In the spring of 1568, a woman named Agnes Peramorris found herself at the center of a grave and perilous ordeal in the Scottish towns of Arbroath and the surrounding parish of St Vigeans, located in Forfar. Agnes was accused of witchcraft, a charge that, during the early modern period in Scotland, often had dire consequences due to the prevailing societal fears and the severity of the legal and religious scrutiny of the time. Her case, cataloged under Case C/LA/3371, positions her alongside many who were suspected of sorcery and malevolent practices in this turbulent period.
In April of that year, Agnes stood trial, as recorded in document T/LA/2239. While the details of the trial's proceedings are unfortunately sparse, the mere existence of such records serves as a testament to the thorough, albeit often arbitrary, nature of witch trials in 16th-century Scotland. These trials could pivot on circumstantial evidence, often heavily influenced by community testimonies that reflected the period's superstitions and fear of the supernatural. Agnes's ordeal reflects not only her personal narrative but also the broader social dynamics and tensions within her communities in Arbroath and St Vigeans during a time when witch trials roamed through the Scottish landscape, leaving lasting marks on its history and collective memory.