In March 1598, the legal proceedings against Margaret Stewart, a widowed resident of Dunkeld and Dowally in Perthshire, reached a critical juncture. Margaret, whose late husband was identified in the records as William Merchaell (Marshall), found herself drawn into the machinery of the Scottish judicial system during a period of heightened concern regarding the activities of those suspected of witchcraft. Her case, documented under reference C/EGD/837, reflects the geographical reach of these investigations, which often drew individuals from the rural hinterlands toward the administrative centers of the kingdom.
The gravity of the charges against Margaret necessitated her presence at a trial held in Edinburgh, recorded under reference T/LA/204. On March 3, 1598, the legal apparatus of the early modern state formally addressed the accusations brought against her. While the specific nature of the allegations remains contained within these judicial archives, the transition of the proceedings to the capital underscores the official seriousness with which the authorities treated cases of this era, marking a significant moment in the life of this widow from Dunkeld.