John Stewart, known as the Master of Orkney, finds himself intricately enmeshed in the perilous political machinations of late sixteenth-century Scotland. As the brother of Patrick, the Earl of Orkney, John's high status as a laird and baron positioned him in the thick of dynastic struggles that frequently defined Scottish nobility at the time. In this charged climate, accusations of witchcraft became a tool among the elite, wielded to undermine and eliminate political adversaries with strategic cunning.
On the 24th of June, 1596, John faced trial in Edinburgh, charged with procuring a witch in a murderous plot against his brother Patrick. Historical records characterise this accusation as part of a broader campaign carried out by aspirants and those entwined in family rivalries, suggesting that John was accused of conspiring to eliminate Patrick to claim or secure power within the Orkney territories. Such intra-familial and political feuds were not uncommon, and witchcraft charges offered a potent weapon amidst ongoing factional conflicts.
Despite the gravity of the accusations, the trial concluded with a verdict of "Not Guilty," releasing John from the shadow of these claims. The outcome may have been influenced by his status or lack of substantial evidence. Alesoun Balfour, mentioned as a co-conspirator in John's alleged enterprise, was also embroiled in trials of the era, her case perhaps indicative of the wider web of accusations and suspicions that linked many individuals during witch trials in Scotland. Nonetheless, John's acquittal closed a chapter on this particular episode of dynastic intrigue, highlighting how the intertwining of social status and accusations of witchcraft could temporarily snare even the most prominent individuals of the time.