In November 1615, the life of Jonet Johnstoun was irrevocably altered by the machinery of the Scottish legal system. A resident of Dalmeny in Linlithgow—a parish that would later see its boundaries redefined in 1635 when the community of Queensferry was established as a separate entity—Jonet was thrust into the solemn proceedings of the period’s witchcraft prosecutions. Her case, documented under the archival reference C/EGD/879, formally entered the legal record on November 8, 1615, marking the commencement of a process that sought to resolve accusations levelled against her within the local community.
The subsequent trial of Jonet took place later that same month in the burgh of Linlithgow, as recorded in document T/LA/234. As the judicial proceedings unfolded in November 1615, the court convened to address the specific charges brought against her. While the details of the testimony and the final judgment remain preserved within the administrative framework of the early modern court, these records stand as a testament to the specific moment in time when Jonet was summoned to answer for her actions under the laws governing the realm of King James VI.