The trial was held in the Cathedral church of Ross in Fortrose on 27th November 1577, by Walter Urquhart sheriff of Cromarty and Robert Munro of Foullis. The document appears to be the earliest surviving example of a local witchcraft trial held under a royal commission.

Katherine Ross was later tried and acquitted in 1590 for her part in the attempted murder of the young lady and laird and the actual murder of the nurse who accidentally tasted the poison. Her trial is printed in ‘Criminal trials…’, i, pages 191-201, and it appears to draw heavily on this document - the great part of which is narrated in Lady Foullis` dittay. It is possible that this record came into the hands of the Lord Advocate for her trial.

However there are additional details in the document. It gives the names of the assise and marks the articles which the women confessed or were convicted of, and notes that some confessions were made to the Bishop of Ross, Alexander Hepburn and his elders. There is some additional material in the cases of Gredoch and Agnes. In particular, details are given of the punishment of Gredoch - that she was burnt on the cheek and banished.