In the spring of 1597, Beatrix Robbie found herself entangled in the swirling allegations of witchcraft that cast a long shadow over the Scottish town of Aberdeen. Beatrix, hailing from Mariewell, Aberdeen, was formally accused in a case marked C/JO/3036, on the 24th of April of that year. Her trial, noted under the numbers T/JO/2208 and T/JO/1316, unfolded within a community already gripped by suspicion and fear of the supernatural.
The jury deliberating over Beatrix's case reached a somewhat moderate conclusion compared to other trials of the period. While they deemed her guilty of being "a suspicious person" largely due to her associations, particularly with her mother, they did not find the evidence compelling enough to warrant the more severe penalties of the time, such as execution. Instead, they recommended banishment. Consequently, Beatrix Robbie was exiled not only from Aberdeen but also ordered to keep twelve miles beyond the boundaries of the sheriffdom, effectively severing her ties with her home and community.
Beatrix's case was further complicated by her mention in the trials of others accused of witchcraft, such as Margerat Bane and Margrat Og. Being "denounced" by Margerat Bane, among others, likely exacerbated her plight, reinforcing the communal gossip and suspicion. Nonetheless, the decision to banish rather than execute her suggests a jury cautious of the ruin irreversibly harsh sentences could impose, offering instead a punishment that reflected doubt or mercy amidst the rampant hysteria and fear of witchcraft.