In the latter part of the 17th century, in the tumultuous era of the Scottish witch trials, Isobell Robeson found herself entangled in the web of accusations that had ensnared many of her contemporaries. Residing in the small town of Lauder in Berwickshire, Isobell was a married woman, living during a time when social tensions and fears of witchcraft were prevalent. The historical records indicate that on the 16th of September 1679, she was summoned to the circuit court at Berwick, accused as a delinquent in a case that named her explicitly - a troubling label during a time when the stigma of witchcraft could lead to dire consequences.
While the records do not detail the exact nature of the accusations leveled against Isobell, they do provide a glimpse into the procedural aspects of her trial. She was expected to reappear when called, typical of the legal proceedings of the time, which often involved several court appearances before a final judgment was rendered. Unfortunately, the phrase "also says 'dead' next to her name in the delinquents porteous roll" casts a shadow over her story. This annotation suggests that Isobell may have passed away before a conclusion could be reached in her case, whether due to natural causes, the conditions of custody, or otherwise, a factor not uncommon in the harsh realities faced by those accused of witchcraft during this fraught period in Scottish history. Her story, like many others, remains a testament to the climate of fear and suspicion that typified the witch trials, capturing a poignant moment in time where lives could be irrevocably altered by mere accusation.