In the spring of 1591, the judicial records of Ayrshire document the legal proceedings brought against John Boiswell, a resident of the parish of Auchinleck. The archival entry, catalogued under reference C/LA/2695, identifies John as the subject of a witchcraft prosecution during a period when such cases were increasingly formalised within the Scottish legal system. Following the initial record of his accusation on the 4th of March, he was subjected to the standard processes of the early modern court, eventually appearing for trial under the entry T/LA/171.
The records for John provide a focused snapshot of the administrative machinery used to address allegations of maleficium in the late sixteenth century. By examining these specific documents, we see how the authorities in Auchinleck processed the case against John, moving the matter from the initial registration of his name to the formalisation of his trial. These brief entries remain essential evidence for understanding the local application of the 1563 Witchcraft Act, preserving the essential details of his encounter with the Scottish justice system.