Agnes Sampson, a well-known figure in Edinburgh, was arrested in 1590, accused of witchcraft amid a wave of superstitious fear that gripped Scotland. This paranoia was exacerbated by the King's belief in the existence of witches, particularly after a failed assassination attempt in which he believed dark magic was involved. Sampson was subjected to brutal interrogations and torture, including sleep deprivation and stripping, to extract confessions that linked her to a network of supposed witches. The trials of women like Sampson were emblematic of the period's social dynamics, where female independence or deviation from societal norms often incited suspicion and hostility.

During the trial, which transpired in a climate of fear and superstition, Sampson claimed she had been compelled to engage in witchcraft by malevolent spirits. Witnesses recounted strange occurrences, often directly blaming her for their misfortunes. Despite the lack of credible evidence and the extreme methods of torture she endured, she was found guilty. Her execution by strangulation and subsequent burning were part of a larger movement across Europe, as similar witch trials occurred, fueled by religious, political, and social upheaval, leading to the deaths of thousands in the subsequent years.

Agnes Sampson's case stands as a grim reminder of the consequences of unchecked fear and superstition. The brutality displayed during her trial and execution reflects a society grappling with the intersection of faith, power, and the role of women. The king's personal involvement in witch hunts and the encouragement of these trials would not only perpetuate the witch hunts across Scotland but also influence future legal and cultural attitudes towards witchcraft in the early modern period, culminating in the infamous Scottish Witchcraft Act.