In the summer of 1588, John Myllar, a resident of Middle Cairny in Perth, found himself drawn into the judicial machinery of early modern Scotland. On the 26th of July, he appeared before the courts as the subject of a witchcraft case recorded under the identifier C/EGD/36. This legal process was initiated during a period when the Scottish state was increasingly asserting its authority over matters of occult suspicion, bringing localized tensions into the purview of formal criminal proceedings.
Following his initial appearance, the matter of John was formally addressed through the trial proceedings registered as T/LA/892. On that same July day, the judicial process took a significant turn when the court determined that the case should not be concluded summarily. Instead, the trial of John was continued, moving the venue from the High Court to the Justice-aire of Perth. This procedural transfer marked a shift in the administration of his case, placing the matter before the itinerant justice system tasked with overseeing the king's peace in the region.