In the spring of 1658, John McKie, a resident of Craigie in Ayr, became enmeshed in the formal machinery of the Scottish judicial system amidst a concentrated period of legal scrutiny. On 31 March 1658, a porteous roll was issued, summoning a collective group of individuals—of which John was a part—to appear before the court to answer charges related to witchcraft. This administrative precursor necessitated his presence at the subsequent proceedings, marking the transition of his case from preliminary accusation to active legal process.
On 4 April 1658, John appeared at the Ayr Court as documented in the trial records (T/LA/1579). The proceedings were conducted as part of a wider series of trials, reflecting the rigorous focus of the local judiciary during that period. Following the initial summons, John was formally listed within the Ayr Court records, documenting his participation in these legal proceedings alongside his peers. The case (C/EGD/264) remains an illustrative fragment of the broader judicial landscape in Ayrshire, providing a concise record of the procedural steps taken against him during the spring of 1658.