David Roy, a man of lower socioeconomic status who served as a cook to Colene Eviot of Balhousie, found his life in Perth entangled with the legal machinery of the early seventeenth century. In February 1601, David stood trial facing grave accusations of rape and the consultation of a witch. Throughout the proceedings, he provided a formal confession regarding these matters, yet in a curious turn of judicial events, the initial court in Perth returned a verdict of not guilty.
This acquittal, however, did not mark the end of the legal scrutiny surrounding his conduct. The case (C/LA/2755) is notable for the light it sheds on the contemporary understanding of witchcraft, particularly concerning the services and potions purportedly supplied by those accused of the craft. Following a formal complaint lodged on May 21, 1601, the Privy Council intervened, overturning the original verdict. Although the records highlight his role as a cook and his deep involvement in the illicit practices of consultation, the case remains a significant historical example of the tensions between local judicial outcomes and the oversight of central authority during this period.