Willow Winsham - 20 Feb

For Elizabeth, Alfred, Efi, William,
and a much beloved Goblin.

First published in Great Britain in 2016 by
Pen & Sword History
an imprint of
Pen & Sword Books Ltd
47 Church Street
Barnsley
South Yorkshire
S70 2AS

Copyright Willow Winsham 2016

ISBN: 978 1 47385 003 3
PDF ISBN: 978 1 47385 006 4
EPUB ISBN: 978 1 47385 004 0
PRC ISBN: 978 1 47385 005 7

The right of Willow Winsham to be identified as the Author of this Work has been asserted by her in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission from the Publisher in writing.

Typeset in Ehrhardt by
Mac Style Ltd, Bridlington, East Yorkshire
Printed and bound in the UK by CPI Group (UK) Ltd,
Croydon, CRO 4YY

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Contents

Acknowledgements

T hese acknowledgements might mark the start of the book, but they were actually the part that was written last. Over the last few months, there have been times when I didnt think I would make it to this point at all, but the support and encouragement of so many truly wonderful people has seen me through.

In light of that I would like to thank the following people. Firstly, Kate Bohdanowicz for suggesting I submit a proposal for the book in the first place, as without her encouragement I wouldnt have ever thought to do so. Emma Toulson, who read and critiqued my submission chapter (and many more throughout) and has helped make this a better book. My long-suffering husband who has been wonderful throughout, both in practical help and listening to me rant and rave about the entire process, and my two children who have been remarkably accepting of the fact that mummy needs to do some work now and have even shown an interest in what Im writing. Catherine Curzon for innumerable instances of help and general all-round moral support. My parents, because without them I wouldnt be the person I am today. Sarah and Jako Van der Walt for letting me go on about all things witchy and for helping get an author photo that I dont actually hate. Debbie Corlett and Tabitha Luddem-Lounds for reading through the whole thing when I couldnt stand to look at it anymore and for many helpful suggestions that have led to the text that you are about to read.

Id also like to say a general thank you to all the friends who have patiently listened to me explaining the finer points of witchcraft history or talking about people turning into cats, but especially to Sally Collins who helps me keep things in perspective and enjoys a good and much needed giggle. And last but by no means least, An Victoir, for being the best Goblin that I could hope to have known, and without whom I would have given up writing long before the opportunity came to write this book.

There have also been a number of very lovely organisations and individuals who have provided invaluable help with research, images and permissions and I would like to thank: Derbyshire Record Office, Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies, Bedfordshire and Luton Archives and Records Service, Ipswich Record Office, Bury St Edmunds Record Office, Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru/The National Library of Wales, Lincolnshire Archives, Devon Archives and Local Studies Service, Ilkeston Library, The British Library, David Newman, Bev Plumbley, Ted Rayson, Neil Deans, Bill Church, Alan Stewart, Mark Evans from Quickfire Media, The HMS Barham Association, Stephen Flinders, Gillian Kenny, Tracy Borman, Richard Suggett, Malcolm Gaskill, Hugh Ryan, Nicky Flynn, Jennifer Mortensen and anyone else who has contributed their time and expertise to this project.

And of course finally a heartfelt thanks to the good people at Pen and Sword who believed this book was worth writing.

The entire project has been a learning curve and a half, and it might be a clich, but I truly mean it when I say that I hope people enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it.

List of Illustrations

Permissions

A Detection of Damnable Driftes (London, 1579) ( The British Library Board, C.27.a.8)

The Wonderful Discoverie of the Witchcrafts of Margaret and Phillip Flower, (London, 1619) ( The British Library Board, C.27.b.35)

The Witch of Wapping or an Exact and Perfect Relation of the Life and Devilish Practices of Joan Peterson (London, 1652) ( The British Library Board, E.659.(18.))

James I, Daemonologie, (London, 1603) ( The British Library Board, 1609/785.)

The True Informer, (23 July 1645) ( The British Library Board, E.6780.314327)

Cotta, John A Short Discoverie of the Unobserved Dangers (London 1612) ( The British Library Board, 551.a.2.(1.))

Composers Notes, The Confession of Isobel Gowdie (1990) ( Copyright by James MacMillan)

Bragge, Francis, A Defence of the Proceedings against Jane Wenham, (London, 1712) (The British Library Board, 8630.ee.17)

Bragge, Francis, A Full and Impartial Account of the Discovery of Sorcery and Witchcraft, Practisd by Jane Wenham of Walkern, (London, 1712) (The British Library Board, 8630.bb.18)

Bragge, Francis, Witchcraft Farther Displayd (London, 1712) ( The British Library Board, 8631.aaa.42)

Hutchinson, Francis, A Historical Essay Concerning Witchcraft (London, 1718) ( The British Library Board, 719.h.13)

The Case of the Hertfordshire Witchcraft Considerd (London, 1712) ( The British Library Board, 1417.i.38)

Exeter and Plymouth Gazette for 13 March, 1852. ( The British Newspaper Archive (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)

Exeter and Plymouth Gazette, 24 April 1852. ( The British Newspaper Archive)

North Devon Journal, 29 April, 1852. ( The British Newspaper Archive)

Supplement to the Western Times, Exeter, July 14, 1860. ( The British Newspaper Archive)

Taunton Courier, and Western Advertiser, 18 July, 1860. ( The British Newspaper Archive)

Exeter and Plymouth Gazette, 6 October, 1860. ( The British Newspaper Archive)

A brief note on spelling. For ease of reading, the majority of spellings have been standardised and modernised throughout the text.

Introduction: The World of the Accused

There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD: and because of these abominations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee.

Deuteronomy 18:1018:12

T his is a book about witches, eleven witches to be exact, picked from across the centuries of the history of the British Isles.