In the early summer of 1629, Agnes Robesoun, a woman of humble means and itinerant lifestyle, found herself ensnared in the witchcraft trials that swept through Scotland. Agnes was recorded as a "vagabond," suggesting a life led without permanent home or stable employment, typical of many who lived on the fringes of rural society in early modern Scotland. Her residence was noted as Peebles, a modest town situated amidst the pastoral landscapes of the Scottish Borders.
Despite the lack of detailed trial notes that might shed light on the specific accusations or the proceedings against her, Agnes's plight was etched into the historical record under the case designation C/EGD/655. Often, those like Agnes were vulnerable to suspicion and accusation, typically exacerbated by societal anxieties over misfortune or unexplained events attributed to witchcraft. As an itinerant individual, Agnes may have been viewed with suspicion, her transient nature raising questions and fears among those more tethered to land and community.
The sparse details surrounding Agnes Robesoun’s trial—absent specifics in the trial record (T/JO/557)—hints, rather poignantly, at countless untold stories of those accused during the witch hunts. Her narrative survives only in fragments, reflecting the lives of many who faced similar fates in a time when societal tensions could swiftly manifest into personal ordeals. Agnes's experience is a testament to the precarious existence of marginal figures in a turbulent period of Scottish history.