In 1655, the town of Wick in Caithness found itself embroiled in the turbulent climate of witch trials that swept through Scotland during the early modern period. Among those ensnared in this fervor was Gilbert Mowat, a married man whose predicament reflects the complexities and fears of the time. Gilbert's case appears among those recorded as fugitives, suggesting that he was accused of witchcraft and fled before he could be brought to trial. His inclusion in a fugitive list, as noted in Larner et al.'s 'Source-book', implies that the charges against him were serious enough to merit pursuit, yet the historical record leaves the specific allegations against him shrouded in mystery.
The list that included Gilbert's name was part of the documentation from the Circuit court, a traveling court which dealt with a range of criminal offences including those of witchcraft. The act of fleeing might indicate a desire to evade the often deadly consequences of a conviction, which were all too common in such cases. Although the eventual outcome for Gilbert is unknown, his case serves as a poignant reminder of the vulnerability of individuals caught in the witch hunt frenzy—the mere accusation capable of igniting fear and threatening one's life and livelihood amidst a fraught socio-legal environment.