In the summer of 1629, Katherine King, a resident of Duns in Berwick, found herself ensnared in the web of witchcraft accusations that proliferated during one of Scotland's most tumultuous periods for such trials. Records from July 13 of that year mark the formal proceedings against Katherine, her case referenced under the official designation C/LA/3023. The specifics of her alleged misdemeanors are not detailed in the extant documentation, yet her trial's inclusion in the judicial records under T/LA/1285 signifies the gravity of her situation, reflective of broader societal currents that branded supposed witches as threats to order and Christian morality.
As is common with many of the witch trials of the era, the transcripts do not divulge the outcome of Katherine's ordeal. However, the fact that she was brought to trial at all speaks volumes about the climate of fear and suspicion that pervaded Scotland in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. While the details of her defense, if any, remain obscured, Katherine’s story is a poignant reminder of the precarious position of those, particularly women, who were accused of witchcraft during this period. This brief account of Katherine King underscores the broader historical narrative of the witch trials—a time when belief in sorcery and the supernatural often eclipsed reason and justice.