The Witch Trials

The Witch Trials 


Women accused of witchcraft suffered horrific torture. James I was reported to have supervised the torture of some suspected witches himself.

One method to tell if somebody was guilty of witchcraft was to tie their left thumb to their right toe and then toss them into a body of water, such as the moat of Oxford Castle & Prison. If they floated, they were guilty. If they didn’t, they were innocent. However, it also meant they had not survived.

The image of witches burned at the stake is a popular one. However, it was not the most common execution method. Hanging was more common.

Imperialism meant that English witchcraft laws applied in other countries around the world. A famous example from the North American colonies is the Salem Witch Trials.

Hundreds of people were executed for witchcraft in England. The last documented execution for witchcraft in England was in 1682. While Jane Wenhamw was sentenced to hang in 1712, she was pardoned by Queen Anne. Fear of witchcraft still lingered throughout the country. There were even instances of mobs attacking suspected witches. However, reverse witch trials emerged as those abused for suspected witchcraft reported those who attacked them to face legal proceedings.

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