On the 2nd of June 1634 at the Reading Borough Court William and Edith Walls were accused of making Edward Bonavant ill by witchcraft. This serious accusation was made in a troubled town at a time when witchcraft was believed to be real, and causing harm by witchcraft a capital crime. The local authorities took […]
This book published by Routledge in 2020, is a long overdue re-evaluation of John Stearne. Stearne is often dismissed as Matthew Hopkins assistant during the 1645-7 witch hunt in East Anglia. It is based on Scott Eaton’s PhD research. The first chapter describes the wider context of the east Anglian witch hunt of 1645-7 and […]
It’s been a while since I posted anything here as I’ve been distracted with everything (gestures towards the state of the world and the pandemic). During 2020 I could only read familiar things such as Lord of the Rings but this year, I have managed to read some non-fiction books. Here are some short reviews […]
There were some witchcraft accusations before the courts in the later 17th century that I don’t know much about. Joan Harding was imprisoned in Reading accused of witchcraft but was freed on 20th July 1658 because the case against her was considered insufficient. On 22nd February 1662, Christina Wicks was on trial accused of incantation and the care […]
In 1635 Anne Waldron of Lambourn was ill, and her father John Waldron accused Mary Prowting of causing this illness by witchcraft. The illness was investigated and discovered to be a fraud. In November 1635 John Prowting, husband of Mary, sued John Waldron in the Court of the Star Chamber for conspiracy. This article examines […]
Witchcraft accusations and keeping the peace. On Saturday 26th August 1626, Elizabeth Griffyn is accused in Reading Borough Quarter Sessions of making a charm against her neighbours Hugh Patye and his wife. Both Hugh Patye, Elizabeth and her husband William Griffyn were ordered by the court to keep the peace or be liable to pay […]
The visible effects of belief 