In March 1623, the legal machinery of early modern Scotland turned its attention to Margaret Bull, an indweller of the burgh of Inverkeithing in Fife. Little is known of her life beyond her residence in this coastal settlement, yet the archival trail left by her case—catalogued under reference C/EGD/925—marks her as a subject of formal judicial inquiry. Her encounter with the justice system during this period of heightened concern regarding witchcraft reached its critical juncture on 18 March 1623, when she was subjected to trial (T/LA/69).
The legal records confirm that Margaret’s case did not end in silence; a confession was formally recorded during the proceedings. While the specific nature of the testimony provided remains bound to the terse documentation of the period, the existence of this confession indicates that Margaret provided a detailed account of herself to the court. By documenting her statements, the authorities secured the evidence required for the judicial process, leaving behind a brief but definitive record of her final appearances before the magistrates of Inverkeithing.