satanic panic of the time, anyone could be accused of using dark magic. In truth, those who were accused of being witches were often skilled herbalists, the mentally ill, or had incurred someone's grudge. The only "test" that could prove the witchery back then was to bound the accused's hands and feet and throw them into a lake to determine their innocence. Those who drowned were innocent, and those who survived were accused of witchcraft and sent to the stake.

So the only option was death, for witches and not witches. Sounds like maybe into the walls things started to become a bit more crowded and the witch hunt was the best way to open up some space...

Source:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Scottish_Witch_Hunt_of_1597