English Witch Trials from 995 AD to 1701 AD and 1944

English Witch Trials from 995 AD to 1701 AD and 1944

Mrs Duncan, a Scotswoman who travelled the country holding seances, was one of Britain’s best-known mediums, reputedly numbering Winston Churchill and George VI among her clients, when she was arrested in January 1944 by two naval officers at a seance in Portsmouth. The military authorities, secretly preparing for the D-day landings and then in a heightened state of paranoia, were alarmed by reports that she had disclosed – allegedly via contacts with the spirit world – the sinking of two British battleships long before they became public. The most serious disclosure came when she told the parents of a missing sailor that his ship, HMS Barham, had sunk. It was true, but news of the tragedy had been suppressed to preserve morale.

Desperate to silence the apparent leak of state secrets, the authorities charged Mrs Duncan with conspiracy, fraud, and with witchcraft under an act dating back to 1735 – the first such charge in over a century. At the trial, only the “black magic” allegations stuck, and she was jailed for nine months at Holloway women’s prison in north London. Churchill, then prime minister, visited her in prison and denounced her conviction as “tomfoolery”. In 1951, he repealed the 200-year-old act, but her conviction stood.

As an addendum to this story I thought it would be interesting to list some of the witch trial stories from 995 AD to 1701.

995 AD London, A woman and her son were tried for driving stakes into an image of a man. She was taken and drowned at London Bridge, while the son escaped and became outlawed.

1177 Eleanor of Aquitaine Queen of England. Duchess of Aquitaine. Eleanor and four witches purportedly poisoned Rosamond Clifford.

1222 England, Oxford A young man and two women were brought before the Archbishop of Canterbury, Stephen Langton for crucifying the boy and displaying the stigmata.

1222 England A Jewish Necromancer was accused of wrapping a boy in the skin of a dead man for divination

1279 England, York John de Kerneslawe killed a witch that had entered his house. The local clergy had her body burned.

1286 England, York Darel, Godfrey m A Cistercian monk of Rievaulx was reported to the Archbishop of York as a practitioner of Witchcraft.

1289-90 England de Stratton, Adam m Chancellor of the Exchequer. Arrested and tried for embezzling, extortion, and sorcery.

1301-3 England Langton, Walter m Bishop of Coventry. Tried by ecclesiastical court for diabolism and acquitted.

1302 England, Exeter 1 Mody, John m Trial for defamation; Mody had called Reginald Kene’s wife a ‘wicked witch and thief’.

1311 England, London Investigation by Bishop Baldock of sorcery, enchantment, magic, divination, and invocation.

1314/15 England Tannere, John m (Aka John Canne) Claimed to be the son of Edward I. Hanged for attempt to gain crown through diabolical aid; had served devil more than three years.

1324 England, Coventry Nottingham, John of m (aka Master John) Died in custody of witchcraft.

1325 English, Coventry Robert le Mareschal m He and his lodger Master John of Nottingham and 27 clients (The Burghers of Coventry) were charged before a secular court with employing him and another “necromancer” to use sorcery in an attempt on life of King Edward II, the Despensers, and several other officials.

1325 England, Coventry Acquitted. Charged before a secular court with employing him and another “necromancer” to use sorcery in an attempt on life of King Edward II, the Despensers, and several other officials.

1330 England Edmund Earl of Kent. Edward was condemned for obtaining important information from demon, through mediation of friar.

1331 England, Southwark A man tried by royal court for sorcery. along with with a client and his associate. The subjects claimed to have used image magic only to obtain friendship but the jury determined that intent was murder.

1336 England Altefax, William m Pope Benedict XII wrote to the Bishop of Paris to have William Altefax, nigromanticus de Anglia and with him, his plates (Laminas) that he used in his magical operations.

1337 England, Hatfield Man tried by manorial court for failure to deliver devil as arranged in commercial transaction; case dismissed

1366 England A certain carpenter died after final reconciliation to the Church, having lived for 15 years with a pact with the devil; There were no recorded judicial proceedings.

1371 England, Southwark, Man tried by royal court for invocation; possessed book for experimenta and Saracen’s head for enclosure of demon; disclaimed use of head; He was arrested for possessing a Grimoire, a skull and the head of a corpse, and was released on a promise to never again perform magical rituals.

1376 England A Friar of St. Albans associated with Alice Perrers tried by ecclesiastical court for love magic and image magic directed at king Edward III. (n.b. Although Kieckhefer identifies the friar as Dominican, the monastary at St. Albans was Benedictine.)

1382 England, London 1 Berewold, Robert m Pilloried for pretending to practice the “Art Magic”

1382 England, London 1 Northamptone, William m Pilloried for pretending to practice the “Art Magic”

1385 England, London 1 Brugges, John m Chaplain. One of 2 men tried by ecclesiastical court for magic. They were imprisoned by the Bishop of London “until the church was satisfied”.

1388 England, London 1 Tresilian, Sir Robert m Condemned by the Merciless Parliament for other reasons. He was also found to have been practicing invocation.

1390 England, London 1 Berking, John m Arrested for soothsaying, he was sentenced to an hour in the pillory, two weeks’ imprisonment, and banishment from the city

1401 England Lincolnshire 1 Smith, John m Tried for using divination to track a thief

1419 England 1 Joan of Navarre The dowager Queen of England. Joan was accused by Henry V of attempting to kill him by sorcery. Joan, and a clerical accomplice are imprisoned.

1419 England 1 Friar Randolph m Imprisoned.(Joan’s Cleric)

1426 England Plus unspecified number of associates accused of sorcery (illness and attempt at death), thus provoking inquiry at royal direction.

1430 England, London Imprisoned for attempt on king’s life through sorcery.

1432 England, London 1 Jordemaine, Margery “The Witch of Eye”, a noted diviner. Arrested with two priests. Released on bail, and the charges dropped.

1432-43 England A priest accused before the Court of Chancery that he had injured a man’s body with sorcery.

1435 England, Durham 1 ??? f Trial for defamation before ecclesiastical court; 3 men had accused woman of causing impotence through sorcery; woman absolved in an ecclesiastical court.

1441 England Cobham, Eleanor (Duchess of Gloucester, Wife of Humphrey) Given penance by secular authorities for sorcery in seeking the death of Henry VI. She had the help of Margery Jourdemaine, and two noted Oxford Scholars, one an astrologer, and the other a physician. They also wanted to ensure an heir. According to Wedek, a Treasury of Witchcraft, she was banished for life to the Isle of Man.

1441 England 1 Southwell, Thomas m Tried for Treason, using sorcery in seeking the death of Henry VI.

1441 England, Smithfield 1 Jordemaine, Margery “The Witch of Eye”, a noted diviner. Burned by secular authorities for Treason

1441 England, London 1 Bolingbroke, Roger m Aka Roger Whiche. A Clerk. Hanged, drawn and quartered at Tyburn by secular authorities for Treason, using sorcery in seeking the death of Henry VI.

1444 England, London Man placed on pillory by secular court for invocation, dealing with a ‘wycckyd spyryte’.

1446 England, Durham Tried as sorceresses; had allegedly obtained husbands for widows; allowed purgation.

1447 or 1448 England, Durham Woman tried by ecclesiastical court as enchanter (incantatrix).

1450 England, Durham Woman tried by ecclesiastical court for sorcery

1451 or 1452 England, Durham Tried by ecclesiastical court for magic

1452 England, Durham Trial in ecclesiastical court for defamation; one woman had accused another of sortilegium, and had spoken of a certain chaplain’s profligate infatuation with her (suggestion of love magic?).

1457 England, Hertford Man abjured of necromancy and herecy

1465 England, Norfolk Tried by royal court for invocation to find treasure

1466 England, Ely Man given public and private penance by bishop for invocation

1467 England Byg, William m Convicted of crystal gazing to locate thieves.He had to appear in public with a scroll on his head.

1470 England Trial for defamation before royal court; a man had accused the Duchess of Bedford of image magic.

1476 England, London Trial for defamation in secular court; man had defamed neighbors in matters of sorcery.

1480-1515c England Woman tried by Court of Chancery for sorcery

1480-1515c England, St David’s 3 women (Tanglost and 2 others) tried by Court of Chancery for image magic.

1480-1515c England, Southwark Woman tried by Court of Chancery for image magic.

1481 England, London Woman tried by commissary’s court for love magic.

1481 England, York Man tried by ecclesiastical court for incantation.

1483, June England Woodville, Elizabeth f Dowager Queen of England. Tried by ecclesiastical court for sorcery (alleged harm to Richard III)

1483, June England 1 Beaufort, Margaret Countess of Richmond, Henry VII’s mother. Tried by ecclesiastical court for sorcery (alleged harm to Richard III)

1483, June England 1 Morton, Dr. John m Bishop of Ely. Tried by ecclesiastical court for sorcery (alleged harm to Richard III)

1490 England, London Woman tried by commissary for image magic.

1492 England, London Trial for fraudulent love magic; client sentenced to public penance by ecclesiastical court, and man claiming to serve as agent for magician ordered by court to restore goods given in payment.

1493 England, London Woman tried by ecclesiastical court for weather magic, killing by incantation, divination, and other offenses.

1496 (6/19) England, London Kendal, John m Pardoned. Grand Prior of the Order of St. John of Rhodes is one of three men accused of conspiracy by their French agent, Bernard
de Vignolles,of attempt (framed at Rome) on lives of King Henry VII, his children, his mother, and certain of his agents and followers, through use of magical substances

1496 England, London Thonge, Sir John m Knight of the Order of St. John of Rhodes (and John Kendal’s nephew) is one of three men accused of conspiracy by their French agent, Bernard de Vignolles

1496 England, London Horsey, William m Archdeacon of London is one of three men accused of conspiracy by their French agent, Bernard de Vignolles

1499 England, ‘Belynges Parva’ Woman tried by ecclesiastical court for sorcery (killing); allowed purgation.

1499 England, ‘Rushbrok’ Man tried by ecclesiastical court for pact with devil.

1499 England, Winchester Man tried by ecclesiastical court for invocation

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