Issobell Oige, a married woman residing in Blelak in the parish of Kincardine O’Neil, was brought before the court in Aberdeen on April 24, 1597. Her legal proceedings occurred against a backdrop of widespread witch-hunting in the region, an atmosphere underscored by the fact that she was explicitly denounced by another accused woman, Margerat Bane. During the judicial process, the charges levelled against Issobell included attendance at a witches' meeting and the use of a beetle to influence the weather. Furthermore, she was accused of marking cloth with a green thread, an act which, within the context of the proceedings, was interpreted as evidence of maleficium.
The conclusion of the trial highlights the tension between the jury and the presiding judge regarding the severity of her actions. While the jury found Issobell guilty, they expressed reservations about whether these specific charges warranted capital punishment and referred the final decision to the judge. The judge, however, did not share this leniency. On that same day, April 24, 1597, Issobell was sentenced to death. She was taken to the hills and executed by being strangled and subsequently burned, marking the finality of her case in the historical record.