In May 1662, the legal machinery of the Scottish state focused its attention upon Kathrin Scoby, an indweller of Methven in Perthshire. Occupying a position of middling socioeconomic status within her community, Kathrin was drawn into the judicial process during a period of intense scrutiny regarding witchcraft. Her involvement commenced formally on May 19, 1662, when her case—catalogued as C/EGD/1553—was processed by the authorities.
The progression of the legal proceedings against Kathrin moved with significant haste. Within that same month, she provided a formal confession to the charges brought against her. While the surviving documentation of her trial (T/JO/955) remains silent regarding the specific nature of the accusations or the nature of her statements, the existence of a recorded confession marks a critical juncture in her encounter with the early modern Scottish court system. Following these administrative actions in the spring of 1662, the historical record regarding Kathrin concludes, leaving the final resolution of her trial unstated.