Agnes Roy resided in Nigg, a parish located in the county of Sutherland in Scotland, during a period when the fear of witchcraft loomed large across the country. Her life took a dramatic turn in the summer of 1590, as documented in the trial records, where she became the subject of a witchcraft trial on 22nd July of that year. Her case, officially designated as Case C/EGD/49, marks a moment in historical records where accusations of witchcraft were met with serious legal proceedings.
The trial records connected with Agnes—specifically T/JO/2118 and T/LA/899—gestures towards an officially recognized legal process. These records capture two distinct trial entries, suggesting either multiple hearings or related legal processes. Unfortunately, the specific allegations that Agnes faced or the details of her defense and the individuals involved are not within our reach. Like many others condemned or accused during these turbulent times, what remains are traces of a life caught in the whirlwind of societal fear and legal persecution. Agnes's story stands as a testament to the intense scrutiny and ominous challenges that befell those living under the cloak of suspicion in early modern Scotland.