When she was sixteen in 1604, she moved to the French side of the border to work as a maidservant in France.
During this time, there was many rumours if witchcraft due to the ongoing Labord witch trials on the other side of the French border.
María de Ximildegui claimed, that during her time in France, she had a relationship with a fellow maidservant, who had introduced her to witchcraft.
They were condemned to be executed by the Inquisition because they had repeatedly refused to confess, regret and ask for mercy, despite having been accused for a number of sorcery acts by several different people.
María de Ximildegui was not among the executed, since she confessed and regretted sorcery and asked for mercy, which she was customarily granted.