The historical records bring to light the story of Cristian Brake, a woman from Aberdeen who found herself embroiled in the turbulent times of the Scottish witch trials in November 1670. Cristian’s case, cataloged under the reference C/EGD/578, emerged amidst a period of heightened anxiety over witchcraft, which swept through Scotland and led to the accusation and trial of many individuals. Unfortunately, the details of her alleged witchcraft have not been preserved in the surviving documents, leaving much about her situation shrouded in mystery.
The documentation of her case, as referenced by Larner et al. in their 'Source-book,' signifies its importance, yet an unfortunate discrepancy complicates the retracement of Cristian's legal journey. The records point to JC26/40 as the repository of her case details; however, searches revealed inconsistencies in the dating of the materials within that collection, which seemed to align more with the year 1671 than 1670. This misalignment has rendered the full extent and outcome of Cristian Brake's ordeal an enigma, leaving historians with only a fragmentary view of her encounter with the judicial system of the time.
Despite efforts to piece together the threads of her story, the ultimate fate of Cristian remains undocumented. The absence of clear records regarding her guilt, innocence, or the consequences she faced reflects not only the challenges historians face in reconstructing past narratives but also the complexities and often arbitrary nature of witchcraft accusations during this fraught period in Scottish history. Cristian Brake's case, like many others, serves as a somber reminder of a time when fear and suspicion could irrevocably alter the lives of those accused.