historicall.y

Although when we think about witchcraft in history, we think of the accused being burnt alive at the stake, the victims were generally hung. In truth, burning alive was generally reserved for heretics. For instance, the witchcraft hysteria of the late 17th century known as the Salem Witch Trials, in which Rebecca Nurse was executed; all of the accused were hung. Men were also targeted, not just women. Men were given the titles of wizards, warlocks and/or sorcerers. Throughout history, people have been fascinated with witchcraft. Books on how to detect and what witchcraft were. Even King James I wrote a book about witchcraft.  Modern folklorists still believe that collecting the teeth of babies and young children will protect them against witches. Men who denied being magic were pressed to death with stones, very slowly. Sources: ~ Mental Floss: 10 Weird Facts About Witches ~ World Book: 10 Facts About the History of Witchcraft

This unfortunate and tragic event occurred during the Belvoir Witch Trials (1618-1619). Mistress Flower died in 1619. Joan Flower and her daughters- Margaret and Phillipa were employed as servants in an Earl's household in Lincolnshire. Around that time, it was well known by the locals that Mistress Flower was a firm atheist with 'witchy' facial features and a boastful nature. Shortly after Margaret was dismissed from the Earl's home for theft, the whole of the family that they were serving became sick.  The eldest son- Lord Henry Ross passed away and his parents and family  naturally wanted somebody to blame. As a result Mistress Flower and her daughters were rounded up. Whilst Margaret and Phillipa openly confessed of being 'possessed' at their trial, Mistress Flower would not. In an attempt to try and prove her innocence, Mistress Flower asked for some bread and butter. She then said that if she was guilty then she would choke yet if she was innocent...

A fictional illustration of the trial of Rebecca Nurse Between February of 1692 and May 1693 a witch finding hysteria that occurred in Massachusetts, America. These are known as the Salem witch trials because a group of young girls claimed to be possessed by the devil and accused several old women in the colony. The trials resulted in twenty executions, one of the so called 'witches' was seventy- one years old Rebecca Nurse. Rebecca Nurse was a devout Christian and a kindly family woman, as well as being the pillar of the community. She was born in Great Yarmouth in Norfolk and went on the Mayflower voyage to New England (aka America). Rebecca's parents were William and Joanna Towne. William and Joanna also had three other daughters- Susan (died aged five), Mary (executed alongside her sister during the Salem witch trials) and Sarah (who was also convicted but survived and defended her innocent sisters but failed and was excommunicated along with the Nurses); th...

Joan of Arc is France's favourite saint who was burnt at the stake charged with heresy by the English. She believed that she was called by God to deliver France from their enemies. But she was caught and sold to the English who accused her of heresy and witchcraft and burnt her to death in 1431. Joan was led to her death in Rouen, France on 30th May 1431, aged only 19 years old. After making a speech, which lasted about 30 minutes, asking people to pray for her and forgiving them, which apparently nearly moved some of the English knights to tears, she was tied to the stake. As her last request, she asked for a cross. She was handed a simple wooden crucifix which she tucked inside her clothes. She spent her final moments uttering prayers and forgiving her executioners. Overcome by the smoke, she became unconscious and her head slumped to her chest. The Maid of Orleans breathed her last. Her body was paraded around the square, naked so that everyone could see that she was a wo...