In April of 1568, a figure only documented as "Law" became embroiled in the Scottish witchcraft trials that swept across Forfar, a region susceptible to the entanglements of such accusations. The records present a sparse snapshot of Law, who served as a servant under John Angus in the parish of Panbride. While Law's gender remains unspecified, as does any personal background, their role within Angus's household places them within the social hierarchy typical of the period: servitude marked by obligation and dependence.
The case, designated as C/LA/3393, suggests that Law, despite their lowly status, became the focus of suspicion, perceived either as a source of malevolence or as one entangled in the inexplicable misfortunes befalling their community. The entry, listed under trial number T/LA/2261, underscores the procedural path that many faced during these turbulent years, defined by both the fear of witchcraft and the machinery of justice as it was then understood.
The records leave Law obscured by the passage of time, caught in a prevalent cultural phenomenon wherein servitude provided neither protection nor obscurity from the widespread fear of witchery. The specifics of the accusations remain unknown, but like many others of the era, Law's life was irrevocably altered by these trials. As a servant in Panbride, Law stood as a representative of many who, though seemingly ordinary, became central in Scotland's historic tapestry of witchcraft trials.