In the turbulent mid-17th century Scottish Orkney, Marable Couper's life came under harrowing scrutiny in the fraught climate of witch trials. Residing on the North Side of Birsay, Marable was entangled in a narrative too familiar for her time—accusations of witchcraft. The records show that on the 7th of July, 1624, Marable stood trial in Orkney, charged with causing harm through alleged malevolent acts. These included property damage which manifested in the destruction of crops, spoilage of ale, harm to animals, loss of meal, and even damage to buildings, painting a picture of widespread misfortune attributed to her supposed sorcery.
Prior to the official trial that sealed her fate, Marable had previously faced a court-like proceeding. Although the details of this initial adjudication are murky, it is clear she was banished from Birsay parish. Significantly, the records suggest that she negotiated a conditional release from these initial charges, agreeing to leave voluntarily. However, Marable's refusal or inability to permanently leave, combined with persistent local tensions, likely led to her eventual trial where she was found guilty.
Her trial concluded with a damning verdict, and Marable was sentenced to execution by strangulation followed by burning at Lonhead, a grimly consistent practice of the period for those convicted of witchcraft. This final act underscores the severity with which accusations of witchcraft were dealt, and Marable's execution serves as a stark reminder of the perilous intersections of fear, superstition, and justice in early modern Scotland. The confession recorded indicates that amidst insurmountable pressure, Marable, like many others, may have ultimately admitted to the charges laid against her, sealing her tragic fate.