In the cold early months of 1633, amidst the fervent swirl of witchcraft accusations sweeping Scotland, the case of Thomas Carlipis emerged as an intriguing example of the societal tensions of the time. A servant by occupation, Thomas was not of the common rank typically found among those accused of witchcraft. He held an esteemed position as a trusted servant to Laird John Colquhoun, a notable figure in Dunbarton. His status as a guild brother and burgess suggests that Thomas operated within influential circles, and this same connection may have contributed both to his prominence in the community and his downfall during the witch trials.
On January 11th, 1633, Thomas was called to stand trial in Edinburgh—a city already tense with the anxiety of witch hunts. However, records indicate that neither he nor John Colquhoun appeared before the court. Their absence was met with severe repercussions. Thomas was "put to the horn," a term denoting that he was declared a fugitive and legally considered a rebel. In aligning with the customary penalties of the time, his assets were forfeited to the crown, a process known as "escheatment," which rendered him utterly deprived of his societal standing and personal wealth.
The case against Thomas Carlipis is noted in the historical record as "very strange," owing no doubt to his unexpected social rank and the gravity of his connections. His and Colquhoun's absence speaks volumes of either their defiance or deep-seated fear of the outcomes of such trials. Whether they fled for survival or for reasons undisclosed to the records, their story is emblematic of the precarious and often perilous crossing of societal and legal norms in seventeenth-century Scotland.