In the autumn of 1649, Mauld Gauld, a married woman of middling socioeconomic status residing in the Briggait of Paisley, became the subject of intense ecclesiastical scrutiny. The legal proceedings against Mauld began with a series of denunciations that rippled through the local religious hierarchy, commencing with a kirk session on August 27, 1649. This was followed by further formal denunciation before a visiting minister on September 14, and culminating in a final appearance before the Presbytery of Glasgow on October 15. The surviving records indicate that the initial depositions were taken in the parish of Kilbarchan, reflecting a systematic effort by the Church to investigate allegations of witchcraft against her.
The nature of the proceedings, evidenced by the presence of a formal interrogatory, suggests a rigorous judicial process driven by church instigation. Within the context of these charges, Mauld stood accused of causing property damage specifically related to ale. As the wife of a wright, she occupied a stable position within her community, yet the gravity of the accusations brought before the presbytery marked a significant disruption to her life. By October 15, the case was firmly established in the records under the designation C/EGD/1339, marking a distinct episode in the ecclesiastical and legal history of Renfrewshire during the mid-seventeenth century.