Witches and Witchfinders
Along with plague, knights and castles, witch hunting is one of those things from history that most tend to have a general impression about. A time in which people, driven by fear and hysteria, accused others for the vague crime of witchcraft. These people were mostly women, falsely accused and put to death. Daniel from our castle team has been taking a look at the witch trials…
Part of Newcastle’s dark history is a direct tie-in to these perilous times. In 1650, our own Town Moor saw the mass execution of some poor persons for this crime. But before we explore this, we must first look at the circumstances which created the kind of atmosphere that would see these innocents meet such a grisly end.
Fear and Paranoia
It has been said that when humans are comfortable, well-fed and happy, we are a perfectly amicable bunch. But when things start to go bad, when times aren’t as prosperous and bellies aren’t as full, it is capable of bringing out the worst of our nature. Recent events during the pandemic have certainly shown that. Scared people sometimes lash out. Newcastle in the mid-seventeenth century, for your average citizen, was definitely in such a state.
A pamphlet about the “North Berwick Witches” who were said to have conspired to murder James VI of Scotland with magic in 1590
Firstly, there was a general Puritan feeling in the country at the time. Part of it was arguably due to James VI of Scotland and I of England (1566-1625). He had a particular obsession with battling witches, believing them to be the reason for an attempted assassination via storm in 1590. He wrote and published a book entitled ‘Demonology’, in which he cited that women especially were particularly vulnerable to possession by the Devil. Another potential factor may have been the rise of Protestantism and its competition with the Catholic Church. The latter acknowledged the existence of ‘witches’, but didn’t consider them to be of any concern. Protestants were more concerned and it was something of a contest between the two branches of Christianity, to provide ‘salvation’ by fighting against the servants of Satan.
Secondly, as we have examined in a previous blog entry, Newcastle had plague problems. With limited medical understanding, there was no way to effectively treat it. In the summer of 1636, from May to December, over 5000 people from a population of 12,000 died. In addition, greater belief in God leads many to see such events as punishment from the Lord due to some great personal or societal sin. Some might go so far as to accuse others of consorting with the Devil.
The English Civil War (1642-1651) had also seen its impact on Newcastle. They were on the side of the Royalists, since the coal trade was a valuable resource to the king. Seeing an opportunity to make a decisive strike while they were vulnerable, the Scottish Army of the Covenant sieged the city in 1644 and succeeded in capturing it, holding it for two years after. Being under occupation from England’s historical enemy likely wouldn’t have inspired much good feeling from the citizens of the town. The quality of life also wasn’t the best for the average person. The industrialisation brought on by the coal trade had created a large, poor class of workers. As many as 40% of homes didn’t even have a fireplace.
In harsh times like these, people often look for a scapegoat. Somebody to blame for all the misfortune and vent their frustration about circumstances beyond their control. Witches, unfortunately, came into that category.
A “witch” feeding her familiars
Send for the Witchfinder!
In 1649, the ruling council of Newcastle was very much Puritan in nature. Caught in the fervour by all the misery that came before and the popular Puritan movements throughout the country, they were concerned about the presence of witches in the city. They ordered for a Witchfinder to be sent from Scotland. They were always more keen on rooting out witches than England was. There is no recorded name for this person, but records do show his presence. They were well paid for their work too, this particular man being given 20 shillings (roughly £98) a head for his work in Berwick. All they needed now was some people to accuse.
The town crier of Newcastle, marching through the streets with his bell, demanded that the townsfolk come forth with any information of known witches or accuse their neighbours of the deed. Events such as this are the perfect way for some of the more petty, vindictive folk to settle scores with others. People that didn’t fit in, who didn’t look the same as everybody else or if they simply didn’t like them. As a result, 30 unfortunate souls were rounded up and taken to the Town Hall.
Very little real evidence or proof was needed to indict somebody of witchcraft. All the Witchfinder needed was either a confession or finding them by his own means. In this case, it was done by the method of pricking. Using a needle called a bodkin, he would strip the accused publicly and pierce their skin with the needle. If there was no wound or blood, they were a witch. In truth, the needle was designed to retract into the handle and ensure that the Witchfinder ‘found’ his guilty parties. Using this, 28 people were imprisoned to await their fate.
Other Methods
Witchfinding was a brutal and malicious practice. The men who carried it out didn’t care much for how it was done or why. Their only concern was getting paid for their work and they would use whatever ways they deemed necessary to get them. Aside from pricking, some other examples include:
A 17th century image showing a woman being “ducked” to determine if she is a witch
Ducking or ‘ludicium aquae’. Adapted from a trial by ordeal using water. The victim would either be placed in a sack or have their arms and legs tied, then thrown in a deep body of water. If they floated, they were using their magic to stay afloat and would be taken out and executed. If they sank, they were innocent but would likely die from drowning.
Judicial torture. Authority given by a figure of official standing to use methods of torture to extract a confession from a suspect. This could be for any crime, not just witchcraft. A very painful example is the Boot: wooden planks placed around the legs of the victim. Lengths of wood would be driven between the gap until the bones of their legs shattered. This was more of a Scottish measure, due to their differing views on torture.
Sleep deprivation. The accused would be kept awake and isolated in a cell, with only the warder for company. The warder made them to stay awake, until the lack of sleep forced them to confess.
Harsh jail conditions. The accused would be kept locked in a cell and subjected to cold, harsh treatment by the guards. Their meals would also be very small. It would only end when they confessed.
Finding a Devil’s Mark. This would be any kind of strange mole or skin lesion that could be virtually anywhere on the body. This was apparently a marker of the covenant between the witch and the Devil. If found, a bodkin would be used to pierce these spots, as they were insensitive and usually didn’t bleed, even without a retractable needle.
Weighing by Bible. The accused was placed in a black iron chair, fitted with a scale with a Bible on it. If they were heavier than the Bible, they were innocent. This was not an official trial, but could be used to assuage the anxiety of a larger group.
Prayer test. The accused would have to recite a particular prayer or passage from the Bible. Failure to do so would see them guilty. Due to low literacy and sleep deprivation from imprisonment, this could be an easy one to fail.
The Outcome
The execution of witches in Newcastle, from a 17th century book condemning Newcastle’s rulers
Not all of the imprisoned would see their execution. Some would die while in their cells or under torture used to extract their confessions or to see if they might implicate others. Others were lucky enough to be set free. One woman in particular was noted not to be the usual warty old crone typically accused of being witches and was a ‘personable, and good-like woman’. Lieutenant Colonel Hobson objected to her being pricked by the Witchfinder and insisted that the process be repeated. She was initially found guilty when she didn’t bleed, but on the second time, she was acquitted.
Those that remained were far less fortunate. 15 people, 14 women and 1 man (accused of shapeshifting into a black cat and killing children to summon demons), were taken to the Town Moor on 21 August, 1650. All of them were sentenced to death by hanging, marking one of the largest mass execution for witchcraft in the country. All of them are buried in unmarked graves at St. Andrew’s Church in the City Centre, on Newgate Street.
There is some comeuppance involved for the Witchfinder, however. After venturing off into Northumberland to find more potential enterprise, he was arrested on an unknown crime, possibly for his previous work. Ralph Gardiner, who wrote about the trial, notes that he was later tried and hanged for the causing of the deaths of 220 men and women. A small comfort to his victims, but given that these unscrupulous kinds tend to get away with their foul deeds, perhaps it’s the best that can be hoped for.