On October 25, 1577, the legal machinery of the Scottish judiciary focused its attention upon Donald Gillevray, a resident of Dane in the region of Ross. Recorded under case number C/JO/3320, the proceedings marked the formal commencement of a process that would culminate in trial T/JO/2124. During this period of early modern Scottish history, the local administration of justice remained deeply sensitive to allegations of maleficium, and Donald found himself brought before the authorities to answer for his conduct within his community.
The records provide a stark, administrative outline of Donald’s involvement in the judicial system of the late sixteenth century. While the documentation captures the essential data of his residence and the specific dates of his case and subsequent trial, it reflects the systemic nature of the witch trials occurring across the Highlands during this era. As the legal process unfolded, Donald remained the subject of an inquiry that sought to reconcile his actions in Dane with the prevailing ecclesiastical and civil anxieties regarding the supernatural, leaving a brief but permanent mark in the archival history of Ross.