In the spring of 1628, Steven Malcome, a resident of Leckie in the parish of Gargunnock, Stirling, became the subject of intense scrutiny by the local ecclesiastical authorities. His case, formally documented in the records of the presbytery, centered upon allegations of engaging in acts of charming and healing. While official proceedings often blurred the lines between local folk practices and prohibited superstition, the investigation into Steven suggests that his perceived ability to remedy ailments drew significant attention from the church officials tasked with overseeing the spiritual and moral conduct of the parish.
By April 1628, the inquiry had progressed to the stage of a recorded confession. This formal acknowledgment of his actions serves as the primary testament to the events that transpired in Leckie, though the specific nature of the charms or the afflictions he purportedly healed remain obscured by the brevity of the surviving documentation. His legal journey culminated on July 3, 1628, when the case against Steven was processed within the broader framework of the Scottish judicial system, marking his experience as one of many such investigations into the activities of individuals suspected of unauthorized spiritual intervention during the early seventeenth century.