On 30 July 1602, in the settlement of Skeldevo, Shetland, Mareoun Geilsdochter of Waiss faced formal accusation before the Sheriff court. The charges brought against her concerned alleged property damage specifically pertaining to the dairy, a significant grievance in the context of early modern agrarian life. In an era where the supernatural was often invoked to explain inexplicable losses or misfortunes in domestic production, such accusations placed Mareoun in a precarious position under the scrutiny of the legal authorities.
Following the proceedings, the court found that Mareoun was "dempt to quite tham selffis"—meaning she was granted the opportunity to clear her name of the charges. To satisfy the requirements of the court, she was ordered to provide a "larycht aith," a process that necessitated the support of two neighbours who were required to swear to her innocence. In addition to this communal validation, Mareoun was required to pay a fine of two merks of silver to conclude the matter, bringing a formal resolution to the case recorded against her.