In April 1568, Katherine Cusing, a resident of Elliott in the parish of Arbirlot, Forfar, became the subject of a formal legal inquiry regarding allegations of witchcraft. Her case, recorded under the reference C/LA/3391, emerged during a period of intensifying concern surrounding supernatural malfeasance in early modern Scotland. Following the initial process, Katherine was subjected to the formal procedures of the Scottish justice system, appearing for trial under the record designated T/LA/2259.
The surviving documentation for Katherine provides a stark glimpse into the administrative rigour applied to such accusations during this era. While the specific nature of the grievances brought against her remains confined to the judicial archive, the transition from her initial identification in Elliott to her appearance before the court highlights the gravity with which local and regional authorities approached these charges. Through these proceedings, Katherine was processed within the framework of sixteenth-century ecclesiastical and secular law, marking a significant and documented event in the history of Arbirlot.