In the complex tapestry of the Scottish witch trials, the case of Thomas Carlipis stands out for its intriguing intersection of social standing and accusations of witchcraft. As of January 1633, Thomas, a man of upper socioeconomic status, served as a trusted and high-ranking servant to Laird John Colquhoun in Dunbarton. Beyond his role in the household, Thomas was also recognized as a guild brother and burgess, critical markers of his esteemed position within the civic workings of his time.
Thomas's case was initiated on January 11, 1633, under rather unusual circumstances, categorized in the records as a "very strange, high-level case." This description hints at extraordinary elements or possibly significant implications that accompanied his trial. The proceedings, held in Edinburgh, marked a divergence from the typical witch trial narrative. Thomas, alongside his employer, Laird Colquhoun, failed to appear for their trial, a choice laden with serious consequences. Their absence led to being "put to the horn," a proclamation that declared them outlaws and rebels. Such a declaration not only pronounced them as fugitives but also resulted in the excheatment, or forfeiture, of their property and possessions to the crown.
The context of Thomas's trial and subsequent outlaw status speaks volumes to the period's legal and social mechanisms. For Thomas, the convergence of his roles as servant and community figure brought a peculiar gravity to the accusations leveled against him. The records do not illuminate further details, leaving his motives or reasons for absence a matter of conjecture, yet firmly rooting Thomas Carlipis in the annals of Scotland’s tumultuous history of witch trials.